My choice for this question is a collection of stories by Gianni Rodari
Gianni Rodari has been one of my favourite writers since I was a child
I used to read his "Cipollino" even before knowing that he was an Italian author and it was one of my favourite books
And just recently I bought this new collection book
So Gianni Rodari's Cipollino and his other stories played a big part in my childhood
If you can, go and read it, because "Cipollino" is a story that makes you laugh and smile
but at the same time it makes you think. Back then I didn't know that this story had a strong social and political message, too.
"I promessi sposi" by Alessandro Manzoni
This book is probably a mixed blessing for the majority of Italian students
We read it at high school and a great part of the students hates it
some love it and I was quite lucky because
my teacher was amazing in explaining this story.
This book has been translated in English as "The betrothed"
The story is set in circa 1620
and it follows two young lovers
and all of the obstacles that they need to overcome
in order to find a way to be together
Stravaganza - Città delle stelle / City of stars *I was holding the wrong book*
Written by Mary Hoffman
This is the 2nd book in a series that is set in a parallel/fantasy/alternative world
And this second book is set in an "Italian" city, quite similar to Siena
So it's set in Tuscany (sort of)
I love this series, even if I never finished it
just because only the first three books have been translated
I'll try to read them in English
Even if I love this cover so much and it'll be a pity to read this book in a different edition... but oh well!
"Lucrezia Borgia" written by Maria Bellonci
Maria Bellonci is a writer that I already met while reading other books written by her
I love her way of writing, all the descriptions are very long and detailed yet pleasant
And I'm really fascinated by Lucrezia Borgia as a historical figure
that's why this is the first book that popped up in my mind
"The Decameron" by Giovanni Boccaccio
It's definitely a classic here in Italy
Students read parts of it at both middle and high school
And I like this book, even if I have to finish it
I never read it from cover to cover
So as soon as I can I'll re-start it in order to finish the whole book
"The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri
Again a huge book from my high school years (as you may see xD )
Back then we read almost all of the Inferno
but only bits from Purgatorio and Paradiso
So I'd love to read the whole book one day
Even if it's quite challenging, because
I don't know how the English translation looks like..maybe the language has been simplified
but I may assure you that reading it in Italian isn't an easy task
since the reader has to analyze each and every verse
So I'll see how it goes
but surely it's a book that I want to read as a whole sooner or later
"Fairy Oak - The Twins' Secret" by Elisabetta Gnone
I love Elisabetta Gnone
she's such a talented author
who knows how to convey very important messages through children/middle grade books
that each and every adult may still enjoy
Fairy Oak isn't her only trilogy/series by her
recently a sequel for "Olga di carta" was published
and I can't wait to read it
She is an author that I admire and that is hugely talented
The second Italian author is again someone that I used to love as a girl/teen
it's Licia Troisi and here I have "Nihal of the Land of the Wind"
If I'm right this book has been translated in English (yes I'm right xD)
This was one of the ... no I believe that it was the very first Italian fantasy book that I ever read (written by an Italian author in Italian)
I used to love it so much
and now I'm afraid to read it again (I never finished the second trilogy set in the same world)
because of the "Twilight" effect:
I used to love it back in the days, but maybe now I'll dislike it (just as it happened with Twilight)
I was quite young when I read it for the first time, so it may happen!
However I still remember this book with love
I cried while reading it (and it seldom happens)
So that's why I decided to speak about the author here
The third name that I have here is a male
it's an author that my stepfather adores (he owns almost all of the books written by him)
His name is Valerio Massimo Manfredi
and he mostly writes historical books
set in ancient Greece/Rome/Macedonia etc.
so quite a unique setting.
His books are always full of interesting details
and the stories are quite immersive
so that's why I admire this author.
I just had to speak about an author that I
discovered only this year...last year. I can't remember. No! this year, this spring
Her name is Goliarda Sapienza and the book is "The art of joy"
It's a book that I loved SO much. It was one of the best bookish presents ever
I learned so much while reading it, both about Italian history and the power of women and the way they tried to gain freedom and indipendence
Reading this book was amazing
because it was written in such a beautiful way
and both me and my stepfather enjoyed it
so it's a book that is enjoyable for both male and female readers
and I definitely recommend it
Moreover this book has been translated into English
As far as the next two names are concerned I believe that I don't even have to explain why they are here
and they are Italo Calvino
and Umberto Eco.
Italo Calvino is an author with a vast bibliography and I've already read a bunch of his books
His stories are always interesting and he writes them in such an ironic way (playing with concepts and language)
So reading his books is always a fun experience and I'm sure that a lot of his stories have been translated, since he's so famous.
The second name that I have here is Umberto Eco
and here again I love the way the author plays and uses the language
I hope that the translated version is as good as the original
so that the reader can understand how much effort and passion he puts in his stories
The one that I'm holding is "The name of the rose"
that inspired the creation of the famous old movie with Sean Connery
I was about to say Sean Bean xD
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