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There Was a Time for Such a Word
Reminiscent of the works of Joanna Quinn and The Children’s Train, a poignant and hopeful novel, set in small town 1940s Italy, in which a young illiterate herdsman learns to read with the help of his two friends—a gift that will open his eyes to a new world and change the course of his life.
September 1942. Davide is an uneducated but sensitive pigskeeper, a dreamer who imagines a life beyond his small town in Southern Italy—away from the animals he cares for, from the other children who mock him for the limp he has born since birth, and the brutal hand of his Mussolini-loving father.
Teresa, his friend and the only person with the courage to defend him from the schoolroom bullies, also yearns to escape. She hopes to go to Rome before she is trapped in a marriage of convenience arranged by her parents.
When a group of thirty-six Jews from Naples forcibly relocated by the Fascist authorities arrives, everyday life begins to change. Among them is Nicolas, a boy who brings with him an unknown world that is initially met with animosity by the villagers. But when Nicolas’ father sets up an underground school, Davide begins to attend classes and soon, as he learns to read, this illiterate herdsman begins a journey that will change him forever. As Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas grow closer, they venture into the countryside surrounding the village and into the unmarked terrain of adolescence and unspoken feelings. Though the war and a single tragic event will break them apart, their friendship indelibly marks Davide, leading him on the path to a new future beyond this small world.
Many years later, Davide, now a successful writer for the theater, sets out to find his lost friends again.
September 1942. Davide is an uneducated but sensitive pigskeeper, a dreamer who imagines a life beyond his small town in Southern Italy—away from the animals he cares for, from the other children who mock him for the limp he has born since birth, and the brutal hand of his Mussolini-loving father.
Teresa, his friend and the only person with the courage to defend him from the schoolroom bullies, also yearns to escape. She hopes to go to Rome before she is trapped in a marriage of convenience arranged by her parents.
When a group of thirty-six Jews from Naples forcibly relocated by the Fascist authorities arrives, everyday life begins to change. Among them is Nicolas, a boy who brings with him an unknown world that is initially met with animosity by the villagers. But when Nicolas’ father sets up an underground school, Davide begins to attend classes and soon, as he learns to read, this illiterate herdsman begins a journey that will change him forever. As Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas grow closer, they venture into the countryside surrounding the village and into the unmarked terrain of adolescence and unspoken feelings. Though the war and a single tragic event will break them apart, their friendship indelibly marks Davide, leading him on the path to a new future beyond this small world.
Many years later, Davide, now a successful writer for the theater, sets out to find his lost friends again.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2025
2 people are currently reading
3502 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 25, 2025
In a Nutshell: A character-oriented historical fiction set in 1940s Italy about a teen whose life changes one summer. Good character development, interesting incorporation of the fascist propaganda in WWII Italy. A plotline that is dark and hopeful at the same time. Three sections that are a bit too distinct from each other. The ending, though impactful, left me with mixed feelings. Very relevant in today’s world despite the historical setting. Recommended, but not to all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview: (This preview barely represents this complex story. The GR blurb contains more details if you want a preview beyond the initial few chapters.)
Bookish Yays:
📚 Teresa. I HAVE to mention her before the two boys. What a beautiful character! I loved her spirit.
📚 Nicolas, and by extension, his father. Their arcs are absolutely not like the typical “European Jews during WWII” portrayal. I love how the writing stressed more on his personality than on his identity while still showing how one was incomplete without the other in such a climate.
📚 The representation of the thinking and culture of rural patriarchal 1940s-Italy.
📚 The portrayal of the Jews forced away from their homes. This isn't a concentration camp narrative, but an angle we don’t often see in historical fiction. A good depiction of Jewish persecution without being an outright story of the holocaust.
📚 The power of words, literacy and language – very important to openness of thinking and imagination.
📚 The danger of Fascism and Fascist propaganda. Set in pre-internet times, but so relevant today as well. The dictatorial and inhumane government decisions. The brainwashing to spread hate against those not belonging to the dominant group. The othering of legitimate citizens. How disappointing that there is no difference in many political leaders between 1945 and 2025!
