La bambina silenziosa - Den Stille Pige, by Peter Hoeg (2006, Copenaghen)

It's like a puzzle gradually to be composed. Kasper's a 40-ish clown with an extraordinary ability to hearing every sound, sounds of emotions, of people, of places, of everything. He tries and save KlaraMaria, a special child apparently kidnapped. Strange things happen, meanwhile, and things are far from being as they look. Interesting. [vague, 2006] http://rubidu-2006.blogspot.it/

Il mio piede sinistro - My Left Foot, by Christy Brown (1954, Ireland)

Christy Brown was born in Dublin on the 5th of June 1932. In a short time, his Mum found out there was something wrong about him and doctors confirmed his heavy cerebral palsy: the only body part he could control was his left foot. But his Mum and Dad support and the love of his many brothers and sisters helped him to grow stronger and brighter. Moving and surprising. [firehand, 2009] http://rubidu-2009-5.blogspot.it/

Sushi per principianti - Sushi For Beginners, by Marian Keyes (2000, Ireland)

Set in Dublin. Ashling works for a brand new magazine. She's young and lives alone, she's altruistic, outgoing, always ready to helping everyone who needs ...this is also due to her peculiar family history. Not so her apparently perfect friend Clodagh, bored by her perfect marriage, her perfect house, her perfect husband. Ashling works for Lisa, a beautiful manager from London, quite bossy and posh. And then Ted, the nice neighbor, Boo, the young homeless, Marcus, the selfish actor, Jack, the handsome and brilliant boss and so on. Engaging. [eyes, 1997] http://rubidu-1997.blogspot.it/

N-W, by Zadie Smith (2012, UK)

London, Caldwell houses, North-West. Leah&Michel, Keisha&Frank, Felix as well live here. We can see this side of the city through their eyes, of each of them. a portrait of a part of London. [z.s., 2009] http://rubidu-2009-2.blogspot.it/

L'anno del giardiniere - Zahradnikuw, by Karel Capek (1925, Prague)

Month by month, how the garden keeper lives his year. Partially ironic. [copia del ritratto di l.c., 2005] http://rubidu-2005.blogspot.it/

Rachel's Holiday, by Marian Keyes (1997, Ireland)

Rachel's addicted to coke but she can't admit it, not even to herself: her overdose obliges her flatmate and close friend Brigit to hospitalize her and call her family in Ireland. Luke, her lovely boyfriend, in desperation, break up with her. She's forced back to Dublin, from New York, and in a center in the Wiklow County. She keeps her distorted view over everything until eventually, gradually, things get their place in the frame. It takes long enough... Very deep. [metissage..a, 2009] http://rubidu-2009.blogspot.it/

Nemiche del cuore - The Other Side Of The Story, by Marian Keyes (2004, Ireland)

Here's the story of Gemma, living in Dublin, whose father (temporarily) leaves her mother for a younger woman and whose ex boyfriend Anton has now a love story with Lily, one of Gemmma's (ex) closest friends. Here's the story of Lily, who just fell for Anton despite her loyalty to Gemma and who can write good books (apparentely] only in bad circumstances. And here's the story of Jojo, the amazing sexy big brilliant Publishing agent who, despite everything, can't help being successful. Brilliant aand so ironic. [confidence, 2004] http://rubidu-2004.blogspot.it/

Baci da Malibu - Angels, by Marian Keyes (2002, Ireland)

Maggie's married to Garv: they go back a long way and used to be happy. But something changed and we'll find out step by step what. They split up and Maggie moves from Dublin to Los Angeles, to her best friend Emily: there, she experiences an out of mind time ...but in the end everything finds its place. Brilliant style and deep. [bacio, 2004] http://rubidu-2004.blogspot.it/

Il ciclo delle stagioni - Dark Hollow, by John Connolly (2000, UK)

Bird gets, despite himself, involved in the investigation of a kind of psycho killer that seems to have been around for tens of years: Bird's grandfather had already been working on this case. This killer usually kills women and leave them hanging from trees branches. Luckily there are Angel&Louis with Bird...and all of this helps him closer to Rachel. Unpredictable and deep. [a..thoughful, 2012] http://rubidu-2011.blogspot.it/

Every Dead Thing, by John Connolly, 1999 UK

Bird, Charlie Parker was once a Fed, but since the Travelling Man brutalized to death his wife and his daughter, he's looking for revenge. Many other people end up dying and in the end the man he was looking for turns up to be... Crude novel. [o.b., 2004] http://rubidu-2004-2.blogspot.it/

La rupe dei Troll - Troll Fell, by Katherine Langrish (2004, UK)

Peer's a boy whose father died and whose bad, giant, cruel uncles come out of the blue and pick him up to their mill. He gets to be a slave to them, surviving only thank to his dog, Loki, Hilde, a girl of the neighborhood, and to some of the peculiar creatures living there. Sad, but full of hope. [so.., 2009] http://rubidu-2009-3.blogspot.it/

Calliphora - Blow Fly, by Patricia Cornwell (2003, Usa)

