Italy Books

_Sometimes the Soul_ contains two novellas set in Sicily. One, "A Knot of Tears", is a story about storytelling; the other, "Rusina, Not Quite in Love", is a Beauty and the Beast tale.

In "A Knot of Tears", the lovely Costanza, recovering from a vaguely hinted betrayal, has shut herself away from the world for a while, and is just beignning to feel stifled by her self-imposed isolation. As two wealthy suitors plot and scheme as to how they can get her to come out of her house, Costanza finds something much deeper with a young sailor who tells her a serial fairy tale about a strong heroine, which turns out to parallel Costanza's own life in interesting ways. A well-written novella about the power of a good story and about coming out of depression.

In "Rusina, Not Quite in Love", Rusina becomes companion to an eccentric elderly couple, and befriends their ugly and reclusive nephew, Sebastian. From her new family, Rusina learns about the beauty to be found in nature and art, and yet has trouble coming to terms with Sebastian's inner beauty and outer ugliness, even as the two become friends. The situation comes to a head when Rusina attends a costume ball and meets the most handsome man she has ever seen, and must decide what is really important.

Timpanelli's prose is lovely and well-written. Sometimes I felt like I was being lectured, as if a Major Life Lesson was being imparted to me in a less-than-subtle manner, (especially in "Rusina") but overall both novellas were interesting, romantic, and worth reading.

In Palermo, Italy at the turn of the century, Baronessa Costanza Patane has imprisoned herself inside the Green Palace in order to avoid contact with the world except for her perplexed housekeeper, who wonders if her employer is a lunatic. However, everything changes for the two women when a sailor with a parrot on his shoulder walks past the house. The parrot flies through a window and the sailor follows (through a door). The two visitors begin to tell stories to Costanza in an effort to break her "Knot of Tears" even as a shady gentleman makes efforts to trap the Baronessa in his clutches.

Rusina is ill-treated in her home by her father and her sisters. However, the worst thing they do to her is trade her to an unknown individual in exchange for writing off a large debt. At the beautiful estate of her father's former creditor, Rusina meets the ugliest man in the world, wealthy Sebastiano. Will "Rusina, Not Quite In Love" see the inner beauty of her beastly host?

These two novellas are extremely well-written adult versions of classic fairy tales. All the characters are intriguing and the plots are filled with depth, rarely seen in a transformation of a child's tale into an adult story. SOMETIMES THE SOUL consists of two great novellas. Anyone who enjoys a soulful adult rendering of childhood favorites will want to read Gioia Timpanelli's latest masterpiece.

Harriet Klausner 8/11/98

Sometimes the Soul is one of the most literary, mythological, and magical books I have ever read.

The two old Scilian tales are given a contemporary and yet, timeless treatment, spun expertly into a web of colorful characters surrounded by surprise, love, nature, and eternal truths. Written by a 'supreme' storyteller, author Gioia Timpanelli gives us a fresh look at some very worthy, old stories.

Sometimes the Soul is a triumph of the oral story tradition set onto the written page by Timpanelli's artful prose.

These are not just fairytales but reminders to us all of the value of a 'worthy' tale. There are lessons to be learned on these pages, and reminders of what we have lost in our too-fast contemporary lives...myth and soul.

I was enchanted by both stories as a result of Timpanelli's unique and powerful feminine voice carrying the reader into unfamiliar worlds, just as in the second novella, "Rusina, Not Quite in Love" sweeps young Rusina far from the comfort of her family to meet her special destiny.

At first, Rusina agrees to leave, simply so that she can fulfill her father's debts. As Rusina says with the wisdom of anyone accepting their fate..."do not judge my father too quickly...for what child does not inherit parents debts? Debts from character and disposition. Debts from unlived life, sickness, unremembered dreams, poor work, hungry stomachs, stingy imaginations, or little love. It is a rare and blessed child who comes into this world without debt. Besides, when duty and love are two sides of the same coin, then payment is not a burden." And so, off Rusina goes to live with the Beast, and in doing so, discovers who she really is, and what really matters in life and in love. Ah, there's the beauty of this new twist to the Beauty and the Beast tale.

