Iliaria, Or The Consequence Of Disobedience: A Novel by Gabriella Zalapi, Translated by Adriana Hunter

(Thank you Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Kidnapped by her troubled father, a young girl navigates life on a road trip across 1980s Italy in this stunning, cinematic English-language debut.

One day in May 1980, 8-year-old Ilaria gets into her father’s car after school. As they stop at a series of highway hotels, traversing the north of Italy, the child thinks of her mother and promises herself not to cry anymore. She learns to drive and to lie, discovers Trieste, Bologna, a boarding school in Rome, a sunny rural life in Sicily.

Thanks to the games they play, the hit songs they sing at the tops of their voices on the road, and the kind people Ilaria meets along the way, the kidnapping almost seems like a normal childhood. But her father drinks too much, nervous in a cloud of cigarette smoke. If he takes her by the hand, she thinks it’s better not to pull it away. Ilaria observes and feels everything.

In gripping, precise prose, this poignant novel takes us inside the mind of a little girl who must grow up on her own.

my thoughts:

A captivating story that sweeps you away, Ilaria by Gabriella Zalapi, is an unputdownable story. I gobbled it up one go and could not stop thinking about it long after. 

A little girl is waiting after school when she gets kidnapped by her father. He takes her from city to city, calling her mom from phone booths, and behaving erratically. All the while, Ilaria isn't sure what exactly is happening, except that the longer she is away from home the less she remembers her mom and sister. Talk about a bad road trip. I don't what to share much else, because the story is short and packs quite the punch. Plus, you'll want to experience all the family drama and lost childhood years for yourself - it's riveting. Zalapi has written an emotional and mesmerizing book - you are going to LOVE it! Make sure to grab a copy. 

Thank you Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

Tasmania: A Novel by Paolo Giordano and translated by Antony Shugaar

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

After losing the future he imagined for himself, a writer sets out in search of connection and purpose at a tipping point with climate change and global conflict, in this breathtaking novel from the Strega Prize–winning author of The Solitude of Prime Numbers.

In late 2015, Paolo feels his life coming apart: While his wife, Lorenza, has decided to give up on pregnancy after years of trying, he clings to the dream of becoming a father, not just a father figure to Lorenza’s son. As their marriage strains, Paolo immerses himself in work, traveling to Paris to report on the UN Climate Change Conference in the wake of terrorist attacks that shook the world. His journalism dovetails with a book he hopes to write on the atomic bomb and its survivors, a growing obsession that will take him to cities across Europe and ultimately Japan.

Along the way, Paolo interacts with a vibrant cast of characters, each struggling to find their own Tasmania, a safe haven in which to weather the coming crises—global warming, pandemics, authoritarian governments, and wars. He develops a friendship with a brilliant, opinionated physicist, who followed the scientific path Paolo had abandoned, and who will test Paolo’s loyalty and values.

A stunning return to fiction after How Contagion Works, Paolo Giordano’s semi-autobiographical novel captures the fear, anxiety, wonder, and beauty of this time of uncertainty and upheaval, exploring how we can create and maintain relationships with other people when it feels increasingly difficult to connect.

my thoughts:

An introspective novel, Tasmania by Paolo Giordano and translated by Antony Shugaar, is a must-read for everyone. This is a story about how everything in life (climate crises and the rise of political turbulence) has everyone searching for a safe haven, a Tasmania of their own. The fact that no matter the difficulty, hope never dies, feels so truthful to humanity. The fear, anxieties, and worry that life is unraveling is so relatable. We've all had those moments where things are just so overwhelming and we need to escape - so we dive into a work project, travel plans, anything to divert our attention to whatever crisis it is we wish to avoid for the moment. Of course, problems never really disappear do they? 

Paolo feels like everything is falling apart so he throws himself into his work, which involves travel. And, he decides to focus on a book idea he's been obsessing over. He is wanting to escape into a different part of his life, one that is far from his personal life. Except his work life brings about more questions and worries. Thankfully, through it all, it's the people he meets along the way that remind him of the fact that hope lingers in all of us. Hope connects us. 

I really enjoyed this one. It was thoughtful and relatable. I found myself looking forward to reading it each night - I made myself take my time, because I didn't want to let go. I love when a book is so good you want to savor it. 

