Friday 25 September, 5pm at ICI London
Book Club Teenagers with Ernestina Meloni #1
La musica nellle ossa by Christian Antonini
ICI London and SIAL.courses present The Book Club for Teenagers. A project that aims to engage young people aged 11 to 18 and invite them to discover the pleasure of literature. During each meeting, the young participants will have the opportunity to discuss the book with the author or with an expert in the field. Reading is an intimate and educational experience that can only be truly appreciated by nurturing it.
In Italian
Moscow, 1960. Anna knows perfectly well what is expected of her and what it means to study at the prestigious Stella Rossa Higher Institute: excellent grades, model behaviour and a future already written in the highest ranks of Soviet society. And everything proceeds as planned, at least until a new student arrives at Stella Rossa who is different from anyone else. Marko walks the corridors with his jacket collar turned up and a bold smile, in class he asks awkward questions and his past seems shrouded in mystery. But above all, Marko is not afraid to challenge those rules that seem absurd in years when young people all over the world are singing the praises of freedom to the unrestrained notes of rock and roll, strictly forbidden in the Soviet Union, like everything that comes from the West. And it is precisely with him, among secret parties and subversive magazines, that Anna discovers those forbidden songs. Breaking the rules, however, means playing with fire, and when the time of reckoning comes Anna and Marko risk losing everything: their relationship, their future, their freedom.
To book your place please write to library.icilondon@esteri.it
Christian Antonini (Milan, 14 October 1971) has carried out different jobs and professions, all linked to the field of words and communication. He has been a reviewer and translator of video games, a public relations officer and an editor for newsstand periodicals of various kinds.
He is a fiction writer and his genres range from historical novels for young readers to horror and science-fiction narrative. He won the national prize Il Gigante delle Langhe 2016 with the young-adult novel Fuorigioco a Berlino, the Libro Aperto 2023 prizes (11-13 category) and the Lettura ad Alta Voce Teen 2023 prize with the book Il cacciatore di nubi. His novel La musica nelle ossa was included among the Italian excellences for the international IBBY selection for 2022-2023.
The tutor – Ernestina Meloni Graduated in Modern Languages from the University of Cagliari and with a Master’s in Applied Linguistics from Birkbeck College, University of London, Ernestina has been teaching Italian language in Great Britain for about thirty years, between Oxford and London. She currently teaches at the Lycée Français “Charles de Gaulle” in London and is involved in teacher training. She is an active member of British and international organisations, including ECIS (European Council of International Schools). In 2004 she won The European Language Award and received a recognition from the Italian Embassy for having created a model of language teaching through movement and dance. In the same year she was awarded the honour of Cavaliere (Knight) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (OMRI). In 2005 she received an award from the University of Chicago, the Best Teaching Award, for the high quality of her teaching. Ernestina collaborates with the Cambridge Examinations board as a Moderator for national Italian language exams in the UK and continues to promote Italian language and culture in the UK by organising high-level performances and events. Ernestina is also a trustee of La Scuola Italiana a Londra, with primary responsibility for coordinating bilingualism within the curriculum.
Important: Welcome to our new home
We are delighted to welcome you to the new home of the Italian Cultural Institute London.
To help ensure a smooth and efficient entry, please note the following:
- Each ticket must be issued in the full name of the person attending (first name, any middle names and surname), exactly as shown on their official identity document.
- A valid government-issued photo ID is required for entry.
- Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the event begins.
- We kindly ask you to read all the regulations in force at the Institute’s new premises HERE.
Checking these details before you arrive will help us welcome everyone efficiently and ensure a smooth experience without delays.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you to our new home.