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The Dry Heart

The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg starts with a bang—literally—with the protagonist confessing that she "shot him between the eyes." This sets the stage for a dive into her troubled relationship with her husband, Alberto. Through flashbacks we see how the man she once loved brought her pain and sorrow. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the killing wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision but the result of years of neglect and emotional abuse. The novella explores themes of power and control and the erosion of a woman's (unnamed) sense of self. I really enjoyed it; it’s a smooth read, compelling from start to finish, and thought-provoking.

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