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So People Know It's Me
In this audaciously original debut, a teenager is sent to juvenile prison off the coast of Naples where he dreams—and writes—of a better future
Zeno is 15, a child in the eyes of the law, but he grew up long ago in the dusty heat of a crime-riddled neighbourhood in Naples. Winding down cobbled streets on his motorbike, he started his career as a petty thief to supplement his mother's income and, every now and then, take his girlfriend Natalina out for pizza in the city’s starlit piazzas. A quick hand at pickpocketing and selling drugs, Zeno is confronted by another boy from a rival gang who has been tasked with taking out the competition. He shoots three times, the boy drops dead, and Zeno is sent to Nisida, an infamous juvenile prison-island off the Neapolitan coast.
Separated from all he loves by the cruel, glittering sea, with a cell window looking out at the distant beaches, Zeno promises a prison school teacher he’ll write down the story of his life in exchange for a visit home at Christmas. But the sea has eyes everywhere, and someone on the outside wants revenge.
Boldly original and deeply humane, So People Know It’s Me unleashes Zeno’s luminous, unguarded and defiant voice – dreaming of a fragile future beyond Nsida’s walls. Translated from a unique blend of Italian and Neapolitan dialect, this is a mesmerising and powerful debut novel, the winner of the Nabokov Prize, borne out of the author’s own work as a criminal lawyer called upon to defend minors.
Zeno is 15, a child in the eyes of the law, but he grew up long ago in the dusty heat of a crime-riddled neighbourhood in Naples. Winding down cobbled streets on his motorbike, he started his career as a petty thief to supplement his mother's income and, every now and then, take his girlfriend Natalina out for pizza in the city’s starlit piazzas. A quick hand at pickpocketing and selling drugs, Zeno is confronted by another boy from a rival gang who has been tasked with taking out the competition. He shoots three times, the boy drops dead, and Zeno is sent to Nisida, an infamous juvenile prison-island off the Neapolitan coast.
Separated from all he loves by the cruel, glittering sea, with a cell window looking out at the distant beaches, Zeno promises a prison school teacher he’ll write down the story of his life in exchange for a visit home at Christmas. But the sea has eyes everywhere, and someone on the outside wants revenge.
Boldly original and deeply humane, So People Know It’s Me unleashes Zeno’s luminous, unguarded and defiant voice – dreaming of a fragile future beyond Nsida’s walls. Translated from a unique blend of Italian and Neapolitan dialect, this is a mesmerising and powerful debut novel, the winner of the Nabokov Prize, borne out of the author’s own work as a criminal lawyer called upon to defend minors.
128 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
October 18, 2025
Knowing the Neapolitan novels helps with understanding the background of this novel, but even if you don't, this is an emotional gut punch.
August 6, 2024
“Mamma faceva la zoccola.
Scusate tutti, ma professore’ voi lo sapite che è la verità e devo per forza fare il volgare perché era il mestiere suo e non ci ho altre parole per dirlo.
Non lo so se la gente si sconvolge per queste cose.
Però se devo dire tutto, allora non posso annascondere che mamma faceva la zoccola, perché è fondamentale.
Alla fine sempre un lavoro è, e mamma mia lo faceva comunque con molta dignità.
Però non so se lo fa ancora o se ha smesso. Si sta invecchiando e gli uomini non la guardano più in modo zozzoso, ma in modo triste.”
È la voce di Zeno, questa: un ragazzino quindicenne di Napoli, che è diventato adulto, prima del tempo.
La mamma è una prostituita, il papà è in carcere.
E anche Zeno si mette presto nei guai e finisce a Nisida. Francesca Maria Benvenuto sembra scrivere la continuazione del libro di Valeria Parrella, Almarina, ma stavolta dalla voce di Zeno, a cui il giudice ha inflitto la pena “terribile” di frequentare la scuola dentro il carcere.
E Zeno scenderà a patto con la professoressa, che in cambio dei suoi pensieri per iscritto lo aiuterà a tornare a casa per Natale, in licenza
“Il Direttore m’ha detto che per poco non perdevo la licenza per Natale. Ma io ci ho risposto che non era una cosa gratuita, che se l’era meritata e che a Totore qui a Nisida non ce lo vogliamo vedere più, perché è ’nu zuzzus’.
E sapete allora che è successo alla fine?
Che per evitare altri problemi, Totore l’hanno mandato a Santa Maria Capua Vetere!
E io invece resto qui sul mare!
E che è giusto secondo voi?
No, io chiedo.
Però almeno non dobbiamo più vedere la sua faccia di corna, e stamm’ un po’ più tranquilli.”
Zeno otterrà la sua licenza… ma non sarà un bene, perché non tutto andrà come doveva andare
“Il mare da un lato e noi dall’altro: spingiamo, spingiamo e spingiamo! Ma questa cessa non si muove mai e sta sempre qua!
E ci restiamo male, noi.
Ma, secondo me, pure un po’ il mare.
Quelli che stanno fuori, la gente che conoscete pure voi, che non tengono guai, loro quando guardano il mare ci vedono solo le barche, il porto, i pesci, ’e sciemi che si fanno il bagno.
Essi sono ciecati.
Dentro al mare ci stanno pure tutti gli occhi nostri che cercano di spostare Nisida e non ci riescono.
E allora dicetecelo bene alla gente che sta fuori e che non sa: questi qui si bagnano dentro agli occhi nostri e devono portare rispetto.
Ecco il regalo, professore’, speramm’ che vi piace!
Perché è sentito, ma non pagato.
Però manco rubato.
Buon Natale, buon anno, buona Befana eccetera eccetera.
E magnate bene all’anima di chi vi vuole male.
Zeno Iaccarino, l’alunno vostro”
Bello e struggente.
Scusate tutti, ma professore’ voi lo sapite che è la verità e devo per forza fare il volgare perché era il mestiere suo e non ci ho altre parole per dirlo.
Non lo so se la gente si sconvolge per queste cose.
Però se devo dire tutto, allora non posso annascondere che mamma faceva la zoccola, perché è fondamentale.
Alla fine sempre un lavoro è, e mamma mia lo faceva comunque con molta dignità.
Però non so se lo fa ancora o se ha smesso. Si sta invecchiando e gli uomini non la guardano più in modo zozzoso, ma in modo triste.”
È la voce di Zeno, questa: un ragazzino quindicenne di Napoli, che è diventato adulto, prima del tempo.
La mamma è una prostituita, il papà è in carcere.
E anche Zeno si mette presto nei guai e finisce a Nisida. Francesca Maria Benvenuto sembra scrivere la continuazione del libro di Valeria Parrella, Almarina, ma stavolta dalla voce di Zeno, a cui il giudice ha inflitto la pena “terribile” di frequentare la scuola dentro il carcere.
E Zeno scenderà a patto con la professoressa, che in cambio dei suoi pensieri per iscritto lo aiuterà a tornare a casa per Natale, in licenza
“Il Direttore m’ha detto che per poco non perdevo la licenza per Natale. Ma io ci ho risposto che non era una cosa gratuita, che se l’era meritata e che a Totore qui a Nisida non ce lo vogliamo vedere più, perché è ’nu zuzzus’.
E sapete allora che è successo alla fine?
Che per evitare altri problemi, Totore l’hanno mandato a Santa Maria Capua Vetere!
E io invece resto qui sul mare!
E che è giusto secondo voi?
