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Adriano Bulla
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The Road to London Paperback – November 18, 2013

by Adriano Bulla (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars 27 ratings
A light... A birth... A journey... An escape-not just from the whispering noise of expectations but from the growing awareness of a different life, a different path, a different quest. The greatest love letters are written in prose but bring forth the poet's heart, awakening in the receiver an equal passion-or so the writer hopes. This love letter tells the story of how I reach London, how I reach you, My Dear, how I come to love so deeply, so truly and completely. The journey was not easy, beloved. I faced many ugly trials on this narrow path-but also tests that were... Fun, naughty, spicy and the stuff of memories which will make me smile into my old age, whether you are with me or not. I have no regrets, My Dear, except one... Just one...
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  1. Print length
    154 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Netherworld Books
  4. Publication date
    November 18, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.36 x 7.99 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1909224898
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1909224896
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

SYNOPSISWhen time and place play tricks with your birth, what can you do apart from creating your own imaginary world, then run away from your own creation, to a new life?A boy is born, some time in the recent past, in Milan, Italy, yet backwards when concerned with 'different' sexualities, and Fate wants this boy not only to be of an intellectually and socially dominant nature, but of a sexually and emotionally gay and submissive disposition.Unable to explain himself to himself, unable to relate to the world, this soul creates his own world, through dreams, drugs, alcohol and lies, while from a distant place, a club in London, and maybe from his future, if he ever learns to fly, letters to his beloved My Dear look back at his life in Italy with parallels in a romance yet to be.He tries to be 'normal' and have relationships with girls, he tries to be honest, and open himself up to his love and friend, but life has decided only pain, rejection and suffering should come of it, for the time being at least.But little glimpses into another, maybe possible life, sparkle here and there through his life, his dreams and into his heart....REVIEWS'...a brilliant short novel.' - San Francisco Book Review'...an impressive work of art.' -Lit Art Magazine'It definitely elevates the genre to a new level' - Markus Indie Book Reviews'...something very special'; '...the poetic and color-fueled imagery in the style of writing that holds The Road To London above anything else that I have read this year'; 'The Road To London is a novel that truly should be read by as many people as possible - Bulla has through vibrant and poetic use of language created a modern day classic!' - Paul Martin, SPS'The writing style is almost impossible to describe, as I do not think anything like has ever been written. Apart from the seamless mixing of different narratives already described, the novel uses poetry and music quite frequently, especially when the situation becomes emotional, important and tense...This novel has been an eye-opener for me: it looks at the world from a perspective that I had never considered, just in between the conscious and the subconscious, between the individual and the universal.'- The Book Review Circle'Exceptionally innovative and creative, The Road to London is a daring novel, a book unlike any other before. It did not come to me as a surprise to read critics asking for it to be entered for the Man Booker Prize: we finally have a gay novel to represent us in the firmament of great literature: The Road to London.' - The Gay UK Magazine'Yes, beautiful is the first word that comes to mind when reading The Road to London: impressively so, originally so and idiosyncratically so... all the qualities of a classic.' -Gay-Literature.com'This novel is gay like the Bible is for Jews.' '...it simply cannot be forgotten.'  - Roger Hardy's Literary BlogFROM AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR ON THE AUTHORS' SHOW'...most readers of The Road to London had never picked up a gay or LGBT-themed book before.' This is not a gay novel, but a novel with a gay protagonist...From the Back CoverA light... A birth... A journey... An escape--not just from the whispering noise of expectations but from the growing awareness of a different life, a different path, a different quest. The greatest love letters are written in prose but bring forth the poet's heart, awakening in the receiver an equal passion--or so the writer hopes. This love letter tells the story of how I reach London, how I reach you, My Dear, how I come to love so deeply, so truly and completely. The journey was not easy, beloved. I faced many ugly trials on this narrow path--but also tests that were... Fun, naughty, spicy and the stuff of memories which will make me smile into my old age, whether you are with me or not. I have no regrets, My Dear, except one... Just one... It took me too long to find you...

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Netherworld Books (November 18, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 154 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1909224898
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1909224896
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.36 x 7.99 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 27 ratings

About the author

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Adriano Bulla

Adriano Bulla

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Adriano Bulla defines himself 'a servant of Calliope': he does not choose when to write; poems and prose come to him unexpectedly, with a force he cannot resist.

Born in Italy, he now lives in London, his adoptive city.

