BOOK REVIEWS Grace Russo Bullaro. Beyond Life is Beautiful

$%%&'()*+),!"#$%&'())*&+(,,#"*-&!"#$%&'()*"')+'!",-.)*-/0'1$2"&#',%&'34,5"&#'
)%' .6"' 1)%"2,' $*' 7$8"4.$' !"%)5%)-& .%/$%)0%"& 12345& 6"*(7#8*"&
9(7,/):/;<&9"%))=&>??@-&9A-&B>C-&&&
!"#$%&'(&)"*#'+&))#%%,-#&'+".,%&'/,'0.,+#'1"$$&'2")),.&'$3'
3-$#.3$+#'-#)'$&)+&'%.,++3,%&'/,'4,.)&'4#))3'+5#6'-#)'78896'+&-'3)'$"&'!"#$
%&'&(#$)*+&,-$!"#$)&(#+.$*/$0*1#23*$4#(&5(&6',(#(,':.&:&$%&',/'"-,'
,"/3#-+#',-;)&<&-,'3)':.3*&'$%"/3&'+.3%3+&'/3'"-,'+#.%,',*:3#==,'(&)%&'
,/',::.&<&-/3.#'3)'+3-#*,'/3'1&>#.%&'2#-3;-3?'@)'),(&.&'+&&./3-,%&'/,'
1"$$&'2")),.&'$3',:.#'A"3-/3'+&-'"-,':.#<,=3&-#','+".,'/#))&'$%#$$&'
4#))36'3)'A",)#'.3)#(,'+&*#'A"#$%&'(&)"*#'$3,'3-';.,/&'/3'&<<.3.#'B.3+5'
3-$3;5%$'<.&*'+.3%3+$',.&"-/'%5#'C&.)/'3-','+&*:#))3-;'<&."*'<&.'%5#'
!"#$%&'()*%"#+",+*-'+.%&'(+%$$/'$+*-)*+0'#%1#%2$+345$+6("7"8'9+:;;<=+
D#)),'$&)3/,'#'>#-',.;&*#-%,%,'3-%.&/"=3&-#'+5#'$#;"#6'1"$$&'2")),.&'
#$:&-#' )#' +&&./3-,%#' /3' "-' :.&;#%%&' +5#6' $&$%,-=3,)*#-%#6' $3' /3:,-,'
)"-;&'/"#'/3.#%%.3+3?'@-':.3*3$6')E,-,)3$3'/3'%#*3'#'$%3)#*3'+5#'.3+&..&-&'
%#+ >/'%+ 345+ &%+ 0'#%1#%+ !-'+ 6('!'&"#"+ 6.$ '&3.$ 7$ 1#88.+ :;??@<+ '+ !-'+
$&-&'.3$+&-%.,>3)3',-+5#'-#)'$"++#$$3(&'9&(*,,"&*+:ABBA<=++6.$3&52#$#$
8.$(#'#+:ABBC<D+#"#+E+6/(*("66"+"11'**"+&%+$*/&%"D+'$$'#&"+/$!%*"+6"!"+
&"6"+4)+6/FF4%!)G%"#'+&'4+7"4/5'=+H+$'1/%('D+7%+E+/#+$'!"#&"+1(/66"+
/3'$,;;3'+5#6':#.'+&-%.&6'$3'&++":,-&'#$+)"$3(,*#-%#'/3'6.$'&3.$7$1#88.6'
&<<.#-/&'"-'-&%#(&)#'+&-%.3>"%&'3-%#.%#$%",)#',)),'+&*:.#-$3&-#''/#)'
345+'&+)442)66(","#&%5'#*"+&'44'+6"4'5%!-'+1'#'()*'+&)44"+$*'$$"=++
F/' ,:.3.#' ),' :.3*,' $#=3&-#' /#)' (&)"*#' G' 3-%3%&),%,' BH5#'
I"/#&)*%"#9+J+*("7%)5"+%4+!"#*(%F/*"+&%+K)7%&+L!"**+K%,,(%'#*D+MN*)4%)#+
L8'*!-+ I%45$+ )#&+ *-'+ O)(()*%7'+ P'#')4"1Q+ ",+ R"F'(*"+ 0'#%1#%2$+
:*;$ <=>#3$ ?#D9+ !-'+ $"**"4%#')+ %4+ &'F%*"+ &%+ 0'#%1#%+ #'%+ !"#,("#*%+
