Diana's Reading List

Some of you have wondered what I've read this trip, so here goes:

1. The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy by Joe McGinniss.This very good writer spends 9 months with the football (soccer) team in a small Abruzzo town which has made it to Serie B. (If you don't know what Serie B is you really need to read this book.) He's a rabid fan and fascinated by all he encounters and his memoir of the team, the townspeople, the ways of Italian soccer is vivid and fascinating. You don't need to be a soccer fan to enjoy this book.

2. Gomorrah: A Personal Journey Into the Violent, International Empire of Naples' Organized Crime System by Roberto Saviano. Perhaps you've seen the movie - this is the book. The author is a part of the story - he is exposing the system out of personal rage and shame. Horrifying, brutal and depressing but worth reading.

3. The Woman At the Washington Zoo: Writings On Politics, Family and Fate by Marjorie Williams. Wonderful!! Collection of essays by former Washington Post and Slate writer. Sharp, insightful profiles of politicians, essays about work and family, and the final section - very moving essays about the cancer that ultimately took her life.

4. The Brief, Wonderful Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Tour de force novel by Dominican/American writer. It's too hard to resist saying wow.

5. The City of Florence: Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings by R.W.B.Lewis. Erudite, beautifully written history of Florence, with some personal experiences as well.

6. Carry Me Across the River by Ethan Canin. Novel about a Jewish man's turbulent life in the 20th century. Engrossing.

7. Granta issue: Lost and Found. As ususal with Granta, interesting fiction and non-fiction. (I left this one at a hotel but don't want to leave any of the others. This is the point at which Jim wonders whether we should seriously look into the Kindle.)

8. The Saddest Pleasure: A Journey on Two Rivers by Moritz Thomsen. Memoir about a journey to Brazil and trip on the Amazon. This writer is the author of Living Poor, the clasic Peace Corps memoir and here he reflects on his life in Ecuador where he remained after Peace Corps, and the issues of poverty, oppression, farming and relationships which absorb him. Not easy going but worth it.

9. The Serious Game by Hjalmar Soderberg. Wonderful Swedish novel by contemporary of Strindberg's. Love story but also great portrait of Stockholm at the start of the 20th century.