On one side of the balance scale, we have authors who wonder if there is anyone reading their books. On the other side, however, we have authors who are pretty sure that their books have been noticed by readers not only who love them but also who want the authors to pay with their dear lives.

Salman Rushdie is threatened by a fatwā because of his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses; Roberto Saviano, on the other hand, is threatened by Naples Mob because of his bestselling book Gomorrah (Gomorra in Italian). Both of them require protection and their lives could no longer be the same.

Gomorra by Matteo Garrone, the film adaptation of the bestselling book, tells five seemly disconnected stories. One of them is particularly appealing to Chinese audience. On one of the scenes, a song sang by Teresa Teng can be heard clearly in the background. It is as if traveling in a hostile foreign land, and at a turn of the corner, hearing a familiar tune from home. The sudden influx of nostalgia is unforgettable. However, the Chinese cloth manufacturer depicted in the film is merely a small territory overshadowed by the Camorra. The organized crime has established a way of living among Neapolitan districts, among men and women, among old and young. There is no discrimination.

See also:

• Office site (English)