A complete guide to Italian reading for all levels
Reading time: 7 minutes
Ciao e benvenuto/a nel mio blog! 👋
Learning Italian is an exciting journey, though it can sometimes feel challenging. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to boost your skills, and one of the best methods is reading Italian books.
Not only does reading in Italian help you pick up new vocabulary naturally, but it also sharpens your grammar and enhances your fluency, making you more comfortable expressing yourself. Plus, it’s a fun way to immerse yourself in Italian culture!
In this guide, I will provide you with reading recommendations suitable for all levels, from beginner to advanced. But before we dive into the books, I would like to share 6 quick tips to help you choose the right reading material!
📖 Table of Contents
🛑 3 Things to Avoid as a Beginner
❌ Children’s fairy tales: They might seem easy, but they’re often packed with complex verb tenses (like the passato remoto) and fantasy-related vocabulary that won’t be useful in everyday conversations.
❌ Italian adolescent classics (like Italo Calvino): These can be challenging for beginners due to their advanced vocabulary, surreal themes, and complex sentence structures.
❌ Italian literary classics from the late 1800s or early 1900s: The older, antiquated Italian language used in these books can be tricky to understand and isn’t particularly helpful for modern-day learners.
✅ 3 Smart Strategies to Choose Your Books
✅ Revisit a Favorite Book: One of the best ways to improve your Italian effortlessly is to read a book you’ve already enjoyed in your native language! Since you’re familiar with the plot and characters, you can focus solely on the Italian words and expressions.
✅ Bilingual Books: These are excellent options because they present the Italian text alongside your native language, allowing you to compare sentences and learn more efficiently without constantly using a dictionary.
✅ Read Translated Books: When a foreign bestseller (like a Ken Follett novel) is translated into Italian, the language is often more accessible and standard than a text written directly by a native Italian author. It’s a perfect intermediate step that allows you to absorb real language without facing the dense complexities of native Italian literature. Remember, small steps lead to big progress! 😉
Best Italian Books for Beginners
Io non ho paura
Io non ho paura (I’m Not Scared) is the gripping story of a 9-year-old boy who uncovers a horrifying crime while exploring an abandoned farmhouse in southern Italy. Set during the turbulent “Anni di piombo” (Years of Lead) in the 1970s, the plot is straightforward, and the vocabulary is basic enough for beginners to follow. The story unfolds on two levels: the innocent world seen by the boy and the dark tragedy of the adults.
💡 Bonus tip: Once you finish the book, you can watch the 2003 film adaptation!
La chimera
This historical novel transports readers to a fictional seventeenth-century village in Piedmont. Set in 1610, it follows the remarkable and tragic story of Antonia, a foundling who is accused of being a witch (la strega). Despite the historical setting, the author uses a relatively simple language style that makes it an ideal choice for ambitious beginners looking to improve their Italian while uncovering the superstitions of the past.
Ma le stelle quante sono
This unique romance novel follows the lives of Carlo, a socially awkward boy, and Alice, a dreamy girl. What makes this novel stand out is its two-sided format! The physical book has two covers, allowing you to read the events from either Carlo’s or Alice’s perspective first. With its simple writing style and heavy use of present and passato prossimo tenses, it’s an incredibly easy and enjoyable read.
Tre Cavalli
This short, 109-page book is written in a beautifully clear and simple style. The verbs are mostly conjugated in the present and passato prossimo, making it highly accessible. The story follows a man who moves to Argentina for love, but after a tragedy, he joins the fight against a dictatorship. It delves into powerful themes like solitude, immigration, and willpower.
Best Italian Books for Intermediate Learners
La vita che volevo
The plot of this book weaves together multiple stories, each centered on people facing different life challenges. These personal struggles invite readers to reflect on their own lives, the decisions they’ve made, and the role of fate or coincidence. It will ultimately make you reflect on who you are and who you want to become in the future.
Bianca come il latte, rossa come il sangue
In this touching book, the author explores adolescent love through the eyes of Leo, a 16-year-old boy. Encouraged by his teacher, Leo pursues his love for Beatrice, a red-haired girl (symbolized by the color red). However, Beatrice suffers from a severe illness (associated with white). It is a deeply emotional book that will surely touch your heart and leave a lasting impression.
Novecento
This is a compelling one-act play monologue that tells the story of a boy abandoned on a steamship and adopted by the ship’s engineer. He grows up to have an incredible, almost magical talent for playing the piano. The language used is quite colloquial and dialogue-heavy, making it an excellent choice for intermediate readers.
💡 Bonus tip: This story also inspired the famous 1998 film “The Legend of 1900”!
La solitudine dei numeri primi
Giordano’s debut novel has become one of the best-selling Italian books of the past decade. Set in the elegant city of Turin, the story revolves around two friends, Alice and Mattia, whose lives run parallel for decades, much like “prime numbers.” From high school to adulthood, it explores the complexities of friendship and trauma.
💡 Bonus tip: Also adapted into a film in 2010!
Best Italian Books for Advanced Learners
L’amica geniale
In this globally acclaimed novel (My Brilliant Friend), we delve into the childhoods of two inseparable friends, Lila and Elena, growing up in a tough neighborhood in Naples. As the girls strive to escape their environment, they face obstacles that test their bond. The narrative beautifully reflects on past events, allowing readers to master Italian past tenses and explore highly challenging, literary vocabulary.
Se questo è un uomo
Written by Primo Levi, this profound memoir is grounded in the horrors he experienced during World War II in the Auschwitz concentration camp. The title (If This is a Man) poses a haunting question about humanity amidst the brutality of war. This essential, highly advanced read serves as both a historical account and a philosophical inquiry.
Volevo i pantaloni
Written by Lara Cardella at just 19 years old, this is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel set in Sicily. The story follows a young girl grappling with the restrictive norms of gender conformity in her small village. Her simple desire to wear pants symbolizes her rebellion against traditional roles. The rich, lyrical text captures the essence of teenage rebellion and the ongoing fight for personal freedom.
Una storia semplice
This short novel may be titled “A Simple Story,” but it is far from it. It intricately weaves a murder investigation in Sicily, delving into a police department riddled with Mafia ties and corruption. You will encounter a wealth of advanced, crime-related vocabulary while gaining insights into the Mafia’s pervasive influence on society.
Here we are at the end of my list of recommended books for independent Italian learners! I’ll definitely be updating it in the future, so check back occasionally.
Alla prossima!! 👋
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