A Lighter Salesman's Dream

Francesca Fialdini

Il sogno di un venditore di accendini

New City

Synopsis

Ali first tries Belgium, then France; but he finds countries saturated with migrants, lacking opportunities. So he enters the Bergamo area as an illegal immigrant, where he becomes a (successful) lighter salesman. What keeps him going are the letters he writes to his wife and two children, a two-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, who remained in Dakar. It is precisely these letters that keep him anchored to a thread of hope, which will not be broken: because a 1990 law allows family reunification, and after three years, Ali will be reunited first with his wife and then with his children. It will be the strength of spirit, African wisdom, and the unknown solidarity of so many Italians that will then allow his children to integrate; so much so that the boy will become a prominent lawyer, registered with the Lombardy Bar Association, while his daughter becomes a brilliant and successful engineer. A story of heart, courage, and realized projects.

Reviews

Lorenzo Pautassi

IIS Arimondi-Eula Savigliano, class 4^D

The author of the book was born in Massa in 1979. After graduating from the University of Rome, she became a radio and television host; she first published this book in 2016. It concerns the hardships of migrants who come to Europe to seek their fortune and support their families, who most often remain in their countries of origin.

This is the case of Youssou, a boy born in Senegal who came to Italy after encountering difficulties in France and Belgium.

Youssou has a wife and two young children who remained in Senegal due to political problems.

The protagonist manages to take up residence in Italy despite having arrived illegally around the 1990s.

He's a lighter salesman, and people call him vu cumprà (do you want to buy?). He often writes letters to his wife, telling her how he spends his days, and through them he manages to convey to the reader the sense of nostalgia and detachment from his family that he feels.

It is a book written in very simple language and is based on a true story.

Marco Mana

IIS Arimondi-Eula Savigliano, class 4^D AFM

Francesca Fialdini was born in Massa in 1979. After graduating in Communication Sciences from the University of Rome "La Sapienza", she became a radio and television correspondent and host. The author first published this book in 2016. It is a gripping novel that depicts the struggles of migrants who come to Europe to seek their fortune and secure a better future for their children. The book's protagonist is Youssou, a migrant born in Senegal who arrived in Italy after negative experiences in France and Belgium.

Youssou has a wife and two young children who remained in Senegal due to political issues with their relocation. The protagonist, a resident of Italy, arrived clandestinely in the late 1980s. He has always been a street vendor of lighters and is considered by locals to be a vu cumprà. He often writes long letters to his wife, telling her what he does during his days. The content of these letters is deeply touching, conveying a sense of loneliness and separation from his family. The distance from his loved ones leads him to return home, perhaps abandoning his goals forever, or perhaps hoping to bring his entire family to Italy in the future.

"A Lighter Salesman's Dream" is a very simple book, written in a very youthful language, and is based on a true story. It closely reflects current issues and can be described as a contemporary novel.