A set of nine stories touching upon loss, alienation and isolation, set in and around Rome; actually, Rome is more of a protagonist than a setting in these stories.
Actually, to even call them stories is stretching it. Most are merely brief “a day in the life of” anecdotes, entirely lacking in anything resembling a plot, or delving into character buildup.
The basic story structure of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and conclusion is completely abandoned. There is a lot of exposition, but little else. None of the characters are named, only alluded to by their profession, or physical description. Everything is alluded to in vague terms, with little focus.
This all seems very stylized, experimental writing, probably intended to be high-brow and cerebral. Or perhaps it is meant to be read only when you are sitting on the benches across from Trevi fountain. But for a casual reader who has never been to the eternal city, it was a hard pass.