No, io chiedo.
Però almeno non dobbiamo più vedere la sua faccia di corna, e stamm’ un po’ più tranquilli.”
Zeno otterrà la sua licenza… ma non sarà un bene, perché non tutto andrà come doveva andare
“Il mare da un lato e noi dall’altro: spingiamo, spingiamo e spingiamo! Ma questa cessa non si muove mai e sta sempre qua!
E ci restiamo male, noi.
Ma, secondo me, pure un po’ il mare.
Quelli che stanno fuori, la gente che conoscete pure voi, che non tengono guai, loro quando guardano il mare ci vedono solo le barche, il porto, i pesci, ’e sciemi che si fanno il bagno.
Essi sono ciecati.
Dentro al mare ci stanno pure tutti gli occhi nostri che cercano di spostare Nisida e non ci riescono.
E allora dicetecelo bene alla gente che sta fuori e che non sa: questi qui si bagnano dentro agli occhi nostri e devono portare rispetto.
Ecco il regalo, professore’, speramm’ che vi piace!
Perché è sentito, ma non pagato.
Però manco rubato.
Buon Natale, buon anno, buona Befana eccetera eccetera.
E magnate bene all’anima di chi vi vuole male.
Zeno Iaccarino, l’alunno vostro”
Bello e struggente.
August 15, 2024
3,5 Sterne
„Dieses Meer, dieses unerbittliche Meer“ ist eine Geschichte im Jugendgefängnis Neapels, die wir durch die Augen Zenos sehen, dem inhaftierten Jungen, der mit fünfzehn Jahren bereits die schlimmsten Seiten des Lebens kennengelernt hat. Also träumt er sich nach „Draußen“ zu seiner geliebten Mutter und zu seiner Freundin Natalina.
In den Augen anderer war er ein Kind, das ohne Liebe und ohne Führung aufwuchs und im Gefängnis landete, weil er eine Person tötete - ohne Schuld und Reue, weil alternativ er der Tote gewesen wäre. Er wuchs in einem berüchtigten Stadtteil Neapels auf, in dem sich die Camorra und die Armut die Klinke in die Hand geben. Schon zehnjährig wurde er zum Mann im Haus, da sein Vater inhaftiert wurde - der Startpunkt seiner eigenen kriminellen Machenschaften.
Im Gefängnis erlauben sie ihm, die Schule zu besuchen und durch Ansporn seiner Lehrerin beginnt er seine Gedanken aufzuschreiben, indem er über sein Leben außerhalb des Gefängnisses spricht, über seine Familie und die Freundschaften, die er im Gefängnis schloss - im Gegenzug verspricht sie, ein gutes Wort für ihn einzulegen um Weihnachten zwei Tage Ausgang zu bekommen.
Zeno ist ein Charakter, der nicht wegen, sondern trotz seines Alters beeindruckt - er hat mich erstaunt, bewegt und teilweise gedanklich auf den Kopf gestellt.
Ein Junge, der sich der Dramen seines Lebens vollkommen bewusst ist: ein Vater im Gefängnis, eine Mutter, die gezwungen ist, sich zu prostituieren, um ihre Familie zu unterstützen, und er, der mit nur zehn Jahren Geschäfte und Raubüberfälle unternimmt.
Er schämt sich für nichts - für Zeno ist es normal, was immer er getan hat. Aber wehe denen, die ihm sagen, dass es ihm an Liebe fehlt; ihm fehlte es an allem, aber nicht an der Liebe seiner Familie.
Ein Roman, der einem lehrt, wie wichtig Hoffnung ist und dass es sich lohnt, an die Liebe zu glauben - danke Francesca Maria Benvenuto!
„Dieses Meer, dieses unerbittliche Meer“ ist eine Geschichte im Jugendgefängnis Neapels, die wir durch die Augen Zenos sehen, dem inhaftierten Jungen, der mit fünfzehn Jahren bereits die schlimmsten Seiten des Lebens kennengelernt hat. Also träumt er sich nach „Draußen“ zu seiner geliebten Mutter und zu seiner Freundin Natalina.
In den Augen anderer war er ein Kind, das ohne Liebe und ohne Führung aufwuchs und im Gefängnis landete, weil er eine Person tötete - ohne Schuld und Reue, weil alternativ er der Tote gewesen wäre. Er wuchs in einem berüchtigten Stadtteil Neapels auf, in dem sich die Camorra und die Armut die Klinke in die Hand geben. Schon zehnjährig wurde er zum Mann im Haus, da sein Vater inhaftiert wurde - der Startpunkt seiner eigenen kriminellen Machenschaften.
Im Gefängnis erlauben sie ihm, die Schule zu besuchen und durch Ansporn seiner Lehrerin beginnt er seine Gedanken aufzuschreiben, indem er über sein Leben außerhalb des Gefängnisses spricht, über seine Familie und die Freundschaften, die er im Gefängnis schloss - im Gegenzug verspricht sie, ein gutes Wort für ihn einzulegen um Weihnachten zwei Tage Ausgang zu bekommen.
Zeno ist ein Charakter, der nicht wegen, sondern trotz seines Alters beeindruckt - er hat mich erstaunt, bewegt und teilweise gedanklich auf den Kopf gestellt.
Ein Junge, der sich der Dramen seines Lebens vollkommen bewusst ist: ein Vater im Gefängnis, eine Mutter, die gezwungen ist, sich zu prostituieren, um ihre Familie zu unterstützen, und er, der mit nur zehn Jahren Geschäfte und Raubüberfälle unternimmt.
Er schämt sich für nichts - für Zeno ist es normal, was immer er getan hat. Aber wehe denen, die ihm sagen, dass es ihm an Liebe fehlt; ihm fehlte es an allem, aber nicht an der Liebe seiner Familie.
Ein Roman, der einem lehrt, wie wichtig Hoffnung ist und dass es sich lohnt, an die Liebe zu glauben - danke Francesca Maria Benvenuto!
August 26, 2024
Nein, natürlich habe ich nicht mehrere Bücher mit in den Urlaub mitgenommen, nur weil das Wort "Meer" mit im Titel war. Natürlich nicht. Warum sollte ich denn sowas verrücktes tun? Etwa um diese Bücher dann am Meer zu lesen? Pffft! Lächerlich!
... und ja, natürlich ist dieses Buch eines der Bücher, die ich aus genau diesem Grund eingepackt habe. Auch wenn die Stimmung in diesem Buch jetzt nicht unbedingt so locker flockig ist, wie man es von einer Urlaubslektüre erwarten würde. Aber das war mir bewusst und es stört mich selbst ja auch nicht besonders, auch mal was ernsteres zu lesen. Als Ausgleich muss ich danach halt wieder Schund konsumieren - was ich in diesem Urlaub auch zur Genüge getan habe. Aber diese Rezensionen kommen auch noch, wenn ich dann mal dazu komme.
