A Zany Slice of Italy Italian Living Ivanka Di Felice P N Waldygo 9780993693403 Books
Download As PDF : A Zany Slice of Italy Italian Living Ivanka Di Felice P N Waldygo 9780993693403 Books
This light, lively book takes place in Italy, with hilarious anecdotes about the author and her husband's trip to visit his family in Abruzzo and finally their escape to Tuscany.
Her own expectations were shattered when she embarked on la dolce vita. She envisioned drinking unforgettable Brunello by candlelight and discussing art and history with elegant dinner guests. Instead, dinner discussions revolved around how to avoid a "bad wind," whether the Mafia runs IKEA, and bizarre theories on why the Chinese in Italy never have funerals. Now she drinks Zio's own "unforgettable," almost undrinkable, wine, as he pays long-winded tributes to the vile liquid as if it were an elixir of the gods. Celebrate with our author--for mere mortals, or their livers, could not have lived to tell the tale.
Although the author was initially drawn to Italy for its art, architecture, and Vogue, often described in other books, it is evident that still lifes and stilettos do not hold this author's attention as much as living people do.
The author's open, sympathetic viewpoint captures the characters' quirky charm and the local color. Although you certainly wouldn't call this a philosophical book, how the author observes and deals with individuals and situations in her life shows that she follows her own philosophy, one that is worth looking into. If we could regard the most sinister carabinieri and the most self-important consulate employee with sympathetic amusement and not anger, that would be an accomplishment worth imitating. The author can laugh at her own expense, a rare quality. Her attitude and wit can turn even adversity into an almost tolerable and redeeming experience. Although the author is not so naïve as to think that all Italians' lives flow as smoothly as their olive oil, she has not met anyone in Italy who is bitterly disappointed with life.
So pour yourself a glass of bad Italian wine, add a dose of accordion music, and spend some time in Ivanka Di Felice's Italy.
A Zany Slice of Italy Italian Living Ivanka Di Felice P N Waldygo 9780993693403 Books
If you enjoy ex-pat stories, you've probably read a pile of books by people who've moved to Italy. They marvel at the ancient wonders. They do battle with horrendously complicated Italian bureaucracy. They agonize over tardy repairmen and unbelievably shoddy workmanship. They spend most of their time with other ex-pats, but have cute stories to tell about the natives and they ALL consider themselves experts on Italian life.These people know NOTHING! Italian life is about family and this author knows all about Italian families because she married into one. Her handsome husband was born in Italy, but raised in Canada and happily embraced the freedom of being a "modern man." This was a man who not only BOUGHT a house, but LIVED in it! By himself! Away from his family! Needless to say, his mother has never recovered from the shock.
Then he married a woman who was in love with him and with the idea of living in Italy and slowly she chipped away at his resistance until he agreed to move to his ancestral village. And there she meets the FAMIGLIA - an assortment of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins who believe that Italy is the ONLY place to live and that there can never be too much food or wine or too many loud, crowded family gatherings. Her husband takes to covering the windows so that no light will alert the relatives that they are home and (to the Italian mind) in dire need of company. The incredible thing is that most of these relatives are seniors who should (given their diets, reckless driving, and total disregard for safety rules) have been dead decades ago. Instead they're not only alive, but so maniacally vigorous that they leave two young, active Canadians in the dust.
Eventually the young couple relocates to Tuscany and their adventures continue as they locate a house, buy a car, get to know the neighbors,seek work, and (of course) entertain visiting relatives. This is the true Italy and (as revealed in this author's hilarious, sometimes horrifying stories) it's completely fascinating. Trust me, no matter how much you've read about Italy and Italians, this will be a real eye-opener and you'll have to stop so often to laugh that it will take you much longer to read than you anticipate. She may be a first-time author, but she writes with style and confidence.
And the wonderful, pithy Italian sayings! "The garden wants the man dead." (From a relative exhausted from the back-breaking labor of raising vegetables.) "You want your barrel full and your wife drunk." (From a disgruntled real estate agent who thinks they're expecting too much.) This is now officially one of my favorite books.
