Light in August by W.Faulkner

This was my first experience with Faulkner. Since University at least, when I tried to read "Absalom" and I was completely horrified by it. I couldn't get into the story. Then I decided to give Faulkner another chance. And he didn't disappoint me. "Light in August" is a very good start with Faulkner. While I was reading the novel I felt a great familiarity with Steinbeck's novels, especially Grapes of Wrath in terms of style and the exploration of human nature. It is an accessible novel and within it Faulkner weaves together 3 different stories. The first is the story of Lena Grove who moved from Alabama to Mississippi in search of the father of her unborn child. The second one is the story of How Christmas, an abused orphan obsessed with the idea of having "negro blood",which was very dangerous in the South of the 60s. The third one is the story of Hightower, a disgraced preacher, marginalized by the society. The town of Jefferson becomes a character in itself. And through them Faulkner also weaves together other stories of a multitude of characters. In this novel Faulkner explores themes of racial identity, alienation, gender relations, father son relations. The narrative structure is also fascinating. We have entire chapters dedicated to each characters and the stream of consciousness. It also combines 3rd person narrative with interior monologues and lots of flashbacks. The point of view changes from one character to another and the narration travels back and forward in time and place, which allows the same scene to be described from different perspectives.

My reading list: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

My reading list: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell: I finished this beauty yesterday afternoon. I came to this novel, as it is the case for many readers through the BBC TV adaptation, which I ...

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I finished this beauty yesterday afternoon. I came to this novel, as it is the case for many readers through the BBC TV adaptation, which I watched a couple of years ago. There are so many words to say about it, way more than is need to simply tell the tale and the tale itself has its share of sentimentality and melodrama. Still, I loved every word of the book and every feeling I experienced that those words expressed. At the heart of the novel we have the relationship between two main characters: the ex-parson's daughter Margaret Hale and the mill owner and industrialist John Thornton. They come from different backgrounds, they have different attitudes and sensibilities. They represent two different worlds of England, Margaret is the world of the gentry from the agrarian south of England, and John is the self-made man of the industrial north. The difficulties in the relationship of Margaret and John are played out against turmoil of the Victorian England. Gaskell weaves into the novel the differences in attitude between the north and the south of the country as well as the conflict between capitalists and labour and the shifts in class and gender relations. 

LIA LEVI, "QUESTA SERA E' GIA' DOMANI"

Lia Levi, an Italian, Jewish writer and journalist was born in Pisa, on November 9th, 1931. At the beginning of 1940, she moves to Rome with her family, where she still lives. In 1943 she escapes the Jewish deportation and hides with her sisters in the religious Institute "Suore di San Giuseppe di Chambery". In 1967 she founded the Jewish magazine "Shalom". She also writes Young Adult novels. The novel "Questa sera è già domani " (Tonight is already tomorrow ) is another book part of the Strega Award of 2018. This is the second book that treats the same themes of racism, deportation in the Second World War. #premiostrega, #lialevi, #questaseraegiadomani, #bookstagram, #leggerelibri, #readbooks, #bookworm, #amolegggere

Marco Balzano "Resto Qui"

Marco Balzano is an Italian writer born in Milan in 1978. Apart from being a writer he is also a teacher. He published his first novel in 2010, "Il figlio del figlio" (The son of the son), a novel which was translated into German the following year. Apart from writing fiction, he also published two volumes of poetry and two non fiction books of essays, one of these about the Romantic poet Giacomo Leopardi. The novel "Resto qui" (I stay here) is his first novel nominated for the Strega Literary Award. It's part of the 12 longlist books. It is a story written in the form of a diary, letters sent by our main character Trina to her lost daughter. At the beginning of the Second World War , an Italian region called Alto Adige (German speakers predominantly ) becomes a negative target for Mussolini and his government. Many families chose to leave and go to Germany, Austria and even Switzerland. There are others who chose to stay. This novel focuses on them, their fight against the Mussolini government, survival during the war. Their hopes and dreams. The languages is beautiful and the portrayal of the characters is marvellous. I enjoyed this story very much and I cannot recommend it enough to all of you. #premiostrega, #marcobalzano, #restoqui

Strega Literary Award

Strega Prize is an Italian literary award establish for the first time in 1947. It is awarded every year for the best work of fiction published by an Italian author between May 1st and April 30th. It was founded by two Italian writers Maria and Goffredo Bellonci. At the beginning of 1944 they started a literary group called "Amici della domenica " (The Sunday Friends ) and in 1947 together with Guido Alberti, the founder of the Strega liqueur, inaugurated a prize for fiction, the winner being chosen by this literary group. This is the longlist of 12 novels chosen for 2018. On June 13th the shortlist of 5 books will be announced. #restoqui, #marcobolzano, #comeungiovaneuomo, #carlocarraba, #ilgioco, #carlodamicis, #lamdredieva, #silviaferreri, #laragazzaconlaleica, #helenajaneczek, #questaseraegiadomani, ##lialevi, #daltuoterrazzosivedecasamia, #elvismalaj, #sanguegiusto, # Francesca Melandri, #ilfiglioprediletto, #angelananetti, #lacorsara, #sandrapetrignani, #anniluce, #andreapomella, #lestanzedelladdio, #yariselvetella

A coming of age story

It's my first reading by Genovesi. It's a coming of age novel, as it follows the story of Fabio at the beginning a child who turns into a teenager. It reminded me so much of my childhood years and the beginning of my adolescence. Fabio is such an enjoyable story teller. I believe that we can all find a bit of ourselves in his stories. I thoroughly enjoyed Fabio's relationship with his father, especially the hospital period, when Fabio reads a story to his father every day for more than 2 years in order to help him come back from coma. The language is simple and yet so witty and humorous and touching. I cannot recommend it enough. 

Martin Luther King

Thank you Martin for paving our path!

Maya Angelou

Happy birthday you marvellous woman! Thank you for being such a great inspiration!

A small novel of not more than 60 pages, but a true poetry in prose. A story to read to children to help them understand the importance of time, memory, family relations and most of all stories. I strongly recommend it. Thank you Alessandro Tonoli