Kay Scarpetta is no more working at Richmond police district: after Benton's death she's close to desperation. But Lucy and Marino know Benton's alive, a protected witness. Besides, Jean Baptiste Chandonne, the loup garoud, is not futureless, although in jail. In Lousiana, Chandonne family's rich in mysteries, far from been solved in this novel, which has to be continued... [metissage..b, 2009] http://rubidu-2009.blogspot.it/

Le vostre zone erronee - Your Erroneous Zones, by Wayne W. Dyer (1976, USA)

A guide to soul independence likely to drive to happiness. Seriously. [ok, 2005] http://rubidu-2005.blogspot.it/

L'ultimo scalo del tramp steamer - La ultima escala del tramp steamer, by Alvaro Mutis (1988, Bogota)

Our story teller works on ships and travels from Helsinki, to Jamaica, to Africa... and from time to time he sees in the harbours Alcion, an old fascinating tramp steamer. Finally, he also happens to work with Jon, the last captain of Alcion, whose story is linked to his love story with Warda, its owner. And that finished with the end of Alcion. Deep and slow. [cross point..wax, 2009] http://rubidu-2009-4.blogspot.it/

Mr. Zuppa Campbell il pettirosso e la bambina - A Redbird Christmas, by Fannie Flagg (2004, USA)

Oswald lives in Chicago, but his gp suggests him to go to a warm place, or his lungs won't get to Christmas. This is how he arrives to Lost River, an Alabama village with less than 100 people, but with a magic atmosphere that'll change Oswald's life. Nice. [pensiero, 2007] http://rubidu-2007.blogspot.it/

In piedi sull'arcobaleno - Standing In The Rainbow, by Fannie Flagg (2002, USA)

Dorothy holds a radio program, while her son Bobby and her beautiful daughter Anna Lee grow happy in a so nice place as it is Elmwood Springs. There are so many peculiar characters that's hard to find the true red line, which has to be Elmwood Springs itself, linking the shy Betty Raye from the gospel group, the ambitious Hamm Sparks, poor Tot, Norma and Macky, aunt Elner, Doc and many others. Peaceful and serene. [childhood, 2009] http://rubidu-2009-3.blogspot.it/

L'arte di sognare - L'art de reveur: guide pratique pour devenir un reveur actif, by Nicole Gratton (2004, France)

An operational guide to understand, analyze and even use our dreams to help our day life. Useful. [c..beyond, 2009] http://rubidu-2009-3.blogspot.it/

Miss Alabama e la casa dei sogni - I Still Dream About You, by Fannie Flagg (2010, USA)

Maggie is a not yet old lady living in Birmingham, Alabama, working as a realtor, single, very beautiful (she once was close to be miss America) and extremely kind. Her extraordinary boss, Hazel, was a really good presence, an enthusiastic dwarf who had the ability to get wherever and whatever in life. Brenda and Ethel, her colleagues, can't suspect Maggie is planning to leave this world. But something happened... So cloudless and joyful. [d, 2004] http://rubidu-2004-3.blogspot.it/

La spada della verità vol. I - Wizard's First Rule, by Terry Goodkind (1994, USA)

Richard lives in the West Land and he's fine with his life, although suffering for his mother and father's death. But Kahlan arrives from the Central Land, despite the magic Border: Darken Rahl is getting to control the all world and only the Searcher can stop him. Richard, Zedd (his friend, turning out to be the biggest wizard), Kahlan and Chase (the Border Guard), pass through many adventures, challenges, pains to halt Darken Rahl... [determinazione, 2008] http://rubidu-2008.blogspot.it/

Molte vite, un solo amore - Only Love Is Real, by Brian Weiss (1996, USA)

Brian Weiss is a therapist hit by the fact that his patients seem to regress to previous lives in different times and places: that's reincarnation. And souls bring with themselves some memories of those lives, so that some fears, pains or so in this life go back to other lives. Picking these memories out can help to untangle knots. Questions and fascinating points come out from this book. [c, 2004] http://rubidu-2004-3.blogspot.it/

Pane, cose e cappuccino dal fornaio di Elmwood Springs - Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! (by Fannie Flagg, 1998 USA)

70s. Dena is a beautiful and talentful TV star, unable to fall in love and with some troubles in her life (why did her mother suddenly disappear when she was a teen?). But some peculiar far relatives from a small place called Elmwood Springs, Missouri, and some other good people in New York and Alabama will save her, despite herself: aunt Elner, Norma and Macky, Gerry O'Malley, Elizabeth Diggers, Sooky... So nice, deep and peace giving. [ct, 2008] http://rubidu-2008-3.blogspot.it/

Intervista col vampiro - Interview with the Vampire, by Ann O'Brien Rice (1976 USA)

Night. Louis, the Vampire, tells his story to the boy recording. It's about sorrow, love, desperation. It's about Lestat, who created him in Louisiana, then Claudia, che child-vampire, the crime against Lestat and the searching through the old continent. And finally the theatre of vampires in Paris, where Santiago was the end of it all. And after that Louis is really damned, despite Armand. Dark and distressing. [Fashion zombie me, 2009] http://rubidu-2009-4.blogspot.it/

Stregoneria - Sourcery, by Terry Pratchett (1988, UK)

Rincewind is, despite himself, taken in the middle of a new adventure, an End-Of-The-World adventure: sorcery is back in the world and this means an epic magic war, Ice Giants' return, the end of everything. He's with Conina, the beautiful fatal warrior daughter of Cohen, and peculiar characters picked up on the run. The Sorcerer, Coin, is only a boy, but he's guided by his cruel father, living in his stick. Fun.