Es geht hier um den 15 Jahre alten Zeno. Er ist Gefängnisinsasse auf der Insel Nisida, denn er hat jemanden umgebracht. Zeno ist im Drogenmilieu und als Kleinkrimineller aufgewachsen, seine Mutter ist Sexarbeiterin und sein Vater sitzt in einem anderen Gefängnis. Die große Schwester hat den Kontakt zur Familie abgebrochen. Nicht unbedingt die besten Voraussetzungen für ein Kind, nicht? Ich denke, wir sind uns da alle einig, dass es so nicht unbedingt einfach für ein Kind ist, unbescholten groß zu werden. Und jetzt wurde Zeno halt verurteilt. Doch zumindest im Gefängnis geht es ihm nicht besonders schlecht: Er hat einen guten Ruf bei den anderen Insassen und wird für seine Anwesenheit in der Gefängnisschule bezahlt. Seine Italienisch-Lehrerin hat ihm sogar zwei Tage Ausgang in Aussicht gestellt - und zwar zu Weihnachten - wenn er über sein Leben schreibt. Also tut er genau das.
Ich habe ordentlich Redebedarf zu diesem Buch und weiß daher auch, dass ich dieses Buch bei nächster Gelegenheit meiner Oma in die Hand drücken werde. Es handelt sich hier nicht unbedingt um eine einfache Lektüre. Da ist einerseits das Thema, natürlich, das wohl niemanden kalt lassen wird. Andererseits ist aber auch der Stil nichts Alltägliches. Die Art, wie ein Kind wie Zeno wohl schreiben würde, wurde auch in meiner Übersetzung gut nachgeahmt - was die Lesbarkeit aber erschwert. Der Satzbau entspricht exakt der gesprochenen Sprache, die Rechtschreibung ist oft kreativ. Beides sind Aspekte, mit denen ein Zeno wohl tatsächlich Probleme haben könnte. Ob es eine gute Idee war, beides in einen Roman einzubauen? Ich bin mir nicht sicher. Einerseits hat das die Glaubwürdigkeit des Textes erhöht, finde ich. Andererseits irritierte mich diese Entscheidung aber auch, denn es ist genau das, was ich bei einem gedruckten Buch normalerweise eigentlich nicht will. Ich schreibe "normalerweise" weil ich mir noch nicht sicher bin, ob ich diese Entscheidung gut finde oder nicht.
[Spoiler]
Das Ende hat mich persönlich schockiert. Ich wollte ein gutes Ende für Zeno oder zumindest einen Hoffnungsschimmer. Ja, er ist definitiv kein Heiliger. Ja, er hat es definitiv verdient, im Gefängnis zu sitzen. Aber er ist trotz allem noch ein Kind. Ich halte das Ende, das hier gewählt wurde, zwar für glaubwürdig - aber das heißt nicht, dass ich dieses Buch nicht am liebsten im Meer ertränken wollte.
[Spoiler Ende]
Mein Fazit? Ganz ehrlich? Ich bin mir weiter unsicher, was ich von diesem Buch halte. Es lässt mich ratlos zurück und regte mich auf jeden Fall zu denken an. Dieser Roman ist eigenwillig und etwas ganz Besonderes - ob ihn das zu einem besonders guten oder besonders schlechten Buch macht, muss wohl jede Person selbst entscheiden. Ich bin aber trotz der Eigenheiten froh, diesen Roman gelesen zu haben.
... und ja, natürlich ist dieses Buch eines der Bücher, die ich aus genau diesem Grund eingepackt habe. Auch wenn die Stimmung in diesem Buch jetzt nicht unbedingt so locker flockig ist, wie man es von einer Urlaubslektüre erwarten würde. Aber das war mir bewusst und es stört mich selbst ja auch nicht besonders, auch mal was ernsteres zu lesen. Als Ausgleich muss ich danach halt wieder Schund konsumieren - was ich in diesem Urlaub auch zur Genüge getan habe. Aber diese Rezensionen kommen auch noch, wenn ich dann mal dazu komme.
Es geht hier um den 15 Jahre alten Zeno. Er ist Gefängnisinsasse auf der Insel Nisida, denn er hat jemanden umgebracht. Zeno ist im Drogenmilieu und als Kleinkrimineller aufgewachsen, seine Mutter ist Sexarbeiterin und sein Vater sitzt in einem anderen Gefängnis. Die große Schwester hat den Kontakt zur Familie abgebrochen. Nicht unbedingt die besten Voraussetzungen für ein Kind, nicht? Ich denke, wir sind uns da alle einig, dass es so nicht unbedingt einfach für ein Kind ist, unbescholten groß zu werden. Und jetzt wurde Zeno halt verurteilt. Doch zumindest im Gefängnis geht es ihm nicht besonders schlecht: Er hat einen guten Ruf bei den anderen Insassen und wird für seine Anwesenheit in der Gefängnisschule bezahlt. Seine Italienisch-Lehrerin hat ihm sogar zwei Tage Ausgang in Aussicht gestellt - und zwar zu Weihnachten - wenn er über sein Leben schreibt. Also tut er genau das.
Ich habe ordentlich Redebedarf zu diesem Buch und weiß daher auch, dass ich dieses Buch bei nächster Gelegenheit meiner Oma in die Hand drücken werde. Es handelt sich hier nicht unbedingt um eine einfache Lektüre. Da ist einerseits das Thema, natürlich, das wohl niemanden kalt lassen wird. Andererseits ist aber auch der Stil nichts Alltägliches. Die Art, wie ein Kind wie Zeno wohl schreiben würde, wurde auch in meiner Übersetzung gut nachgeahmt - was die Lesbarkeit aber erschwert. Der Satzbau entspricht exakt der gesprochenen Sprache, die Rechtschreibung ist oft kreativ. Beides sind Aspekte, mit denen ein Zeno wohl tatsächlich Probleme haben könnte. Ob es eine gute Idee war, beides in einen Roman einzubauen? Ich bin mir nicht sicher. Einerseits hat das die Glaubwürdigkeit des Textes erhöht, finde ich. Andererseits irritierte mich diese Entscheidung aber auch, denn es ist genau das, was ich bei einem gedruckten Buch normalerweise eigentlich nicht will. Ich schreibe "normalerweise" weil ich mir noch nicht sicher bin, ob ich diese Entscheidung gut finde oder nicht.
[Spoiler]
Das Ende hat mich persönlich schockiert. Ich wollte ein gutes Ende für Zeno oder zumindest einen Hoffnungsschimmer. Ja, er ist definitiv kein Heiliger. Ja, er hat es definitiv verdient, im Gefängnis zu sitzen. Aber er ist trotz allem noch ein Kind. Ich halte das Ende, das hier gewählt wurde, zwar für glaubwürdig - aber das heißt nicht, dass ich dieses Buch nicht am liebsten im Meer ertränken wollte.
[Spoiler Ende]
Mein Fazit? Ganz ehrlich? Ich bin mir weiter unsicher, was ich von diesem Buch halte. Es lässt mich ratlos zurück und regte mich auf jeden Fall zu denken an. Dieser Roman ist eigenwillig und etwas ganz Besonderes - ob ihn das zu einem besonders guten oder besonders schlechten Buch macht, muss wohl jede Person selbst entscheiden. Ich bin aber trotz der Eigenheiten froh, diesen Roman gelesen zu haben.
July 25, 2024
Se "Mare fuori" incontra "Io speriamo che me la cavo" ecco che esce "L'amore assaje".
Ho ascoltato l'audiolibro disponibile su Audible e devo ammettere che l'interpretazione di Davide Avolio (davideavolio_ su Instagram) ha reso l'audiolettura decisamente più godibile per chi non è avvezzo alla cadenza e al dialetto napoletano (ma li adora).
Decisamente consigliato.