He has always refused to stick to genres and formats, experimenting with new voices and new forms of expression.

Accredited with creating new forms of poetry, for example the 'flicker poems' he has recently dedicated himself to prose, with short stories and the novel 'The Road to London'.

'The Road to London' is a quirky, dark, surreal, erotic romance/ Bildungsroman about a boy who grows up in denial of himself and his sexuality, and creates a world of lies, dreams and drug-induced hallucinations. Facing bullying and discrimination, he tries to appear 'normal' on the outside, but inside... It follows how childhood dreams change into sexual preferences, in his case fetishist, during puberty and become part of his identity as a young adult. It follows how love for a girl causes so much pain that he transfers his passion, deep and strong, as uncontrollable as the waves of the ocean that divides him from his real self, a recurrent theme in the novel, to his male friends.

Living in a 'grey city' where dreams are suppressed, letters coming from his possible future, in London, and narrate the story of the love of his life, My Dear, that takes place in a club in London... But My Dear, beautiful and tall, is cruel to him, why?

The style of the novel has been described as... 'impossible to describe', but surreal and intense, at times prosaic and at times 'heroically poetic', and compared to the music of Stravinsky or the paintings of Dali: there are poems in the novel as well as songs, artistic but accessible.

'Ybo' and Other Lies' collects a series of experimental poems including the erotic 'Between Dreams' which describes a kiss shared while sleeping, the 'flickers', poems on war, identity, angst and death.

'Tales' contains three very 'dense' stories about sexuality and religion based on characters and episodes of 'The Road to London'.

His academic writings included 'The Labyrinth of Grammar', an intensive course from 0 to 100 for EFL/ESL/English and MFL teachers and advanced students, 'The Mariner's Inferno' is a scholarly study revealing how Coleridge's Rime was, against previous belief, heavily influenced by Dante's Commedia.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
27 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's writing exquisite and descriptive, with one review noting its original metaphors. Moreover, the story is relatable and emotionally engaging, with one customer describing it as a poetic adolescent voyage. Additionally, the book receives praise for its beauty, with one review highlighting its dreamlike sequences.

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6 customers mention "Emotional depth"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, describing it as an engaging journey of self-discovery and self-realization, with one customer noting it provides a higher level of understanding and thought.

"...know well by book's end and yet who still retain that magical sense of questioning identities is an achievement that will be difficult to emulate by..." Read more

"...Many will find this book relatable beyond their imagination and exceed all expectations if you desire a book that allows you to read its very..." Read more

"...The emotion was so raw and riveting. I felt like all of the heartbreak, fear, love, confusion, pain, and joy was happening to me...." Read more

"...At times a colloquial narrative and, at others, heroically poetic, it is a tale of a soul adrift on a sea of adolescent uncertainty, honest, quirky..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, describing it as exquisite and poetic, with one customer noting its original metaphors.

"...but also is the matrix on which Adriano builds some of the most exquisite writing of our time...." Read more

"...“The Road to London” is a bold and brave piece of writing worthy of significant recognition...." Read more

"...Due to his excellent writing skills, Adriano carries you along the journey of adolescence through a young man’s eyes...." Read more

"...At times a colloquial narrative and, at others, heroically poetic, it is a tale of a soul adrift on a sea of adolescent uncertainty, honest, quirky..." Read more

4 customers mention "Storytelling"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling of the book, finding the narrative relatable, with one customer describing it as a poetic adolescent voyage and another noting its fascinating structure.

"...This unique work is at once fascinating in structure and profoundly moving in its afterburn. Adriano Bulla is light and air and talent...." Read more

"...The style in which the story is told is absolutely brilliant...." Read more

"...The emotion was so raw and riveting. I felt like all of the heartbreak, fear, love, confusion, pain, and joy was happening to me...." Read more

"A poetic adolescent voyage..." Read more

3 customers mention "Beauty"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one mentioning the dreamlike sequences and another describing it as a coming-of-age novel.

"This is a beautiful coming-of-age novel that is unlike anything I have read in a great while...." Read more

"...The descriptive writing and dreamlike sequences are beautiful and his metaphors are original, unusual and so effective that you go back to absorb..." Read more

"..."The Road To London" is one the most honest and artistic looks at just this sort of thing...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Grady Harp
    5.0 out of 5 stars `You were so upset my heart stopped, the music stopped, London stopped, the universe stopped for you, waiting.'
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Adriano Bulla defines himself 'a servant of Calliope': he does not choose when to write; poems and prose come to him unexpectedly, with a force he cannot resist. Born in Italy, he now lives in London, his adoptive city. He has always refused to stick to genres and formats, experimenting with new voices and new forms of expression. This reader's introduction to his art was his collection of poems - QUEER POEMS - and to find a writer who is as successful with the novel format as with poetry is rare. But Adriano accomplishes this in this luminously beautiful book - THE ROAD TO LONDON.