This week, I shared Rusina's story with a group of Kosovo refugees now living in Vienna, only two short subways stops from my flat. English is their second language, so they welcomed reading the story, and it brought up their own recent, sudden, and violent move away from their own homes and all that is familiar to them. It was a gentle way to allow them to open up, share their personal stories with me and the others in the group; beginning the process of sorting out just what this change means to them, and the challenges and even, opportunities that such a change offers..if looked upon correctly.

18-year-old Manika from Pristina added at the end of Rusina's story, "Like Rusina, I've got to keep looking for the good in all of this, and not be bitter, not be filled with hate...hating is easy...it's forgiving that's hard...and loving...even people who kill my people."

This then is a worthy story just as A Knot of Tears is as well. This little volume is packed with the simple truth of life...all in 185 pages!

Sometimes the Soul is a masterful piece of literature written by one who is well-acquainted with life's mystery and magic. It is deep and moving.

I also write and produce the book reviews for Blue Danube Radio, an English radio station in Vienna. You can be sure this book will find its way onto my summer recommended reading list! It's a great find.

Good luck Ms. Timpanelli on a brilliant new career as a writer based on the most ancient of all art --the art of oral storytelling--which you are obviously, a master. Thank you for telling a wider audience your stories, and thank Norton Publishing for having the wisdom to recognize your talent.

Beverly A. Davis writer Salmgasse 1/7 A-1030 Vienna, Austria

It has been a long time since a story was able to reach inside and grab my heart, but Sometimes the Soul by Gioia Timpanelli did just that. I found myself in both novellas, in Costanza and Rusina... When is the last time you neglected to love someone deeper because you were focused on thier outer self? Have you ever felt isolated from the outside world and had one person change it all for you? Do you enjoy viewing "the unseen world", alive in "the world's details"? If you do, this book is for you. It's a special relationship, sentence by sentence, between you and the finely woven tale... ENJOY!

This book has the power of transporting the reader into the life of the main character and making him/her sympathize with Maria. However individual her particular condition may be (fortunately, not many women are forced into convents nowadays), her story goes beyond the specific events to symbolize the idea of being forced into the wrong vocation, being denied freedom of choice and the extreme consequences of psychological violence.

An immediate classic since its first publication, it strikes a chord with people worldwide since almost everyone has sooner or later lived through a predicament that felt similar in principle to Maria's. Highly recommended. I've already read it twice.

I discovered the book "Sparrow" a couple of years ago when watching the film. I was taken aback by the storline, that i could not resist but find the actual book which i knew would be more equisite than the film. It depicts the psychological suffering of young lady(Maria), who spends a magnificent summer away from the convent only to fall in love with her neighbour'son. She is forced to return to the convent and bare the sorrow of being without the one she loves. Verga carefully depicts the character's emotion of rejection and denial.

It is a book that does not fail to emotionally move one, when reading. A definite 5 star novel.

Giovanni Verga wrote several novels that were, at their essence, Sicilian family sagas. Sparrow is not one the them. Instead, this exquisite miniature is an intimate psychological portrait of one young girl, a girl destined to become a nun against her wishes, a portrait of her one and only summer of happiness and the ultimate tragedy that underscores her life.

The plot of this lovely novella could have so easily degenrated into pure, unvarnished sentimentality in the hands of an author less talented than Verga. Verga's descriptions of the people, of the Sicilian countryside, of convent life, as well as his use of third person narration, are so convincing, so full of sharp edges, that we can't help but believe they are real.

Boosting the book's credibility, however, is the undeniable fact that Catholic Europe often sent its unwanted sons and daughters to both monasteries and convents. This was simply cruel social reality; whether or not the child in question actually had a religious vocation was deemed superfluous. Sicily was the last to abandon this inhumane practice and, as a result, it's convents became little more than rceptacles of human refuse: filthy, overcrowded buildings that housed unwilling, but desperate, residents.

It would seem that Verga's story has some basis in fact. Some of his aunts were nuns and his mother, Donna Caterina, a member of the minor nobility, had been convent educated. She, herself, told Verga the story of a young girl who lived in a convent in the "madowman's cell," a place from which were heard shrieks, moans and ungodly bursts of inhuman laughter.

Set in 1854, Sparrow depicts a Sicily ravaged by the cholera epidemic. The emotions depicted in the book are both organized and feverish and it is to Verga's credit that he keeps them from spilling over into melodrama.

