Favole Periodiche: La Vita Avventurosa Degli Elementi Chimici (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
An interesting book, probably better read a chapter or two at a time as opposed to my usual all-at-once technique. Reading it in one stretch, the stories get rather repetitive and the writing style tiring. For about the first two-thirds of the book it held my interest. It is almost completely anecdotal, telling the stories surrounding the isolation and naming of a number of the elements as well as the author's personal quest to obtain some or at least visit a place connected to the element. I found a number of the British colloquialisms jarring, and some outright confusing, but that can be the nature of a conversational book. More than once the book seemed to be wrapping up nicely to a conclusion with some generalizations about human curiosity and the nature of the Earth and so on, but then just kept going. I was pretty over it by the last part, "Earth," mostly about the admittedly un-glamorous work of Swedish scientists isolating the "rare earth" elements. It could have been my fatigue on the subject, perhaps his coming through in the writing, or the feeling of obligation that these never-heralded scientists get their name down somewhere with whatever bits of their story can be found. It really did feel tacked on in relation to the earlier, more dynamic stories.Overall interesting and definitely worth the read, I just wish for... I'm not sure what exactly, since I don't think excluding the more obscure elements is the answer. Maybe more graceful editing, or less repetitive writing. But this is more the wish to improve something already interesting that has the potential to be a bit more. I didn't finish this book because I became bored before the end.The writing meanders all over the place, and the order of the elements described seems fairly arbitrarily chosen. While there are some interesting facts and anecdotes, this is heavily padded with tedious rambling. It's a real shame as I found the concept very attractive, but the book was neither what I was expecting nor particularly good.
What do You think about Favole Periodiche: La Vita Avventurosa Degli Elementi Chimici (2011)?
Entertaining and informative! Had many more art/architecture/craft facts than I anticipated.
—Beza
a really fantastic read! much like bill bryson's books, but directed at the elements1
—krishna
Interesting, but not fascinating. Well worth reading and written well.
—shanshan3
Really enjoyed this!! Read some of it to Liz
—ghygbkuhgkhu