📚 So many beautiful, thought-provoking quotes!
📚 The writing. Retains fluid language without compromising on pacing or comprehension. Credit to the author and the translator.
📚 The translator's note at the end. The perfect conclusion to the book.
Bookish Okays:
🎭 The approach of having three distinct sections, each set in a specific phase of Davide’s life. Akin to ‘The Kite Runner’, but not as fluid. At times, Section Two felt like a totally different book because of the minimal continuity. It took me some time to get used to the huge time jump and change in setting, especially when the earlier section seemed to end without making many things clear.
🎭 Davide. Flawed, which is what makes him compelling but also tough to relate to, especially during the second section. I couldn’t agree with many of his decisions. That said, the author sketched his personality well. Davide actually grows through the story, but not necessarily in a linear way and not overnight. Such behavioural change is more true-to-life.
🎭 Davide’s disability. Love the rep. Disliked the fact that his life changed for the better mainly after his disability was taken care of. Then again, it was true to the period, so this could go either way for readers.
🎭 Davide’s instant connection to Nicolas feels abrupt. Not sure if this is a translation issue but I needed something more there. I kept getting mixed signals about whether the plot was moving towards a MM love story, but it ultimately didn’t. Of course, it doesn’t even go into a love triangle, which I appreciate.
🎭 The choice of using Davide’s first-person narrative, which keeps Teresa and Nicolas at a slight distance but makes us yearn to know them better. It’s rare for a first-person POV to make us want to know other characters more intimately. I wish we heard from Teresa and Nicolas as well. Many things are left unanswered in their arcs because Davide isn't an active part of those scenes.
🎭 The ending. Without going into spoilers, all I can say is that it was a logical ending for the book but not one I wanted.
Bookish Nays:
🐖 The passage of time is not always clear, which is tricky for a story that spans many years.
Overall, this is not the book to rush through with eagerness but a book to savour with ponderance. It offers layered characters, a realistic narrative that balances hurt and hope, and an ending that is probably more real than a HEA. The content gets quite dark at times, so it is not to be picked when you want something relaxing. While certain things could have worked better for me, I still think it is a good option during an introspective mood.
2025 is the perfect time for such a book when Fascism has started rearing its ugly head again in many countries under the guise of democracy. It highlights the importance of education, of not following politicians blindly, and of understanding how humanity comes before race, religion or nationality. (Many in my country have also forgotten this.) Then again, will those blinded by such leaders actually pick up such a book? I doubt it.
This is the Italian author’s first book to be translated to English, and I hope we have a lot more translations to look forward to.
Recommended but only to readers who appreciate character-oriented narratives and aren’t looking for traditional storytelling with happy endings.
3.5 stars.
My thanks to HarperVia for providing the DRC of “There Was a Time for Such a Word” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview: (This preview barely represents this complex story. The GR blurb contains more details if you want a preview beyond the initial few chapters.)
1942. Caserta, Italy. Davide is the illiterate son of a pig farmer. Born with one leg shorter than the other, he knows he is destined to stay in his small town but yearns for a different life. Two key incidents initiate a change. One, when Teresa (Davide’s friend and the daughter of the local ropeworks owner) starts teaching him how to read and write, and two, when Nicolas arrives to Caserta as one of the Jews from Naples forcibly relocated by the Fascist authorities. These events change not just Davide’s life but also Teresa’s and Nicolas’.
The story comes to us in Davide’s first-person perspective over three distinct periods of his life.
Bookish Yays:
📚 Teresa. I HAVE to mention her before the two boys. What a beautiful character! I loved her spirit.
📚 Nicolas, and by extension, his father. Their arcs are absolutely not like the typical “European Jews during WWII” portrayal. I love how the writing stressed more on his personality than on his identity while still showing how one was incomplete without the other in such a climate.
📚 The representation of the thinking and culture of rural patriarchal 1940s-Italy.