The story, itself, is told in a series of letters. These letters begin rationally enough but they soon begin to be filled with madness...the madness of an absolute love that could never be.

Simple and poetic, Sparrow tells a horrifying tale that so easily could have slipped into the cliche, yet happily doesn't. A wonderful study of a life gone so terrible wrong.

This is a must read - brilliantly written. Although the story line - love between unequals, forced separation etc. - may sound trite, Sparrow is anything but trite. The writing is tightly crafted in a style that is very contemporary - I was surprised that the author was not a contemporary of Tabucchi, et. al. Do give this book a try.

This book is indeed a godsend for parents. Although it's geared to Western Europe, over half the book focuses on universal tips that would also be helpful in Turkey or Transylvania, such as how to get kids to try different foods or appreciate museums. I loved this book, and found the author's advice invaluable when I took my two daughters to Europe.

We live in London, and travel every chance we have. This book provides great ideas for structuring trips and helping children enjoy the sights and experiences. It's a good companion for families planning European vacations. I am very glad to have this information and always review it before we travel.

The payoff for reading Cynthia Harriman's "Take Your Kids to Europe" carefully is tremendous. We have a five-week trip to Europe coming up and our copy if already getting dog-eared from overreading. This guidebook is different and better. Most "what to do with the kids overseas" books are filled with things you already instinctively knew - i.e. your kid will like Legoland and here is how to get there and the hours it's open. Harriman's guide acknowledges there is more to a successful family trip than just picking the right things to see, and she uses the reactions of her own actual kids to back up her suggestions. For example, she is a master of managing family dynamics on a trip. Here are a few of her suggestions:

1) Everybody wants to do something different, and nobody likes to compromise. It's just about impossible to agree, so Harriman suggests a "leader of the day" system - each member of the family gets a day or part of a day to pick what the "team" will do, where it will eat. Everybody gets to do some of their favorites eventually. This takes some self-discipline on the part of the parents - if the kids want to spend the morning by the pool, you'll have to agree - but you'll get to see that church you want to see in the afternoon.

2) You are looking for family togetherness but in fact that much togetherness can be stressful. For example, your teenager is all about independence. Go ahead and let said teenager hang out alone in the hotel room for an afternoon if that's what she needs. You and your spouse will argue about giving directions; Harriman encourages you to loosen up and learn about each other.

3) Harriman has a lot of good suggestions about how to make a lengthy trip affordable, and gives good suggestions for budgeting in advance.

In additional to general advice, Harriman shows excellent good sense in sections on what attractions to see - she's frank about things the kids were underwhelmed by (most chateaus just aren't as interesting as you'd think to a 9-year-old), and points out things that are actually more fun than they would sound on paper. So rather than 50 kid-oriented attractions in a country (like other books), all presented with equal breathless interest, she might have 20 - 15 her kids really liked (and why), and 5 they didn't like.

Harriman does not recommend many specific hotels and restaurants (there are other sources for those), so you may find you supplement this book with others. But you can't do without this one - I really love it.

This book has great ideas on dealing with budgets, luggage, etc. I especially like that they were keen on the idea of an 'extended' stay in Europe e.g., several weeks, and provided some sound examples of how it really doesn't cost much more to do that if you're willing to be flexible with accomodations & meals.

I lived in Europe for several pre-teen and teenage years, and we travelled widely. At the time I was always amazed at the number of people who take these "8 countries in 2 weeks" style tour packages -- the pace is so hectic there's no time to enjoy or experience the places, and they are wholly unsuitable for children.

The book is also good at pointing out attractions that would appeal to kids, which is helpful since most guidebooks focus on the 'serious' sites that kids would find less appealing.

Pictures are just beautiful, quality is great and for erotic books this is one of the best I've seen.

Worth every penny....

I would highly recommend this book to add to any collection. There is no text, just photographs all in color. Beautiful subjects, beautiful settings, beautiful poses. The male body is seen in various stages of sexual arousal, many in full arousal. This is truly a book of erotica. Again, well worth the purchase.

