When you see this, you will probably already know the outcome. We have read most of the finalist books of the Strega prize, and this is our view:
‘’L’eta’ fragile’’, Donatella di Pietrantonio, Einaudi
Donatella di Pietrantonio is a guarantee. Her breakthrough success was ‘’L’arminuta’’, an emotional novel that came out in 2017. Her writing style is very recognisable, her novels centre on the ‘’untold’’ stories that fester small communities where everybody knows everybody’s past, past that however remains buried until an unexpected event unearths it with unexpected results. Lucia, the main character, is a woman who has difficulties in dealing with an uncommunicative father and a young daughter who tends to cut her mother out of her life. The fragile age of the title is not a specific age; there is no moment in life when one lives without some fear. This is what Lucia slowly discovers unearthing long-held secrets on her father’s, and her own, past and the reason of her daughter’s reluctance to talk about her obvious unhappiness. Di Pietrantonio takes the writer by the hand and slowly unravels the threads to reveal the final tapestry. Very good book, we would say probably the front runner for the coveted prize.
‘’Invernale’’, Dario Voltolini, La Nave di Teseo.
First contact with this author. The first pages that describe how an animal is butchered are terrifying to read. And yet the story grabs the reader by the throat, and it is impossible to leave the book. It is a slow descent in the emotions of a son who sees his father, a strong and energetic butcher, slowly disappear into the void of a serious illness. One day, the energetic butcher has an accident, and his knife, used so often to dissect animals, enters his finger. It seems an innocuous wound, but bacteria have moved from the dead meat he was cutting to his live flesh. The comparison between the animal flesh that we saw cut and manipulated in the first few pages and the father’s slowly decaying human flesh is finally apparent. It is an incredible story written with a beautiful use of language. Some critics have said that Voltolini has written THE book, reaching the apex of his productions. It is an unusual, emotional book. Our favourite!
‘’Chi dice e chi tace’’, Chiara Valerio, Sellerio
Yet again, a new writer to us. This book caused a lot of interest, often centred on the author rather than her work. The plot has the trademarks of a thriller. We found, however, a parallel with ‘’L’eta’ fragile’’. Both describe the secret life of a small town where the untold past influences the present. In Valerio’s case, the little town is Scauri, a small seaside town between Rome and Naples. Lea, a lawyer, is informed that Vittoria, whom she barely knows, has been found dead. The circumstances of Vittoria’s death are uncertain and push Lea to investigate further, especially when she discovers that Vittoria had chosen Lea to execute her will. Vittoria was a free woman who lived an undefined relationship with Mara, loved her garden and looked after animals for owners on holiday, but who was really Victoria? What was her past? Who is Mara to her? What brought both of them to Scauri? It is a puzzle that Lea puts patiently together overcoming the reluctance of people to talk openly rather than limiting themselves to gossip. Good, solid book. Good enough to win? Probably not!
‘’Aggiustare l’universo’’, Raffaella Romagnolo, Mondadori
A beautiful story with a happy ending. A pleasure to read. It is the first school year after WWII. Gilla, a young teacher, welcomes Francesca, an orphan who lives with nuns in her class. Francesca is obviously clever but does not speak. Gilla is intrigued by the obstinate silence and decides to find out more about the child. In parallel, we follow the life of a Jewish family trying to come to terms with the Italian Race laws of 1938. The two threads will eventually tie together while, in the background, the reader sees History unfolding: the last years of fascism, WWII, the resistance, the holocaust. It is always important to draw lessons from the past to, hopefully, avoid repeating the same mistakes! We don’t think this is a winner, but it is a book that should be read in schools as it portrays a harsh (past) reality through a delicate but thought-provoking story.
‘’Autogrammatica’’ and ‘’Romanzo senza umani’’
The final six list is completed by Tommaso Giartosio and Paolo Di Paolo. The winner of the Strega Prize 2024 will be announced on the 4th of July.