Ho ascoltato l'audiolibro disponibile su Audible e devo ammettere che l'interpretazione di Davide Avolio (davideavolio_ su Instagram) ha reso l'audiolettura decisamente più godibile per chi non è avvezzo alla cadenza e al dialetto napoletano (ma li adora).
Decisamente consigliato.
January 14, 2026
So People Know It’s Me is a slim but emotionally resonant novel that left a strong impression on me, both for its subject matter and for the voice through which it is told. Set in 1990s Naples and primarily on the prison island of Nisida, the novel follows Zeno, a 15-year-old boy incarcerated in a juvenile detention center after committing murder. Written as a series of diary entries addressed to his teacher, the book unfolds quickly but thoughtfully, making it a surprisingly satiating read despite its brevity.
Comparisons to Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels feel inevitable, as both capture the grit, desperation, and social realities of Naples. Where Ferrante’s work explores daily life and long-term relationships within the city, this novel narrows its focus to institutional life, specifically what it means to be young and imprisoned. In that sense, the comparison feels more thematic than stylistic. Benvenuto offers a distinct perspective by centering the story within Nisida, allowing the reader to confront a system that forces children to grow up far too soon.
What stood out most to me was the compassion extended to Zeno and the other boys in the prison. While the cast is limited largely to inmates and staff, the novel builds a deep sense of empathy for these children, many of whom never had the opportunity to be children at all. Their actions are shaped by desperation, family pressure, and circumstance rather than malice, and the book does not excuse their choices but asks the reader to understand them.
The tone balances grit with a surprising sense of innocence. Even as Zeno recounts violence, crime, and confinement, his voice reflects inexperience and emotional naivety. That contrast is what makes the novel so effective. It constantly reminds the reader that these are still children, even when their lives have forced them into adult roles. Zeno’s characterization, in particular, feels honest and layered. He is tough and guarded on the surface, yet deeply loyal, observant, and capable of tenderness.
I also appreciated how the novel explored different forms of authority and care: parent and child, teacher and student, church and child, God and child. What emerges is the idea that children are often less concerned with what people represent and more attuned to who they are. Even within a harsh environment, Zeno and the other boys demonstrate a capacity for empathy and connection that feels quietly powerful.
While the ending felt somewhat predictable, that did not diminish my enjoyment. By that point, I was invested less in narrative surprise and more in simply spending time with Zeno and the people who shaped his life. For a debut novel, this felt confident, emotionally grounded, and thoughtfully executed.
Overall, So People Know It’s Me is a compelling, compassionate coming-of-age story told under extraordinary circumstances. It is dark and, at times, difficult, but it is also humane and deeply felt. I would recommend it to readers looking for a gritty yet lyrical novel that examines youth, identity, and survival with nuance and heart.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC.
Comparisons to Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels feel inevitable, as both capture the grit, desperation, and social realities of Naples. Where Ferrante’s work explores daily life and long-term relationships within the city, this novel narrows its focus to institutional life, specifically what it means to be young and imprisoned. In that sense, the comparison feels more thematic than stylistic. Benvenuto offers a distinct perspective by centering the story within Nisida, allowing the reader to confront a system that forces children to grow up far too soon.
What stood out most to me was the compassion extended to Zeno and the other boys in the prison. While the cast is limited largely to inmates and staff, the novel builds a deep sense of empathy for these children, many of whom never had the opportunity to be children at all. Their actions are shaped by desperation, family pressure, and circumstance rather than malice, and the book does not excuse their choices but asks the reader to understand them.
The tone balances grit with a surprising sense of innocence. Even as Zeno recounts violence, crime, and confinement, his voice reflects inexperience and emotional naivety. That contrast is what makes the novel so effective. It constantly reminds the reader that these are still children, even when their lives have forced them into adult roles. Zeno’s characterization, in particular, feels honest and layered. He is tough and guarded on the surface, yet deeply loyal, observant, and capable of tenderness.
I also appreciated how the novel explored different forms of authority and care: parent and child, teacher and student, church and child, God and child. What emerges is the idea that children are often less concerned with what people represent and more attuned to who they are. Even within a harsh environment, Zeno and the other boys demonstrate a capacity for empathy and connection that feels quietly powerful.
While the ending felt somewhat predictable, that did not diminish my enjoyment. By that point, I was invested less in narrative surprise and more in simply spending time with Zeno and the people who shaped his life. For a debut novel, this felt confident, emotionally grounded, and thoughtfully executed.
Overall, So People Know It’s Me is a compelling, compassionate coming-of-age story told under extraordinary circumstances. It is dark and, at times, difficult, but it is also humane and deeply felt. I would recommend it to readers looking for a gritty yet lyrical novel that examines youth, identity, and survival with nuance and heart.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC.
May 6, 2025
Isch oke.
De grösst Pluspunkt für mich ish, dass de Hauptprotagonist durchgehend übers Meer schnurrt und wie härts ihn aschisst.
Es het mich glücklich gmacht, mini eigeni (recht unbeliebti) Meinig z’läse :)
Mini Lieblings-Passage, S. 90:
-
»Was entdeckst du Schönes im Meer? Erzähl es mir.
Was kann es dir sagen?«
Nichts.
Es kotzt mich an.
Das Meer mit seinem Salzwasser, das man nicht mal trinken kann!
Wofür soll das gut sein, wenn man es nicht mal trinken kann.
Das ganze Wasser taugt zu rein gar nichts.
Außerdem ist es unendlich, das Meer.
Das habt ihr gesagt, aber ich will nichts wissen vom Meer und seiner Unendlichkeit, es kotzt mich nur noch mehr an, falls das überhaupt geht! [...]
Was unendlich ist, kann man nicht in den Knast ste-cken, hab ich geantwortet. Das ist immer frei.
Schon darum ist das Meer zum Kotzen.
Und Marietto sieht das genauso, weil das ist ungerecht und er gibt dem Meer mitten eins in die Fresse, hat er gesagt.
Aber nichmal das können wir, das Meer hat keine Fresse und keine Augen.
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De grösst Pluspunkt für mich ish, dass de Hauptprotagonist durchgehend übers Meer schnurrt und wie härts ihn aschisst.
Es het mich glücklich gmacht, mini eigeni (recht unbeliebti) Meinig z’läse :)
Mini Lieblings-Passage, S. 90:
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»Was entdeckst du Schönes im Meer? Erzähl es mir.
Was kann es dir sagen?«
Nichts.
Es kotzt mich an.
Das Meer mit seinem Salzwasser, das man nicht mal trinken kann!
Wofür soll das gut sein, wenn man es nicht mal trinken kann.
Das ganze Wasser taugt zu rein gar nichts.
Außerdem ist es unendlich, das Meer.
Das habt ihr gesagt, aber ich will nichts wissen vom Meer und seiner Unendlichkeit, es kotzt mich nur noch mehr an, falls das überhaupt geht! [...]
Was unendlich ist, kann man nicht in den Knast ste-cken, hab ich geantwortet. Das ist immer frei.
Schon darum ist das Meer zum Kotzen.
Und Marietto sieht das genauso, weil das ist ungerecht und er gibt dem Meer mitten eins in die Fresse, hat er gesagt.
Aber nichmal das können wir, das Meer hat keine Fresse und keine Augen.
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June 28, 2024
Una carezza in un pugno, cantava Adriano Celentano. Ma questo libro è in realtà un pugno in una carezza
July 15, 2025
Set in a young persons’s prison on the island of Nisida, off the coast of Naples, this short novel concerns 15 year old Zeno, incarcerated after a tough life on the streets drug-running and thieving. In the hope of earning a home visit, he writes the story of his young life from behind bars.