    For the purpose of introduction the author offers the synopsis/concept: ` When time and place play tricks with your birth, what can you do apart from creating your own imaginary world, then run away from your own creation, to a new life? A boy is born, some time in the recent past, in Milan, Italy, yet backwards when concerned with 'different' sexualities, and Fate wants this boy not only to be of an intellectually and socially dominant nature, but of a sexually and emotionally gay and submissive disposition. Unable to explain himself to himself, unable to relate to the world, this soul creates his own world, through dreams, drugs, alcohol and lies, while from a distant place, a club in London, and maybe from his future, if he ever learns to fly, letters to his beloved My Dear look back at his life in Italy with parallels in a romance yet to be. He tries to be 'normal' and have relationships with girls, he tries to be honest, and open himself up to his love and friend, but life has decided only pain, rejection and suffering should come of it, for the time being at least. But little glimpses into another, maybe possible life, sparkle here and there through his life, his dreams and into his heart....'

    Yes, this is a story or a memoir, but also is the matrix on which Adriano builds some of the most exquisite writing of our time. His ability to cross time barriers, enter psyches, create people whom we know well by book's end and yet who still retain that magical sense of questioning identities is an achievement that will be difficult to emulate by others. His movement from Milan to London is not unlike that journey from prepubescent sexual identity through longing for definition to embracing lust and love that Adriano traces as sensual Italy to cerebral England. And while sharing this little miracle of a book he pauses with moments such as `A snow flake fell in front of me and fell to the ground, making no noise. I couldn't hear the music. I couldn't hear my heart. The fire had gone out; all that was left were ashes.' And he interweaves poetry into the discourse:

    Waves
    Swelling,
    The Ocean
    Moans

    Across
    The universe

    Light
    Swells

    Waves
    Mount,
    Rise
    And fall

    Around me

    Light
    Fills
    Controls,
    And fades

    Inside me.

    Few writers (except perhaps James Joyce, Italo Calvino, Jamie O'Neill) have been able to find that tenuous thread of re-creation of the coming of age sexually with the skill Adriano Bulla finds so easily. This unique work is at once fascinating in structure and profoundly moving in its afterburn. Adriano Bulla is light and air and talent. Grady Harp, April 15
    2 people found this helpful
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  • G Jackson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly Unique
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I guarantee you have never experienced a book like “The Road to London”. She is truly brilliant and in a class of her own. Adriano Bulla uses unconventional storytelling to pen an amazing, saddening, fascinating and emotion invoking journey of self.

    The individual stories each relay moments that may seem trivial to some but represent significant instances that shaped the author. This book is a highly recommended read for anyone that has struggled with their sexuality or lived a lie so great they found it suffocating. Many will find this book relatable beyond their imagination and exceed all expectations if you desire a book that allows you to read its very soul.

    The style in which the story is told is absolutely brilliant. The author uses poetry and music to convey the tone of events, shaping the author’s and reader’s consciousness in some subtle and some overt ways.

    “The Road to London” is a bold and brave piece of writing worthy of significant recognition. I applaud the author for their courage in not only telling the story but also the higher level of understanding and thought that went into the creation of such work. Adriano Bulla reveals the struggles, confusion, duress and familial and societal stressors experienced as a youth as his sexual identity takes shape. I could not specify one particular genre to classify this book. Some may consider it an Erotic Romance. Yes, there is definitely Erotica and Romance on the pages but the overall takeaway from Bulla’s writing is so much more than what one would find in the usual Erotica/Romance story. Truly, it is so far outside the box that there is no singular category or classification. Bulla appears to naturally incorporate significant wit and humor into the writing that I suspect flows just as naturally from him in everyday communications and conversations. His personality shines through as the reader is given a first-hand account of his boyhood experiences. Again, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Superbly unique read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Alex
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Written Novel
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a beautiful coming-of-age novel that is unlike anything I have read in a great while. I’m so happy I was able to experience the brilliance depicted in this book.