Of all the romantic, erotic nude picture books I've seen this is by far the most beautiful. I may be biased since I'm half-Italian myself and have dated 2 men from Italy, but these men are extremely handsome, passionate and erotic and this book clearly shows that in the breathtaking color pictures - many of couples posing together. The models on the cover, Victor Racek and Ettori Tosi, convey passion and true masculine beauty. A first-class book - it's worth the price to add to your collection!

Italian men have a tendency of being just plain sexy. This book proves the concept in an elegant and eloquent way. The pictures of these men clearly bespeak the beauty of the nude male form, and the sensuality associated thereto. The models, locales, and themes of the pictures permit the viewer a buffet of magnificent
men. Buy this book and enjoy its erotic beauty.

This cookbook is one of the best I have ever used. I am not the greatest cook and every recipe I have made from this book comes out perfect, it is very easy to understand. This book has nice pictures and a great deal of information about all of the ingredients. I use this book at least once a week and recommend it highly to anyone who wants to try Mediterranean cooking.

Great recipes, great food, simple instructions, be creative !
Life is many things - make great food and culinary adventure one of them !
If you like the foods of the Mediterranean, you gotta get this book.

These two authors write stunning books of delightful, easy-to-follow recipes, with lush, evocative photographs, and great attention to detail on the culinary fundamentals of each recipe. The only problem is that they keep recycling and republishing the same recipes/photos over and over again. I got burned three times. I bought the book "A Taste Of The Mediterranean", which I liked so much that, impetuously, I went online and bought three more titles by the same two authors, Jacqueline Clark and Joanna Farrow. I got "The Mediterranean Cookbook" (the one with the close-up photo of some ripe tomatoes on the cover). It turns out that this is the exact book as "A Taste Of The Mediterranean", but with illustrations in place of the photographs. The third book I received was "Mediterranean Country Kitchen", which while it is a lovely book, is nothing more than a condensed version of the same recipes/photos from "A Taste Of The Mediterranean". Lastly I bought the newer hardback book "Mediterranean : A Taste Of The Sun". This is an outstanding, lengthy book (500+ pages), but about half of it is "A Taste Of The Mediterranean" recycled in its entirety. I would certainly recommend the new one "Mediterranean : A Taste Of The Sun" as the finest and most complete of Clark and Farrow's sumptuous books on subject. But I'm feeling angry and a bit duped at buying the same book over and over again. Buy the new one, skip the earlier, cleverly-disguised retreads.

Often cookbooks with pretty pictures are low on substance. This book is not one of them. Yes, there are pretty pictures, more than that. Some of them are gorgeous, but it's the recipes that make one pause and then want to rush to the kitchen after a trip to the super market and stop eating junk when they could eat food like this. A stunning collection.

Funny, great insight on the ladder of chefdom and the hard work effort while learning that made this chef a real master, recipes have simple steps and are full of flavor, bravo chef leonard for such a book

There are so many cookbooks but this one is more than that.
True stories of a person who started at the bottom and worked his way up to become what is called a certified master chef meaning a earned title based on skills.

Funny stories, a message in each one as the chef grew up and learned from mistakes, tasty recipes but most of all great tales with a real and honest insight not a glitz facade!

Yes no hard cover, no photos, no ego been strutted across the pages, instead simple and tasty recipes I have cooked at least 6 of them.

More importantly is the enjoyable reading of a chef who worked hard to climb the ladder and is not ashamed to tell about the trials and tribulations in a fun and learning way.

Great reading and a must for any student who wants to be a chef of great status!

Chef Leonards book provides an inside view of the trials and tribulations of a chef and what goes on behind the scenes and inner workings of the culinary world. This "biography" of a chef who went from dishwasher to chef extrordinaire will inspire all of us who are lovers of cooking and dining. A must read for any curious epicurean or for those of us who are taking the leap into the culinary world.

What can I say, the author is my revered grandfather. His is a remarkable story of personal courage and fortitude, only a part of which is told in the book. As a personal memoire of combat experience, "Through Hell and Highwater" compares favorably with Guy Sajer's the Forgotten Soldier. In his book, you'll find how my grandfather faced exhaustion, fear, cold, confusion and death with the taciturn resolution of a man who had no other choice. In the process he became an exemplar of leadership and a hero to his country. When men like my grandfather are finally gone, we may never see their like again. As for the book, as a source of history, it's been good enough to figure prominently in Pulitzer Prize winning historian Rick Atkinson's new Liberation series on the U.S. Army in World War II.

