Family Lexicon By: Natalia Ginzburg

1. “Family Lexicon” is called a “masterpiece” by The New Yorker.
2. The New York Times describes Natalia Ginzburg as a “glowing light of modern Italian literature.”
3. Ginzburg states, “The places, events, and people in this book are real. I haven’t invented a thing.”
4. She wrote this autobiographical novel while living in London in the 1960s.
5. Ginzburg was homesick for her Italian family at the time.
6. The book celebrates family routines and rituals.
7. It highlights in-jokes and insults specific to her family.
8. Above all, it focuses on the repeated sayings that define every family.
9. Giuseppe Levi, Ginzburg’s father, is a Jewish scientist.
10. He is consumed by his work and a passion for hiking.
11. He is portrayed as impatient and intractable.
12. Giuseppe is often at odds with his wife, Lidia.
13. Lidia is described as impressionable and wistful.
14. Despite their differences, Giuseppe cannot be without Lidia.
15. Together, they raise their five children.
16. Their house is filled with arguments and activity.
17. It’s also a place of books, politics, and many visitors.
18. Friends and famous faces frequently visit the Levi home.
19. The children grow up against the backdrop of Mussolini’s Italy.
20. The Levi household must become more than just a home.
21. It transforms into a stronghold against fascism.
22. The novel is described as intimate and enchanting.
23. It also has comedic elements.
24. “Family Lexicon” is an unforgettable story about language and memory.
25. It explores the lasting power that family holds over everyone.