The empty modern life of two digital nomads

Living and working in a metropolis as a digital nomad or creative professional, on a terrace with your laptop and a latte macchiato. A dream for many people, doing well on social media. That is what The Perfections is all about, the short novel with which Vincenzo Latronico made it to the longlist of the Premio Strega, the most important Italian literary prize. The author set his story in Berlin, the city where he himself lives and works.

Hip expats

Main characters Tom and Anna are such hip creative professionals: they both work as freelancers in graphic design. Many of their friends follow the standard life pattern of steady job, house, family. The couple has no desire for such a predictable, limited life, so they move to Berlin, to try their luck as expats in that bustling, free metropolis.

They get a nice flat and have a vibrant social life with plenty of art and culture, booze, drugs and culinary delights. The fact that their new group of friends - also all expats - constantly changes composition and the relationships remain rather superficial does little at first to alter this 'perfect picture'.

But after a few years, more and more friends opt for a steady job, children, return home. Meanwhile, abundant, free Berlin is being flooded by younger and richer newcomers, making houses scarce and prices soaring.

Out of range

Anna and Tom, longing without knowing exactly what for, want to get involved in refugee relief, but aid organisations only want people who can do something. A new adventure in Lisbon, and then Sicily, also ends in disappointment. Happiness is always at their feet, but always just out of reach. The ideal pictures in Tom and Anna's heads, just like the photos they post of their near-perfect lives, never really match reality.

With a clinical eye and in a dry, matter-of-fact style, Latronico describes modern, mundane life in this comedy of manners. Main characters Anna and Tom remain flat, which is no doubt Latronico's intention: it almost feels like watching a documentary about some kind of animal. An effective form that perfectly reflects the content: neither reader nor main characters are really touched. A full and rich life, and at the same time so appallingly empty and poor - you could laugh at it if it were not at the same time so desolate.

The world Latronico evokes is recognisable, especially for Amsterdammers. Probably confrontational, for those in the category of young people described. And disconcerting, for other readers, who are left with a sense of unease.