Summer is the time unplug and curl up and read a good book.  While any reading is good reading, Suzy was captivated by three online summer reading recommendations that touch on Italia.  Check them out, give them a read and let us know what you think!

THE CONTEMPORARY 

Salvatore Scibona, a contemporary writer, can put many prestigious awards and grants on his resume, including New Yorker magazine’s “20 Under 40” list of best authors.  An American born into an Italian family, Scibona is currently a professor of English at Wesleyan University.

His debut novel, The End, is about a single day in 1953, as lived by six people in an Ohio carnival crowd.

As a contemporary Italian-American writing about America, his work is a nice fictional, and nuanced summer read.

THE CLASSIC

John Fante, “…is one of the true bad boys of 20th century American literature,” and a major inspiration to Bukowski. Another Italian-American, his work is very important to the American Beat movement. Working in LA during his lifetime, his work precedes the classic depictions of Italian Americans today.

This Salon profile of him convinced us that his work should go on our list this summer.  We recommend trying his most famous novel, Ask the Dust, which was also made into a movie starring Colin Farrel and Salma Hayek.

FOR THE KIDS (?)

This Slate article will remind you what Pinocchio is really like. While admittedly a little dark, Carlo Collodi’s quick wit and knack for description make this a childhood tale worth revisiting.

If you find yourself in Italy, there is a whole theme park (in a tasteful Italian manner) in the town of Collodi. Complete with a sculpture garden filled with of the main characters in the book, it is a delightful trip for fans of the Italian novelist.

Just a two and a half hour drive from Cannara, visiting the garden could be a fun day trip if you are staying in Umbria! We are starting to take bookings for next summer, so hop over to our Casa page to see availability.

Happy Reading!

–Via Umbria