Everything Calls for Salvation

Reading Daniele Mencarelli’s novel, 'Everything Calls for Salvation,' offers a deeply introspective journey, rendered through evocative prose that captures the protagonist’s unique inner voice. The book explores mental health with sensitivity, authenticity, and unapologetic honesty, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the raw turbulence of Dani’s experiences. The narrative not only delves into pain and confusion but also celebrates the glimpses of humanity, hope, and redemption found in unexpected moments. The novel conveys more nuanced internal monologues and a deeper exploration of the protagonist’s psyche than what can be portrayed on screen. Through written words, readers can spend more time digesting complex emotions, philosophical questions, and subtle transformations. These literary nuances often get lost in adaptations, where time constraints and visual storytelling dominate. While the TV series offers a compelling adaptation, the novel remains an unfiltered exploration of institutionalization, relationships, and healing, urging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and society. Embracing the book allows one to experience the original source’s literary artistry, uncovering layers of meaning and emotional truth at a pace and depth unique to literature.

One significant difference between the adaptation and the original novel lies in narrative pacing. The TV series, structured around episodic storytelling, compresses and occasionally rearranges events to maintain dramatic tension and fit the serialized format. In contrast, the novel unfolds in a more meditative way, capturing the protagonist’s reflections and gradual emotional evolution with greater fidelity. Characterization also diverges between the two mediums. The novel delves deeply into Dani’s internal struggles, offering an intimate, detailed portrayal of his thoughts and uncertainties. Secondary characters in the novel are given rich backstories and moments of personal revelation, which sometimes get streamlined or altered in the series to prioritize visual storytelling, leaving some storylines less developed. The adaptation introduces visual stylization and heightened emotional scenes to communicate distress and camaraderie among patients, sometimes emphasizing drama over the book’s quieter, introspective moments. Certain subplots present in the novel are omitted or significantly changed for pacing and accessibility, shifting the thematic focus slightly from the personal to the collective experience. Finally, the tone of the book is more ambiguous and poetic, with the author’s language shaping the mood and themes in a way unique to literature. The TV series translates much of the story to screen but cannot replicate the full depth of Mencarelli’s prose. Readers of the novel will notice a richer exploration of hope, despair, and the pursuit of salvation, rendered with the unique intimacy that only the written word can provide.