While walking on the beaches of Italy, my bibliophile eyes often met people immersed in the reading and books on sun loungers. My sharp gaze tried to catch the titles and authors to answer the question: “What do Italians read on holiday?” Although I believe that everyone is looking for an exciting story to accompany them, Moments of relaxationWhile this article was being written, a study was published suggesting the opposite.
Reading habits of Italians and the Eurostat study
According to the Eurostat study, Italy is one of the European Union countries that read the least. Only 35% of the population over 16 read at least one book a year. The study, carried out by the EU statistics office, is based on interviews with population samples in different Member States, not on sales figures. It took into account books read in leisure time and excluded those read for work or study. This means that in Italy 65% of the population do not read in their free timeThis brings us to the third last place among the 27 EU members, with only Cyprus and Romania behind us. This study also confirms that women and young people aged 16 to 29 are the most active readers in Europe. Among those under 30, 60.1% read at least one book in 2022, while only 47.2% of those over 65 did so. The number of female readers exceeds that of male readers, with 60.5% against 44.5%. You can also find more details in the 2022 Istat survey. To improve these statistics, we have only one option: read more!
Books to read now
Below you will find some of the books we read (or didn’t read) this summer, titles that we can catch up and that can provide hours of entertainment. It’s a mix of the most read books of the last few weeks, current topics that can be explored through reading, and texts that I think deserve much more attention.
Consumerism and TikTok: Capital – Marx
The Pandoro Gate, mega-unboxings by influencers and the spread of the hashtag #influcirco are increasingly generating Attention towards the accumulation of goods and money by a small part of the population. Transparent communication and ethics are increasingly in demand by consumers, as are considerations of the environmental and social impacts that certain examples have. These topics are also addressed in the exhibition Mount of Pieta curated by Christoph Büchel, currently on view at Prada Foundation in Venice. The most important book for a deeper reflection on these issues is Marx’s masterpiece, The capital.
How does it end? My Lady Jane – Cynthia Hand
In June, Amazon Prime released a highly ironic and entertaining fantasy romance series that reinterprets the story of Lady Jane Grey from a feminist perspective. The plot is based on Cynthia Hands novel of the same name. Edward is 16 and King of England. On his deathbed, he decides to leave the kingdom to his cousin Jane. She is forced into marriage and must now juggle an unwanted husband and a kingdom torn apart by conflicts between humans and shapeshifters. Despite the series’ success, there will be a second season. was not confirmedSo we have to read the book to find out how it ends.
Beyond all reasonable doubt: Yara. The true crime – Giuseppe Genna
We have followed the news, watched documentaries and seen the new Netflix series that re-examines the outcome of the trial. Now all that remains is to read the books that tell the story of Yara Gambirasiowho disappeared and was later found dead in Brembate di Sopra, Bergamo, in 2010. Giuseppe Genna’s book, published in 2023 and nominated for the Strega Prize, tells the story in the first person and reconstructs it with a relentless eye which focuses on the social impact of this tragedy.
@netflixit The coin made by Massimo Bossetti on behalf of Yara Gambirasio was the beginning of this story. While studying, Bossetti looked for details to improve his life every year. The Yara Case, the new documentary about Yara Gambirasio. Now available on Netflix.
Good Original – Netflix Italy
In search of happiness: Always succeed in something wonderful – Gianluca Gotto
This book tells the story of Davida young man whose certainties gradually collapse until he loses the will to live. In Vietnam, by chance or fate, he will meet a timeless personality from whom he will learn an alternative and cheerful attitude to life. A story by Rebirth in which one can lose oneself in order to find oneself, while Gianluca Gotto deals with the theme of the search for happiness.
The winner of the Strega Prize 2024: L’età fragile – Donatella di Pietrantonio
We have already talked about how the Strega Prize works and we know how important it is for a book to win this prestigious award. Donatella di Pietrantonio tells us in this novel about fragility that There is no age without fear. We are always fragile, as parents and as children, when we have to rebuild and we don’t even know where to lay the foundations. But there is a certain moment when we expose ourselves to the world, unprotected and vulnerable, and the world must not hurt us.
The literary sensation of the summer: Come l’arancio amaro – Milena Palminteri
For lovers of stories set in a rich historical context, there is the opportunity to immerse yourself in Agrigento in the 1960s. Carlotta is 36 years old and is convinced that no one she loves can stay close to her: her father died the night she was born, her beloved nanny left her when she was little and her mother has always been more of a cold governess. Growing up during the fascist era and the war in a Sicily where everything changes to remain unchanged, Carlotta has learned that the only way not to suffer is to Endure boredom with patienceSo instead of fighting to become a lawyer after studying law, she locked herself away and worked in the notary’s archive. Fate pursues us even when we hide: one of the dusty documents in the archive reveals to her the terrible accusation made by her paternal grandmother against her mother that she did not give birth to her, but bought themCarlotta begins an investigation that will lead her to the roots of the anger and thirst that she has tried to suppress for so many years.