Anybody Out There, by Marian Keyes (2006, Ireland)

Anna Walsh is a beautiful 30-ish woman recovering from a bad car crash. When she goes back to New York (from her crazy parental house in Dublin) she can't handle Aidan's missing. Then a day she recalls: he's dead. It takes a long way to start living again, but she's surrounded by (peculiar) people loving her. Deep and engaging.

Il falco delle nevi - The Snow Falcon, by Stuart Harrison (1999, UK)

Michael once shot his wife's lover. He was out of mind, then, after a few years in jail, he got back to the village where he grew up, despite people's hostility, to discover his dead father. Cully is a falcon who, once shot by a hunter, gets her chance to live thanks to Michael. Jamie's father died a few years before and he's never spoken anymore since then. Their lives are linked, their chances to live again come together. Deep and fascinating.

Smoke and Mirrors, by Neil Gaiman (1998, UK)

Reading the Entrails: A Rondel - An Introduction - Chivalry - Nicholas Was... - The Price - Troll Bridge - Don't Ask Jack - The Goldfish Pool And Other Stories - The White Road - Queen Of Knives - Changes - The Daughter Of Owls - Shoggoth's Old Peculiar - Virus - Looking For The Girl - Only The End Of The World Again - Bay Wolf - We Can Them For You Wholesale - One Life, Furnished In Early Moorcock - Cold Colors - The Sweeper Of Dreams - Foreign Parts - Vampire Sistina - Mouse - The Sea Change - When We Went To Sea The End Of The World By Dawnie Morningside, Age 11 1/4 - Desert Wind - Tastings - Babycakes - Murder Mysteries - Snow, Glass, Apples.

This Charming Man, by Marian Keyes (2008, London)

Dublin. Lola is a nice, good stylist who reads on newspapers her boyfriend, the New Ireland politician, Paddy De Courcy, is about to marry another woman. Alicia is the not totally aware Paddy's wife to be. Grace is a beautiful journalist in love with Damien but, in a way, involved in Paddy's story ...and her twin sister's one of Paddy's exes. Marnie, Grace's twin sister, living in London, married, two daughters, Paddy's ex, is so fragile she can barely survive day by day. All the Paddy's women share a secret about him... Turn-pager.

Ristorante al termine dell'universo - The reastaurant At The End Of The Universe, by Douglas Adams (1980, UK)

Arthur, the last Earth inhabitant, Ford Prefect (from Betelgeuse), Zaphod (the former Galaxy President) and Trillian, from UK as Arthur, when they can finally get to their spaceship, The Sweetheart, go to the restaurant at the end of the universe, millions of years ahead, where every evening you can see the grand show of the collapsing universe. Getting away from there, they go into new adventures by chance, Zaphod and Trillian looking for the person who governs the universe, Ford and Arthur to a pretty strangely familiar planet...
Peculiar.

Uomini e no, by Elio Vittorini (1945, Milano)

Conversazione in Sicilia, by Elio Vittorini (1941, Florence)

Il garofano rosso, by Elio Vittorini (1948, Milano)

Stelle cadenti - Moving Pictures, by Terry Pratchett (1990, UK)

Victor is a not-wizard by choice: he puts a big effort not to graduate...for the skin of his teeth, at the Unseen University in Ank morpork. But one day, as thousands of people, he is catched by the Holy Wood magic and there he goes. He meets Ginger, the Discworld version of Marilyn Monroe, Gaspode, the secretely speaking dog... and a different kind of magic. Mysteryous. And perhaps dangerous.

Maledette piramidi - Pyramids, by Terry Pratchett (1989, UK)

A disc world novel, set in an Egypt like land: Teppic, although trained as a graduated assassin, is the next Pharao, but there's sth wrong with the pyramids and the time ...the valley of the kingdom switches dimension: a mess of gods and dead Pharaos... Dios the high priest, uncountably years old, hides a mystery and an unusual ending is awaiting. Good.

Odd And The Frost Giants, by Neil Gaiman (2009, UK)

Odd is a guy whose father died... His life is in a small village and his adventure begins during a long winter, with a fox leading him to a bear and an eagle: they turn out to be Loki, Thor and Odin, beaten by the Frost Giants and turned into animals. Odd is to help them back to Asgard. Nice.

Guida Galattica per gli Autostoppisti - The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams (1980, UK)

Ford Perfect lives in a small town in the UK... but he's here waiting, from several years ago, a lift to somewhere else in the galaxy. Lucky enough, he finds it a few seconds before Earth is destroyed for logistic reasons. He saves his neighbour, Arthur, who didn't have a clue, before, Ford to be from another planet (Betelgeuse). Their adventure begins this way and, lift after lift, Arthur learns truths about universe, Earth, mice... So hilarious and deep.

Last Chance Saloon, by Marian Keyes (1999, Dublin)

Katherine, Tara and Fintan go back a long way: the three of them are from Knockavoy, Western Ireland. They live in London now. Tara is trapped in a so-called sad love story with Thomas, a highly mean man. Katherine lives by her own avoiding any chance to meet love. Fintan and his boyfriend are truly in love, but he turns out to be heavily ill. This changes all their lives.
Really involving.