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Tags : A Zany Slice of Italy (Italian Living) [Ivanka Di Felice, P. N. Waldygo] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. This light, lively book takes place in Italy, with hilarious anecdotes about the author and her husband's trip to visit his family in Abruzzo and finally their escape to Tuscany.<br /><br />Her own expectations were shattered when she embarked on la dolce vita. She envisioned drinking unforgettable Brunello by candlelight and discussing art and history with elegant dinner guests. Instead,Ivanka Di Felice, P. N. Waldygo,A Zany Slice of Italy (Italian Living),Ivanka Di Felice,0993693407,Europe - Italy,TRAVEL Europe Italy,Travel & holiday guides,Travel - Foreign,Humor Form Essays
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A Zany Slice of Italy Italian Living Ivanka Di Felice P N Waldygo 9780993693403 Books Reviews
After not being able to put down "A Zany Slice of Italy" until I finished it, I immediately searched to find out if Ivanka Di Felice had written any other books, which she has. I read those two as well, and they were as well written as this one and were also the kind of book you can't put down. Reading this book was like being there with Ivanka, David and all the other characters. Ms Di Felice writes in such a descriptive way, it is like being on vacation there. I lost myself in this book and truly enjoyed it. A couple from Canada move to Italy where the husband's family is from. The book describes the different way of life there and the very different way of looking at things. For anyone thinking of moving or even traveling to Italy, you need this book.
Who among us hasn't dreamed of spending some time in Italy, perhaps even moving there? The author and her husband did just that, relocating from Canada to Italy, the land of her husband's family and ancestry. Ms. Di Felice puts a humorous spin on the travel narrative, this is definitely not "Under the Tuscan Sun" with evening wine on moonlit terraces; rather, it is the tale of all the adventures and (especially) misadventures that come with starting over in a foreign country.
In their quest to find a home, work, and a car the author and her husband seem to encounter every possible problem arising from bureaucratic indifference, cultural differences, the danger of well-meaning relatives, stressful visits from friends back home, and the "pausa" that apparently brings Italy to a standstill for several hours every day. The epic struggle to find and buy a car, a tale with more twists and turns than an Italian coastal road, could be made into a television mini-series.
Through all the obstacles and setbacks the author maintains a humorous tone (making limoncello from limons?) as she (remarkably) retains her sense of humor and pulls the reader through, even finding the occasional opportunity for an elegant description of the countryside or its people, welcome antidotes at just the right times.
My only negative comment is that the book just suddenly came to an end. I turned the final page expecting more, but that was it. Except that I did happily find at the back of the book a number of recipes of dishes mentioned in the book along with, of course, some humorous comments.
A Zany Slice of Italy is very engaging and readable, and is divided into short chapters, many with humorous titles. Experienced travelers, particularly those who have been to Italy, will find much to relate to and enjoy in this book. Those planning their first trip to Italy might want to read this AFTER they return home. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to more writings by Ms. Di Felice.
If you enjoy ex-pat stories, you've probably read a pile of books by people who've moved to Italy. They marvel at the ancient wonders. They do battle with horrendously complicated Italian bureaucracy. They agonize over tardy repairmen and unbelievably shoddy workmanship. They spend most of their time with other ex-pats, but have cute stories to tell about the natives and they ALL consider themselves experts on Italian life.
These people know NOTHING! Italian life is about family and this author knows all about Italian families because she married into one. Her handsome husband was born in Italy, but raised in Canada and happily embraced the freedom of being a "modern man." This was a man who not only BOUGHT a house, but LIVED in it! By himself! Away from his family! Needless to say, his mother has never recovered from the shock.
Then he married a woman who was in love with him and with the idea of living in Italy and slowly she chipped away at his resistance until he agreed to move to his ancestral village. And there she meets the FAMIGLIA - an assortment of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins who believe that Italy is the ONLY place to live and that there can never be too much food or wine or too many loud, crowded family gatherings. Her husband takes to covering the windows so that no light will alert the relatives that they are home and (to the Italian mind) in dire need of company. The incredible thing is that most of these relatives are seniors who should (given their diets, reckless driving, and total disregard for safety rules) have been dead decades ago. Instead they're not only alive, but so maniacally vigorous that they leave two young, active Canadians in the dust.
Eventually the young couple relocates to Tuscany and their adventures continue as they locate a house, buy a car, get to know the neighbors,seek work, and (of course) entertain visiting relatives. This is the true Italy and (as revealed in this author's hilarious, sometimes horrifying stories) it's completely fascinating. Trust me, no matter how much you've read about Italy and Italians, this will be a real eye-opener and you'll have to stop so often to laugh that it will take you much longer to read than you anticipate. She may be a first-time author, but she writes with style and confidence.
And the wonderful, pithy Italian sayings! "The garden wants the man dead." (From a relative exhausted from the back-breaking labor of raising vegetables.) "You want your barrel full and your wife drunk." (From a disgruntled real estate agent who thinks they're expecting too much.) This is now officially one of my favorite books.
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