I would happily recommend Tasmania to fans of Giordano and to anyone looking for their next great read. 

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

Spatriati: A Novel by Mario Desiati, translated by Michael F. Moore

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Following two outcasts’ tumultuous friendship, this brilliant, Strega Prize–winning novel captures the probing, passionate nature of a generation of global citizens, exploring sexuality and identity.

I never understood, of the two of us, which one was warm and which cold, but I consider myself lucky to have met my opposite front in Claudia Fanelli, the spatriata, the name people around here use for the uncertain, the odd, the unclassifiable and sometimes the shiftless or orphans, as well as unmarried men or women, vagrants and vagabonds, or even, in the case that concerns us, the emancipated.

Claudia enters Francesco’s life on a sunny morning, in the school’s entrance hall: it’s a bolt of lightning, the birth of an entirely new kind of desire, which is, above all, the desire for life. Claudia is peerless and self-assured, extravagant; Francesco is introverted, burning with erotic curiosity, dominated by rustic faith, uncertain. She provokes him: “Did you know that your mother and my father were lovers?” But in the eyes of that meek boy, she glimpses a spark of rebellion: she sees herself in him. They become adults together, in a symbiotic game of escape and pursuit, in which they always end up finding each other.

Mario Desiati captures the complexities of a fluid, uprooted generation: his own. A generation around forty years old today, who weren’t afraid to stray far from home to find their place in the world, who truly feel like citizens of Europe. With a poetic yet biting style, capable of great tenderness, Desiati depicts the myriad forms that desire can assume when given free rein. Without any fear of plucking the chords of romanticism, without any false modesty as he delves into the coarsest details of sensuality and instinct.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this wonderful story, Spatriati, by Mario Desiati and translated by Michael F. Moore. The writing is terrific, the story is unputdownable, and the characters are unforgettable. This is truly one story you won't want to mis out on - make sure to grab a copy ASAP!

Growing up in Italy we meet Claudia and Francesco, two like-minded souls that form a never-ending friendship. They want to see the world and escape from their hometown, they want to experience life, they want to fall in love, and yet part of them wants to stay in familiar surroundings and never leave. They are young, they grow up, and they always manage to find one another no matter where they wind up. It's intoxicating, mesmerizing, and poetic all at once. Such a treat to read!

Desiati writes beautifully and realistically about his characters and their flaws, their desires, and their dreams. We get the good, the bad, and the ugly - all of which make for one riveting read. I found myself easily immersed in Claudia and Francesco's lives and couldn't help but want to know more about them, their families, their friends, their town, and the world they sought out. It's always interesting to read how different life can turn out from the plans one sketches out in their youth - it's either right on the money, or far from their intentions. Spatriati is an eye-opening and thought-provoking story that will grab you right from the start and keep you reading late into the night. I enjoyed every second I spent with this story. I would happily recommend to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with Spatriati. 

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Little Italian Hotel: A Novel by Phaedra Patrick

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

When a relationship expert’s own marriage falls apart, she invites four strangers to Italy for a vacation of healing and second chances in this uplifting new novel from the author of The Messy Lives of Book People.

Ginny Splinter, acclaimed radio host and advice expert, prides herself on knowing what’s best for others. So she’s sure her husband, Adrian, will love the special trip to Italy she’s planned for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. But when Ginny presents the gift to Adrian, he surprises her with his own very different plan—a divorce.

Beside herself with heartache, Ginny impulsively invites four heartbroken listeners to join her in Italy instead while live on air. From hiking the hills of Bologna to riding a gondola in Venice to sharing stories around the dining table of the little Italian hotel, Ginny and her newfound company embark on a vacation of healing.

However, when Adrian starts to rethink their relationship, Ginny must decide whether to commit to her marriage or start afresh, alone. And an unexpected stranger may hold the key to a very different future… Sunny, tender and brimming with charm, The Little Italian Hotel explores marriage, identity and reclaiming the present moment—even if it means leaving the past behind. 

my thoughts:

Ginny and her husband, Adrian,  are about to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss, so she decides to plan an Italian getaway. Except, her husband decides to surprise her with a divorce. Yep, it seems that Ginny will not be celebrating a happily ever after. Heartbroken and unable to cancel her Italian adventure, she impulsively invites four heartbroken listeners - she has a popular radio show - to join her. Talk about a motley crew. 

