I’d love suggestions (both fiction and non-fiction) about Italy!
I’m super excited about a family trip to Italy (Venice, Pisa, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Rome) in June. I just finished reading “The City of Falling Angels”. I’d love suggestions (both fiction and non-fiction) about Italy!
Donna Leon
I’ve got her series in my TBR-Italy and mystery-can’t wait to get started!
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Loved this book when I read it a few years ago-I think I’ll re-read!
Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons (Rome) and Inferno (Florence).
I’ve read Angels and Demons, but not Inferno. Thanks!
They’re set in Sicily, but Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions and Siracusa by Delia Ephron. The Elena Ferrante books are great. A Thread of Grace is WWII but wonderful. La Bella Figura is Beppe Severgnini and his books are great. Umberto Eco’s In the Name of the Rose. A Room With a View. Gommorrah (about Napoli’s mafia) and Monster of Florence are both somewhat brutal non-fiction books, but both are good.
Thanks! I’ve added to my TBR
The first part of Eat Pray Love is set in Rome – my favorite part of the book.
I hope I don’t gain 23 pounds 🙂
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. I’ve never read it, but it’s on my list
I’ve read it before, but I think I’ll re-read it.
It’s a lovely story.
Enjoy your trip, Melissa!
@Robin great suggestion
@Nancy Thanks!
Four Seasons in Rome
Thanks-added it to my TBR
The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins
The Woman in White is one of my favorite books-can’t wait to get started on this one.
For a family with middle grade readers and up, we all LOVED reading The Undrowned Child while we in Venice, even the adults!
My kids are older, but I was a 5th grade teacher for 6 years and I still read quite a bit of fiction for middle grades. Added it and the sequel to my TBR. Thanks for the suggestion.
If you are interested in historical fiction, I would recommend The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. It’s a collection of stories told by narrators who secluded themselves from the city to save themselves from the black death. The book was written in the fourteenth century and through different stories, gives a vivid picture of life in fourteenth century Italy
Thanks-I’ve added to my TBR
Set in Venice!
Thanks! Added to my TBR
I really liked The Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga. It’s about saving books ruined when the river Arno floods. Takes place in Florence.
sounds good-added it!
The Scarlett Sky
I can’t find this one on Goodreads. Who is the author?
Beautiful Ruins. Fantastic book.
read it a few years ago-it was a great story
Eat pray love spends some time in Italy- my favorite part and the “eat” part of the title
I read in the reviews that she gained 23 lbs while in Italy-I hope that doesn’t happen to me : )
The Scribe of Sienna by Melodie Winawer
added-sounds like a great story.
have an incredible time!
Thank you! Biggest trip I’ve been on in my life 🙂
We stayed in a small hotel on the outskirts of Rome and used local transportation. I loved the Hop On Hop Off Bus and the overview it provided. Then we took local bused to things where we wanted to spenc more time or walked. Great city for walking
I think we are going to do the Hop On Hop Off while in Rome. 6 of us are going ranging in age from 16-52. I
Picture me green with envy. Hope while there you don’t have time to read!
I always have to read a little before bed. Plus the flights and layovers will be a good time to read!
I loved that book. I just read it as well and want to go to Venice again. I just read The Passion and loved that version of Venice too.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6718608-juliet
I read this a few years ago and loved it. Think I’ll reread.
Under the Tuscan Sun-Francis Mays; My Brilliant Friend- Elena Ferrante; Name of the Rose- Umberto Eco; Farewell to Arms- Hemingway. The Agony and the Ecstasy- Irvin Stone; and for travel- Rick Stevens Italy 2019- ?
Great list-thank you!
Women in Sunlight
thank you-added it to my TBR
Be sure to go to the Villa Borghese and view the art. Get the audio guide so that you can learn about the pieces. This is the one of the most amazing collections that we’ve seen and was the highlight of our visit to Rome.
Thank you for the suggestion!
I read a book, set in Italy, on an island, where they made mirrors. I remember, there was a murder involved. Perhaps, someone can remind me the title of it?
Was it Through a Glass, Darkly: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon?
Yes! The island of Murano! Another one was about a prostitute, who was painted by Botticelli in his Primavera, and now she is hunted by a group of conspirators. It;s set during the time, when Italy was formed out of separate city-states.
Another book was about a prostitute, who was painted by Botticelli in his Primavera, and now she is hunted by a group of conspirators. It;s set during the time, when Italy was formed out of separate city-states.
Since you’re going to Florence, be sure to go to The National Central Library of Florence. It’s the largest library in Italy.
Yes-I’d hate to miss out on the largest library in Italy!
The Silver Pigs: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery by Lindsey Davis [series set in ancient Rome]…A Bell for Adano by John Hershey…I, Claudius by Robert Graves …A Thread of Grace by Maria Doria Russell….The Birth of Venus by Sarah Durant…The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato….My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante…The Shape of Water (The Inspector Montalbano Mysteries Book 1) by Andrea Camilleri….The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris West…
Great list-I already had some on my TBR list and added the others
Seven Seasons in Siena by Rodi
sounds good-thanks!
The Reluctant Tuscan by Phil Doran. When in Rome by Ngaio Marsh.
both sound great! can’t wait to read them : )
Donna Leon’s mystery series set in Venice.
A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena de Blasi is thr first book in a series of memoirs she wrote about living in different areas of Italy.