A me le guardie! - GUARDS! GUARDS!, by Terry Pratchett (1989, UK)

Lord Vetinari has got a truly ambitious assistant. Vimes is already the captain, but the guards role is secondary. And he begins as an alcolist. Lady Sybil is a noble, immense, expert about dragons and, when a dragon, called by magic, starts ruling Ank Morpork, Vimes, Nobby, Colon, Carota the giant hero dwarf, Lady Sybil, the Orango Librarian and the small peculiar dragon named Errol have to do sth...

La luce fantastica - The Light Fantastic, by Terry Pratchett (1986, UK)

Here we are again: Rincewind is about to fall off from the Discworld with Twoflowers. But someway they end up to be in a forest where trees talk to them (although Rincewind decides that, since they can't talk at all, he's not going to talk with them). A new adventure, despite Rincewind: Cohen the warrior (now in his 80s), druids on rock clouds, the Unseen University, Bethan, the Magic Shop, the red star coming closer, the Magic Book and many other things. Simply great.

Sorellanza Stregonesca - Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett (1988, UK)

Verence, king of Lancre, is killed by the duke and his wife. But he doesn't properly disappear: he becomes a ghost.
Granny Weatherwax, Magrat and Ogg, although they really would like to comply with the rule forbidding witches from getting involved, save the young prince, who'll grow up as an actor.
But fate is powerful, and so are witches. Although the court fool...
Hilarious and genial, as all the Discworld books are.

Mr Fridge, l'Irlanda in autostop con un frigo - Round Ireland with a fridge, by Tony Hawks (1998, London)

Tony is a comedian and he begins the adventure by chance, tempted by a bet with a friend. But he really travels all around the green island with a fridge by hitch-hiking. He sees great places, meets so nice people, he has great fun. Also, he becomes kind of a star od an irish TV show and of an irish radio show.
Soooo hilarious and brave. The fridge philosophy.

Le lacrime della giraffa - Tears of the Giraffe, by Alexander McCall Smith (2000, Africa)

Precious Ramotswe is a woman: she's a detective living in Botswana. She's from there. Botswana is close to South Africa. The most beautiful thing of the novel is its style: even the way it is written reminds someway to the african temper. There are ways things need to be done. There are values. There's a mysteryous culture. And the Ladies'Detective Agency n.1 works there. Really peculiar.

Lo Hobbit - The Annotated Hobbit, by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1937, UK)

Cose da salvare in caso di incendio - Vaclav & Lena, by Haley Tanner (2011, USA)

Vaclav's family got to Brooklyn as he was a little child. Lena arrived there someway at the same age. Both from Russia. They met by chance when they were children and their friendship grew and grew. But Lena's family situation is pretty complicated and, when early teen, she was brought away. But their fate is linked.
Romantic, sad, a novel of hope as well... very deep although written in an apparently plain way. Love it.

Feet Of Clay, by Terry Pratchett (1996, UK)

A Discworld novel. Samuel Vimes is investigating over some murders and the (mysteryously) continuous poisoning of Vetinari. No clue till the end. Other lives develop in the middle: Angua the werewolf and her troubled story with Carrot (both in the Watch), Chery Littlebottom that decides to out her female nature although beared dwarf, Nobby who might be noble, golems' right to be free... Deep and hilarious in the same time.

I principi d'Irlanda - Dublin: Foundation, by Edward Rutherford (2004, UK)

This is the history of Dublin and its area told through pregnant characters (some from irish legends, others made up by new). There's a red line crossing centuries, beginning before Christ, before Vikings ever dreamt to get to the green island ...and from that time, following ages, lives, feelings, changes, families trees...
Interesting.

Il Ghostwriter - The Ghost, by Robert Harris (2007, UK)

Adam Lang is the ex premier of UK, now in USA with his wife Ruth. He's writing down his life, helped by Mike McAra... who misteryously dies. The narrator is a young professional ghostwriter, asked to continue the job... in a strange high level alert climate. Is CIA involved? Strange deaths happen. Regardless himself, he finds out himself trying and solve the mystery. The genius is in the end.

Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett (2002, UK)

Discworld, Ank Morpork. Commander Vimes is about to arrest Carcer in the Unseen University magic library... when they are brought back to 30 years in the past. Everything has still to happen and, although Vimes only wants to get back, they both can't help but living there ...meeting the young themselves perhaps and messing up everything. But history always finds a way. Fascinating.

Equal Rites, by Terry Pratchett (1987, UK)

An old wizard is about to die and goes to Bad Ass to leave the magic staff to the 8th son of an 8th son...who turns out to be a daughter instead. No woman wizard can be. On the other hand, no witch with magic wizard staff can be. Trained by Granny Weatherwax, Eskarina is going to be a very special person. Very ironic and hilarious book.

Chocolat, by Joanne Harris (1999, UK)

Vianne and her daughter Anouk live traveling and they arrive to Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, a small village in the french countryside. They're different from people living there: they don't go to church, they don't have prejudices against Roux and the river people, they don't care about what people think of them. But the Black Man doesn't like this wind of change...
Fascinating.

