Book Club Pick: Un ragazzo normale by Lorenzo Marone

My first book club has recently ended, and it’s been a truly wonderful experience.

As you may know, I am a passionate and avid reader. Books are probably my biggest love, which means that I am always reading something. Reading has been really beneficial in my English-learning journey, and I strongly believe that books are a powerful tool for practicing a foreign language, improving comprehension, and enriching vocabulary.

This is why I decided to launch my first book club. I was quite nervous at first, because it was something completely new to me. However, students have participated with great enthusiasm and created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making the book club a truly wholesome experience.

Chatting daily in our Telegram group was really fun and allowed me to discuss some aspects of Italian culture and analyze interesting bits of vocabulary we encountered while reading. Our Zoom calls were equally fun and gave students the opportunity to share their thoughts on the book and its characters.

After such a positive experience, I can’t wait to start a new book club. The book we read in the first months of the year was Pista nera by Antonio Manzini, a crime novel set in Valle d’Aosta with a very controversial main character, Rocco Schiavone, which gave us a lot to talk about. For this new book club, I wanted a change, so I picked something completely different.

The book I chose for our spring book club is Un ragazzo normale by Lorenzo Marone. As I said, I chose this book because it offers a clear contrast to Pista nera, the book we read previously. First of all, the main character is a little kid, and this is a refreshing change from the grumpy and controversial figure of Rocco Schiavone. I’m expecting a lighter, more playful tone and a fresh perspective on life.

As a matter of fact, Un ragazzo normale tells the story of Mimì, a twelve-year-old kid who lives in Naples. He is very talkative and thinks he knows everything. He is obsessed with comic books and loves spending time with his friend Sasà. His simple and quiet life changes when he meets Giancarlo, a journalist who is against the Camorra, a Mafia-type criminal organization rooted in Naples and Campania.

This Giancarlo is based on a real person: Giancarlo Siani, a journalist who was killed by the Camorra in 1985. The fact that Lorenzo Marone inserted a real figure in his book caught my interest and is another reason that made me pick this book. In fact, it will give us a chance to talk about that bleak aspect of Italian life that is Camorra and dive deeper into Italian contemporary history.

In addition, the novel is set in the 80s and is full of references to music and Italian pop culture, making it a fun and engaging read. Finally, it is set in Naples, which is a vibrant change of scenery from the cold, grey atmosphere of the Valle d’Aosta depicted in Pista nera. I am sure that this book will be full of colors, sunshine, and bright skies, which is perfect for a book read in spring!

You can find all the details about the book club on this dedicated page. If you have questions or need more information, just leave me a comment below or send me an email at cinzia@instantlyitaly.com

Will you join the book club?