It’s a powerful debut novel, though the voice Benvenuto gives to the adolescent Zeno is unconvincing. Zeno’s life before prison is related well, but the language used to describe the day to day life of a 15 year old in a prison with a feared reputation is too tame. Inevitably, perhaps unfairly, I compare it to writers like Pasolini.
It’s a powerful debut novel, though the voice Benvenuto gives to the adolescent Zeno is unconvincing. Zeno’s life before prison is related well, but the language used to describe the day to day life of a 15 year old in a prison with a feared reputation is too tame. Inevitably, perhaps unfairly, I compare it to writers like Pasolini.
August 15, 2024
In dem Debütroman „Dieses Meer, dieses unerbittliche Meer“ von Francesca Maria Benvenuto lesen wir die Geschichte des 15-jährigen Zeno, der seit einem Jahr im Knast sitzt, weil er einen Menschen erschossen hat. Das Buch besticht vor allem durch seine ganz eigene Erzählstimme, die für viele gewöhnungsbedürftig sein dürfte, aber durchaus authentisch erscheint.
3,5 *.
3,5 *.
August 4, 2024
Zeno sulla carta ha quindici anni, ma per la vita ne ha molti di più.
Un bel libro scorrevole, scritto in un italiano dialettale che riesce a far immedesimare il lettore nel piccolo grande protagonista.
Un bel libro scorrevole, scritto in un italiano dialettale che riesce a far immedesimare il lettore nel piccolo grande protagonista.
January 14, 2026
the ending….
June 26, 2024
Mi ha fregata!
Quest' inizio molto rapido mi ha trascinata nell'IPM di Nisida coi racconti di Zeno, il quindicenne figlio di una prostituta colpevole di omicidio, ma soprattutto colpevole di non avere scelta.
Ho fatto la conoscenza attraverso la sua voce mista di italiano e dialetto di tutti gli abitanti dell'isola, inclusi direttore, secondini, prevt e cap e pezz!
Mentre leggevo mi è sembrato uno "Io speriamo che me la cavo" in versione 2.0, con l'editing del regista di "Mare fuori", ma non lo è.
Con semplicità questa scrittrice tocca tantissimi temi esistenziali, nella sofferenza di nascere dove si è costretti ad essere grandi fin da piccoli, dove non esiste libertà, ma solo il bivio fra essere nu brav ommo muort e fame o un camorrista, quanto conta la fortuna fin dalla nascita, è agghiacciante se ci si pensa davvero.
Pensavo fosse un po' già letto e già visto, ma alla fine mi sono commossa col pensiero del mare e degli occhi dei carcerati che vorrebbero spostare lontano Nisida con la stessa forza delle onde.
Quest' inizio molto rapido mi ha trascinata nell'IPM di Nisida coi racconti di Zeno, il quindicenne figlio di una prostituta colpevole di omicidio, ma soprattutto colpevole di non avere scelta.
Ho fatto la conoscenza attraverso la sua voce mista di italiano e dialetto di tutti gli abitanti dell'isola, inclusi direttore, secondini, prevt e cap e pezz!
Mentre leggevo mi è sembrato uno "Io speriamo che me la cavo" in versione 2.0, con l'editing del regista di "Mare fuori", ma non lo è.
Con semplicità questa scrittrice tocca tantissimi temi esistenziali, nella sofferenza di nascere dove si è costretti ad essere grandi fin da piccoli, dove non esiste libertà, ma solo il bivio fra essere nu brav ommo muort e fame o un camorrista, quanto conta la fortuna fin dalla nascita, è agghiacciante se ci si pensa davvero.
Pensavo fosse un po' già letto e già visto, ma alla fine mi sono commossa col pensiero del mare e degli occhi dei carcerati che vorrebbero spostare lontano Nisida con la stessa forza delle onde.
June 15, 2025
Striking and powerful narrative voice, told from the perspective of a 15 year old petty thief who does what he can to survive. He is now in prison and told by the prison teacher to write out a diary as he waits to be reunited with his mother during Christmas leave.
It reminded me a lot of the Catcher in the Rye with the very conversational tone and musings on teenage life. Although this is a novel that is being documented in real time as the narrator’s thoughts are being penned down to the page, so it has a real sense of connection as we watch the teen grow and become more introspective about his family, mental health, and incarceration.
I would have like a little bit more plot to this as it sadly ran out of steam about half way through, however the ending really packed a punch. I just think it would have hit me even harder if we had gone on a bit more of an emotional and structured journey with Zeno.
It reminded me a lot of the Catcher in the Rye with the very conversational tone and musings on teenage life. Although this is a novel that is being documented in real time as the narrator’s thoughts are being penned down to the page, so it has a real sense of connection as we watch the teen grow and become more introspective about his family, mental health, and incarceration.
I would have like a little bit more plot to this as it sadly ran out of steam about half way through, however the ending really packed a punch. I just think it would have hit me even harder if we had gone on a bit more of an emotional and structured journey with Zeno.
February 20, 2026
Tutto chiede salvezza by Daniele Mencarelli but make it Neapolitan, and set it in a juvenile jail.
I've loved this short book: at times it hits you in the chest and leaves a void inside, along with many, many thoughts (I've lost count of how many sentences and passages I've underlined and annotated).
In just a few pages it manages to show a piece of harsh Neapolitan reality: kids locked behind bars, thoughts banging against the walls, and hope slipping in only for a moment before disappearing again. As a Neapolitan girl I just know that nothing is exaggerated; if anything, it feels held back.
Someone might be bothered by the incorrect grammar and the way Zeno speaks, but that's exactly how it sounds outside the pages too.
Sometimes real life is even harsher, and maybe that's why this book left me hurt: because it feels true.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC for making me discover this gem of a book.
I've loved this short book: at times it hits you in the chest and leaves a void inside, along with many, many thoughts (I've lost count of how many sentences and passages I've underlined and annotated).
In just a few pages it manages to show a piece of harsh Neapolitan reality: kids locked behind bars, thoughts banging against the walls, and hope slipping in only for a moment before disappearing again. As a Neapolitan girl I just know that nothing is exaggerated; if anything, it feels held back.
Someone might be bothered by the incorrect grammar and the way Zeno speaks, but that's exactly how it sounds outside the pages too.
Sometimes real life is even harsher, and maybe that's why this book left me hurt: because it feels true.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC for making me discover this gem of a book.
November 4, 2024
War oke zu lesen aber auch nicht berauschend
June 19, 2025
3.5/5
Sad and a rather dark tale of a 15 yr old in a juvenile prison in Naples. On the insistence of his Italian teacher and in exchange for a Christmas furlough, Zeno writes and recounts his past and a hope for the future. A Childhood snatched away too soon due to circumstances, experiences inside the prison, a hope for normalcy once out and where it all finally ends. A tight narrative that brings to focus the people on the margins of the society, a child desperate to remain once but unfortunately doesn’t get to be one. Translated from the Italian by Elizabeth Harris. Well worth the read.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC.