&'44)+ *()&%G%"#'+ &'4+ 345+ )&+ '6%$"&%D+ 6/(+ $"**"4%#')#&"+ !-'+ /#+ !'(*"+
M5"7'5'#*+,("5+6)("&Q+*"+$"!%)4+$)*%('D+,("5+$"S!)44'&+T$%!82+,"(5$+
&<'+&*3+'.#)3#<'%&':53)&$&:53+,)'5"*&.6'#-%,3)#/','.,/3+,)',)%#.,%3&-'&<'
6(''U%$*%#1+*'U*/)4+6)()&%15$9+:VB<=+N#+MW-'+N*)4%)#+0/$*'(+ X')*"#Y+
1&>#.%&' 2#-3;-3E$' !"#$ ?*(>3#2+ )#&+ *-'+ Z"5%!+ [)!-%#'D9+ \%44%)5+
])#+ \)*$"#+ 6"#'+ %#+ '7%&'#G)+ %#+ 5)#%'()+ )4*('**)#*"+ %#*'('$$)#*'+ '+
&"!/5'#*)*)+ 42%#^/'#G)+ &%+ 5"$*(%+ $)!(%+ &'44)+ !"5%!%*_+ >/)4%+ X')*"#+
'+Z-)64%#D+),,'(5)#&"+!-'+M0'#%1#%+&%7'(1'$+,("5+X')*"#+6(%5)(%4Q+
3-' %#.*$' &<' %5#' ,.%3$%3+' 3-%#-%' &<' 53$' 45,:)3-#$A"#' $&+3&:&)3%3+,)'
)5F%*%"#$D+ )4*-"/1-+ )(*%$*%!+ %#*'#*+ )#&+ )(*%$*%!+ ',,'!*+ &"+ #"*+ )4.)Q$+
!"#
$%%&'()*+),!"%#!%&'9+:``S`@<=+N#+M@*"((A$B3#,,"&(*a+b2N*)4%)+#'4+!)4'%&"$!"6%"D9+
I*>#.%&' H,++5#.3' $&$%3#-#' +5#' B),' :.&%#$%,' $&+3,)#' /3' 2#-3;-3' #'
Z'()5%+E+%#$'(%*)+'+>/)$%+&%$$%5/4)*)+#'44)+$'(%'+%#3#%*)+&%+%55)1%#%+
$6'!/4)(%+ '+ $%55'*(%!-'+ !-'D+ !"5'+ %#+ /#+ !)4'%&"$!"6%"D+ &_+ 7%*)+ )44'+
/3(#.$#':.&$:#%%3(#6','(&)%#'+&*3+5#6','(&)%#'$#.3#'#','(&)%#'%.,;3+5#6'
!-'+>/'$*"+345+",,('+$/44)+(')4*_+%*)4%)#)+&'%+6(%5%+)##%+#"7)#*)9+:;;;<=+
J3%%&.3&'K&-%#*,;;36'3-'BLM#.+5N'-&-'5&'$+.3%%&'),'%&'&(.$)*++#C&.Y+
c'(!-d+ #"#+ !2-"+ 6'#$)*"ea+ K)#*'2$+ )*++#C&.' ,-/' %5#' 4&*3+' F.%'
",+R"F'(*"+0'#%1#%D9+$%+$",,'(5)+%#7'!'+$/44'+7)(%'+"!!)$%"#%+%#+!/%+
M0'#%1#%2$+."(8+5)Q+F'+$''#+*"+$-)('+$%5%4)(+'*-%!)4+)#&+*-'"4"1%!)4+
&Q#)5%!$+ *"+ *-'+ )*++#C&.9+ :;;f<=+ N+ &/'+ $)11%+ !-'+ !"#!4/&"#"+ 4)+
6(%5)+6)(*'+&'4+4%F("+",,("#"+%#3#'+/#)+F(%44)#*'+)#)4%$%+!"56)()*)+&'%+
5'!!)#%$5%+%&'"4"1%!"S!/4*/()4%+!-'+)#%5)#"+%4+!%#'5)+&%+0'#%1#%=+N#+
B2#-3;-3E$'9&(*,,"&*D+"(+*-'+W)4'+",+)+I)%4'&+O)*%"#)4+N!"#D9+R'F'!!)+
\'$*+)#)4%GG)+>/'$*)+6'44%!"4)+%#+>/)#*"+M*'44%#1+!"55'#*)(Q+"#+g/$*+
-".+ #)*%"#)4+ %!"#$+ ."(89+ :;VB<h+ 5'#*('+ %#+ M0'#%1#%2$+ c"$*5"&'(#+