Punto di origine - Point Of Origin, by Patricia Cornwell (1998, USA)

Carrie, ex Lucy's lover, mean psycho killer as well, escapes from the mental hospital where she was staying. Meanwhile peculiar disasters happen.
Kay, Marino, Lucy and Benton work on them ...although connections are pretty hard to be found.
Deep.

Tales Of Mystery And Imagination, by Edgar Allan Poe (1976, US)

The Pit and the pendulum - A Tale of the Ragged Mountains - The Oblong Box - "Thou art the Man" - A Letter Found in a Bottle - The Murders in the Rue Morgue - The Stolen Letter - The Barrel of Amontillado - The Sphinx

If You Could See Me Now, by Cecelia Ahern (2006, USA)

Elizabeth is a successful young woman, living in Baile na gCroìthe, a small village in the West of Ireland. Her mother left as she was 13 and she grew up her sister Saoirse. Now Saoirse is alcoholic, hardly at home, and Elizabeth is growing up her 6 years old nephew, Luke. But sb arrives. Ivan is the invisible friend of Luke. As his colleagues, he can be seen only by whom believes and needs him. And Elizabeth can see him too, although unaware of him to be an imaginary friend (nevertheless real). A strange love story that changes everything.

Unseen Academicals, by Terry Pratchett (2009, UK)

Disk world. Mr Nutt arrives at the Unseen University and begins working there. He knows EVERYTHING. He's very kind. He's got worth. But he's an orc, although he doesn't know. It's all about the wizards playing the old foot the ball, Glenda that's wise and runs the Night Kitchen, Trevor who lits the candles, Juliet, who shines, the big football match. And Nutt gaining worth. Deep and hilarious.

The Water Is Wide, by Pat Conroy (1972, USA)

Pat is a teacher grown up in South Carolina, sent teaching on Yamacraw Island: the high school here is ruled by Mrs Brown, who believes in discipline and violent methods. Guys are black people, poorly educated, knowing very few of the world. Pat, bringing new ways of teaching, starts a war against racism and bureaucracy. Deep.

Il Santo e la Spada, by Cecilia Penati (2011, Italy)

Giovanna is a beautiful girl from Milan, moving to Vilminore in order to work in the library. But, throughout the diaries of the just passed by general practitioner, she starts investigating on a crime of 50 years before, eventually with Andrea, a fascinating young guy living there. Engaging, turn-pager, deep... Soooo good!

Tutta un'altra musica - Juliet, Naked, by Nick Hornby (2009, UK)

Annie is sort of 38 years old, been Duncan's partner for 15 years. But it's just rut, no love between them. And they both are Tucker Crowe's fans: Duncan is probably his biggest fan in the world. Once they split up, Tucker emails Annie to write back at her review on his album. And sth changes. Nice

Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer (2008, New York)

Edward and Bella do finally get married and something unexpected happens: a new being, unknown until now, grows inside Bella. Renesmee is beautiful, half human, half vampire. In order to survive, Bella has got to become a vampire, a grand vampire. Jacob has got his imprinting. A bright happy large family.
But Volturis decide to get there and fight this big clan.
Cullens and werewolves make up a plan.

Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer (2007, New York)

Now Bella and Edward are definetely together, but Bella's heart is divided between him ans Jakob. This is the main theme. As a backdrop, Victoria, the vampire hunting Bella, is to set up an army.

New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer (2006, New York)

After a short idyllic period, Edward goes away and leaves Bella. She nearly dies, loosing away her life. Just keeping moving and breathing without really being there. Until Jakob gets a close friend... But things get complicated.
Despite everything, Bella's feelings are so strongly vivid that the reader feels them even too deep inside, almost in a physical way.

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer (2005, New York)

Bella is a 16 years old nice girl who decided to move and live with her father in the small town of Forks, state of Washington. Her father, Charlie, is the chief of the local police, a good man. Despite her expectations, she likes staying there. And she falls in love. With a special guy. Edward is a vampire. Things get bad as a less human vampire chooses Bella to be hunted. Amazingly involving: impossible staying apart from Bella's feelings.

Il libro del domani - The Book Of Tomorrow, by Cecelia Ahern (2009, Dublin)

Tamara is 16 ...so it seems. And his rich father makes suicide, covered by debts. Tamara and her mother's lives dramathically change ...they move outside Dublin, to Killarney, where they live with some parents, Rosaleen and Arthur. But, apart from the radical change of everyday life, there's a mystery Tamara wants to find out...

Senza passato - Citizen Vince, by Jess Walter (2004, USA)

Vince lives in Spokane. Now. He started his life again here, after New York. New name, new everything. New person? Not sure. Somebody comes and look for him ...and he decides to do something brave, to clear his life. Intriguing.

La ragazza di carta - La Fille De Papier, by Guillaume Musso (2011, France)

Tom is a writer. A succesful writer. But when Aurore leaves him, he nearly gets to death. His two best friends (Milo, his agent, and Carole, a policewoman) do everything they can to make him reacting. The only one who can move him someway is Billie: she looks to be one of Tom's characters fallen into reality. A strange adventure begins: from USA, through Mexico and Europe ...a hunt to a book, to Aurore too... lots of events that change everyone's life. Nice.