Sad and a rather dark tale of a 15 yr old in a juvenile prison in Naples. On the insistence of his Italian teacher and in exchange for a Christmas furlough, Zeno writes and recounts his past and a hope for the future. A Childhood snatched away too soon due to circumstances, experiences inside the prison, a hope for normalcy once out and where it all finally ends. A tight narrative that brings to focus the people on the margins of the society, a child desperate to remain once but unfortunately doesn’t get to be one. Translated from the Italian by Elizabeth Harris. Well worth the read.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC.
August 7, 2025
I like the premise of this book, it’s a poignant topic that clearly the author feels very strongly about, being from a criminal law background. Unfortunately, the ending was quite predictable and I felt the protagonist voice wasn’t convincing. Would be a good holiday read though.
August 2, 2025
4.5. Loved this book, loved the protagonist. All of it was short but sweet and I couldn't put it down.
Ok, I keep finding myself thinking about it - 5/5
Ok, I keep finding myself thinking about it - 5/5
September 14, 2024
Zeno ist 15 und er sitzt im Jugendgefängnis, auf einer kleinen Insel in Italien, natürlich umgeben vom Meer (- welches ihn übrigens ziemlich ankotzt).
Er hat einen anderen umgebracht, aber nur um nicht selbst umgebracht zu werden.
Es ist die Hochphase der Camorra.
Um an Weihnachten für zwei Tage raus zu kommen, erhält er die Aufgabe Tagebuch zu führen.
Dieser Roman ist sein Bericht.
Offen und direkt erzählt Zeno von seinen Knasterlebnissen, von den Umständen, die ihn hier reingebracht haben, von seiner Famile, von "Draußen". Er schreibt seine Gedanken und Überlegungen auf, seine Hoffnungen und alles was ihm wichtig ist.
Er macht sich aber auch nichts vor und redet nicht um den heißen Brei herum.
Diese schonungslose Ehrlichkeit macht ihn sehr sympathisch.
Aber man macht auch einige Gefühle durch:
Erschütterung, Bewunderung, Wut auf die Ungerechtigkeit, Freude über die guten Momente, und ein paar Tränchen sind schließlich auch nicht ausgeblieben.
Kurzum: Große Leseempfehlung!
Er hat einen anderen umgebracht, aber nur um nicht selbst umgebracht zu werden.
Es ist die Hochphase der Camorra.
Um an Weihnachten für zwei Tage raus zu kommen, erhält er die Aufgabe Tagebuch zu führen.
Dieser Roman ist sein Bericht.
Offen und direkt erzählt Zeno von seinen Knasterlebnissen, von den Umständen, die ihn hier reingebracht haben, von seiner Famile, von "Draußen". Er schreibt seine Gedanken und Überlegungen auf, seine Hoffnungen und alles was ihm wichtig ist.
Er macht sich aber auch nichts vor und redet nicht um den heißen Brei herum.
Diese schonungslose Ehrlichkeit macht ihn sehr sympathisch.
Aber man macht auch einige Gefühle durch:
Erschütterung, Bewunderung, Wut auf die Ungerechtigkeit, Freude über die guten Momente, und ein paar Tränchen sind schließlich auch nicht ausgeblieben.
Kurzum: Große Leseempfehlung!
June 22, 2024
Esordio con il botto. Una lunga lettera di un ragazzino, detenuto nel carcere minorile di Nisida, alla sua professoressa di italiano. Una lettera scritta di getto, in dialetto napoletano e piena zeppa di errori.
Un pugno allo stomaco
Un pugno allo stomaco
February 16, 2025
" Io sono molto cattivo. Ma non dentro. Io sono cattivo e malamente da fuori, perché aggio fatto cose molto brutte. Ma queste cose stanno fuori, non so se mi sono spiegato, e se non m'avete capito ve lo posso scrivere di nuovo.
Io non sono le cose che ho fatto. "
🔖 Il romanzo d'esordio di Francesca Maria Benvenuto è un miriade di emozioni e sensazioni, le pagine sono intrise di dolore e speranza, caparbietà e ingenuità, le parole
s' impongono preminentemente nel cuore del lettore con tenerezza e crudeltà assemblate sapientemente per non cadere in un melenso racconto privo di spirito.
Un libro che difficilmente si può lasciare andare tanto è forte e potente, le testimonianze del piccolo Zeno sono crude e difficili da ignorare, portano inevitabilmente ad una profonda riflessione e a trovare una sorta di indulgenza nei confronti di chi una scelta nella vita non ce l' ha avuta.
📜 Zeno ha solo quindici anni ma ragiona e agisce come un adulto perchè ci sono luoghi in cui l'innocenza dei bambini viene ignorata molto presto e la sorte inevitabilmente ci porta verso strade che non avremmo mai voluto intraprendere; è cresciuto per le strade di Forcella, nel cuore del centro storico di Napoli, vive di espedienti tra spaccio e piccoli furti per aiutare la mamma che da sola non riesce a far fronte alle necessità sue e di sua sorella Vittoria con quello che riesce a racimolare con il mestiere di "zoccola" dopo l'arresto del loro padre.
" Quello Zeno Iaccarino è nato e cresciuto in mezzo a Forcella, che è 'nu post''e merd' e non ci stanno manco un parco giuoco o un parco normale"
Rinchiuso nel carcere minorile di Nisida, sollecitato dalla sua insegnante di italiano, inizia a scrivere lettere in cui raccoglie passaggi di vita quotidiana attraverso voci e suoni del carcere e ricordi della " vita di prima " al quartiere in un italiano cadenzato dal dialetto napoletano che rende gli scritti più veraci e sinceri. La purezza dei sentimenti descritti è disarmante, l'amore per la madre, la sorella e la fidanzatina Natalina regala speranza per il futuro a Zeno, gli amici che lo circondano rendono la solitudine e la malinconia più sopportabili.
" Ma l'amore che ci posso dare io da carcerato vale più di quello del muorto di fame libero. Perchè è l'amore assaje, che non esiste di meglio."
- L' amore assaje - 📕
Francesca Maria Benvenuto
Io non sono le cose che ho fatto. "
🔖 Il romanzo d'esordio di Francesca Maria Benvenuto è un miriade di emozioni e sensazioni, le pagine sono intrise di dolore e speranza, caparbietà e ingenuità, le parole
s' impongono preminentemente nel cuore del lettore con tenerezza e crudeltà assemblate sapientemente per non cadere in un melenso racconto privo di spirito.
Un libro che difficilmente si può lasciare andare tanto è forte e potente, le testimonianze del piccolo Zeno sono crude e difficili da ignorare, portano inevitabilmente ad una profonda riflessione e a trovare una sorta di indulgenza nei confronti di chi una scelta nella vita non ce l' ha avuta.
📜 Zeno ha solo quindici anni ma ragiona e agisce come un adulto perchè ci sono luoghi in cui l'innocenza dei bambini viene ignorata molto presto e la sorte inevitabilmente ci porta verso strade che non avremmo mai voluto intraprendere; è cresciuto per le strade di Forcella, nel cuore del centro storico di Napoli, vive di espedienti tra spaccio e piccoli furti per aiutare la mamma che da sola non riesce a far fronte alle necessità sue e di sua sorella Vittoria con quello che riesce a racimolare con il mestiere di "zoccola" dopo l'arresto del loro padre.