L*"('-"/$'+",+Z/4*/('D9+]%!*"(%)+X%(8-)5+$"$*%'#'+!-'+)+!)()**'(%GG)('+
%+ 345+ &'4+ ('1%$*)+ $%)+ /#+ !"$*)#*'+ M,'4%!%*"/$+ 6"$*5"&'(#+ 6)$*%!-'9+
:;VA<=
O,' $#+&-/,' $#=3&-#' /#)' (&)"*#' G' /,)' %3%&)&' BF' M.3$*,%3+'
b""8+ )*+ 6&/#$ &>$ 4#.;3&/;89+ J+ $%+ )6('+ !"#+ %4+ $)11%"+ M0'#%1#%2$+ b%,'S
),3(5%#1+b%'a+6&/#$&>$4#.;3&/;8',$',-'F#$%5#%3+',-/'K&.,)'1#$:&-$#'
*"+ *-'+ i"4"!)/$*D9+ %#+ !/%+ P','#+ 0)("#+ ),,'(5)+ 6"4'5%!)5'#*'+ !-'+
%4+345+%#+>/'$*%"#'+E+M6"$$%F4Q+*-'+5"$*++*2.88A+)!!/()*'+345+)F"/*+
*-'+i"4"!)/$*+'7'(+5)&'D9+)$$'('#&"+!-'+M%#+%*$+('g'!*%"#+",+5%5'*%!+
(')4%$5D+ %*+ ",,'($+ 6"%1#)#*+ 5'*)S!%#'5)*%!+ !"55'#*)(Q+ )F"/*+ *-'+
4%5%*)*%"#$+ ",+ )(*+ %#+ %5%*)*%#1+ *-'+ /#:(')4%*Q<+ ",+ *-'+ i"4"!)/$*+ )#&+
)F"/*+ *-'+ #''&+ *"+ 3#&+ #'.+ )(*%$*%!+ .)Q$+ *"+ '#1)1'+ .%*-+ *-'+ '7'#*9+
:;CA<=+b)/()+b'"#)(&"D+%#+M6.$3*23.$#3&*=#$#$&8$,.'.88*$#12#*P'K#%,:5&.'
[Q*-"6"'%)+ )#&+ LQ5F"4%$5+ %#+ 6&/#$ &>$ 4#.;3&/;8D9+ (%*%'#'+ !-'+ %4+ 345+
7)&)+!"#$%&'()*"+M)+5'*)6-"(%!)4+*()#$6"$%*%"#+",+,)$!%$*+5Q*-$+)#&+
6("6)1)#&)+*"+,)%(Q+*)4'$+!)#"#$9+:ABf<h+5'#*('+%#+M6&/#$&>$4#.;3&/;8$
)#&+*-'+c("*'!*%"#+",+N##"!'#!'a+I)F4'D+I)%(Q+W)4'+"(+j/$*+kU!/$'$Y9+
P()!'+ R/$$"+ 0/44)("+ $%+ $",,'(5)+ $/44)+ &%,,'('#G)+ *()+ M,)F4'9+ :%4+
*'(5%#'+6%l+!"5/#'5'#*'+/$)*"+6'(+&'$!(%7'('+%4+345<+'+M,)%(Q+*)4'D9+
,.;&*#-%,-/&'+5#6'3-' (3.%Q'/#))E".==A$ #(C&(56' A"#$%E")%3*&' $,.#>>#'
<&.$#' A"#))&' :3Q' ,::.&:.3,%&?' D#))E3-%#.(#-%&'+5#' $#;"#6' BK,' ),' (3%,'
!./
$%%&'()*+),E+ &)77'("+ F'44)Y+ b"+ $6'**)!"4"+ &'442m4"!)/$*"D+ "77'("+ &'4+ #/"7"+
D&3>,"D9+ k(5%#%)+ c)$$)##)#*%+ $%+ %#*'(("1)+ $/44)+ 4'1%**%5%*_+ &'442/$"+
&'44)+L-")-+!"5'+$,"#&"+)&+/#)+!"55'&%)=+N+&/'+$)11%+!-'+!-%/&"#"+
%4+7"4/5'+J+MnO"+W(/'+K)(8#'$$Ye+W-'+Z(%*%!)4+R'$6"#$'+*"+6&/#$&>$
4#.;3&/;8+ %#+ N*)4Q+ )#&+H/$*()4%)D9+ &%+ [%(#)+ Z%!%"#%+ '+ M0(')8%#1+ *-'+
