Pier Luigi Coda: “Under the lemon tree”, Gorée Editore, Siena, 2009.

Prose clear and crystalline, coherent narrative structure, real pages of "literature" for children and adults who are distinguished in the landscape of a production of children's bleak banality.
Brilliant!
(Comment by Phlox)

"Before climbing over, looked for the last time the lemon tree, with its green leaves and yellow fruit that gleamed against the blue sky."
In the adventure of Gya, the Siamese cat protagonist of the story, the author captures and translates the chromaticism, style of painting in which color has a primary function, in the 'elsewhere' deep and intimate of feelings and emotions that each character feels and experiences in contact with the alien kitten Nepal that finds itselself, unintentionally to live in a garden near the sea, being conducted there by the fisherman Matthew.
Counterbalanced by the sea, of which can almost smell the salt air spring between pages and pages, the mountains and the white rocks and cold, rugged and distracting like the minds and hearts of the many cats in the colony of the garden that only after a while ' time, welcome Gya in all its diversity no longer seen as distance and difference, rather than as a precious gift and presence decisive in the resolution of otherwise tragic event.
In the background, a very special and unique bond, but soon enjoyed the unexpected recognition by "hair": GYA and Pol (the mongrel of the house) linked to a vinculum that transcends the "contingency", beyond time, beyond the meeting signed a beginning and an end.
The story "emerges" from the group of young readers to which seems exclusively designed to "splash" straight into the world of all those adults "ready to face new risks and unpredictable emotions everywhere accompany the luck" with the typical lively and bubbly touch of children and boys of every age and generation.
(Comment by Cristina Raddavero)

"An amazing book that I was enchanted".
(Comment by Nadia Blardone - Head teacher - Turin)

Both the plot as the stylistic work presents a complexity worthy of particular note, since current issues of great resonance as the phenomenon of integration between people and the risk of alteration of the news media, which for almost totality of the text are expressed by traditional structures and modes of expression, in the central section of the story are conveyed instead of a prosimetric shape unusual in the traditional repertoire of story.
In addition to some thematic echoes “Ariostei”, even an accurate allusive play to the stories of Fedro can be ascribed to the plant of the classic story, the Author tends to conform to those that are distinctive characteristics and the constituent components of the Roman fabula: the delectation, the brevitas and varietas. Like the works of the Latin fable, also the narration proposed by Under the lemon tree, a metaphorical mirror of everyday reality, combines a witty vein of irony to bitter controversy.
Remarkable is the psychological depth of characters, most of them belong to the animal kingdom, which offered a very detailed and colorful catalog, but also appear bright personifications of abstract concepts, which introduce the most original sections of the text, triggering further unexpected narrative mechanisms, supported by solutions lexical surprising and very effective.
As usually happens in fairy-tale genre, the company of animals, strictly divided into classes that apparently make no way out, is configured as a projection with that of men. In the text the objective representation of the animal is regularly accompanied by the intervention of the author who, more or less secretly, especially through his careful attention to the dialogues and of adjectives, directs the reader towards an interpretative key of choice.
As almost totally absent from the event, the man casts a long shadow over the whole history; of his presence, peremptory and harmful, there is a clear hint regarding various aspects of contemporary reality. Among these an important role is reserved for example, to the snobbish attitude of superiority toward foreigners, differences that, from a very old and established tradition of Dionysian (itself a classic matrix), is a destabilizing element, a source of suspicion and of fear for what is “different” (which then inevitably uses it as a resource out of the ordinary), the danger of the psychological manipulation associated the emphasis of media, often worthy of adequate demystification; the results of an unbiased attitude towards the dynamics of environment.
The vocabulary, particularly refined and elaborated, lends itself to use nice and fluid, especially in relation to the many poetic descriptions of landscape taste.
In general, the story presents a slice of life with small-sized concrete struggles of daily life that, in turn, come to prod the sphere more intimate of characters, giving rise to expectations, fears and aspirations always new.
In the end, open and consistent with the author's literary tradition, it is clear guidance to hope, which is actually a warning and a hymn of great encouragement, specifically expressed by the mouth of the character of “The Dream”, "which stubbornly says: "... I'm your dream ... When in your heart and your soul faces the shadow of disappointment, I will carry the hope, when doubt makes you stumble, I will rise giving you certainty. In moments of despair I sit beside you and bring you comfort ... I will encourage. When you give up your dream I tell you: Do not give up ... Try always, do not give up."
(Comment by Valentina Incardona)

"He recalled the words of his dream: one must always be brave and try."
This is the conclusion of Gya, a sinuous Siamese cat looking young, with an iron determination. How many have dreamed (with reason) to have a similar model? Pier Luigi Coda has already tried his hand at children's books, in which the animals had a prominent part.
The story "Under the Lemon Tree" is set in the sea, some in a garden where, precisely, a lemon tree from the intense color takes on a symbolic meaning of refuge, shelter, concentration confidences, as well as plans for the future. Protagonist is, of course, the beautiful cat whiskers by aristocrats, wrecked between threatening waves, after losing his family umanidi. Alone saves from Matthew, in a state of semi-conscious for fasting, thirst, the shock of abandonment, even if forced, Gya can afford to follow the voice of the heart, thrown back into the water the day's catch: the anchovy Beatrice The playful octopus named Giotto, with the altruism of those who overcame her physical and moral suffering to alleviate the sufferings of others. The price is having to find, then, to devour a good portion of pasta with pesto (garlic and basil in Liguria) instead of a mix ... "squid, anchovies, in the absence of a yak stew, typical of his posts. Important, indeed, fundamental plan of yellow, juicy citrus, typical of the Mediterranean, exploding in Liguria sparkling fragrance. Right there in that corner of paradise, where the four-legged perform, alas, the defects, the merits in addition to petty jealousies or qualms of bipeds, a mature plan admirable solidarity, which leads Gya to organize an expedition, which will cause a matter of conscience: to identify the hiding place where he may have hidden the kittens of Cassandra, kidnapped by an eagle, live to great heights.
The sleek new entry, exceeded unjustified jealousy backyard, which had been the subject upon arrival, from shipwreck known, put first in the queue, then in the head with an unusual band: Cassandra, Caio, Vanessa, Cicero , Pol, a mongrel plump. All ready to cooperate ...
The author, in this short book for boys, goes beyond a simple narrative about animals and the facts whispered, magnified, diversified over the incident, the scoop, the news that hover (often in the form of gossip here identified with an attractive blonde girl), are concepts that materialize in images full of meaning.
The dignity, the desire for success, courage in business (only apparently desperate) are effective quality exemplified by initiatives of animals with no superstructure, in which humans should be the protagonists. Selfless generosity, combined with affection, will offer the right solution to the serious problem just mentioned above.
The Italian language is clear, direct, understandable to an audience of youngsters appropriate, for metaphors about some sides of society, can be an enjoyable cultural meeting for adults who love to immerse themselves in a world between reality and fantasy, populated by adorable characters, with endless, sometimes thwarted friends of man, willing to face obstacles with ease, as well as reveal a sharp, inscrutable comprehension skills, are able to raise fish in the sea or vulnerable to reach the loftiest heights for an act  of extreme piety.
(Commento a cura di Raffaella Saponaro Bragadin-Monti)