In the Book, as in the Movie: Director Paolo Sorrentino Presents Italy and Today's World (Video)

The Neapolitan pop singer admits that he hates everyone—old people for their slowness, young people for their self-righteousness, and children for their loudness. But most of all, he hates himself.

"Literature has always been an unattainable world; I always wanted to write a novel. The hero of this novel is Tony Pagoda, a nightclub singer from the 1970s and '80s, a prototype of the Italian light music performer. He is a heavy cocaine user and a lover of women and parties, yet he is also an emotional character with profound humanism. He uses drugs but claims he is not a drug addict. 'Life is a lie,' so Tony uses cocaine to help him cope with life."

A whirlwind of thoughts, memories from the past, a lot of emotion, and a misanthropic superstar—Tony Pagoda is convinced that success means not caring about anyone. The main character spares no one: himself, his wife, friends, or fans. He delves into their emotions from the stage, exposing them, and reserves the right to play with their souls, as the woman who broke his heart has left him with nothing but suffering.

"Why did I choose the image of a singer?" Pop singers of that era had access to diverse social circles and met many different people, from intellectuals to dubious personalities. Tony Pagoda represents an entire generation of Italians, including my father. They followed the laws of their own world."

As in his films, Sorrentino seduces, moving from the conscious to the unconscious, chattering, and sometimes remaining silent. Critics sometimes accuse Sorrentino of being evasive because he often hides real pain, life, and passion behind words and characters. He does the same in his book. Behind every character—noble patriarchs, mafiosos, singers, musicians, and drug addicts—lies the writer-director.

Each chapter of the book begins with a soundtrack. Each chapter can be read alongside the corresponding song, and by the end of the book, the reader will have compiled a substantial and wonderful playlist.

The title "Everybody's Right" is the conclusion of one of the characters. Close friends and beloved city have become estranged, and although everyone knows and loves him, the star feels alienated and alone. One day, the singer stops performing, leaves for Brazil, and lives as the Italian Dalai Lama, giving up everything.

"This is a novel about nostalgia, longing for one's homeland, a country where Tony Pagoda returns after 18 years of absence and no longer recognizes it. We Italians may not have been away for 18 years, but we no longer recognize our own country."

However, everything changes after 20 years. Although he escapes from Naples to Brazil to completely transform his life, he is continually haunted by the past, which forces him to change not only his life but also his perspectives on that life.