'The Imperfectionists' by Tom Rachman - Book Review

The Imperfectionists is Tom Rachman’s first published novel, written from his experiences working for an Italian newspaper. While his writing has the journalistic feel of a good news story, Rachman’s voice is empathetic and natural as each chapter takes on a personal anecdote of someone who works for the paper. In many ways, The Imperfectionists feels like a classic find of a time gone by, a smoke-filled newsroom with old world personalities quickly becoming ghosts in the modern world.

The Imperfectionists begins with establishing an English-language paper in Rome. This newspaper is a perfect metaphor for Rachman’s small treat of a novel. With the Internet empire continuing to grow, it feels good to know that there’s still a small niche that strives to speak the foreign language of printed news, even if it is becoming less and less the foundation for communication moving forward.

The Imperfectionists deals with a myriad of characters that struggle to write news stories as much as they struggle to keep their own personal stories going. For every argument, promotion, demotion and agreement necessary to publish a paper each week, there are even more goings on with the characters as they attempt to repair and streamline their own spun out lives. Take Arthur Gopal. He writes obits. Not much for ambition. But after a tragedy in his own life occurs as he attempts to write the perfect obit for a dying author, he finds the spark necessary to make strides in his writing, profession and career.

Gopal’s is just one of many stories that Rachman puts together for this snarky, sympathetic bunch that attempt to keep their ragtag industry going. While this novel came out in the spring, I recommend picking up The Imperfectionists this winter. For the cold months, Rachman’s debut feels as warmly nostalgic as beginning the morning waking up to a newspaper and a cup of Joe.