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Original poster

Books set in Italy for Italian holiday pleeease?

35 replies

RoobyMurray · 12/04/2011 17:59

I do like to read books set in the country I'm holidaying in, and this time it's Italy

I've done Forster...so, erm Death in Venice? Or is that a bit grim for poolside?

Can anyone suggest anything please?

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Oldyellow · 24/10/2011 23:12

Daphne du Maurier's Don't Look Now? Though not a precisely cheerful read. Agree with whoever said The Enchanted April (and it's free on Project Gutenberg if you have a Kindle or suchlike)

Matildarabbit · 19/10/2011 17:17

Donna Leon's books are set in Venice

CoteDAzur · 19/10/2011 16:35

Hasn't anyone mentioned The Talented Mr Ripley?

NotJustClassic · 17/10/2011 11:50

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Bucharest · 17/10/2011 11:48

AdamJohnClarke: a word to the wise, you might get more people to buy your book if you had a different user name and said "oooh I read this marvellous book set in the south of Italy.

HTH.

Bucharest-in-the-south-of-Italy

bruffin · 14/10/2011 23:47

The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne Du Maurier

gethelp · 14/10/2011 23:35

Summer's Lease

gethelp · 14/10/2011 23:32

John Mortimer wrote a good one, but I can't remember what on earth it was called!

AdamJohnClarke · 13/10/2011 18:28

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newchelsea · 21/04/2011 16:36

www.amazon.co.uk/Glassblower-Murano-Marina-Fiorato/dp/1905636245

I loved this book and it made me want to go there so lucky you!

WalterFlipschicks · 21/04/2011 16:36

Anything by Marina Fiorato is great, The GlassBlower of Murano is one, my fave of hers is The Botticelli Secret and there is one more can't remember the name Smile

sparkle1977 · 21/04/2011 16:34

I'm currently reading a book by Louise Candlish called "Other People's Secrets" which is fab plus its set in Italy and is based around two families that are holidaying there.

trumpton · 18/04/2011 23:19

More Lives Than One by Libby Purves. Good story and well written with a twist in it.

sonearsofar · 18/04/2011 22:21

'I'm not Scared' by Niccolo Ammaniti is a good read - I tell you what it's about as that would spoil it.

Ruthie32 · 18/04/2011 20:31

Try 'Eat Pray Love', the first third is based in Rome, the second in India and the third in Bali

NettoSuperstar · 16/04/2011 14:24

Non fiction, but Peter Moore's 'Vroom with a View', and 'Vroom by the Sea' are very good.
He's a very funny travel writer.

londonartemis · 16/04/2011 14:19

Check out Nicky Pellegrino - of Italian origin, sets her books in Italy. Light read, good for holidays.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 15/04/2011 20:02

isn't Romola by George Eliot?
(not that I have read it)

horseyrider · 15/04/2011 19:59

I know this is a classic but try "Romola" by Elisabeth Gaskell - beautiful!

NicknameTaken · 14/04/2011 12:45

Tuscany for Beginners - very funny.

Original poster
RoobyMurray · 13/04/2011 10:32

ooh, great thanks for these! I'm going to have an excess luggage ishoo at this rate Smile maybe I'll have to kindle a few.

I'm not so keen on soppy or crime, but neither do I want Very Serious...

trots of back to Amazon

OP posts:
Bucharest · 13/04/2011 09:45

Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun is lovely.

Be careful of foreign-woman-goes-to-tread-grapes-with-friendly-locals genre though. Most are dire (and always have me chuntering that I could do better myself Grin)

Tim Parks Italian Neighbours/An Italian Education are both quite good.

I've just bought The Dark Heart of Italy which is definitely not rose-tinted!

Maud2011 · 13/04/2011 09:26

A Favourite of the Gods by Sybille Bedford - largely though not entirely set in Italy as far as I remember... it's about 20 years since I read - and loved - it!

squix · 12/04/2011 22:33

Second The Savage Garden, read it by the pool in Italy a few years ago. I also quite liked 'Last Train From Liguria' by Christina Dwyer Hickey.

If you like easy to read detective series then there are quite a few - Donna Leon, Michele Ferara and a few others.

thaigreencurry · 12/04/2011 22:28

For a lighthearted read try The Perfect Lie by Emily Barr. She is fantastic at combining travel writing/chick lit/suspense. Set in Venice

P

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