Z"55)#&5'#*$+ ",+ i"4"!)/$*+ R'6('$'#*)*%"#Y+ Z"#^%!*%#1+ P'#('+
kU6'!*)*%"#$+ %#+H/&%'#!'+ R'$6"#$'$+ *"+ B,"&(C8#2E>$ 6&>3' ,-/' 6&/#$ &>$
4#.;3&/;8D9+ &%+ j)#%!'+ \'#&%+ I'(#-'%5'(+ J+ $%+ "!!/6)#"+ %#7'!'+ &'44)+
(%!'G%"#'+&'4+345=+Z%!%"#%+$%+$",,'(5)+$/4+1%/&%G%"+&'14%+%#*'44'**/)4%+
3%,)3,-3' #/' ,"$%.,)3,-36' *#-%.#' R#.-5#3*#.' "%3)3==,' )E@-%#.-#%' K&(3#'
K)*)+0)$'+:...=%5&F=!"5<+6'(+6("6"(('+/#+(),,("#*"+*()+4'+"6%#%"#%+
&'4+6/FF4%!"+$/4+345+&%+0'#%1#%+(%$6'**"+)+>/'44"+&%+L6%'4F'(1=++++++++
' 2#-' +&-+#:3%&6' ;#-#.&$,*#-%#' ,.;&*#-%,%&' #' .3++&' /3' #+53'
%#*'(*'$*/)4%+!-'+#"#+5)#!)#"+&%+$6%#1'('+%4+4'**"('+)+#/"7'+(%^'$$%"#%D+
4#A*(C$ 6&/#$ &>$ 4#.;3&/;8+ E+ $'#G)+ &/FF%"+ /#2"**%5)+ %#*'1()G%"#'+
,)' :,-&.,*,' /#;)3' $%"/3' 3-' )3-;",' 3-;)#$#' $")' +3-#*,' 3%,)3,-&'
+&-%#*:&.,-#&6' :&3+5N' &<<.#' "-,' /&+"*#-%,%,' #/' ,::.&<&-/3%,'
%#*("&/G%"#'+ )4+ 5"#&"+ &%+ R"F'(*"+ 0'#%1#%+ ('1%$*)+ '&+ )/*"('+ :"4*('+
!-'+)**"('<D+&)#&"+%4+1%/$*"+$6)G%"+)4+6%l+!"#*("7'($"+:5)+)4*('**)#*"+
6"6"4)('<+&'%+$/"%+345=+K)+$"**"4%#')('+%#3#'+4)+6("$6'**%7)+14"F)4'+
!-'+ '5'(1'+ &)%+ 7)(%+ $)11%+ :#"7'+ %#+ %#14'$'+ '+ *('+ %#+ %*)4%)#"<+ )+ !/()+
&%+ $*/&%"$%+ 6("7'#%'#*%+ &)+ P()#+ 0('*)1#)D+ L*)*%+ o#%*%+ '&+ H/$*()4%)h+
"-,' :.&$:#%%3(,' "%3)#' ,' /3$3--#$+,.#' )#' $%#.3)3' :&)#*3+5#' +5#' 5,--&'
,++&*:,;-,%&'6.$'&3.$7$1#88.'$3-'/,)),'$",'"$+3%,':#.'$";;#.3.#6'3-(#+#6'
-"&(3' &.3#-%,*#-%3' +.3%3+3' "%3)3' ,' +&*:.#-/#.#' ,::3#-&' ),' :&.%,%,'
%&'"4"1%!)+'+!/4*/()4'+&'4+345=++
I/47%"+m($%**"++++++++++ZHbNImRONH+LWHWk+oON]kRLNWpD+ZiNZm+
!/(,/#&D#;0/-&9-/'2,."4),/)+2$'/"$:,4&),%$0'34,':"%+)"4$':$".,%."'"'
:$".,4"':"%+,%."-&&E/,#;*5&E/F%)/)=&>?GG-&&9A-&>?>
D&-' +,:3%,' $:#$$&' /3' )#;;#.#' "-' )3>.&6' :&3' .3)#;;#.)&' (,.3#'
(&)%#6'#',/'&;-3')#%%".,'(#/#.#'+.#$+#.#'3)':.&:.3&',::.#==,*#-%&'#/'
#-%"$3,$*&'$3,':#.')E&:#.,'$%#$$,6'+5#':#.'),':#.$&-,'+5#')E5,'+&-+#:3%&'
#'.#,)3==,%&?
!.!