In Italy, Ginny and her guests begin their journey of healing by checking into a quaint little hotel and trying their hand at hiking, quilting, and so much more. They soon find themselves opening up to one another and having a wonderful time. In fact, Ginny begins to take an interest in the hotel owner and realize that she wasn't that happy in her marriage. Just as she starts to envision a different future for herself, Adrian shows up in Italy - he's rethinking the divorce. Now, Ginny must decide what she truly wants for her life.

Patrick has written a terrific story that is heartwarming and uplifting. It will draw you in and sweep you away to Italy, where you can't help but get caught up in this group's stories and adventures. Such a treat to read!

I would happily recommend The Little Italian Hotel to anyone and everyone - you will fall in deep with this one! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy this book!

The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Inspired by one of the OSS’s few female operatives, Barbara Lauwers, a WWII novel set at OSS’s Morale Office in Rome, which was responsible for creating black propaganda and distributing it behind enemy lines. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookseller's Secret.

Inspired by a real-life female spy, a WWII-set novel about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.

“A gripping, fascinating read.” —Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

1944, Rome. Newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency to establish a secret branch in Italy's capital. One of the OSS's few female operatives abroad and multilingual, she's tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers.

Despite limited resources, Niki and a scrappy team of artists, forgers and others—now nicknamed The Lipstick Bureau—find success, forming a bond amid the cobblestoned streets and storied villas of the newly liberated city. But her work is also a way to escape devastating truths about the family she left behind in Czechoslovakia and a future with her controlling American husband.

As the war drags on and the pressure intensifies, Niki begins to question the rules she's been instructed to follow, and a colleague unexpectedly captures her heart. But one step out of line, one mistake, could mean life or death…

my thoughts:

The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable is a terrific story based on real-life spy Barbara Lauwers. Set during WWII, this story introduces us to Niki, a Czech immigrant who worked for the OSS in Rome. Her job was to spread propaganda that would lower the morale of enemy soldiers. Niki worked alongside a small crew in Rome and they became known as The Lipstick Bureau and were quite successful. Of course, she worried about her family, her marriage, and her life - after all wartime is fraught with danger and the unknown. 

Gable has created a fascinating story using a few historical facts and real-life characters to shine light on a smart and determined woman dedicated to do her part in helping to stop the war. I found myself easily transported alongside Niki as she settles in Rome to take on her new role as a spy for the OSS, which eventually became the CIA.  I loved meeting her colleagues, reading about her work, and learning about her life during WWII. Talk about an interesting and engaging story!

I would happily recommend The Lipstick Bureau to fans of Gable's work and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Sentimental Economy by Edoardo Nesi

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

In a warm, perceptive essay that touches on economics, fashion, literature, and politics, the Strega Prize–winning author of Story of My People reflects on the seismic shifts of 2020 and the diverse ways we’re adapting.

Attempting to make sense of the incredible upheaval of 2020—from the devastating impact of COVID-19 to the sudden loss of his father—Edoardo Nesi considers the changing global economy and its effect on our lives. He shares the stories of Alberto Magelli, a small textile entrepreneur; Livia Firth, a prominent advocate for sustainability; Elisa Martelli, a young Sangiovese winemaker; Enrico Giovannini, a leading economist and statistician; Rino Pratesi, a proud butcher from the heart of Tuscany; and more.

From the overworked to the unemployed, we’re all grappling with difficult questions about our current disorienting world: Will we ever feel healthy again, and what will it take to regain “normality?” What does progress mean today? Have science and technology let us down? What will the increased prevalence of remote working mean for our cities, and for our lifestyles generally? Deftly weaving together the personal and the economic, Nesi takes us on a fascinating journey to understanding.

my thoughts:

Wow. Just, wow. Sentimental Economy by Edoardo Nesi is a beautiful read. I absolutely loved it.