La moglie dell'attore - Morgan's Passing, by Anne Tyler (1980, USA)

Morgan is a middle age peculiar father and husband: he likes being many people. One day he's a doctor. The other one a teacher. And so on. He likes changing perspective. Till he meets Emily and Leon, a young couple making muppets shows...
Peculiar.

La bussola di Noé - Noah's Compass, by Anne Tyler (2009, USA)

Liam is a 60ish teacher, widow and divorced, with three daughters that seem to despise him, with the exception of Kitty, the youngest one, teenager: she comes and live with him. Liam just lost his job, he moved to another flat (staying in Baltimora) and he's thinking of retiring. The first night in the new house, somebody entered his flat and hits him: Liam can't recall anything about that night and he can't stand this. This is the starting point for a series of facts and changes.

La figlia perfetta - Digging to America, by Anne Tyler (2007, USA)

Sami and Ziba Yazdan are a young couple living in Baltimora, from Iran. Brad and Bitsy Donaldson are a young american couple too. Both the families adopt a little chorean child, Susan and Jon-Ho, landing in Baltimora on the same day. Yazdans and Donaldsons get along very well together and their stories get linked. But the real guest star is Sami's mother, Maryam: calm, complex, proud, rational and clever. This is more than everything her inner story. So slow rythm... the plot isn't really twisting and turning. Interesting.

Ragazza in un giardino - The Clock Winder, by Anne Tyler (1972, USA)

The Emersons are many, although they don't live anymore with their Mum in Baltimora. She's widow, now. She's still a Lady. A sad strange lady. And the whole family is peculiar. Elizabeth arrives by mere chance, out of the blue, and becomes the new handyman. And much more than this. Fascinating, although melancholic.

Per puro caso, Ladder Of Years, by Anne Tyler (1995, USA)

Delia is a 40ish years old mother and wife, whose relatives, husband, sons and daughter don't mind at all, don't appreciate in any way. One day, without planning anything, she simply keeps walking on the beach and, as she's on the chance of a lift, she takes it: she starts and builds up her life again in another place.
What comes up the most is the pregnance of good communication. Peculiar and so involving.

P.S I Love You, by Cecelia Ahern (2004, Dublin)

Set in Dublin. Holly is a too young widow: her twin soul passed by in short time because of a cancer, but she discovers he found a way to stay for a while with her: Gerry left her ten messages, one a month, to give her month missions. That's how she can someway keep living, kind of building up her life again, helped by dear and crazy friends, other than a cheerful family. Page-turner. The reader can't help but feeling Holly's emotions.

Il grande sogno, by Matteo Pennacchi (1999, Italy)

Matteo is a young italian guy willing to travel around the world without money nor baggages, thanks only to people's generosity. He's about to enter a world record...if he can succeed in 100 days. A highly enriching travel, full of people and places. Surprising.

Morty l'apprendista - Mort, by Terry Pratchett (1987, UK)

Disk world. Morty is a young, confused guy with no specific ability. Despite his father loves him, he has to send him learning a job: Death chooses Morty to teach him being the new Death: the true Death wants some spare time to learn himself enjoying "life". But Morty doesn't accept to let a beautiful princess dying and reality gets strange.
Morty, Ysabel (Death's adopted daughter), Albert (powerful Death's servant) try and re-set pieces. Hilarious, great, awesome.

Puro genio - Simple Genius, by David Baldacci (2007, USA)

Michelle's strong, physically strong. Brave as well. But sth happened, as she was a child, that's now devastating herself. Her partner Sean is nothing less than her: they're a beautiful, smart, good team and they're detective. This case is about deaths linked to CIA, FBI and Maths research. But there's also the case on which Horatio, Sean's friend and Michelle's psychiatrist, is working: Michelle.
Page turner.

Gli artigli del diavolo - The White Rose Murders, by Paul Doherty (1991, UK)

Henry the VIII court: Margherita, who married the count of Angus after king Jack's death, hides a crucial secret. Benjamin and Shallot (who's our narrator) are asked to investigate. Deaths in strange circumstances, codes, mysteries... but finally all is understood. Intriguing.

Un cappello pieno di stelle - A Hat Full Of Sky, by Terry Pratchett (2004, UK)

Tiffany is 11, but she's stronger than people expect, she fighted and won over fairies queen. Now she's learning about witch stuff with a lovely old witch, Miss Level. Tiffany is about to face a devil that will get her body and mind... but she's not alone: the powerful Miss Weatherwax is with her. And surely the small, angry, rude but faithful Nac Mac Feegles are.
Soooo hilarious and fun, but deep as well.

Grazie dei ricordi - Thanks for the Memories, by Cecelia Ahern (2008, Dublin)

Joyce is a young woman, grown up in Dublin: her marriage is about to finish and she just lost the baby whe was pregnant of. She was saved by a blood trasfusion. Justin is american, moved to England and working in the Trinity College as well. He gave blood, although unwilling. A peculiar link grows between them, even if they yet don't know each other.
Dublin, London, Irish people, grand characters (Henry, Joyce's dad, is absolutely wonderful, a perfect irish old man), brilliant style. Definetely awesome.