📚 The portrayal of the Jews forced away from their homes. This isn't a concentration camp narrative, but an angle we don’t often see in historical fiction. A good depiction of Jewish persecution without being an outright story of the holocaust.
📚 The power of words, literacy and language – very important to openness of thinking and imagination.
📚 The danger of Fascism and Fascist propaganda. Set in pre-internet times, but so relevant today as well. The dictatorial and inhumane government decisions. The brainwashing to spread hate against those not belonging to the dominant group. The othering of legitimate citizens. How disappointing that there is no difference in many political leaders between 1945 and 2025!
📚 So many beautiful, thought-provoking quotes!
📚 The writing. Retains fluid language without compromising on pacing or comprehension. Credit to the author and the translator.
📚 The translator's note at the end. The perfect conclusion to the book.
Bookish Okays:
🎭 The approach of having three distinct sections, each set in a specific phase of Davide’s life. Akin to ‘The Kite Runner’, but not as fluid. At times, Section Two felt like a totally different book because of the minimal continuity. It took me some time to get used to the huge time jump and change in setting, especially when the earlier section seemed to end without making many things clear.
🎭 Davide. Flawed, which is what makes him compelling but also tough to relate to, especially during the second section. I couldn’t agree with many of his decisions. That said, the author sketched his personality well. Davide actually grows through the story, but not necessarily in a linear way and not overnight. Such behavioural change is more true-to-life.
🎭 Davide’s disability. Love the rep. Disliked the fact that his life changed for the better mainly after his disability was taken care of. Then again, it was true to the period, so this could go either way for readers.
🎭 Davide’s instant connection to Nicolas feels abrupt. Not sure if this is a translation issue but I needed something more there. I kept getting mixed signals about whether the plot was moving towards a MM love story, but it ultimately didn’t. Of course, it doesn’t even go into a love triangle, which I appreciate.
🎭 The choice of using Davide’s first-person narrative, which keeps Teresa and Nicolas at a slight distance but makes us yearn to know them better. It’s rare for a first-person POV to make us want to know other characters more intimately. I wish we heard from Teresa and Nicolas as well. Many things are left unanswered in their arcs because Davide isn't an active part of those scenes.
🎭 The ending. Without going into spoilers, all I can say is that it was a logical ending for the book but not one I wanted.
Bookish Nays:
🐖 The passage of time is not always clear, which is tricky for a story that spans many years.
Overall, this is not the book to rush through with eagerness but a book to savour with ponderance. It offers layered characters, a realistic narrative that balances hurt and hope, and an ending that is probably more real than a HEA. The content gets quite dark at times, so it is not to be picked when you want something relaxing. While certain things could have worked better for me, I still think it is a good option during an introspective mood.
2025 is the perfect time for such a book when Fascism has started rearing its ugly head again in many countries under the guise of democracy. It highlights the importance of education, of not following politicians blindly, and of understanding how humanity comes before race, religion or nationality. (Many in my country have also forgotten this.) Then again, will those blinded by such leaders actually pick up such a book? I doubt it.
This is the Italian author’s first book to be translated to English, and I hope we have a lot more translations to look forward to.
Recommended but only to readers who appreciate character-oriented narratives and aren’t looking for traditional storytelling with happy endings.
3.5 stars.
My thanks to HarperVia for providing the DRC of “There Was a Time for Such a Word” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
October 5, 2025
"This is a story about words, about their sound and how they are formed, about how they can come a weapon, a shield, a means of escape, a path to freedom, a path that leads to a larger and more complex world.” (From the note by Richard Dixon, who translated this novel from Italian to English.)
This is on the broader level what this novel is about. Davide, the crippled son of a Fascist pig farmer in a small town not far from Naples has a burning desire to learn to read and write, to know words he has never heard of, to find a way out from this place. The joy and satisfaction he feels is palatable and touching as he learns each new word, savoring every one, writing them in stolen notebooks, secretly being taught by one of the thirty six Jews sent to this place from Naples.
