My final position: 4th overall
I’ve only just started this book but I already know that reading it will be time well spent from the opening lines. This has happened before.
Chapter One is preceded by the following quote:
“Man has places in his heart which do not yet exist, and into them enters suffering in order that they may have existence” – Lêon Bloy
Then, the opening sentence of Chapter One itself:
“A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.”
“Very rarely, the same sea that washes this island’s littoral brings with it a real treasure…”
This is what drifted into the tranquil waters of Valletta harbour this morning – a saccharine treasure trove of multi-coloured marzipan fruits from the master-craftsmen of Sicily.