An honest, realistic and introspective account of war. This book was given to me as a present from my grandfather almost ten years ago. In classic youthful, ignorant fashion, I dismissed it as the ranting of a nostalgic old man. Recently, I discovered the book in the sweater drawer of the clothing dresser in my room, the cover and binding still in immaculate condition and the text largely unread. I was surprised at what a quick and enjoyable read it was, full of important lessons. This eloquent account of a young man's experience in a war all but forgotten among those in my generation has brought me to realize that it is foolish not to listen to the old wartime stories of our grandfathers. Thanks Grampy!

An honest, realistic and introspective account of war. This book was given to me as a present from my grandfather almost ten years ago. In classic youthful, ignorant fashion, I dismissed it as the ranting of a nostalgic old man. Recently, I discovered the book in the sweater drawer of a clothing dresser in my room, the cover and binding still in immaculate condition and the text largely unread. I was surprised at what a quick and enjoyable read it was, full of important lessons. This eloquent portrayal of a young man's experience in a war, all but forgotten among those in my generation, has brought me to realize that it is foolish not to listen to the old wartime stories of our grandfathers. Thanks Grampy!

An honest, realistic and introspective account of war. This book was given to me as a present from my grandfather almost ten years ago. In classic youthful, ignorant fashion, I dismissed it as the ranting of a nostalgic old man. Recently, I discovered the book in the sweater drawer of a clothing dresser in my room, the cover and binding still in immaculate condition and the text largely unread. I was surprised at what a quick and enjoyable read it was, full of important lessons. This eloquent portrayal of a young man's experience in a war, all but forgotten among those in my generation, has brought me to realize that it is foolish not to listen to the old wartime stories of our grandfathers. Thanks Grampy!

This is the English translation of the Italian book "Parola di Galileo" written by Andrea Frova, professor of General Physics at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and Mariapiera Marenzana, an author of essays on a wide range of cultural topics. In the never ending flow of studies on Galileo as the father of modern science and the victim of the Church's narrow traditionalism, this work does not pretend to give a new contribution on the plan of strict scholarly research. Rather, its aim is to give in an anthological form to the reader, especially the young one, "an overview of Galileo's all-embracing interests and extremely wide spectrum of achievements". A rich variety of texts is offered in twenty two chapters, all of which (except the last one) deal with central topics to be found in Galileo's major works, from Mechanics to Optics, Materials and Astronomy. Each text is preceded by introductory notes, with cultural and historical references aimed also at following the development of Galileo's unwanted clash with the Church theologians. At the end of each chapter there is a mathematical commentary for those interested in seeing Galileo's reasoning translated into present-day mathematical formalism. The final chapter 22 deals with Galileo's trial and abjuration, and concludes with a sharp criticism of the Church recent attempt at "rehabilitating" him. I think this book is a very welcome and valuable contribution to a better understanding of the greatness of Galileo achievements (as well as of his failures) especially for the English speaking reader to whom the authors have provided a very rich and stimulating documentary information. No doubt, it will be well appreciated by teachers and students of high school and of introductory university courses on science and science history, as well as by the cultivated public at large.
Annibale Fantoli, University of Victoria, Canada.

Andrea Frova and Mariapiera Marenzana's Thus Spoke Galileo has three main virtues that will recommend the work to a great many readers: its scientific precision, its historical accuracy, and its desire for clarity. The authors' presentation and discussion of Galileo's texts highlight the enduring importance of his achievements but also the reasons for his errors (and, indeed, how intelligent these errors were). Moreover, by presenting questions on everyday phenomena and problems that illustrate the fundamental principles of physics in a series of stimulating and enjoyable asides to the reader, the authors leave us in no doubt that Galileo remains a great master even today, with an astonishing ability to explain and clarify ideas, that our immediate responses to the questions, about movement or velocity for instance, may even be pre-Galilean, and that the common sense of educated adults today may turn out to be childishly Aristotelian. Problems of astronomy, kinematics, dynamics and methodology are linked to everyday situations that highlight the core elements of the difficulties. The numerous drawings, figures and photographs used to illustrate these problems present the solutions soundly and elegantly. What is more, the wide-ranging commentaries and explanations are surprisingly accessible: even many of the notes on mathematical physics at the end of each chapter, written for more expert readers, are stimulating and informative. Above all, the book manages to convey Galileo's enormous intellectual curiosity and the intense pleasure he took in learning - attributes that the authors clearly admire and share. Today, as in Galileo's times, we must continue to fight against manipulation. At a time when public voices show such disdain for our intellect, we should welcome Frova and Marenzana's defence of rational thinking and intellectual honesty.

