In the world of mathematics, prime numbers stand alone, connected only to themselves and the number one. In this award-winning first novel from Italy’s Paolo Giordano , the “prime” are Alice and Mattia, two young misfits deeply wounded by tragedies early in their lives. They meet as youngsters, the connection is instantaneous and the book follows their troubled but fascinating lives. At 27, Giordano is the youngest-ever winner of Italy’s most prestigious literary prize; his complex yet cathartic book clearly shows why. (EEW)