I'm trying to read more contemporary Italian authors but I don't know where to start. I like novels that deal with today's reality, preferably with protagonists facing current issues. Do you have any suggestions for emerging writers or recent bestsellers worth reading?
The problem is that two years isn't really enough to get a proper overview, and it depends a lot on where you look - independent bookstores often have different discoveries compared to what you see in big distribution chains. But if you want authors writing about today without filters, try searching for some from small publishing houses, not just the big names. Often the most interesting stuff doesn't make it onto the national bestseller lists, it stays more local but it's worth digging for.
A practical tip: check out smaller prizes like the Campiello or selections of recent Italian mystery/noir novels, not just the major awards. And if you can, talk to someone who works in a bookstore - the real ones know well what's actually circulating among readers, not just what's being pushed by advertising. Read a plot summary, read an excerpt before dropping 20 euros for nothing. Sometimes the "right" book is the one you don't expect, not the name you hear on the radio.
It's not that it's easy to say which are "the best" because it really depends on what you're looking for, but I get your point. If you want contemporary and realistic stuff, check out writers who tackle Italian everyday life without filters - you'll find quite a few good titles if you look through literary review sites or recent awards like the Strega or the Campiello. But the most practical advice is to go to a bookstore and flip through books, asking the booksellers what's working right now: they know way better than anyone online what actually lands and what's come out in the last few months.
The biggest risk is just trusting newspaper rankings or major literary prizes - you often end up with already-established names, not real discoveries. If you actually want to read stuff that captures what's happening right now with characters wrestling with real issues, you're better off poking around indie publishers and reader forums, where people recommend what genuinely moved them without any filter.
Maybe also check out short story anthologies and online literary magazines - you'll find emerging authors who haven't published three novels yet way more easily there, and they often have a fresher voice and less polished feel compared to people already in the traditional circuit. It depends on whether you prefer rawer or more lyrical writing, but the point is don't wait for someone else to tell you what's "best" for you!
I think the thing is that "best" really changes depending on what sparks your curiosity. Lately I found a book by chance in a small bookstore, it wasn't in the national bestseller lists, and it literally took me away from reality for days - so maybe the most important thing is not just to stick with the usual rankings, but to poke around a bit, read the synopses, listen to what people who've read it say on blogs or literary communities. If you like stories about contemporary reality, try looking for authors who tackle themes like urban isolation, job precarity, identity crisis - that's what's actually coming back a lot lately. And honestly independent bookstores or online reading groups make much more interesting discoveries compared to big distribution chains.
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