Reading Italy: Four Books You Can’t Miss
<p>There is no better way to learn about a new culture than by reading its literature. Books teach us about history, values, religion, politics, legal systems, family structures, careers, struggles, successes, advantages, and disadvantages, all through the simple trick of presenting us with the life of strangers. Strangers until the very first sentence who become a part of us up to the last word and sometimes, if the book is good, way beyond that.</p>
<p>I returned home recently, to Rome, and as I was packing away boxes of books to be moved into storage, I found myself surrounded by my old-time favorites. Books I read growing up, some in school, some later. I don’t know how famous these stories are outside of Italy, but I think they are worth an international audience and I want to introduce them to you if you give me a few minutes of your time. And then if you would like to, do give them a few hours (<em>ed.</em> all four books have English translations).</p>
<p><strong>“</strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13590713-accabadora" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>Accabadora</strong></a><strong>” by Michela Murgia (2009)</strong></p>
<p>Let’s travel together to Soreni, a little town in Sardinia, one of the two greater islands in Italy. It is the middle of the twentieth century. Maria is a young girl, born last to a poor family. Not being able to feed her, her parents give her up for adoption to an old lady, called Bonaria, who despite being wealthy, is unable to conceive and has never been married.</p>
<p>Maria is a clever, brave girl with a weakness for stealing things she doesn’t need but wants deeply, like red cherries from a tree. Bonaria loves her for it and they soon become as close as mother and daughter. </p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/counterarts/reading-italy-four-books-you-cant-miss-a58d068aa411"><strong>Read More</strong></a></p>