I found it to be about so much more than the desire to learn . A burning desire for the girl Teresa who also wants to leave this town, a burning envy to be like the smart Jewish boy Nicolas, son of the man who teaches him to read also shape this story of these three characters whose lives will forever be connected by love, betrayal, friendship and loyalty in the backdrop of war, of Fascism and the plight of the Jews in the 1940’s.
It’s beautifully written and moving with a stunning ending that brought tears of both sadness and hope. This is the kind of story that will stay with me, one for the heart, head and soul. One of my favorites of the year for sure . Gianni Solla has written several novels and from what I can tell, this is the only one that has been translated . I hope for more.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss .
This is on the broader level what this novel is about. Davide, the crippled son of a Fascist pig farmer in a small town not far from Naples has a burning desire to learn to read and write, to know words he has never heard of, to find a way out from this place. The joy and satisfaction he feels is palatable and touching as he learns each new word, savoring every one, writing them in stolen notebooks, secretly being taught by one of the thirty six Jews sent to this place from Naples.
I found it to be about so much more than the desire to learn . A burning desire for the girl Teresa who also wants to leave this town, a burning envy to be like the smart Jewish boy Nicolas, son of the man who teaches him to read also shape this story of these three characters whose lives will forever be connected by love, betrayal, friendship and loyalty in the backdrop of war, of Fascism and the plight of the Jews in the 1940’s.
It’s beautifully written and moving with a stunning ending that brought tears of both sadness and hope. This is the kind of story that will stay with me, one for the heart, head and soul. One of my favorites of the year for sure . Gianni Solla has written several novels and from what I can tell, this is the only one that has been translated . I hope for more.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss .
October 19, 2025
Pre-Read Notes:
I honestly could not resist the title of this one!
"Church and fascism were compulsory for all villages like ours. We had to depend on something, or someone— fearful, therefore governable. The two oldest institutions in my life were both founded on fear." p74
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) This is a terrifying tale of the proliferation of facism in a previously free society. It's also the story of a family surviving unfathomable circumstances. It's a harrowing read, yet beautiful, and I couldn't look away. This is a story about how cruelty changes everyone it touches, and how hard we must fight when cruelty takes root in society.
I recommend this book to readers of history and historical fiction, fans of seldom-explored perspectives of WWII, fans of excellent disability representation. This is a good choice if you liked Orange Wine by Esperanza Hope Snyder or A Guardian and a Thief by Magha Majumdar.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "We were country folk, knew all about the soil and animals but nothing about people. My father would say there was no point going to school— one pig plus another pig makes two pigs, and once you know that you can work out the more difficult stuff." p9 Well! This excerpt and it drew me right into the story. The poverty plus the certainty created an irresistible pull.
✔️ This setting defines the book. It is so small, space is tight, all the families stay the same, generation after generation. They all embrace a weird underlying cultural violence: "“I’ve never hit a pig.”“All animals need to be hit, otherwise they don’t know who is master. Your father hits you. We all saw it. Maybe we should ask him.”" p37 Our disabled, sweet, gentle Furtuná, known locally as merely "the pig keeper", shines brilliantly against this backdrop of the small, isolated town. He is truly unique, here.
✔️ "“The Bristol Blenheim.” He moved his open hand in the air as if it were an airplane and made the sound of an engine with his mouth. “I learned that name by heart after I saw a photograph in the newspaper. It’s a small British airplane, fast, unbeatable. It’s what they’ve used to bomb the areas around the port. But Naples has another city built underground, where people can hide. It’s made of tufa, a yellow rock that looks like sponge. Such things don’t happen here.”" p52 The history in this book is so rich on the page I can feel it and smell it.
Notes: physical violence against animals, children, women, disabled people, death of an animal, animals killed for food, public humiliation, fascism, church, war, bombings from planes,
Thank you to Gianna Solla, Richard Dixon, HarperVia, and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of THERE WAS A TIME FOR SUCH A WORD. All views are mine.
