Four Italian novels to read

During the holidays one of my favourite activities is reading.

I usually prefer romance books, generally with a dual-timeline, but I’m open to other genres too like thriller and fantasy books.

I generally read these books in English, just to improve my English skills.

If you like reading, and want to improve your Italian too, in this article I’m going to list some of the best Italian novels of 2016 according to Italian readers.

These Italian novels are of different genres, so maybe among them you can find at least one novel you’d like to read.

L’estate fredda by Gianrico Carofiglio

1992, Bari. Some mafia clans are at war. Ambushes, killings, shootings and other disturbing events shake the city but when the son of a clan boss is kidnapped, Marshal Pietro Fenoglio realizes that the worst is yet to come.

Then, the dead body of the kidnapped child is found in a well and the mafia boss who started the war, and is considered the main suspect of the kidnapping, decides to cooperate with the police.

The boss starts to explain how the war started, adding also details about his criminal actions but denying any responsibility for the murder of the child.

The pieces of information he gives to the police aren’t enough to determine who is responsible for the murder of the child. And Marshal Fenoglio starts to understand that if he really wants to uncover the truth about the kidnapping, he will have to dig deeper into the illegal side of the city.

Here’s the link if you want to buy L’estate fredda.

Mio fratello rincorre i dinosauri by Giacomo Mazzariol

When you are a 5 years old male and have two sisters, you dream of a little brother with whom you can play.

Then, one evening your parents tell you that you will actually have a brother soon and that he will be very special.

You’re so happy for the news that you even choose a name for him, Giovanni.

Then you start to thing that if your little brother is really as special as your parents have told you, then he will surely be like a superhero.

But then Giovanni arrives and he has no super powers at all. He’s surely different but not in the way you expected. Giovanni’s affected by Down’s syndrome.

Suddenly, your happiness becomes refusal and refusal becomes shame.

It’s only years later that you start to understand that not only is Giovanni really special but he’s also your best friend.

Here’s the link if you want to buy Mio fratello rincorre i dinosauri.

Breve storia di due amiche per sempre by Francesca Del Rosso

Tessa and Clara were best friends when they were children. Back then they promised to each other that they would have been friends forever.

However, one day Clara disappears from Tessa’s life without an explanation and Tessa, hurt and confused, does nothing to try to contact her again.

Years later, Tessa is married and has a son. One day, she discovers her husband is unfaithful to her and she react in a strange way: she starts thinking about all the memories she shares with Clara.

It doesn’t take long since the two women meet again. They have changed, they have different interests but it seems that their friendship hasn’t died yet.

And when they’ll find themselves in Abruzzo, in the house where they used to play when they were children, the reason of Clara’s disappearance will be finally explained.

Here’s the link if you want to buy Breve storia di due amiche per sempre.

Teutoburgo by Valerio Massimo Manfredi

9 A.D. Armin and Wulf are two brothers, sons of the king of a germanic tribe, Armin.

Armin is very respected by his tribe, but had one weakness: he had a secret friendship with Druso, a Roman General that, unfortunately, had a short life.

One day, while Armin and Wulf are outside their village, they are captured by Romans and brought to Rome.

Being two princes, Armin and Wulf are educated like they were Romans, they change their names in Arminius and Flavius, and they soon become two Roman captains, respected even by the Emperor Augusto in person.

One day, they are ordered to command the German auxilia, people that share their same blood.

But have they really become true Romans or being among their people will change their destiny once again?

Here’s the link if you want to buy Teutoburgo.

 

Have you already read one of these Italian novels? Did you like it?
If you haven’t read one of these Italian novels yet, which one would you like to read?

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Credits

Original image by JeongGuHyeok