I wasn’t going to read this book. I couldn’t imagine that Geopetto could carry a whole story on his own, but oh boy can he. Pinnochio is the least interesting of the inventions he describes in this book. “Ill-face” takes that prize I believe. His haunting presence was by far the most interesting part of this tale of exile and survival. I especially enjoyed the stories of the women Geopetto loved. Olivia and Laura were my favorites, as unconventional as they may be, and Maria herself ultimately becomes his greatest love. This was a very weird book, utterly surprising, and entirely worth the two hours I gave it.