I honestly could not resist the title of this one!
"Church and fascism were compulsory for all villages like ours. We had to depend on something, or someone— fearful, therefore governable. The two oldest institutions in my life were both founded on fear." p74
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) This is a terrifying tale of the proliferation of facism in a previously free society. It's also the story of a family surviving unfathomable circumstances. It's a harrowing read, yet beautiful, and I couldn't look away. This is a story about how cruelty changes everyone it touches, and how hard we must fight when cruelty takes root in society.
I recommend this book to readers of history and historical fiction, fans of seldom-explored perspectives of WWII, fans of excellent disability representation. This is a good choice if you liked Orange Wine by Esperanza Hope Snyder or A Guardian and a Thief by Magha Majumdar.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "We were country folk, knew all about the soil and animals but nothing about people. My father would say there was no point going to school— one pig plus another pig makes two pigs, and once you know that you can work out the more difficult stuff." p9 Well! This excerpt and it drew me right into the story. The poverty plus the certainty created an irresistible pull.
✔️ This setting defines the book. It is so small, space is tight, all the families stay the same, generation after generation. They all embrace a weird underlying cultural violence: "“I’ve never hit a pig.”“All animals need to be hit, otherwise they don’t know who is master. Your father hits you. We all saw it. Maybe we should ask him.”" p37 Our disabled, sweet, gentle Furtuná, known locally as merely "the pig keeper", shines brilliantly against this backdrop of the small, isolated town. He is truly unique, here.
✔️ "“The Bristol Blenheim.” He moved his open hand in the air as if it were an airplane and made the sound of an engine with his mouth. “I learned that name by heart after I saw a photograph in the newspaper. It’s a small British airplane, fast, unbeatable. It’s what they’ve used to bomb the areas around the port. But Naples has another city built underground, where people can hide. It’s made of tufa, a yellow rock that looks like sponge. Such things don’t happen here.”" p52 The history in this book is so rich on the page I can feel it and smell it.
Notes: physical violence against animals, children, women, disabled people, death of an animal, animals killed for food, public humiliation, fascism, church, war, bombings from planes,
Thank you to Gianna Solla, Richard Dixon, HarperVia, and NetGalley for an accessible digital copy of THERE WAS A TIME FOR SUCH A WORD. All views are mine.
August 13, 2025
Exquisitely written and deeply poignant, this profound coming of age novel translated from the Italian utterly swept me away.
Davide’s world is small: he is the son of a pig farmer, in a rural village in south Italy. He pilfers notebooks from the local peddler, drawing squiggles onto the page and dreaming of, one day, wielding letters like his friend Teresa.
The boundaries of his world forever alter when a group of Jews are forcibly resettled in his village. The erudite Nicolas, dazzling with city-sophistication, is the embodiment of everything Davide idealizes.
Davide becomes a secret pupil of Nicolas’ father, a teacher, while simultaneously studying every air and gesture of the son. Nicolas, Davide and Teresa roam the forests together, formative days that become deeply emblazoned upon their hearts.
After a rift with his violent, fascist father, Davide chooses to take refuge with the pigs, filling his notebooks with the words and ideas that are emerging in his ever-expanding world. Until, in one irrevocable night, everything is upended.
The ensuing chapters bring reinvention, reflection, and at long last, a chance to amend all that was fractured.
What an absolutely lovely read! This was an exceptional reading experience for me, and I’m so thankful to Netgalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read it in advance of publishing. With "There Was a Time for Such a Word", author Gianni Solla and translator Richard Dixon have given us a true gem. (Publishing 11/11/25)
Davide’s world is small: he is the son of a pig farmer, in a rural village in south Italy. He pilfers notebooks from the local peddler, drawing squiggles onto the page and dreaming of, one day, wielding letters like his friend Teresa.
The boundaries of his world forever alter when a group of Jews are forcibly resettled in his village. The erudite Nicolas, dazzling with city-sophistication, is the embodiment of everything Davide idealizes.
