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Reader comment
The simplicity of language is deceptive in these short stories, written in the early 20th century. They conjure up a world of different values, although the themes of love and loss are timeless enough. I had to persevere with Tozzi's spare, minimalist style, and some stories end so abruptly that I felt as if something was missing.

Translated by Minna Proctor

Parallels
The Water of the Hills by Marcel Pagnol
Berta la Larga by Cuca Canals

Reader comment
I was completely captivated by this gentle and thoughtful novel about a young man and an elephant. Themes of sexuality, humanity and confinement along with a wonderfully evoked 18th century setting make this more than just another animal story or indeed, another love story. A remarkable and rewarding reading experience.

Parallels
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Lorelei's Secret by Carolyn Parkhurst
Grow Old With Me - song by Glen Campbell

Reader comment
The title is better than the book; which proved to be a safe and predictable end to the trilogy rather than living up to its early promise. Mainly recommended for dedidicated Fantasy fans.

Parallels
The 'Elita' Series by Kate Jacoby
The 'Krondor' Series by Raymond Feist

Reader comment
A romp through eighteenth century Venice and London. Enjoy a tour of the charlatans, convents, brothels, villains, victims, assassins, spies, and the love story which is the heart of the book. And see if you can work out what the noblewoman, the whore, the nun, the actress and the governess have in common - and no, it's not gin.

Parallels
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
The Floating Book by M R Lovric
Casanova - TV series by Russell Davies

Reader comment
Several voices, including a male in-law - reflect on three generations of the Irish/American McLaughlins - and seem to demonstrate that it's not only your parents 'that really f-k you up'. It's a book about hope though, and one that left me wanting to know about the McLaughlins, as well as much fonder of my own kin.

Parallels
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Catapla Tree by Denyse Devlin

Reader comment
Written in a very low key style, it rapidly captures your attention. It shows great insight into life in rural America,and into the minds of the two boys and two old men. Lovely!

Parallels
To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

Reader comment
Unusual, stimulating, and in some ways dark and disturbing, these short stories make you laugh and shudder at one and the same time.

Parallels
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Any book by Ben Elton

Reader comment
Set in New York this will appeal to lovers of chick lit. The outrageous opening grabs the attention - it's sexual explicit and definitely not for the easily offended. It even made me shudder. The rest follows an established and well-trodden path - girl meets man, man already has daughter, girl wants to be accepted by daughter. However, the entertaining background characters lift this read above the ordinary.

Parallels
Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
Lipstick : A Celebration of a Girl's Best Friend by Jessica Pallingston
Sex & The City - TV series

Reader comment
After her release from a UK immigration detention centre Little Bee seeks to track down the couple she met in horrifying circumstances in her home country of Nigeria. As she gets into their life this compelling and often moving story really does get into the reader's head and asks questions about what you would do if faced with the same issues. Little Bee's voice has an innocent charm to it that makes the story that much more powerful.

Parallels
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta
The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon

Reader comment
A gorgeously rich fantasy story which is also intellectually demanding, with unusual and extremely creative characters and perspectives. Is it a poetic novel or a novel-like poem? Doesn't matter really - it flows and challenges. Appealing characters, witty conversation. Some patience with (or love for) logical argument is helpful, especially in the beginning.

Parallels
Any by Ursula K Le Guin
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Wings of Desire - a film by Wim Wenders