Heartbreaking, haunting, and mesmerizing.  Nesi has written a book-length essay that tackles personal and current topics: COVID, Italy, economics, and the loss of his father. He looks at the ways in which the year 2020 has altered the course of the economy and society.  He writes about fashion, an industry in which his family has a personal stake.  He considers what the "potential of progress" means now that the future feels so unknown. And, he talks to his friends about it all - friends who work in a variety of fields: an economist, a screenwriter, and an industrialist. He listens to them as they express their thoughts about the ways in which the world is forced to evolve because of the pandemic and how it will affect their futures. It's fascinating, emotional, thought-provoking, and unputdownable. I found myself gripped by Nesi's words. His wit, his intelligence, and his talent shine through. 

Sentimental Economy is a must-read and I encourage everyone to get their hands on a copy ASAP!

Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

Frances Mayes Always Italy with Ondine Cohane

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The world’s favorite expert on la dolce vita (Under the Tuscan Sun author) guides readers through Italy’s iconic regions, replete with lavish National Geographic images.

This lush guide, featuring more than 350 glorious photographs from National Geographic, showcases the best Italy has to offer from the perspective of two women who have spent their lives reveling in its unique joys. In these illuminating pages, Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun and many other bestsellers, and New York Times travel writer Ondine Cohane reveal an Italy that only the locals know, filled with top destinations and unforgettable travel experiences in every region. From the colorful coastline of Cinque Terre and the quiet ports of the Aeolian Islands to the Renaissance architecture of Florence and the best pizza in Rome, every section features insider secrets and off-the-beaten-path recommendations (for example, a little restaurant in Piedmont known for its tajarin, a pasta that is the perfect bed for the region’s celebrated truffles). Here are the best places to stay, eat, and tour, paired with the rich history of each city, hillside town, and unique terrain. Along the way, you’ll make stops at the country’s hidden gems–art galleries, local restaurants, little-known hiking trails, spas, and premier spots for R&R. Inspiring and utterly unique, this vivid treasury is a must-have for anyone who wants to experience the best of Italy.

my thoughts:

Talk about the perfect book to armchair travel to Italy with - Always Italy by Frances Mayes.  It is spectacular! Gorgeous photographs that will have you imagining yourself wandering the streets of Italy, living 'la dolce vita'.  History about the cities and towns that make up such a beautiful country.  Tons of tidbits and recommendations about where to stop, eat, and sleep. It is treasure trove of information that you must-read for yourself. Especially, if you dream of visiting Italy one day.  I was lucky and was able to visit Italy during grad school. The trip was one I will never forget. The cities were amazing and unforgettable - Firenze was my absolute favorite! I truly hope to visit again one day. 

Mayes and travel writer, Ondine Cohane capture the beauty, the culture, and the history with such vividness, such love, and such joy.  Their words make you feel as if you are breathing in Italy and all it has to offer. This book is such a treat to read. Not only will you get lost in the photographs and words, but you will daydream about the trips you will take to a beautiful country that will leave you with memories galore. With the world thrust into the uknown at the moment, books like Always Italy are just perfect to get caught up in, because they share the beauty of the world with you and remind you that life wasn't always this scary. And, one day, you will be able to witness the beauty of the world once more.

I would happily recommend Always Italy to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!!


Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Always Italy

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Inifinite Summer: A Novel by Edoardo Nesi

OUT THIS WEEK (JULY 11th):

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Set in Tuscany in the Seventies, three men share a dream of building a textile factory from scratch, in a time and place when everything still seemed possible

Ivo Barrocciai, the son of a textile artisan and full of enthusiasm, embarks on a slightly over-ambitious undertaking: to build a large factory that will be “the envy of the Milanese.” He involves Cesare Vezzosi, a small building contractor, and Pasquale Citarella, a site foreman from Southern Italy, in the project. Their relationships with their wives, their secret passions, their ambitions and the compromises they have to make form a comical, moving fresco, a family saga, a love story—not only about people, but also about a flourishing nation rich with opportunity and promise.

my thoughts:

Italy during the 70s - what more could I want from a book, right? How about a story that is chock full of unforgettable characters from all walks of life who are filled with hopes and dreams, but flawed in every way imaginable.  Oh, and writing that is rich with creativity - the beauty of the prose drips from the pages and it sweeps you away to Tuscany with its glorious vividness.  Well, I got all of that and more from Edoardo Nesi's latest work, Infinite Summer. 