Davide becomes a secret pupil of Nicolas’ father, a teacher, while simultaneously studying every air and gesture of the son. Nicolas, Davide and Teresa roam the forests together, formative days that become deeply emblazoned upon their hearts.
After a rift with his violent, fascist father, Davide chooses to take refuge with the pigs, filling his notebooks with the words and ideas that are emerging in his ever-expanding world. Until, in one irrevocable night, everything is upended.
The ensuing chapters bring reinvention, reflection, and at long last, a chance to amend all that was fractured.
What an absolutely lovely read! This was an exceptional reading experience for me, and I’m so thankful to Netgalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read it in advance of publishing. With "There Was a Time for Such a Word", author Gianni Solla and translator Richard Dixon have given us a true gem. (Publishing 11/11/25)
November 6, 2025
I really didn’t know what to expect from this book. I love historical fiction. I also really enjoy books that demonstrate strength through World War 2. This book was poetic. It was beautiful. The way young Davide fell in love with words and language made me want to cry! Living a life of such sadness and pain, yet the spark he had when he was able to learn was brilliant. There were parts that felt like a love song, gliding through the difficult times the characters had to survive. The writing was stunning.
My only hiccup was I struggled with some of the shifting of the book. At times it felt fragmented and jerky. I’d still recommend the book, and maybe it was due to the translation, however I felt I had whiplash at times.
The narrator was listed as Edoardo Ballerini. Quite literally the most perfect narrator for this book. His voice was smooth yet crisp. There was a sensual vibe to his voice which brought beauty, even during the ugliness of the war and Davide’s struggles. 10/10 perfect narrator pick.
Thank you NetGalley for the read. Wonderful book and I’m so happy I was given the opportunity to enjoy it.
My only hiccup was I struggled with some of the shifting of the book. At times it felt fragmented and jerky. I’d still recommend the book, and maybe it was due to the translation, however I felt I had whiplash at times.
The narrator was listed as Edoardo Ballerini. Quite literally the most perfect narrator for this book. His voice was smooth yet crisp. There was a sensual vibe to his voice which brought beauty, even during the ugliness of the war and Davide’s struggles. 10/10 perfect narrator pick.
Thank you NetGalley for the read. Wonderful book and I’m so happy I was given the opportunity to enjoy it.
August 15, 2025
This story is about a boy that grows up in a village of mostly uneducated people. You get to watch him grow up and become educated. His world is completely changed by words. His mind opens and blossoms in such an amazing way. I loved this book.
November 10, 2025
Netgalley ARC
When books are translated from their original language, I often find that they lose a lot of their magic. That wasn't the case here. Or, in any case, enough of the beauty of the language and story translated well. Our main character, Davide, is the disabled son of an abusive pig farmer who has fully bought into the fascist narrative (Mussolini's picture on the wall and all). Davide wants more than the pig farm - he wants to learn how to read and write. The story is about Davide's desires for more. Davide wants to learn, he wants Teresa, and he wants to be as smart as the Jewish son of his reading teacher. But this is all set against the backdrop of a country spiraling rapidly into fascism, the shadow of a coming war, and the way Jews were treated in this era. It was a painful story to read, especially knowing what we do about what would come next for these characters, even when they don't. But it was also a hopeful story about a desire to grow beyond the expectations that have been set for you.
This book felt especially timely now, as we see a worldwide trend in the rise of fascism again. The translator did a beautiful job as did the narrator.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This is a story about words, about their sound and how they are formed, about how they can come a weapon, a shield, a means of escape, a path to freedom, a path that leads to a larger and more complex world. - Richard Dixon, translator
When books are translated from their original language, I often find that they lose a lot of their magic. That wasn't the case here. Or, in any case, enough of the beauty of the language and story translated well. Our main character, Davide, is the disabled son of an abusive pig farmer who has fully bought into the fascist narrative (Mussolini's picture on the wall and all). Davide wants more than the pig farm - he wants to learn how to read and write. The story is about Davide's desires for more. Davide wants to learn, he wants Teresa, and he wants to be as smart as the Jewish son of his reading teacher. But this is all set against the backdrop of a country spiraling rapidly into fascism, the shadow of a coming war, and the way Jews were treated in this era. It was a painful story to read, especially knowing what we do about what would come next for these characters, even when they don't. But it was also a hopeful story about a desire to grow beyond the expectations that have been set for you.