    The Road to London by Adriano Bulla is a page-turner about a boy from Milan, Italy who must discover himself through his terrifying journey of adolescence. Along the way, he makes mistakes and experiences many trials and tribulations, but that’s what makes the story so nostalgic. I think everyone who reads The Road to London will find a way to empathize with the protagonist. Adolescence is hard for most people, but his struggle with his sexuality reminds us that courage can be found in the most unlikely places.

    The writing in this book is full of passion and detail. I felt like I was reading moving poetry. Adriano was able to create well-developed characters while describing the ever-changing setting in a detailed way that made me feel like I was actually there. Due to his excellent writing skills, Adriano carries you along the journey of adolescence through a young man’s eyes. I guarantee you’ll be left speechless.

    I feel like this book is going to stay with me for a while, and I’ll probably go back and re-read it. The emotion was so raw and riveting. I felt like all of the heartbreak, fear, love, confusion, pain, and joy was happening to me. The story is so relatable yet eye-opening. I believe everyone would benefit from reading The Road to London. I’ll be darned if it doesn’t make you take a look at your own life and choices and question whether or not you’re being the truest “you” that you can be.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • A. Kessler
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love Adriano!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    “The Road to London” attracted my attention with its multiple points of view and approaches to the different issues such as discrimination, alcohol, drugs, ambition, disorders, depression, sexual orientation, expectations, love, abandonment, steroids and so on…

    “The Road to London” can be well defined as a quirky, dark, surreal and erotic story, but it is incredibly effective thanks to the writing style of author Adriano Bulla. It is beautifully written by his unique way.

    “The Road to London” is a journey to the world of seen and un-seen, truth and lies, soul and soulless, laugh and cry… all play as haunting melody for this lyric: “a light... a birth... a journey... an escape—not just from the whispering noise of expectations but from the growing awareness of a different life, a different path, a different quest.”

    There are no surprises but it is enjoyable to see how you, as a reader may (not) be able to connect with the trauma within “the Road to London” since it truly draws out feelings and causes you to emotionally and physically react. It is nice to experience!
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  • Note
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book that everyone should read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I rarely read books more than once let alone twice in the same month. The Road to London is unlike anything I have read before: relatively short however incredibly dense and easy to read, with a poetic style that rewards the reader the more they reflect on the book. It deals with love, relationships, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, insecurity and, most importantly I feel, the soul. The story follows the nameless protagonist as he grows up in Milan and tries to understand himself or so it seems at first... it is dark, beautiful, quirky, witty and compelling.
    There are a few books I think everyone should read: this being one of them. It is relevant to everyone.'She' becomes part of the mind, alters its colours and never leaves. I felt sadder and wiser after reading it.
    Booker Prize?
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  • Roger M. Kean
    4.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant evocation of an uncertain growing up
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    "The Road to London" is a mesmerizing experience, wryly humorous and moving; the way it flows between prose and poetry fits the dreamlike progress from sexual uncertainty to apotheosis, from “gray God’s toilet” Milan to coruscating, disco-brilliant London. This is the secular Pilgrim’s Progress of “I” from the sanctity of childhood to the profanity of adult existence, painfully achieved by an inverted boy who uses his cast of friends as steps on the ladder of his own self-realization (and final acceptance for what he is).

    Adriano Bulla is one of those writers who seems to find an insightful way of painting everyday experiences in a way that catches the attention for its freshness, who moves from dreamy lyricism to down-to-earth revelation in a sentence. In this way of writing there are moments which remind of the fantasy/reality structure of Italo Calvino’s "Cosmicomics", which in its faux-science proclaimed “Know thyself,” and in its own way "The Road to London" is a voyage of similar discovery.
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  • StarSign
    5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive view of the struggles of life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A book for just about everyone who has struggled through finding their own meaning in life, this book's title does not do justice to the love, loss, despair, crisis and the fight to save yourself contained within its pages. Some parts left me gaping at the monstrosity of our world and how similar everyone's struggles are. Adriano Bulla's masterpiece covers every detail of the story and yet leaves you hungry for more at the end.

    However, you do need a little knowledge of literature to fully appreciate his genius.

    A must read.
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  • AndyK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed reading this
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed reading The Road to London. The characters are authentic, and I found that many of their experiences mirrored my own, and left me feeling quite nostalgic for my formative years - I even dug out my old Pink Floyd tapes!
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