A swift look at the lending rubber stamp dates on the inside of books in Maltese at the public library will tell you that prose in the way of novels will instantly catch the eyes of those who love reading and they will be eager to lay their hands on these type of books, settle down and enjoy a good story.

I am convinced that a book secretly mirrors the author in thought and conduct. Life experience is a great influencer since it teaches us many lessons and so, in writing, it is subconsciously merged with the fiction the author is about to create. His environment, happenings, beliefs and his good or evil traits are all factors that tend to emerge at some stage of the narrative or other.

The hot from the press, Ir-Raġel li ġie mal-lejl, penned by Alfred Massa will, I believe, be one of the widely read novels. Massa, who is a very talented writer and has already written several novels besides poetry books, certainly knows how to grab the readers' attention. He chooses a good sized, clear font on ecru paper which makes for easier reading. Moreover, he goes for short sentences so as to not drag and make the reader lose interest in the story. The chapters are not overly long and the twists he introduces, as well as the side characters, all contribute to enhance the value of the story itself.

As one can immediately guess from looking at the cover, the overall setting of the story is rural.  The Maltese windmill standing in a field against the night sky provides the background to a man's profile. The story is based on a family of three: a mother with two children, the woman having lost her husband early in life. As one sifts through the pages, one can realize that the protagonists' lifestyle could easily be Maltese: the simple life of the fields, the hired worker, the catholic morals and behaviour of the members of the family throughout, the everlasting bond of love and respect towards each other and the hospitality we show towards others in need that we are so renowned for.

Without uncovering too much of the story, I can say that the events follow each other without diverting too much from the original plot. Meandering, the story flows smoothly, then goes on to end with a twist that leaves you pondering, finally coming to the conclusion that all that glitters is not always gold. One realizes that through the ages, trends haven't changed much, in that life always manages to bring forth dark, deceiving characters that weave their way stealthily into other people's lives to rule over the gullible minds. However smart we think we are, sometimes we may find ourselves in situations where we are fooled enough to buy into anything which proves attractive to us, to then be disappointed when the truth comes out. When the reader thinks he knows how the story will end, he finds himself mistaken as another totally unexpected suggestion appears and he is left to draw his own conclusion.

I recommend this book to all novel lovers as it provides for good, easy reading which one certainly needs after a hard day's work when the mind needs to relax and unwind in order to set the stage for a good night's rest.