Review published on Edunews24.it
https://edunews24.it/cultura/una-vita-quasi-perfetta-di-patrizia-ciava-tra-dolore-etica-e-libert-di-scegliere
The new novel by Patrizia Ciava explores the depths of moral choices and the courage of freedom in extreme situations
Table of Contents
• Introduction
• The Value of a Choice: The Plot and Its Implications
• Patrizia Ciava: A New Voice in Contemporary Italian Literature
• Coma as a Metaphor in Existential Novels
• The Composer’s Inner Conflict: Two Intertwining Stories
• The Freedom to Decide Life and Death: Reflections on Moral Issues
• Ethics and Withdrawal of Life Support: Between Law, Emotions, and Responsibility
• Critical Reception and Cultural Impact of the Novel
• Contemporary Italian Literature and the Centrality of Moral Choices
• Summary and Final Reflections
Introduction
One of the most fascinating features of contemporary Italian literature is its ability to address complex existential themes, prompting readers to question the deeper meaning of human life, interpersonal relationships, and the decisions life forces upon us. Patrizia Ciava’s new novel, A Life almost perfect, fits perfectly into this genre, offering a touching and intense story that invites both personal and collective reflection.
In existential novels like this, moral choices are never simple or obvious. The protagonist faces the most difficult decision of all: whether to withdraw life support from her husband, who is in a deep coma following an accident. Simultaneously, the life of a famous composer—also tormented internally—intertwines with the main storyline, enriching the debate on freedom, suffering, and the intimacy of human judgment.
The Value of a Choice: The Plot and Its Implications
In A Life almost perfect, Patrizia Ciava crafts a narrative rich in pathos, grounded in urgent ethical questions. The novel’s core revolves around the freedom to decide on life and death for a loved one and the possibility of doing what’s right even when there’s no perfect answer.
The protagonist—a woman raised in a traditional family with strong ethical values—is suddenly faced with a turning point. Her husband, victim of a serious accident, is in a permanent vegetative state. Doctors ask her the question no spouse ever wants to hear: “Do you want us to withdraw life support?” The drama unfolds in the silence of a hospital room, amid memories of their past life and the silent voices of guilt, duty, and love.
Through a smooth yet emotionally powerful style, the author vividly conveys the clash between rational decision-making and the emotional storm it brings. As the days pass, the protagonist reflects on what her husband would have wanted, on her own moral values, on the pain of loss, and on the hope for a medical miracle to overturn the irreversible.
With natural ease and without falling into cliché, A Life almost perfect tackles highly relevant issues like living wills, dignity of life, and the weight of moral decisions that affect not just the individual but the entire family, professional, and social circles.
Patrizia Ciava: A New Voice in Contemporary Italian Literature
This new book confirms Patrizia Ciava’s rise as a prominent author in the contemporary Italian literary scene. With elegant and precise writing, Ciava displays a remarkable ability to inhabit her characters, offering readers authentic emotions and profound insights.
A Life almost perfect marks a significant milestone in her literary career. The novel gains depth through its multi-voiced, multi-layered narrative, harmoniously blending personal and social themes. Ciava proves to be a sensitive interpreter of the pressing questions that run through today’s society, especially regarding the right to choose one’s own fate and that of others.
Coma as a Metaphor in Existential Novels
The coma—a central element in other novels about coma as well—emerges here as a powerful metaphor for emotional and moral stagnation in situations of absolute uncertainty. The body is present, but the mind absent: a symbol of the suspended state in which life hangs by a thread between science and fate.
The author masterfully depicts waiting and confronting death not only as medical conditions but above all as human—and in some ways philosophical—experiences. This encourages the reader to reflect on the very meaning of will, on the act of letting go, and on the undying hope that supports families and friends during long hospitalizations.
At the same time, coma becomes a metaphor for our indecisions, the moments when every action feels suspended, the difficulty of accepting the irreversibility of events, and the need to ultimately make a free yet painful choice. In this way, Ciava’s novel aligns itself with other great existential works in international literature, while remaining firmly grounded in the specifics of Italian society.
The Composer’s Inner Conflict: Two Intertwining Stories
Alongside the main plot, A Life almost perfect offers a psychological portrait of a famous composer. Known for his talent, the man is also tormented: fearful of not meeting expectations, burdened by success, and haunted by guilt over artistic and personal choices made in his youth.