" Quello Zeno Iaccarino è nato e cresciuto in mezzo a Forcella, che è 'nu post''e merd' e non ci stanno manco un parco giuoco o un parco normale"
Rinchiuso nel carcere minorile di Nisida, sollecitato dalla sua insegnante di italiano, inizia a scrivere lettere in cui raccoglie passaggi di vita quotidiana attraverso voci e suoni del carcere e ricordi della " vita di prima " al quartiere in un italiano cadenzato dal dialetto napoletano che rende gli scritti più veraci e sinceri. La purezza dei sentimenti descritti è disarmante, l'amore per la madre, la sorella e la fidanzatina Natalina regala speranza per il futuro a Zeno, gli amici che lo circondano rendono la solitudine e la malinconia più sopportabili.
" Ma l'amore che ci posso dare io da carcerato vale più di quello del muorto di fame libero. Perchè è l'amore assaje, che non esiste di meglio."
- L' amore assaje - 📕
Francesca Maria Benvenuto
June 27, 2025
I first spotted So People Know It’s Me on the Pushkin Press Instagram feed but chose to read it in the original Italian.
Set in 1990s Napoli and on the prison island Nisida, this novel is a brutally honest and tender portrait of a boy forced to grow up too fast. Zeno’s 15, but life’s been hard on him for years. Speeding through Napoli on his motorino, he picks pockets and delivers baggies to survive, to take care of his mamma. He steals moments of joy with his girlfriend Natalina and dreams of something better.
Then the world shifts: a rival pulls a gun, Zeno fires first, and he ends up imprisoned, isolated by the sea, held back from everything he loves. Yet through a promise to his “Teach,” he begins writing his story in diary form, a lifeline that might earn him a few precious days at home for Christmas.
Zeno’s voice leaps off the page: tough, witty, brutally honest. There’s bravado, he has a tough image to uphold, but beneath it lies a boy who’s still longing, still dreaming, still fiercely loyal.
The diary form jumps between present and past effortlessly, giving structure and rhythm to a narrative that’s gripping and heartfelt. Benvenuto writes with compassion and clarity, not shying away from the political and systemic forces shaping Zeno’s fate.
This is not Ferrante for boys, and to market it that way is misleading at best. Yes, it’s set in Napoli. But it offers an entirely different perspective—grittier, rawer, more overtly political. If anything, there are serious Roberto Saviano vibes here, especially echoing La Paranza dei Bambini. Like Saviano’s teenage camorristi, Benvenuto’s Zeno is drawn into crime through survival, identity, and fragile belonging.
It also brought to mind Almarina by Valeria Parrella, another novel set in Nisida, though told from a teacher’s perspective. While the approach and tone are very different, both books focus on institutional life and the emotional weight carried by those inside.
A stunning debut. Zeno’s story is unforgettable, gripping, emotional, and full of hope amidst hardship. Don’t miss it!
Set in 1990s Napoli and on the prison island Nisida, this novel is a brutally honest and tender portrait of a boy forced to grow up too fast. Zeno’s 15, but life’s been hard on him for years. Speeding through Napoli on his motorino, he picks pockets and delivers baggies to survive, to take care of his mamma. He steals moments of joy with his girlfriend Natalina and dreams of something better.
Then the world shifts: a rival pulls a gun, Zeno fires first, and he ends up imprisoned, isolated by the sea, held back from everything he loves. Yet through a promise to his “Teach,” he begins writing his story in diary form, a lifeline that might earn him a few precious days at home for Christmas.
Zeno’s voice leaps off the page: tough, witty, brutally honest. There’s bravado, he has a tough image to uphold, but beneath it lies a boy who’s still longing, still dreaming, still fiercely loyal.
The diary form jumps between present and past effortlessly, giving structure and rhythm to a narrative that’s gripping and heartfelt. Benvenuto writes with compassion and clarity, not shying away from the political and systemic forces shaping Zeno’s fate.
This is not Ferrante for boys, and to market it that way is misleading at best. Yes, it’s set in Napoli. But it offers an entirely different perspective—grittier, rawer, more overtly political. If anything, there are serious Roberto Saviano vibes here, especially echoing La Paranza dei Bambini. Like Saviano’s teenage camorristi, Benvenuto’s Zeno is drawn into crime through survival, identity, and fragile belonging.
It also brought to mind Almarina by Valeria Parrella, another novel set in Nisida, though told from a teacher’s perspective. While the approach and tone are very different, both books focus on institutional life and the emotional weight carried by those inside.
A stunning debut. Zeno’s story is unforgettable, gripping, emotional, and full of hope amidst hardship. Don’t miss it!
January 11, 2026
"But most of all, I wish I'd been born a child. But I wasn't ever that lucky - they made me be grown up, right from the start."
The narrator Zeno Iaccarino is a 15-year-old inmate of Nisida's juvenile prison in the Gulf of Naples. Set over one winter in the early 1990s, the novel unfolds through diary entries/letters addressed to his Italian teacher, Ms Martina. Zeno reflects on his life before prison, observes his fellow inmates, and tentatively imagines what might come after, moving effortlessly between past, present and future.
The tone is conversational, but Zeno's voice is not always convincing. It was difficult to say exactly how Zeno felt about anything: the narration feels detached and sometimes too blasé, without convincingly capturing youthful indifference either. This distance makes it difficult to connect with Zeno himself. However, his role as an observer did allow the other boys to come into sharper focus. The relationships between the inmates gave the novel much of its warmth and humanity, and they are its most compelling element - I would love to have had more of this.
"And I don't know if we're still sons and brothers and uncles in here, or if now we're nothing to nobody."
Benvenuto offers a stark portrait of life in Naples in the 1990s, and of a cold and bureaucratic youth criminal justice system.
The book's emotional impact rests largely on its ending. The conclusion is affecting, but it might have been stronger with a clearer narrative arc and more sustained engagement with Zeno's inner life.
Comparisons to Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels are perhaps inevitable, but they are largely superficial. Benvenuto's work approaches Naples from a markedly different angle.
eARC from NetGalley
The narrator Zeno Iaccarino is a 15-year-old inmate of Nisida's juvenile prison in the Gulf of Naples. Set over one winter in the early 1990s, the novel unfolds through diary entries/letters addressed to his Italian teacher, Ms Martina. Zeno reflects on his life before prison, observes his fellow inmates, and tentatively imagines what might come after, moving effortlessly between past, present and future.
The tone is conversational, but Zeno's voice is not always convincing. It was difficult to say exactly how Zeno felt about anything: the narration feels detached and sometimes too blasé, without convincingly capturing youthful indifference either. This distance makes it difficult to connect with Zeno himself. However, his role as an observer did allow the other boys to come into sharper focus. The relationships between the inmates gave the novel much of its warmth and humanity, and they are its most compelling element - I would love to have had more of this.
"And I don't know if we're still sons and brothers and uncles in here, or if now we're nothing to nobody."
Benvenuto offers a stark portrait of life in Naples in the 1990s, and of a cold and bureaucratic youth criminal justice system.
The book's emotional impact rests largely on its ending. The conclusion is affecting, but it might have been stronger with a clearer narrative arc and more sustained engagement with Zeno's inner life.
Comparisons to Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels are perhaps inevitable, but they are largely superficial. Benvenuto's work approaches Naples from a markedly different angle.
eARC from NetGalley
June 30, 2024
"Noi i reati ce li arricurdiamo sempre, perché è stata la vita nostra e mica la possiamo cancellare"
L' amore assaje visto con gli occhi di Zeno Iaccarino, un ragazzino che a 15 anni già conosce il peggio della vita, ma nonostante tutto non perde la voglia di sognare, sperare e credere nell' amore.
