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The Street Kids

Published in 1956, The Street Kids (Ragazzi di strada) is one of the most famous works by Pier Paolo Pasolini: the famous Italian film director, poet, writer and controversial intellectual figure murdered in 1975 in yet unclear circumstances—allegedly by one of the “street kids” Pasolini, who was openly gay, used to hang out with. Translated by Ann Goldstein, well-known translator of Elena Ferrante’s novels, Pasolini’s narrative takes place in postwar Rome and examines the lives of lower-class teenagers. A raw testimony of the social situation plaguing post-WWII Italy.

Bramantino: L’Arte Nuova del Rinascimento Lombardo

By Mauro (Edited by) Natale

This veritable reference work on Bramantino emphasizes the artist’s pivotal role in Northern Italy’s Renaissance, where he was the only artist able to stand up to Leonardo’s inventions. The volume traces the artist’s career starting from his debut as an assistant of the architect and painter Donato Bramante down to his last attested works, including Flight into Egypt. Mauro Natale teaches at the University of Geneva. He was the curator for several exhibitions of Italian painting between the 15th and 16th centuries.

Berluti: At Their Feet

By Glenn O’Brien

An elegant book for those who want to know more about men’s fashion. Berluti, a renowned couture brand for men, was founded in 1895 in Paris’ Rue Marbeuf by the Italian Alessandro Berluti. The brand became a symbol of Italian footwear par excellence. Celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Frank Sinatra and Robert De Niro wore Berluti shoes. And after 120 years, Berluti—whose art direction has now been entrusted to fashion designer Alessandro Sartori—is still an icon of the Italian fashion industry throughout the world.

Fratumaglia: Bits and Pieces of Uncertain Origin

By Elena Ferrante

A mystery puzzling the publishing industry for several years, the true identity of renowned writer Elena Ferrante has never been revealed. This book will appeal to those who have read and loved L’amore molesto (Nasty Love, 1992) and I giorni dell’abbandono (Days of Abandonment, 2002). Playing on the charming mystery surrounding this incredible writer, Frantumaglia offers the reader a collection of as yet unpublished documents: letters, notes, remembrances of Naples—ostensibly the birthplace of the reclusive writer (for more on Elena Ferrante see the review by Judith Harris).

(Translated by Ann Goldstein)

The Hoax of the Little Virgin in Via Ormea

By Amara Lakhous

Once again Algerian-Italian writer Amara Lakhous paints an ironic and bitter portrait of today’s multicultural Italy, a cross between a comedy and thriller. The protagonist Enzo Lagana, a character who has previously appeared in other novels, must solve a mystery involving some Roms (nomadic ethnics of Romanian extraction). Lakhous’ crisp writing gives us a refreshing description of an Italy divided among Italians, non-Italians and new Italians. Available now as an e-book, it will appear in print in the coming months.

Gang of Lovers

By Massimo Carlotto

This new novel from Mediterranean noir master Massimo Carlotto, tells the tale of the disappearance of a seemingly ordinary man in Padua, Italy. Unable to discover any meaningful leads, the police abandon the case. However, one woman, the daughter of a prominent Swiss industrialist and the missing man’s lover, knows that this disappearance is more sinister than suggested. Overwhelming guilt leads her to seek out Marco Buratti, aka The Alligator, to help crack the case. With the help of Max the Memory and Beniamino Rossini, the trio is led to the skilled criminal and protagonist of The Goodbye Kiss and At the End of a Dull Day, Giorgio Pellegrini. As the two groups are pitted against each other in a gruesome test of nerves, Carlotto blurs the line between the good and the bad as old criminal codes of conduct fade as new criminal syndicates gain power.

Remnants of a Life on Paper

By Pamela Tusiani, Bea Tusiani, Paula Tusiani-Eng

The book tells the story of a young woman suffering with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a psychiatric illness characterized primarily by mood swings, unstable relationships, depression and self-destructive behavior. Pamela Tusiani's copious journals, moving artwork and poetry provide an intimate glimpse of her battle with a personality she could not control. Intertwined with Pamela's voice, Bea Tusiani tells the story of her daughter's struggle and the roller-coaster effect it had on her family. The two points of view present a unique insight into Pamela's state of mind. Based on Bea's and her husband's notes, taken during conversations with Pamela, her doctors and other healthcare providers, this book allows the reader to live through Pamela's day-to-day ordeal and experience the anxiety, love and fear of her family members. This is not just the story of one vibrant, gifted young woman and her courageous family. It is a real life account of an illness that irreparably changes one's world. It raises questions for family and friends of those plagued by BPD. To whom do you turn? How can you help? What do you do when you can't help? Whom do you trust? Where are the boundaries? How do you keep going? Hopefully, this book will provide some answers. Pamela wrote in her diary, "There I stood, in a hole, deep in the ground. Did I dig it or just get in? Did I fall into it? Did someone else dig it and throw me in?" The hole is still there, but through the telling of her valiant endeavor, Pamela extends a hand to help others climb out. Remnants penetrates the heart. To read it, is truly inspirational. (Amazon)

Amo

By Renato Zero

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Magazine

Bookshelf

Mare Nostrum: prospettive di un dialogo tra alterita’ e mediterraneita’

The Street Kids

Mare Nostrum: prospettive di un dialogo tra alterita’ e mediterraneita’

Giro del mondo

Mare Nostrum: prospettive di un dialogo tra alterità e mediterraneità

Mare Nostrum: prospettive di un dialogo tra alterità e mediterraneità

Bramantino: L’Arte Nuova del Rinascimento Lombardo

Giorgio Armani: Radical Gender

Berluti: At Their Feet

Fratumaglia: Bits and Pieces of Uncertain Origin

The Hoax of the Little Virgin in Via Ormea

Gang of Lovers

Remnants of a Life on Paper

Amo

Prontoacorrere

Right Now

Vitamia

Apriti Sesamo

Pioneering Italian American Culture: Escaping La Vita Cucina

Tech and the City: The Making of New York's Startup Community

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