100 Days of Happiness
A Novel
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4.4 • 37 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
“Funny, moving. . . I defy anyone to finish this story without tears in their eyes.” —Graeme Simsion, bestselling author of The Rosie Project
What would you do if you knew you only had 100 days left to live? For Lucio Battistini, it’s a chance to spend the rest of his life the way he always should have—by making every moment count.
Imperfect, unfaithful, but loveable Lucio has been thrown out of the house by his wife and is sleeping at his father-in-law’s bombolini bakery when he learns he has inoperable cancer. So begin the last hundred days of Lucio’s life, as he attempts to right his wrongs, win back his wife (the love of his life and afterlife), and spend the next three months enjoying every moment with a zest he hasn’t felt in years. In 100 epigrammatic chapters—one for each of Lucio’s remaining days on earth—100 Days of Happiness is as delicious as a hot doughnut and a morning cappuccino.
Wistful, touching, and often hilarious, 100 Days of Happiness reminds us all to remember the preciousness of life and what matters most.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Immensely readable and infectious, this warm and insightful novel follows a terminal cancer patient in San Lorenzo, Italy, through his last wishes and life's goals. Presented as a memoir, it's a stream-of-consciousness revelation of the joys and fears of life interspersed with pearls of wisdom. Water polo coach and gym instructor Lucio Battistini provides a first-person account of his discovery of late-stage liver cancer and his to-do list for his 100 days left. He wants to see his beloved water polo team succeed; play practical jokes with best friends Umberto and Corrado; treat children Lorenzo and Eva to a trans-European vacation; find a girlfriend for widowed father-in-law Oscar, who always has fresh hot doughnuts ready in his bakery; and apologize to reluctant wife Paola, whom he cheated on. Lucio names his tumor Fritz, is obsessed with over-achiever Leonardo da Vinci, and provides opinions on chemotherapy, illness, and suicide. Brizzi's enchanting and often humorous story encourages readers to start now on their to-do lists.
Customer Reviews
Makes you think
I’d like to say that I really enjoyed this book, but that wouldn’t be quite right. It was interesting in places, boring in places, & thought provoking in places. I was glad to get to the end & a little sad, too. I was a voyeur along for a 100 day trip to the end of a man’s life.
Loved it
I first read the sample of this book, before purchasing it. I laughed out loud several times. I purchased immediately. Then I started reading and found the surprise. Not sure if I wanted to continue to read....I continued to read, at the authors suggestion. I'm so glad I did! The main character, Lucio, is an imperfect, but very likable person, as are all of the characters. This story will find you laughing out loud, and crying at this same time. Thank you, Fausto, for an incredible read.
Blessings,
Rozanne Kassian :)