Kufre Usanga reviews Penny Busetto's The Story of Anna P, as Told by Herself

The Story of Anna P as Told by Herself is a powerful debut novel by Penny Busetto.

It is in memoir style, bereft of chapters, but filled with daily entries and comes in three sections; Book of the Present, Book of Memory and Book of the Future. Written predominantly in English with sprinklings of Italian, the latter yields readily to a reader without need for translation.

Starting in media res, the author’s first person narration of the first section forces a deep connection between the reader and the narrator making it not just a gripping, personal tale but also urgent. This means you smile and soar with the narrator even as you fall and cry too. The novel raises crucial questions like: What is memory? Can you trust or depend on your memory? Who are you without your memory?

Book of the Present gives a stark narrative about life, loneliness, friendship, pain, lust and abuse. Anna P resides on an Italian island of which she has no recollection of how she got there, but has lived there for twenty years, teaching English language in a children school.

It is routine until Ispettore Lupo of Polizia di Stato surfaces with calls, letters and threats compelling her to visit the police station every other week for questioning as if she is a prime suspect in a crime. From this point on, the story not only draws you in, it twists your intestines and sends chills roaming freely all over you. It is through Anna P’s journey to meet Ispettore Lupo who abuses his power every Friday in Rome that other events unfold and one cannot help wondering why she allows such.

Anna P encounters different levels of sexual assault from different men so that when it appears the heroine has committed murders in self defense, it is almost impossible for the reader to condemn her.  Inspectore Lupo’s sexual assault of Anna P mirrors the abuse Ugo suffers silently from his uncle and aunt  –  all figures who are supposed to protect them.  In retrospect, it is therefore not surprising that Anna P rescues Ugo not minding the price she pays for that.

Book of Memory takes the reader to Anna P’s childhood years and chronicles her mental and psychological breakdown. From the sexual abuse she suffers at the hands of her father, to murdering him, to her cousin’s abuse and subsequent betrayal which engenders her loss of voice.

Her silence is unbroken by the doctors, therapies and the sessions of electrocution therapy she suffers. Bothered by such an unfathomable, yet deep psychological problems of her daughter, Anna P’s mother sends her to Italy hoping the new environment will work wonders. And while studying in Italy, Anna discovers that heterosexual relationships are unable to heal the deep wounds inflicted by her past. This haunts and explains why she finds warmth in the arms of Sabrina- a call girl.

Book of the Future shows the journey of two bruised souls (Anna P & Ugo) finding solace in the comfort of each other’s trust and dependence. Together they escape the darkness of their past in search of a better future. A picture of two outlaws running from the known, abuse, fear and uncertainty, to a life of freedom is what the book of future shows- this in itself is an accomplishment and growth.

That Anna P extends herself to care for another hurting and abused soul is testament to her humanity. The journey motif progresses from enslavement to freedom, from fear to courage and from victimhood to victory. That Anna P and Ugo find succour and comfort within a rustic family and community appeals to me.

It can be said that there is no word out of place in this emotional roller-coaster. I can already see a touching movie made out of it. Every single word is in place. Spectacular editing! The author’s boldness runs through her prose and her choice of themes, and this is commendable.

It is memorable, pleasing, touching and sad at the same time. I love it. This is not your typical novel about abuse and pain.

Penny Busetto is unabashedly uninterested in your pity parties, sympathy or mockery. Her heroine is a survivor and the tale moves along those lines.

Most importantly, the author’s environmental sensitivity shows forth in her reference to ecological challenges like climate change, pollution and the steady decline in biodiversity due to man’s endangerment of the flora and fauna through anthropocentricism.

This is not just another African novel written about life in a foreign land, this is a novel of the world as it resonates and reverberates through all humanity.

With such a carefully structured work, it therefore comes as no surprise that the novel won the European Union Literary award (2013) and was short listed for the Etisalat Prize for Literature.

Kufre Usangais a blogger, literary critic who loves and adore books. Read her other interesting book reviews at www.naturequill.wordpress.com and follow her on Twitter @thelmatweets. This review was culled from her website with her permission.

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