Summary of The Solitude of Prime Numbers
âThe Solitude of Prime Numbersâ tells the story of two Italian teenagers in Turin, Alice and Mattia, both deeply affected by childhood traumas. Alice was seven when she fell during a skiing lesson and became paralysed in one leg. Mattia left his disabled sister alone to attend a birthday party, but she disappeared and was never found. Both struggle with their lives: Alice develops anorexia, while Mattia is consumed by guilt and grows up as an introverted boy with a talent for mathematics. These two socially awkward teenagers meet at school and become friends. The question is: will they ever become more than âtwin prime numbersâ, similar yet inherently solitary and forever separated?
Reasons to read The Solitude of Prime NumbersÂ
âThe Solitude of Prime Numbersâ is a poignant novel that explores the friendship and love between two emotionally scarred adolescents. This debut novel by Italian writer Paolo Giordano earned him the prestigious Premio Strega in 2008. It became a bestseller across Europe and was adapted into an Italian film by Saverio Costanzo in 2010.
Setting: Turin (Italy)
Original title: La solitudine dei numeri primi
Year of publication: 2008
Nr of pages: 288