Agli occhi degli altri è stato un bambino cresciuto senza amore e senza guida, finito in carcere perché ha ucciso una persona e senza colpa senza rimorso, in alternativa sarebbe stato lui il morto.
Nel carcere gli permettono di frequentare la scuola e in simpatia e confidenza con l' insegnante inizia a scrivere i suoi pensieri parlando della sua vita fuori dal carcere, parlando della sua famiglia e delle amicizie che si è fatto all' interno del carcere.
Zeno, nonostante l' età, mi ha colpita, stupita,commossa e stravolta.
Un ragazzo perfettamente consapevole dei drammi della sua vita: un padre carcerato, una madre costretta a prostituirsi per mantenere la famiglia e lui che a soli 10 anni intraprende l' attività di spaccio e rapine.
Eppure non si vergogna a parlarne,per Zeno è normale è ciò che ha sempre fatto.Ma guai a chi gli dice che gli è mancato amore; tutto gli è mancato ma non l' amore della famiglia.
Quell' amore di cui parla nelle sue confessioni, l' amore della madre, della fidanzata Natalina che non vede l' ora di riabbracciare, il rispetto per un padre assente.
Un racconto forte,incisivo che colpisce.Un finale che ti strappa il cuore.
In fondo nelle parole di Zeno ho percepito la voglia e speranza di un futuro migliore.
Un esordio grandioso con un romanzo bellissimo,che fa riflettere ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
L' amore assaje visto con gli occhi di Zeno Iaccarino, un ragazzino che a 15 anni già conosce il peggio della vita, ma nonostante tutto non perde la voglia di sognare, sperare e credere nell' amore.
Agli occhi degli altri è stato un bambino cresciuto senza amore e senza guida, finito in carcere perché ha ucciso una persona e senza colpa senza rimorso, in alternativa sarebbe stato lui il morto.
Nel carcere gli permettono di frequentare la scuola e in simpatia e confidenza con l' insegnante inizia a scrivere i suoi pensieri parlando della sua vita fuori dal carcere, parlando della sua famiglia e delle amicizie che si è fatto all' interno del carcere.
Zeno, nonostante l' età, mi ha colpita, stupita,commossa e stravolta.
Un ragazzo perfettamente consapevole dei drammi della sua vita: un padre carcerato, una madre costretta a prostituirsi per mantenere la famiglia e lui che a soli 10 anni intraprende l' attività di spaccio e rapine.
Eppure non si vergogna a parlarne,per Zeno è normale è ciò che ha sempre fatto.Ma guai a chi gli dice che gli è mancato amore; tutto gli è mancato ma non l' amore della famiglia.
Quell' amore di cui parla nelle sue confessioni, l' amore della madre, della fidanzata Natalina che non vede l' ora di riabbracciare, il rispetto per un padre assente.
Un racconto forte,incisivo che colpisce.Un finale che ti strappa il cuore.
In fondo nelle parole di Zeno ho percepito la voglia e speranza di un futuro migliore.
Un esordio grandioso con un romanzo bellissimo,che fa riflettere ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 19, 2025
15-year-old Zeno writes diary entries as an assignment from his teacher in a prison off the coast of Naples after being convicted of murder. Through his letter, we learn of his rough upbringing in the streets, a life that left no opportunity for success or for any outcome other than the one he’s found himself in.
Though he has a distinct voice, I wasn’t convinced by it. Zeno says and feels everything you would want him to say and feel. He talks about his love for his family, he knows he’s not all bad, that he just had a rough go of it, he is kind and appreciative of certain guards and teachers in the prison. He talks about his enemies, the other inmates he can’t stand, and the priest and the warden who make things worse for everyone. It’s all too nice and tidy, too on the nose and stereotypical, lacking in complexity and failing to push or challenge the reader in any way.
The story itself also falls short, while Zeno’s voice and situation seem interesting at first, the momentum quickly wanes. At only 130 pages, this somehow turned into a slog that took me many days to finish.
Though he has a distinct voice, I wasn’t convinced by it. Zeno says and feels everything you would want him to say and feel. He talks about his love for his family, he knows he’s not all bad, that he just had a rough go of it, he is kind and appreciative of certain guards and teachers in the prison. He talks about his enemies, the other inmates he can’t stand, and the priest and the warden who make things worse for everyone. It’s all too nice and tidy, too on the nose and stereotypical, lacking in complexity and failing to push or challenge the reader in any way.
The story itself also falls short, while Zeno’s voice and situation seem interesting at first, the momentum quickly wanes. At only 130 pages, this somehow turned into a slog that took me many days to finish.
May 27, 2025
Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy.
I wish this book was longer!
We follow Zeno, an inmate at a young offenders in Naples, as he prepares for Christmas leave to visit his family. Zeno had a difficult childhood and had to grow up quickly with his abusive father and his mother, who worked as a sex-worker.
Zeno likes to think he is a gangster and has an image to maintain. But there are so many instances where he is soft, and you see the real him. Such as when he secretly gives his friend extra pizza because he feels sorry for him.
He also has aspirations to be a writer, despite his criminal history. He described stealing kisses from his girlfriend as the best things he ever stole (I’m not crying, you are).
“But most of all, I wish I’d been born a child. But I wasn’t ever that lucky - they made me be grown up, right from the start”
I wish this book was longer!
We follow Zeno, an inmate at a young offenders in Naples, as he prepares for Christmas leave to visit his family. Zeno had a difficult childhood and had to grow up quickly with his abusive father and his mother, who worked as a sex-worker.
Zeno likes to think he is a gangster and has an image to maintain. But there are so many instances where he is soft, and you see the real him. Such as when he secretly gives his friend extra pizza because he feels sorry for him.
He also has aspirations to be a writer, despite his criminal history. He described stealing kisses from his girlfriend as the best things he ever stole (I’m not crying, you are).
“But most of all, I wish I’d been born a child. But I wasn’t ever that lucky - they made me be grown up, right from the start”
January 22, 2026
first of all, it was written from the pov of a fifteen year old in jail, and at the very start he tells his teachers to leave in some mistakes “so people know it’s me”. so an average, nothing-exeptional writing style was kind of the point, but i still felt like it made it a little harder for me to enjoy the story. the ideas themselves- injustice of criminal laws, how crime is necassary to survive in the face of poverty, etc- have been said many times before, but i think they’re always worth saying again and this book definitley hit hard. the ending was especially well written and heartbreaking.
April 14, 2025
Gueti 3.5/5⭐️
Ich find, d‘autorin het us de idee vom buech zimli s‘beschte gmacht, aber es isch nöd es buech, wo mich jetzt mega berührt oder zum nachdenke bracht het.
Es gaht um en jugendliche, wo im gfängnis ufere insle ide nöchi vo neapel sitzt und es sind sini tagebuech ihträg, wo er vo sine gedanke und vergangeheit schriebt.
Het trotzdem spass gmacht, zums lese!
Ich find, d‘autorin het us de idee vom buech zimli s‘beschte gmacht, aber es isch nöd es buech, wo mich jetzt mega berührt oder zum nachdenke bracht het.
Es gaht um en jugendliche, wo im gfängnis ufere insle ide nöchi vo neapel sitzt und es sind sini tagebuech ihträg, wo er vo sine gedanke und vergangeheit schriebt.
Het trotzdem spass gmacht, zums lese!
December 8, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
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