THE WAGER
by Donna Jo Napoli
(Henry Holt/Macmillan)
Quick and dirty (ha!) summary:
After a catastrophe leaves him penniless, playboy Don Giovanni makes a bargain with the devil -- in exchange for limitless wealth, he will not wash, cut his hair, or change his clothes for three years, three months, and three days.
If you know Donna Jo Napoli, you know she doesn't flinch. The lady's made a living out of delving into the details fairy tales ignore or gloss over, so brace yourself. There are boils, sores, scabs, bugs, infections, itches, and worse. All 1188 unwashed days are downright tangible. *scratches* There are practical concerns, too: where does a walking accumulation of filth sleep? Where does he get food? (He's not especially popular at inns.) Most of all, how does a man stay human when the world shuns him?
And here's the other thing about Donna Jo: she knows Italy firsthand, and it shows. The colors, flavors, and scents of the food, the cities, and the landscape are every bit as palpable as Don Giovanni's offal. And that makes it just about bearable.
Dear Julia
by Amy Bronwen Zemser