This book felt especially timely now, as we see a worldwide trend in the rise of fascism again. The translator did a beautiful job as did the narrator.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 5, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, HarperVia and the author. All opinions are my own.
Set in 1940s Italy, this story follows Davide, a young, illiterate pig keeper in the small town of Tora e Piccilli. Born with a limp in his leg, he dreams of a life beyond the limits of his town. His closest friend, Teresa, shares that same longing. When a group of Jewish families is relocated to the area by the fascist government, Davide meets Nicolas and his father. Through Nicolas’s father, Davide begins to learn how to read, sparking a deep love for words that becomes transformative throughout his story.
As Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas grow closer, war and life begin to test their friendship, and we follow Davide’s journey as his world and understanding slowly expand.
This novel weaves together historical fiction, fascism, friendship, the power of language, and character development. This is one of those books you steadily read through, without rush. It should be slowly, quietly and thoroughly enjoyed.
The prose is beautiful, moving and poetic. The translation from Italian to English was nicely done.
I didn’t always agree with the characters’ choices, but I enjoyed getting to know them and watching their lives unfold, especially seeing Davide’s relationship with language grow and evolve.
The setting felt vivid and immersive, and I appreciated how elements of World War II and fascism were woven throughout the narrative.
So, to reiterate: I liked this. What a gem of a translated read. I recommend.
As always, check your trigger warnings.
Set in 1940s Italy, this story follows Davide, a young, illiterate pig keeper in the small town of Tora e Piccilli. Born with a limp in his leg, he dreams of a life beyond the limits of his town. His closest friend, Teresa, shares that same longing. When a group of Jewish families is relocated to the area by the fascist government, Davide meets Nicolas and his father. Through Nicolas’s father, Davide begins to learn how to read, sparking a deep love for words that becomes transformative throughout his story.
As Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas grow closer, war and life begin to test their friendship, and we follow Davide’s journey as his world and understanding slowly expand.
This novel weaves together historical fiction, fascism, friendship, the power of language, and character development. This is one of those books you steadily read through, without rush. It should be slowly, quietly and thoroughly enjoyed.
The prose is beautiful, moving and poetic. The translation from Italian to English was nicely done.
I didn’t always agree with the characters’ choices, but I enjoyed getting to know them and watching their lives unfold, especially seeing Davide’s relationship with language grow and evolve.
The setting felt vivid and immersive, and I appreciated how elements of World War II and fascism were woven throughout the narrative.
So, to reiterate: I liked this. What a gem of a translated read. I recommend.
As always, check your trigger warnings.
November 12, 2025
If you question why we need a book right now that illustrates the power of fascism and the danger of ignorance, then you have been asleep for most of 2025.
The story begins in an isolated rural community in Italy, with Mussolini in charge and fascism on the rise. Our hero, the uneducated son of a pig farmer, finds his world expanding when a group of Jews are forcibly resettled in the village. Not only does he make friends with the erudite Nicolas, who is of his own age, but he learns to read from Nicolas' father, setting him on a path of expression and understanding that eventually brings him to question everything he has been conditioned to believe and accept.
Solla's depiction of this rural community is at times bleakly judgmental, in the violent fascist father, but also warmly tolerant, as we see Davide's awakening understanding. Both things have to be true, in order for us to get a real glimpse into the mindset that comes from ignorance. Davide doesn't understand, at the beginning of the book, why abusing Jews is wrong. He has been taught to idolize "Il Duce" and has no way to educate himself any differently. But he grows, through one teacher's kind intervention, and his exposure to the wider world of literary language, coupled with his own innate sense of right and wrong, which somehow has not been snuffed out by his awful family.
