Currently reading A Silence Shared by Lalla Romano, translated from Italian by Brian Robert Moore. I read and reviewed her novel In Farthest Seas last year. She is an elegant and perceptive writer, with precision character writing.

This is set in the Italian countryside near Turin during WWII.

Finished A Silence Shared by Lalla Romano, tr Brian Robert Moore.

Set towards the end of WWII in a small village near Turin, a woman lives with her friend and the friend's sick husband. The slow unwinding of the occupation and the austerity of war is a backdrop to a subtle, beautifully drawn novel.

New York–area readers and friends: See you at our Issue 52 launch party on Thursday? www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...

In Farthest Seas by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore) A couple of years ago, I read and thoroughly enjoyed A Silence Shared, a beautiful, enigmatic novel by the Italian writer, translator and artist Lalla Romano. First published in Italy in 1957, Tett…

"There is a genuine sense of honesty and vulnerability here, a palpable poignancy that cuts close to the bone."

jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...

#intranslation Via @jacquiwine.bsky.social

In Farthest Seas by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore) A couple of years ago, I read and thoroughly enjoyed A Silence Shared, a beautiful, enigmatic novel by the Italian writer, translator and artist Lalla Romano. First published in Italy in 1957, Tett…

‘…and for a moment I felt an attraction for him that was violent, secret, but I believe already tenaciously deep. It wasn’t an idea, it was a sensation; head-spinning, but not unsettling. Rather, familiar.’ #BookSky 💙📚

jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...

ICYMI, @jacquiwine.bsky.social came out swinging for Lalla Romano 🌊
"Annie Ernaux and Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking (...) are valid comparisons, for sure, but to my mind, Romano’s prose style is more poetic than either Didion’s or Ernaux’s. There is a graceful lyricism here".

Glad to hear that, Jacqui. So it was worth fighting with the copyeditor after all! :)

We talked for a little while at the launch about that last sentence as an example of the particular rhythm and pacing of Romano's sentences – the last word here arriving as a kind of (violent) impact.

In Farthest Seas by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore) A couple of years ago, I read and thoroughly enjoyed A Silence Shared, a beautiful, enigmatic novel by the Italian writer, translator and artist Lalla Romano. First published in Italy in 1957, Tett…

'Everything went dark. That was it, the true sentence. In that moment I lost him, I knew I had lost him.
Suddenly time had been cut frighteningly short; like for a person plummeting who sees moving towards her the ground where she’ll be crushed.' #BookSky 💙📚

jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...

ICYMI, @jacquiwine.bsky.social came out swinging for Lalla Romano 🌊
"Annie Ernaux and Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking (...) are valid comparisons, for sure, but to my mind, Romano’s prose style is more poetic than either Didion’s or Ernaux’s. There is a graceful lyricism here".

Thank you, that means a lot!

In Farthest Seas by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore) A couple of years ago, I read and thoroughly enjoyed A Silence Shared, a beautiful, enigmatic novel by the Italian writer, translator and artist Lalla Romano. First published in Italy in 1957, Tett…

New on the blog today, my thoughts on IN FARTHEST SEAS by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore).

I loved this profound, intimate and deeply moving elegy to Cenzo Monti, Romano’s husband of fifty years. Fans of Annie Ernaux might appreciate this. #BookSky 💙📚

jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...

Such a lovely review, Jacqui! Thank you. And you've said the quiet bit out loud: "These are valid comparisons, for sure, but to my mind, Romano’s prose style is more poetic than either Didion’s or Ernaux’s."

Now reading Verdigris by Michele Mari

The Finishing Touch | Walter Siti The murdered Poet became for him the gash in the center of the sun, the model and the justification for being misunderstood. From the audience, during academic conferences, he hurled passionate and se...

Walter Siti wrote about one of the strangest encounters concerning that strange figure who was Pier Paolo Pasolini—from just days before his death 50 years ago.
Proud to have a translation of this haunting story in the new @nplusonemag.com, with an intro of mine! www.nplusonemag.com/issue-52/fic...

The Finishing Touch | Walter Siti The murdered Poet became for him the gash in the center of the sun, the model and the justification for being misunderstood. From the audience, during academic conferences, he hurled passionate and se...

Walter Siti wrote about one of the strangest encounters concerning that strange figure who was Pier Paolo Pasolini—from just days before his death 50 years ago.
Proud to have a translation of this haunting story in the new @nplusonemag.com, with an intro of mine! www.nplusonemag.com/issue-52/fic...

2025 for me was above all a year of Lalla Romano. Belatedly want to thank everyone on here who read this truly important writer so far! She still deserves more attention but we're that much closer 💙 More on '26 projects soon
For @literaryhub.bsky.social @pushkinpress.com: lithub.com/lalla-romano...

Thanks Tom, I felt the same way when I first read the original. I've translated his story collection You, Bleeding Childhood too, which is one of his most beloved books among his Italian fans. And I'm actually working on another novel of his now! It'll be titled All the Iron in the Eiffel Tower.

Thanks for this great review, Tom! Really glad you enjoyed the book so much.

Verdigris by Michele Mari From Switzerland we take a little hop and a skip into northern Italy, specifically Lake Maggiore (which indeed has its northern toe sticking...

Check out full and very effusive review on my blog: theworldisabookblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/verd...

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS
86: Verdigris by Michele Mari (translated by Brian Robert Moore) - Italy

An incredible book from @andotherstories.bsky.social I strongly suggest you read it now

#booksky #bookreview #italy #readingtheworld

Now I need to find and read IN FARTHEST SEAS.
Why is there not more Lalla Romano in translation?
Once more reality betrays me.

A SILENCE SHARED is probably the most perfect, beautiful, and meaningful novel I've read in a while. If you want it to have a higher political significance: this is a portrait of revolutionary tenderness. Something to think about.

Lalla Romano makes me completely inhabit her world. And yet there's nothing especially intricate or elaborately descriptive in her prose. It's that speaks of things with a lucid care for them that brings them to life.

Thanks so much! I'm very happy to hear Lalla's words and world came alive for you. I agree with your description of her writing completely.

I'm really enjoying the quiet, unassuming, somehow intimate narration in A SILENCE SHARED by Lalla Romano, as translated by Brian Robert Moore. Also I keep pretending the author is actually Lalla Ward as the Time Lady Romana but that's my personal problem.

💙❄️

Looking forward to reading this.

An understated yet profound portrayal of love and death Andrew Martino on Lalla Romano's "In Farthest Seas" as an understated yet profound portrayal of love and death

"A masterclass in the art of translation... Poignant, and at times breathtakingly honest, IN FARTHEST SEAS joins a select group of narratives that help us cope with the death of a loved one"
Quite a rich review by @andrewmartino.bsky.social @pushkinpress.com readingintranslation.com/2025/12/01/l...

Thank you again, Rónán – I'm really glad the book stuck with you!