I have often reviewed books by this prolific writer - Ghall-Imhabba ta' Lesbjana (1997), Miss Wilma (2011), Lavberds (2012), Barnet l-Ispizjar (2012), and Ossessjoni (2013).

This is his latest book, like many of its predecessors it is a collection of short stories, 11 in all.

As in other books, the author's childhood environment in Qormi and employment in the health service come to the fore.

Working in the health sector exposes one to the reality that many people live, away from the political spin, a reality made up of sick people, pain, lack of hope (Ulied Stella).

Filomela tells the story of a person of indeterminate gender (native of Paola this time) coming from a diehard Labour family who adore Dom Mintoff, where the father is a 'Padre padrone' who expects his wife to slave away. The two children are very different: one is studious and obedient and the other is a born rebel.

The dysfunctional family comes from other dysfunctional pasts: the grandmother who served in so many ways a Rotarian priest. And then there is the great-grandmother ... The upshot is the quiet studious son, who has gender identity problems.

There are two stories which impressed me.

Bla Nifs tells the story of a nurse who has to deal with a very sick immigrant along with a huge workload that rushes nurses off their feet.

The best story, in my opinion, is Una nox dormienda (from Catullus), the story of a junkie, a single mother with a junkie child, who has sold everything in the house and has nothing to live for. (There are also snippets from the Qormi background indicating a drug scene that is too close to reality).

The junkie protagonist is best seen in the cover picture by Naomi Gatt - a portrayal of people who are 'wounded', the flipside of the official euphoric spin that all is well and blooming.

 

Authour: Carmel Scicluna

Publisher: Horizons, 2014

Extent: 163 pp