It's the slow burn of Davide's evolving awareness that makes this book so special. There is no watershed moment where he suddenly understands and then acts right. Instead his growth involves many smaller revelations, imperfect leaps, and a bumpy development. This is the story of a real character, not the illustration of an idea with a human body.
The story begins in an isolated rural community in Italy, with Mussolini in charge and fascism on the rise. Our hero, the uneducated son of a pig farmer, finds his world expanding when a group of Jews are forcibly resettled in the village. Not only does he make friends with the erudite Nicolas, who is of his own age, but he learns to read from Nicolas' father, setting him on a path of expression and understanding that eventually brings him to question everything he has been conditioned to believe and accept.
Solla's depiction of this rural community is at times bleakly judgmental, in the violent fascist father, but also warmly tolerant, as we see Davide's awakening understanding. Both things have to be true, in order for us to get a real glimpse into the mindset that comes from ignorance. Davide doesn't understand, at the beginning of the book, why abusing Jews is wrong. He has been taught to idolize "Il Duce" and has no way to educate himself any differently. But he grows, through one teacher's kind intervention, and his exposure to the wider world of literary language, coupled with his own innate sense of right and wrong, which somehow has not been snuffed out by his awful family.
It's the slow burn of Davide's evolving awareness that makes this book so special. There is no watershed moment where he suddenly understands and then acts right. Instead his growth involves many smaller revelations, imperfect leaps, and a bumpy development. This is the story of a real character, not the illustration of an idea with a human body.
November 9, 2025
The title of this novel is translated differently in other languages. In the original Italian: The Notebook Thief. In German: Everything is Fragile in the Light. In Finnish: The Lesson of Friendship. The "Note from the Translator" gives a hint of why he titled his translation There Was a Time for Such a Word:
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story about words, about their sound and how they are formed, about how they can become a weapon, a shield, a means of escape, a path to freedom, a path that leads to a larger and more complex world.There Was a Time for Such a Word shows how learning new words opens up a whole new world for Davide. It takes him from being an illiterate pig farmer's son to an actor of some renown. We learn of his early friendships with Teresa and Nicolas. Then there is the impact that Nicolas's father has on Davide as he teaches him to read and write. This is a story of the lasting effect those early friendships have on Davide's life, even as the three friends separate under difficult circumstances. Nicolas's ghost accompanies Davide in the years to come after the war, eventually leading to reconciliation and an unexpected ending. Beautifully written.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2025
This book, beautifully translated from Italian, tells the story of Davide, an illiterate keeper of pigs who lives in a remote Italian village during WWII. When a Jewish father and son arrive in the village and set up a secret school, Davide learns to read and write and his life begins to change. Eventually Davide flees his small town and begins a new life in Naples, but he struggles with guilt, loneliness and lost friendship. The plot at times seems simple, but the characters are complex and come to life in a way that allows you to experience their struggles and triumphs. I especially loved the way this book highlighted the power of literacy to change a life. 4.25 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for the advanced digital copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for the advanced digital copy of this book.
November 3, 2025
As befits a novel focused largely on the power of words, "There Was a Time for Such a Word" features impeccable prose. There were times I paused to reread passages to be sure I was soaking up all their meaning and beauty. (Kudos to translator Richard Dixon as well as author Gianni Solla.) This isn't one of those books that sacrifices plot and pacing for language, however; I remained eager to learn more about Davide, Teresa, and Nicolas from beginning to end.
Yet it's a book I admire more than love. Narrator Davide keeps us at arm's distance, and while I understand why, given his upbringing and subsequent events, that remove prevents me from feeling as well as thinking.
Thank you, HarperVia and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Yet it's a book I admire more than love. Narrator Davide keeps us at arm's distance, and while I understand why, given his upbringing and subsequent events, that remove prevents me from feeling as well as thinking.
Thank you, HarperVia and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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