{"id":4371,"date":"2014-02-02T18:25:41","date_gmt":"2014-02-02T23:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=4371"},"modified":"2021-06-04T13:13:47","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T17:13:47","slug":"the-potters-field-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/4371","title":{"rendered":"The Potter’s Field"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Potter’s Field<\/a><\/em> (2008\/2011) Andrea Camilleri<\/a> translated by Stephen Sartarelli<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>This might be one of my favorite mysteries in this series. <\/p>\n

A dismembered body is found in clay fields, the face beaten so as to hinder identification.<\/p>\n

A beautiful woman comes to the station, to report that she believes her husband may be missing.<\/p>\n

Mimi is being a complete jerk to everyone at the station, and no one knows why, but he eventually gives Montalbano an ultimatum.<\/p>\n

While Montalbano himself is becoming convinced he’s old–perhaps even too old to do his job.<\/p>\n

All these elements speak speak of one thing: betrayal.<\/p>\n

First, there’s a marvelous Catarella scene at the start of the book. Note: It’s pouring rain.<\/p>\n

“Take my raincoat.”
\n“Nah, Chief, I can’t.”
\n“Why not?”
\n“Cuz a raincoat’s civilln ‘n’ I’m in uniform.”
\n“But who’s gonna see you here?”
\n“Chief, a uniform’s always a uniform.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I love that exchange, because it says so much about Catarella, and why, despite everything else, Montalbano lives (perhaps even loves! (but in a deeply manly and fatherly way)) him.<\/p>\n

And there’s (as always) a lovely exchange between Montalbano and Pasquano.<\/p>\n

“I had to piece the body back together, my friend. It had been dismembered, remember?”
\n“I do,” Montalbano replied, grinning.
\n“You find that amusing?”
\n“No, I find the verb you use amusing.”
\n“Dismember? You don’t like the rhyme with ‘remember’? Try to remember the man you dismembered<\/em>…”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I wonder if that was easy to translate, or had to be finagled to get it to come across in English.<\/p>\n

There’s also a fascinating and disturbing passage about the semiology of the Mafia–how they would leave a body to communicate a message.<\/p>\n

But as I said, the mystery in this story is one of my favorites. And it’s also fascinating to see how–despite everything–Montalbano does absolutely everything he can to cover for Mimi. <\/p>\n

The story also has (of course) arguments between Livia and Montalbano, and many many meals. Most of which I would really like to try.
\nRating: 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published by Penguin
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