Everyone knows that Galileo Galilei was one of the founders of modern science and that he was persecuted by the Catholic Church. However, very few people have read his writings. This book offers a broad selection of his original texts, presented in such a way as to awaken readers' curiosity and to provide them with the tools needed to place the writings in their historical context.

The book opens with an imaginary self-portrait: a "collage" of letters and other documents of the time, in which Galileo speaks vividly about his life and his clash with the Church, culminating in his dramatic abjuration. The personality that emerges is rich in lights and shades, a blunt but also flexible character, who is aware that abjuration represents only a temporary defeat for ideas which, in the long run, will be triumphant.

In each of the chapters which follow, one major Galilean theme is examined: after an introduction covering the relevant knowledge of the time (concerning the chapter's theme), highlights from the original texts are presented, based on the well-known English translations by Stillman Drake and other experts. Historical comments bring out the impact of Galileo's ideas upon the evolution of science, and simple mathematical notes deal with the topic in modern scientific terms.

The reader will discover that Galileo draws amply from his predecessors: for instance, the famous piece on inertia and relativity on board a moving ship is taken from Giordano Bruno and the wonderful mental experiment on the fall of bodies derives from Giovanni Battista Benedetti. However, Galileo shows an extraordinary ability for bringing together diverse observations and reasoning within a single coherent framework, and for getting the most out of available technologies by building scientific instruments of paramount importance.

This valuable and quite unique book shows in a direct manner the great many interests of Galileo in the domains of science and culture, his prodigious curiosity and his exceptional ability as a science popularizer. The reader will be forced to reflect upon the importance of the interdisciplinary approach, which today, unfortunately, is overwhelmed by hyper-specialization.

Way back in December 1635 Galilei wrote this biting statement: "How wretched is this present climate of ours, in which there reigns a fixed resolution to exterminate all novelty, especially in the sciences, as if all knowledge had already been acquired". Frova and Marenzana do well to remind us of this statement in the opening to their very fine book. For, in the authors' view, the book is aimed primarily at young people - and these, in school and everyday life, all too often have to witness the obduracy with which science is being consigned to the catalogue of ills and misfortunes.

It is not easy to list all the merits of the book. However, let me immediately single out the delightful "Posthumous self-portrait of Galileo Galilei, philosopher", which Frova and Marenzana have written using perfectly plausible seventeenth-century Italian language - the flavor of which can also be savored in the English translation - and the sixth chapter, in which the typically Galilean connection drawn between physics and music is explored.

But taken as a whole, the book, in my opinion, is valuable as a reasoned, explanatory guide to Galileo, centered on excerpts from his original writings. It is well known that the great scientist was a highly gifted writer, and his literary talent played a role of no little importance in his unfortunate battle with the more conservative side of the Roman Church. And also with those intellectuals whom he used to define "filosofi in libris", that is to say, second-rate thinkers who preferred scholarly old books to experiments and mathematical argumentation.

The huge body of Galilean studies was lacking in a clear, readable book, among whose pages one could find selected and properly commented-upon passages of the scientific and philosophical prose of the author of the Dialogue. This gap has now been filled. And another gap has been filled, too - that concerning opinions on the so-called "rehabilitation" of Galileo. Frova and Marenzana make us reflect on the fact that the real problem was not so much that Galileo needed rehabilitating - if anything it was his persecutors who needed rehabilitating.

And this, among other things, to avoid everything being reduced to the level of a mere propaganda exercise, aimed at accepting from science only what it is absolutely impossible to confute, while rejecting "the concept of a mutable truth" and "the use of reasoning in human life in general". Two issues, these, which were at the very core of the Galilean enterprise, and which should, today, be nourishing a correct and lay education of young people.

