The Imperfectionists

The Imperfectionists
By Tom Rachman
Dial Press, 2010. 272 pgs. Fiction

The Imperfectionists is about an English language newspaper published out of Rome. Each chapter tells about a different individual associated with the paper and then concludes with a brief history of the newspaper’s history, beginning at its founding and proceeding through the different owners and editors. Featured protagonists include a driven editor, a troubled obituary writer, a lonely accounts payable officer, and an overwhelmed publisher. Each story illuminates a new aspect of the working environment and personality of the paper as it struggles to survive in a digital world.

At its core, this is a collection of short stories, though they are each connected and enrich each other with different insights and perspectives. I finished the book wanting a little more of each character’s story, which is common for me when I read short works of fiction. They just never seem to give me enough. Rachman is undoubtedly a good writer and while I didn’t love The Imperfectionists, I liked it well enough and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Olive Kitteridge.

CZ