The portrayal of the composer’s suffering—far from the spotlight—adds another layer of introspection and broadens the novel’s scope. A dual narrative emerges, in which art and music are used to reflect on invisible wounds, irreparable mistakes, and the search for forgiveness and redemption.
Ciava weaves the two stories together with finesse, showing how moral choices unite all human beings, regardless of social status, fame, or artistic skill. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to universalize the ethical dilemmas faced by its characters, fostering empathy in the reader.
The Freedom to Decide Life and Death: Reflections on Moral Issues
One of the most valuable aspects of A Life almost perfect is its in-depth exploration of the freedom to decide life and death for someone in a permanent state of unconsciousness. The author handles this topic with great sensitivity, alternating private introspection with broader discussions about the right to self-determination and respecting patients’ final wishes.
The protagonist and her family are forced to face a question that deeply shakes our collective conscience: to what extent is it acceptable to impose one’s own vision on someone who can no longer decide? Where does compassion end and moral responsibility begin? Ciava suggests there are no easy answers, yet encourages readers to reflect on the unique value of freedom and the price it sometimes demands.
These themes resonate with recent developments in Italian public discourse, particularly surrounding end-of-life issues and the right to withdraw life support. The novel thus enters a literary tradition that confronts humanity with its most intimate contradictions, reminding us that true freedom always comes with profound responsibility.
Ethics and Withdrawal of Life Support: Between Law, Emotions, and Responsibility
As the story unfolds, the close relationship between withdrawal of life support, personal ethics, and the law becomes increasingly evident. The author shows how the boundary between justice and mercy is fragile and often subject to the interpretations of those directly involved.
Ciava explores the legal and ethical nuances of the story: the protagonist interacts with doctors, family members, and herself, torn between the desire to release her husband from suffering and the fear of making an irreversible decision. The narrative includes realistic and well-documented details: from medical procedures to psychological counseling, from legal steps to consultations with the hospital’s ethics board. This approach enriches the novel, making it a valuable resource for those seeking to better understand the complexities of end-of-life cases and contemporary debates on the subject.
Every secondary character—doctors, nurses, friends, relatives—expresses a different point of view, highlighting the diversity of perspectives in today’s society. Ciava avoids being didactic, instead offering a polyphonic narrative where readers are invited to form their own opinions without final judgments, while emphasizing the importance of dialogue and reflection.
Critical Reception and Cultural Impact of the Novel
Despite being recently published on May 23, 2025, A Life almost perfect has already sparked wide debate in literary and cultural circles. Given the sensitive topics it addresses, many critics have praised the novel’s ability to explore watershed issues such as living wills, the right to a dignified death, the exercise of personal freedom, and the dialogue between science, ethics, and spirituality.
Among the most acclaimed strengths:
• The psychological depth and emotional realism of the characters
• A narrative structure that alternates between different timelines and perspectives
• The relevance of the themes and the ongoing tension between private and public dimensions
• The balance between storytelling, informative content, and philosophical inquiry
In this light, the novel stands as a top candidate among the leading Italian existential novels of 2025, and is poised to become a part of the year’s major literary discussions.
Contemporary Italian Literature and the Centrality of Moral Choices
Patrizia Ciava rightfully joins the ranks of authors whose work reflects the vitality of contemporary Italian literature. In recent years, many writers have chosen to explore the delicate balance between identity, values, scientific progress, and timeless questions, offering insights into current policies on health, family, self-determination, and dignity.
A Life almost perfect takes readers on this journey, positioning itself among the cultural books of 2025 that aim not only to entertain but to inspire genuine ethical reflection. Thanks to novels like this, moral choices cease to be abstract concepts and instead take on a human face—made of doubt, fear, hope, courage, and a healthy dose of vulnerability.
Summary and Final Reflections
In conclusion, A Life almost perfect by Patrizia Ciava is essential reading for anyone who wishes to reflect on life’s major questions—life and death, personal freedom, and responsibility toward others. The novel addresses these pressing issues not with rhetoric, but with sensitivity and authenticity, making them accessible to a wide audience: from casual readers to scholars of moral philosophy, and anyone who lives daily with their own true dilemmas.
The work stands out as one of the existential novels most likely to leave a lasting impression—not only in Italian literature, but in the hearts of all those who seek answers to their deepest questions in literature.
Published: May 23, 2025 at 07:13
Translated into English by the author
Patrizia Ciava 
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