La quarta mano - The Fourth Hand, by John Irving (2001, USA)

USA, end of 90s. Patrick's a handsome, playboy journalist whose left hand has been eaten by a lion in India. Doris is a determined, honest woman in love with his husband. Dr Zajac is a complicated doc who's working on hands surgery. The author takes the reader deep inside all the characters' lives, so that they can easily think as each characters does.
Peculiar and page-turner.

Baudolino, by Umberto Eco (2000, Milan)

XII century. Baudolino was born nearby Milan, adopted then by chance by the emperor. He travelled wherever, creating stories and looking for legendary reigns and goblets. He saw mythological creatures and places, then he could tell all his chronicles to a wise man in Costantinopoli.
The main message among these diverse tales is that you can never trust anything, cause most things can be said as lies.

Hyperversum, Il Cavaliere del Tempo, by Cecilia Randall (2009, Florence)

Daniel finds a way to go and come back from Middle Ages, but a guy follows him without Daniel knowing it. So Ty is stuck there. Daniel and Ian have to save him but there are enemies in that place and time ... and their lives (other than their secret) are in huge danger.

Hyperversum, Il Falco e il Leone, by Cecilia Randall (2007, Florence, Italy)

Ian and Daniel can finally do to go back to Flandre, 1215, but things don't go exactly as they planned: Ian is catched by one of his old enemies' friend, and so is Daniel.
Besides, Daniel looses connection with Hyperversum.
So they're involved in the rebellion against King John, in England.
Action book, page turner.

Hyper versum, by Cecilia Randall (2006, Florence)

Daniel's an american university student. He loves playing Hyperversum, a videogame that can virtually move players to every historical and geographical location they choose. But one day, while he, his brother Martin, his girlfriend Jodie, his best friend Ian and a couple of friends are playing, sth that can't be explained happened and all of them are really moved into France of 1214, with no chance to get back.
Very particular, detailed, changing points of view and page-turner.

Perché l'amore qualche volta ha paura - Que serais-je sans toi?, by Guillaume Musso (2009, France)

Martin, 20-ish, experiences a summer in the USA. He meets Gabrielle and it's devastatingly love. But then Martin heads back to France and, as he dates her in New York, she doesn't show up. This marks Martin's life ..until, 13 years later, a complex plot makes them meeting again in San Francisco ...and a magic step's crucial too.
Although pretty involving, the plot sometimes turns out too forced and not particularly enlightening.

Ti vengo a cercare - Je reviens to chercher, by Guillaume Musso (2008, France)

Ethan grew up poor and never thinking to be able to choose His Way. Then, suddenly, he changed his life, literaly disappearing. In a few years he gets successful, rich and famous, although he's got no love, no friends, no family: he could be a father, but he neither know his daughter's living, and he left the only Love of his life, the beautiful Céline.
Then, on a 31st October, Céline shows up and so does Jessie, his unknown daughter. But nothing changes ..and at midnight he's killed. The very next morning, he wakes up on another 31st October ...and the plot gets complicated.
Really page turner and enlightening.

Il dono - The Gift, by Cecelia Ahern (2008, Dublin)

Great nowaday locations: Dublin and Howth.
Lou is a young successful business man, meeting by chance Gabe, a mysterious homeless about to change a piece of his life in a completely unexpected way, giving Lou an unusual awakening.
Fascinating, highly page turner, definetely well written.

Terrore e mistero, by Edgar Allan Poe - Joseph Sheridan LeFanu - Robert Louis Stevenson - Arthur Conan Doyle (1982, Italy)

A collection of classical, intriguing, whodunit stories; mysterious and page turner.

Gli Ultimi Guardiani - Poslednij Dozor (Last Watch), by Sergey Luk'janenko (2005, Moscow)

Anton is now a Big Wizard and he's involved in mysterious cases linked to some magical objects once created by Merlin. Different stories (set in Edinburgh and Samarcanda, other than in Moscow) linked to a peculiar and unknown group of Others, the Last Watch, and having sth to do with the sixth and seventh level of the Dusk (the ones where dead Others are) ...Anton, finds out important truths about that!
Page-turner and fascinating gothic novel.

I guardiani del crepuscolo - Sumere Nij Dozor (Dusk Watch), by Sergej Luk'janenko (2005, Moscow)

As usual, the plot is composed by different frames, finally finding the proper composition. The main character is Anton, now familiar, getting stronger, although still confused.
Everything is about the meaning of Light and Dark: they're confused, often mixed... and the danger makes them working together. Inquisition included. Zavulon and Geser, Anton with Edgar and Kostja. And, even though the enemy turns out not being that bad, the menace is big.
Acute and brilliant.

I guardiani del giorno - Dnevnoj dozer (Day Watch), by Sergei Luk'janenko (1998, Moscow)

The point of view now is different: the main character is Edgar, a dark wizard bound to Praga, where the Inquisition is going to bring an action between Igor, a Light wizard, and the Day Watch. This trial reveals to be the crux of the previous dark stories. Although a mystery remains about the global plot, Anton, Sveta, Alisa, Igor and some other characters' roles begins to get clear.
Intriguing.

