Nives: A Novel

"I’ve never written these words before about a novel, but in the case of Nives by Italian writer Sacha Naspini, I must admit that the chicken made me read it. In its opening pages, a newly widowed older woman named Nives, who lives on a remote farm in Tuscany, decides to ease her loneliness by bringing a hen called Giacomina into the house for company. Soon Giacomina is settling into the parlor armchair to watch TV and listen to the story of Nives’ life. This is a plucky and poignant tale."