“You may have the world if I may have Italy”
“You may have the world if I may have Italy”
Verdi knew what he was talking about. Plus a #bookgiveaway!
This post is a love letter to Italy, one of many that I have written and one of many that I still have left to write. I always wish I was there, and I’m forever looking forward to my return. And if you love il bel paese as much as I do, then this post is for you. Make sure that you read on till the end because you’ll have your chance to win some mighty fine books!
Viewing Italy from Afar
When I’m in Rome, I stay not far from Piazza Navona, which is truly one of the most beautiful piazzas in the world. Fountains and churches by Bernini, black sampietrini cobbles, cafes, cheesy artists hawking their wares, and people-watching galore.
When I feel real nostalgia for this beautiful place, I sometimes check out the webcam to find out what’s happening in the moment (but remember they are six hours ahead of EST). Skyline Webcams has a really great network of cams around the world, and there are a whole bunch of them all over Italy, whether it’s the Colosseum, a volcano in Sicily, the boats in Venice, or even a cam from Juliet’s balcony in Verona. It’s especially fun to come and watch the cams during festivals or on New Year’s Eve.
Suggested Italy Reading
I’m also always reading up on what’s happening in Italy. The following publications help me stay up-to-date on everything from art, culture, politics, and how I might fulfill a dream of living, at least part-time, in Italy. I follow a lot of Italian language publications, but will focus on English primarily here. I also read a LOT of blogs, but that’s a post for another time!
The Local IT - A subscription publication, with its main audience being expats, but I find it ever informative for wannabe expats too.
The Guardian: Italy - One of the best English language non-Italian newspaper coverages of the country.
Italy Magazine - Everything from living in Italy, learning the language, or tips on travel.
The Florentine - All things Florence, especially handy for expats.
Dream of Italy - If you are thinking about moving to Italy for la bella vita, then this is super handy resource.
A Bit of Italy in Your Inbox
What’s Bringing Me Joy This Week:
Pan di Stelle Cream Hazelnut Spread - My god, this stuff is amazing. Dark chocolate with bits of chocolate cookies. Nearly as amazing as the pistachio cream I talked about earlier this year.
Bob Ross Monopoly - Why yes, I did buy my husband this for his birthday. Who wants to buy up (the paintings replace properties) some happy little trees with us?
And finally, this pandemic cover by Billie Joe Armstrong of the Italian song, Amico, by No Fun Mondays.
And Now, It’s Time For A…
Both of these books came out THIS week! And while neither is set in Italy, they’re still too good to let another week go by without me telling you about them. Here are my reviews if you need convincing to sign up for the giveaway, or if you want to rush to buy them.
Amy Poeppel's fourth novel is a complicated but heartwarming story about unconventional women in messy, sometimes hilarious situations trying to make the best of a world that trips them up and challenges their assumptions. The characters in the novel are relatable and well-developed, the plot is engaging and fast-paced, and the novel is jam-packed with laugh-out-loud moments. Poeppel is an absolute master of writing comic relationship stories. In addition to the wonderful characters and story, the book has a lot of heart. It is a story of quirky families, friendship, and finding a place in the world. I really think this story needs to be made real on a silver or digital screen!
I've been a bit tired of the abundance of WWII fiction lately, but when I heard Weina Dai Randel was releasing another novel, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. And I wasn't. Night Angels is a fascinating story of the war from the viewpoint of a Chinese Consul in Vienna, Doctor Ho Fenshan, and his wife, Grace. Dr. Ho saved the lives of thousands of Jews by issuing them travel visas to China. Randel's characters are exquisitely rendered on the page, drawing you in and making it impossible to put the book aside. Every time I read one of Weina's books, my knowledge of the historical elements of the war expands, and so does my understanding of the human experience--two markers of a truly exceptional novel.
Do you want to win one of these books?
To sign up for the giveaway, you can fill out this form. Your name will be thrown into the hat for a shot at a paperback copy. This giveaway closes at midnight on 2/4/23. Winners will be notified within 48 hours of the giveaway close.
A couple of things: you must be 18+ and a United States resident (pesky international laws make it tricky to do giveaways across the world). If you are someone who loves rules, you can find the obligatory rules info here.
Thanks for joining me this week! If you haven’t read THE CHEF’S SECRET or FEAST OF SORROW, click the links to learn where to buy your copy! 🍒🍗🍷
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You're a reincarnated Italian noble woman, I'm sure of it.
That song is ace!