For your convenience we have created a short selection of Italian books.
- Seta di Stefano Baricco
- L'ultima lacrima di Stefano Benni
- Il visconte dimezzato di Italo Calvino
- La forma dell'acqua di Andrea Camilleri
- Le avventure di Pinocchio di Carlo Collodi
- Il nome della rosa di Umberto Eco
- Lettera a un bambino mai nato di Oriana Fallaci
- Lessico famigliare di Natalia Ginzburg
- Arlecchino servitore di due padroni di Carlo Goldoni
- Se questo è un uomo di Primo Levi
- Almost blue di Carlo Lucarelli
- La lunga vita di Marianna Ucria di Dacia Maraini
- La storia di Elsa Morante
- Racconti romani di Alberto Moravia
- Una ballata del mare salato di Hugo Pratt
- Il nuovo che avanza di Michele Serra
- L'avventura di un povero cristiano di Ignazio Silone
"Seta": a very delicate and passionate love story by Stefano Baricco, one of the most celebrated Italian contemporary writers. Other suggested books by the same author are: "Oceano mare" and "900". |
"L'ultima lacrima": a collection of short stories by Stefano Benni, a brilliant and ironic contemporary writer. The best story in the book is "Fratello Bancomat", a surreal dialogue between a cash machine and the bank client. Strongly recommended! Other suggested books are: "Il bar sotto il mare" and "Spiriti". |
"Il visconte dimezzato":a very funny tale by Italo Calvino, one of the most classic, refined and renowned Italian writers. Other suggested books by the same author are: "Il barone rampante", "Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno" and "Lezioni americane". |
"La forma dell'acqua": a mistery story and chief inspector Salvo Montalbano; a powerful combination. The writer is the colorful and inventive, Carlo Camilleri, who likes to use many Sicilian expressions and recipes in his writing. Other suggested books by the same author are: "Il cane di terracotta", "La bolla di componenda" and "La concessione del telefono". |
"Le avventure di Pinocchio": here it is! One of the classics of Italian literature, written by restless writer Carlo Lorenzini (alias Collodi). Collodi wrote the book in 1880 and you will find a few obsolete expressions in the book. However, reading the original version of "Le avventure di Pinocchio" is always enjoyble (and very different from watching the Disney version on TV!) |
"Il nome della rosa": a masterwork by Umberto Eco. A mistery story that will bring you back to the Middleage and the life in the monasteries. Very suggestive. (And you may skip the beginning pages with the long historical explanations, if you feel like it!) Other suggested books by the same author are: "Il pendolo di Foucault" and "L'isola del giorno prima". |
"Lettera a un bambino mai nato": the dramatic monologue, the letter, and the story of a woman and her choice between being or not being a mother. By Oriana Fallaci, writer and journalist, aways involved with war, peace and women issues. |
"Lessico famigliare": a beautiful tale of a family and the stories of each member. By Natalia Ginzburg, one of the best Italian writers. |
"Arlecchino, servitore di due padroni": a delicious comedy by Carlo Goldoni (1707-1793), the milestone of Italian theatre. After its reading, you will know more about the 'Commedia dell'Arte', Italian theatre and carnival. (The book presents many expressions in Venetian dialect). |
"Se questo è un uomo": a clearcut report about life in a concentration camp. By Primo Levi, a writer above the rules, and an excellent man. |
"Almost blue": a 'noir' by Carlo Lucarelli, interesting and captivating contemporary writer. The book will absorb you and surprise until the end. |
"La lunga vita di Marianna Ucria": an historical novel, the story of a woman who could not talk. See how she finds the way to express her opinion and decide for her life. By Dacia Maraini, a very active, contemporary writer. |
"La storia": an unusual parallel between history and daily life in war time. By Elsa Morante, one of the most brilliant and profound Italian writers. Other suggested books by the same author are: "L'isola di Arturo". |
"Racconti romani": a collection of short stories by Alberto Moravia, one of the most renowned Italian writers. (The book presents many expressions in Roman dialect). Other suggested books by the same author are: "Gli indifferenti", "La noia". |
| "Una ballata del mare salato": a tale through comic strips, by Hugo Pratt, the creator of the famous sailor Corto Maltese. Follow Corto in his trip, and capture his fantastic and adventurous spirit. |
| "Il nuovo che avanza": a collection of short stories by Michele Serra, an ironic and sharp contemporary writer and journalist. In particular, you might enjoy the story "L'assassino" a comic-noir about a man who cannot accept modern life. |
| "L'avventura di un povero cristiano": a moving and profound tale about pope Celestino V, the only pope in history who renounced the title. By Ignazio Silone, a writer who always defended the right of the poors against the violence of power. |
Search on Amazon or on another online bookstores for your favorite Italian book.