I guarduani della notte - Nocnoj Dozor (Night Watch), by Sergej Luk'janenko (2004, Moscow)

Anton has got magical powers and is being trained as wizard by the Night Watch, the light corporation of modern knights secretely fighting in Moscow to protect people from the Dark, the Day Watch.
Despite at the beginning the plot doesn't look that turning and twisting, it's really page turner and the final is unexpected.
Fascinating.

Racconti - Tales, by Edgar Allan Poe (1845, USA)

Considering we're in XIX century, these short novels are amazingly gothic and mysterious. Really good.

Racconti d'amore di follia e di morte - Cuentos de amor de locura y de muerte + El salvaje, by Horacio Quiroga (1920, Buenos Aires)

Despite only novels, they can catch the reader and make them inside Argentina life, both wild and urban.

Insolito e crudele - Cruel And Unusual, by Patricia Cornwell (1993, USA)

Mark died in a bomb attack in London and Kay's still struggling to get a certain emotional stability. A series of crimes seem to be interlinked and strangely connected to Ronnie Joe Waddell, who's been killed by electrified chair in jail. And somebody's trying to let Kay appear linked to those crimes.
Marino, Wesley and Lucy play an important role in clearifying the situation...that cover a previous scandal of a powerful politician.
Turn pager as usual.

Quel che rimane - All That Remains, by Patricia Cornwell (1992, USA)

Mark and Kay just split up, she's going on working in Richmond and a new case comes up: the daughter of an important politician is killed. And so her boyfriend. They're found months later. A killer's been killing couples for some years and bodies are found only months later: Kay can find really few over their skeletons. This time sth is different: Pat Harvey (the politician) does all she can to avenge her daughter. Maybe CIA and FBI are involved too, although their role isn't clear. Besides, a journalist, Abby, Kay's friend, plays an unclear role too.
Page turner.

Oggetti di reato - Body Of Evidence, by Patricia Cornwell (1991, USA)

Beryl Madison is a young beautiful writer. Sb begins and persecute her, until she's finally nastily killed ..and, after her, other people she used to know die as well.
Kay and Marino look for the solution of the mystery between Richmond and Key West, Kay even bumps into an old lover of hers, who isn't anymore who he looks like. Then Kay gets persecuted as well.
Nice.

Il venditore di storie - Sirkusdirektorens datter, by Jostein Gaarder (2001, Norway)

Petter is born in Oslo at half XIX century and, since very very young shows an extremely lush creativity. While growing, this peculiar ability of his turns into a clever way to have a beautiful life: first at school and then as an adult. Until sth comes up..
The idea of the novel is definetely brilliant, although sometimes the rythm gets a little too slow.

I ragazzi di Anansi - Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman (2005, UK)

Charles has a normal life, although not very successful: he lives in London, working in a company and he's going to marry his girlfriend Rosie. Then sth happens: he's got to go in Florida for his father's funeral. Since that moment, many events happen to turn upside down his life... his father turns out to be a god, Charlie's brother comes around and everything get different and troubled.
Interesting, very well written (meaningful unusual style), great.

Il palazzo della mezzanotte - El Palacio De La Medianoche, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (1994, Spain)

Calcutta, 1910s. Ben and Sheere are a couple of twins born by the so called Princess of The Light, who's killed as they come to the world. They're saved by a fire ghost who, they suppose, killed their father and wants to destroy them too. Their grandma divides them to protect them, so that Ben grows up in an orphanage, surrounded by great friends, the Chowbar Society. But when they're 16, the nightmare comes back ...and the plot begins twisting and turning.
Kind of guys novel.

Il deserto e altri racconti - El desierto, Mas Alla, by Horacio Quiroga (1935, Argentina)

A very diverse collection of Argentina set novels: from the psychological novel to the surreal one. Some sadness as a backdraw of each. Some real life in each.
Despite they're brief, they can very easily let the reader enter them. Interesting.

I ragazzi di Charleston - South Of Broad, by Pat Conroy (2009, USA)

Charleston, half of XXth century; Leo is the teenage son of her school principal. His brother made suicide and he had got various troubles after that, but he's stronger than we can expect and he saves his own life and his new friends' ones: Sheba and Trevor, Starla and Niles, Ike and Betty, Molly, Fraser and Chad.. As they're adult, their friendship's still strong, but Trevor's in trouble. Various dramas are waiting for all of them, but they get through them, although not uninjured.
Conroy's clever style doesn't disappoint: he can be ironical although talking over dramatic events. Deeply introspective.

E' nata una star - Not A Star, by Nick Hornby (2006, London)

Two days told by Lynn, 49 years old, Mark's mum. One of her neighbours makes her find out her son is a porn-star. Through shock, irony, discussions to, finally, easily, a new pretty fine normality: there are miles deeper troubles than this one!
Nice.

Che fine ha fatto Mister Y - The End Of Mr. Y, by Scarlett Thomas (2006, UK)

Ariel is a MSc student writing a thesis on mind experiments and ability to travel by thought.
She accidentally bumps into an ancient book, The End Of Mr. Y, by the author she's studying, Lumas: it's one of a kind and said to be cursed... and it leads Ariel to a vitally dangerous adventure that will completely change not only her life, but even her perspective on world, on time and place link ..and perhaps the all world.
Complex character and kind of philopsophically interesting novel, mind opening.