Enrico Bellone

Professor of History of Science, University of Milan

Director of "Le Scienze" (Italian edition of "Scientific American")

A tender, funny, ironic, and revealing book, about unexpected encounters, emotions that can take us unaware, and how dislocations from our usual surroundings to unknown places and people can teach us about our lives. Valerio writes with a light and deft touch, but what he recounts is heart-felt and very real. Read this little book, and you will want to read other books by this Italian American writer, whose interests range from Garibaldi's wife Anita, to the great ex-President of Yale and Baseball Commissioner, the late Bart Giamatti, to quirky corners of Italian Americana.

Anthony Valerio is in top form in this moving, funny non-fiction novella about the improbable relationship between two middle-aged writers, one Italian American, one African American, both memorable characters whose romance is one for the ages. Valerio has a gift for insight into human emotion. He taps into his characters marrow, their history, aspirations, frustrations, and hopes, as if they were (and here they sometimes are) his own.

The process by which a great love begins is as hidden as the birth of the universe or the conception of a human being. Here Anthony Valerio, who has lived it, allows us to see it without violating its mystery. This is his story of the improbable but profound recognition that ignited between him -- an "Olive" man, Italian-American writer -- and the acclaimed, doomed Black novelist and activist Toni Cade Bambara. It is so delicate, touching, suspenseful -- I hardly breathed the whole time.

The substance of this memoir is what makes us human when we come home from struggling in the world. Valerio gives us home as the heart within the heart, the place that is both vulnerable and free. Moreover, it is the place that is true.

A. Weaver--Simmons College

Simply stated, Italian cuisine is regionally diverse, ranges from the simple to the sophisticated, and is popular world-wide. "Trattoria Grappolo: Simple Recipes For Traditional Italian Cuisine" is a superb collection of illustrated recipes compiled by master of Italian cuisine Leonardo Curti (Executive chef and co-proprietor of the Trattoria Grappolo bistro in Santa Ynez, California), with the assistance of professional writer, photographer, and restauranteur James O. Fraioli. The 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes comprising "Trattoria Grappolo" are paired with wines from more than seventy-five participating wineries. The result is a superb blending of Italian food and wine culinary traditions. From Fiori di Zucca Ripieni (Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms); Coppette di Pesce alla San Pietro (Tropical Seafood Salad); and Pizza Prosciutto Crudo e Carciofi (Pizza with Prosciutto and artichoke); to Penne con Funghi Salsiccia (Penne Pasta with Mushrooms and Sausage); Petto di Pollo alla Salvia (Sauteed Chicken with Milk, Sage and Garlic); and Crostata di Mele con Gelato di Vaniglia (Warm Caramelized Apple Tart with Vanilla Gelato), "Trattoria Grappolo" is a welcome and prestigious addition to any personal, professional, or community library cookbook collection.

This cookbook is so beautiful. I love when cookbooks allow me to see the dish before I cook it. These photos are really inspirational. I have already cooked 3 of the recipes and I have most of the book tagged to cook for upcoming meals. The book sits nicely in my cookbook stand and makes an attractive addition to my kitchen. A really beautiful book, you won't be disappointed.

I loved this book. It is beautiful and the recipes were so great. It was pretty easy and very good. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves good food.

I visited Santa Ynez Valley very often but wasn't able to do it the last 10 years. So, I mist the oppurtunity to visit the Trattoria. But I promised to myself to do in the future. For now I enjoy the Cookbook. Is the best of ALL my Italian Cookbooks. I love the Photos. A lot of it (I don't like Cookbooks with few or no Photos because I have to SEE how it looks). Photos are from done Dishes or People, the Restraunt, Wines etc.. I love to cook but sometimes I have times I don't like to do it. But after I read the Book I had to make a List for Ingridients and can't wait to start. You got it all: Appetizer, Pasta, Fish, Poultry, Meat and Desserts. When you see the Photos the Food looks like you need to be a Chef to cook it but when you read the "how to do it", it's easy to understand and to do it. No exotic Ingridients. If you cook Italian Food you will have the stuff in your Pantry. The Book is a great Gift for People who like to cook or for yourself.