Talk about a must-read book for the summer!! I absolutely LOVED Infinite Summer.  I soaked up the descriptions of Italian life and culture with pleasure.  The smells, the sights, and the sounds came to life.  I could imagine myself walking around a piazza, eating gelato, and people-watching.  The sky is blue and cloudless, the air filled with life, and the flea market bustling with shoppers eyeing leather-bound journals and dazzling necklaces.  Its like I'm right there and I can't help but smile.  To be in Italy is to be in bliss. 

The story focuses on capitalism and the textile trade industry via three men: Ivo, Cesare, and Pasquale.  Ivo wants to build the largest textile manufacturing company in all of Tuscany.  He hires Cesare as the contractor and Pasquale as the foreman.  The two men are thrown into new terrain upon learning about Ivo's outlandish expectations for the building and his company.  And yet, through their hard work and determination the trio somehow manage to make things happen.  Its fascinating and eye-opening to learn about the "behind the scenes" machinations of creating and running a textile manufacturing company.  Of course, what makes it all so interesting are the people and their personal lives. Somehow, the personal always manages to intersect with the professional at some point.  I enjoyed getting to know Ivo, Cesare, and Pasquale through their relationships with each other, but mainly through their relationships with their loved ones.  It all made for quite a funny, captivating, and unputdownable read.  I absolutely LOVED Infinite Summer!!

I would happily recommend Infinite Summer by Edoardo Nesi to fans of his work and anyone looking for their next great summer read - you are going to LOVE this book!!




Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

“I made the wrong choice.”

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

my thoughts:

I just finished this one late last night. I could not put it down. I absolutely LOVED Love & Gelato - it was a fun, sweet read that made me smile.  The book is definitely predictable in every way you can imagine, but that doesn't detract anything from the story.  Its still fun to read about Lina's journey to uncover the mystery in her mom's journal.  You see, Lina's mom passed away and made her daughter promise to live in Italy.  And now, Lina is in Florence with Howard - a man she just found out is her father.  Say, what?! Yep.  A man her mother only mentioned a few months before she died.  And even then, she never told Lina that he was her father.  Nope, her grandmother told her the news in a bid to get Lina to agree to move to Florence.  How crazy and dramatic, eh?  Well, she is now in Florence with Howard and is living in a cemetery - whoa, nelly!  Howard is the caretaker of an American memorial and lives in a house on the property next to his assistant, Sonia.  She knew Lina's mom, Hadley, too.  In fact, she gives Lina a journal that used to belong to Hadley.  At first Lina doesn't want to read the journal or look at any of the photos in it, she's still trying to deal with her mom being gone.  However, the more days that pass by, the more she realizes that she needs to read the journal to find out about her mom, Howard, and Italy.  Through the journal she uncovers secrets about her mother she never knew and even one about herself.  And, with the help of her new friend, Ren (Lorenzo), Lina sets out to see Florence through her mother's eyes and figure out the mystery in the journal.  

Talk about FUN!  I absolutely LOVED reading about Florence via Lina.  In fact, that was my favorite part of the story.  I've only been once and fell in love with it immediately - how could I not?  Reading this book had me picturing Florence and all the sights there are to see - the people, the food, the piazzas, the art, the gelato!!  I couldn't help but get caught up in Lina and Hadley's perspective of Florence as I read through their stories.  It was magical!  You felt like you were visiting Florence right with them and it made reading the book such a treat.  I loved all the statues they mentioned.  I especially enjoyed learning about the secret bakeries - OMG! Are they even real and if so, why do we not have them in America?!  And the Duomo's views are astounding, so reading about them made me wish I were there.  Seriously, reading about Italy was pure bliss.

As for the story itself - I really did enjoy it.  I loved getting to know Lina and her mother.  The journal entries were such a great way to have us meet Hadley.  I thought Lina was so brave to jump right into this new life (even with all of her reservations) that had been forced upon her.  And the idea that the  two reasons to stay in Italy are love and gelato is simply the best.

I would definitely recommend Love & Gelato to fans of YA fiction - you are going to LOVE this book!!