More reading
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Gala Placidia
Angela Fuller
Admin
7 posters
The Italy Forum :: Culture :: Culture
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More reading
I'm afraid I'm boringly predictable and can only think of posts concerning books I have read, but as I haven't posted for a long time thought it was better than nothing. In fact it is about a book (actually a quartet of books but I am still on the first one) that I am loving reading. I had never heard of Elena Ferrante before I started reading reviews of the last book of the Neapolitan Quartet just before Christmas and I thought it was worth requesting a copy of the first one, My Brilliant Friend , to see if I liked it before reading the others. I love it.It is about the friendship of two girls growing up in a poor part of Naples in the 1950's and beyond . As it says on the blurb, not just a memorable story of two women but also the story of a nation. I'm sure some of you will have read them already.
One more thing for Montalbano fans - the author is discussing the books on BBC 4 tomorrow at 7pm.
I will be going to Italy near the end of Feb so maybe I'll find something else to write about!
One more thing for Montalbano fans - the author is discussing the books on BBC 4 tomorrow at 7pm.
I will be going to Italy near the end of Feb so maybe I'll find something else to write about!
la alma- Elder
- Posts : 102
Join date : 2013-06-19
Re: More reading
Might as well answer myself if no-one else is interested. I have now finished My Brilliant Friend and cant wait to start the next one in the quartet. It is even more interesting to me as the girls/teenagers/women are more or less the same generation as me so I can compare life here from their childhood onwards as they grew up in Naples.To quote from the reviews - " Ferrante is unlike other writers - not because she's innovative but rather because she's unselfconscious and brutally, diligently honest" "The Neapolitan cycle is an unconditional masterpiece...."
The first book, certainly, is unputdownable. That's why I feel compelled to share it.
The first book, certainly, is unputdownable. That's why I feel compelled to share it.
la alma- Elder
- Posts : 102
Join date : 2013-06-19
Re: More reading
Thank you La Alma - I'm interested! Sorry if I didn't reply sooner. My Italian friend recommended her books a while ago and you have just reminded me of them.
I am just reading Head over Heel by Chris Harrison. It is his story of falling in love with an Italian girl from Salento. I am really enjoying it becuase of it's tone. It doesn't fall into the usual style of these books - jaded ex-pat moaning about Italy or only seeing everything through rose-tinted specs. I am really enjoying it because he has clearly read and references one of my favourite books on Italy and Italians - The Italians by Luigi Barzini.
I am just reading Head over Heel by Chris Harrison. It is his story of falling in love with an Italian girl from Salento. I am really enjoying it becuase of it's tone. It doesn't fall into the usual style of these books - jaded ex-pat moaning about Italy or only seeing everything through rose-tinted specs. I am really enjoying it because he has clearly read and references one of my favourite books on Italy and Italians - The Italians by Luigi Barzini.
Admin- Admin
- Location : Italy
Posts : 714
Join date : 2013-05-16
Re: More reading
Yes, thank you La Alma for the recomendation. I have just looked up 'My Brilliant Friend' on Amazon Kindle book store and it is available for £7.19...I am tempted...
Angela Fuller- Moderator
- Location : Le Marche
Posts : 746
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
Thanks for the recommendations. One of my favourite Italian books is "The Garden of the Finzi-Continis" by Giorgio Bassani http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/book-of-a-lifetime-the-garden-of-the-finzi-continis-by-giorgio-bassani-7734207.html
And I do agree in that it is a book of a lifetime. I have read it several times, in French and in Italian and I always come back to it. I will say that it ranks second on my list of favourites. Number one is "Il Gattopardo"
And I do agree in that it is a book of a lifetime. I have read it several times, in French and in Italian and I always come back to it. I will say that it ranks second on my list of favourites. Number one is "Il Gattopardo"
Gala Placidia- Moderator
- Posts : 1840
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
La Alma, I am reading 'My Brilliant Friend' and really enjoying it...thank you for recommending it !
Angela Fuller- Moderator
- Location : Le Marche
Posts : 746
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
I'm really glad you like it. I've now got all 4 books of the quartet. Just got back from Italy where it was mild but very wet, apart from the last two days which were beautiful - warm and sunny. We found that we had been invaded by a mouse/mice who had been feasting on our candles, so I had to put OH to work blocking possible entrances into "candle cafe", via slivers of cracks down into the cantina. Arrived home to sleet
and snow and freezing temperatures. I'll just have to sit by the fire and read!
and snow and freezing temperatures. I'll just have to sit by the fire and read!
la alma- Elder
- Posts : 102
Join date : 2013-06-19
Re: More reading
La Alma, enjoy the fire and books, nothing nicer. I will, I am sure, add the other 3 in the quartet to my reading list and books suggested by Gala too. Very cold wind blowing here (Marche), what with the wind chill factor I think the outside temps hovering around zero....those mice will be looking for more food and shelter !
Angela Fuller- Moderator
- Location : Le Marche
Posts : 746
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
I too will look up the books suggested by Gala and Admin. Thankyou both of you. I've got more time for reading now as I cut my working hours by half from my (recent) 65th birthday. I like my job but am looking forward to more "playtime".
la alma- Elder
- Posts : 102
Join date : 2013-06-19
Re: More reading
As you have more time available, la alma, you should read The Viceroys by Federico de Roberto. A wonderful novel.
Gala Placidia- Moderator
- Posts : 1840
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
I will see what I can do Gala when my pile of desperately waiting to be read books gets a bit lower.
la alma- Elder
- Posts : 102
Join date : 2013-06-19
Re: More reading
I know what you mean... I also tend to accumulate books which take me more than a year to start reading.
Gala Placidia- Moderator
- Posts : 1840
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
You seem to be able to get the Viceroy as a free download for Kindle and a few other formats.
Wife here has over 2000 kindle books to go through and has not even got past the first 250 or so.!!!
Wife here has over 2000 kindle books to go through and has not even got past the first 250 or so.!!!
Re: More reading
Thanks, Geo. I also have downloads pending... Not enough time!
Gala Placidia- Moderator
- Posts : 1840
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
Geo, I have just looked and 'The Viceroys' on Amazon KIndle is £14.24......what am I doing wrong ?
Angela Fuller- Moderator
- Location : Le Marche
Posts : 746
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
No worries Geo, my v poor Italian is not up to reading books yet.....but I too have many books to read in English, so will try to get head down and do better....
Angela Fuller- Moderator
- Location : Le Marche
Posts : 746
Join date : 2013-05-20
Re: More reading
I've read the four books, I couldn't stop. Elena Ferrante is addictive!
paolamar22- Newbie
- Posts : 1
Join date : 2016-04-03
Re: More reading
Thanks for the advice about Elena Ferrante!
Listener- Newbie
- Posts : 2
Join date : 2016-05-30
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