| if you like to read...... |
I love reading and I'm very luck that I can read very quickly.I've always enjoyed books about Itay, even before we bought a house there.
The following books are all fairly light reads that I've really loved reading; all perfect for the plane, train or beach .
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As long as you are prepared to suspend belief you'll love this book.Nancy and Robert are a middle aged American couple going through a mid -life crisis.Nancy copes by buying run down old properties and restoring them with the help of the usual crew of Italian builders. Anyone who has dealt with Italian builders will immediately recognise Umberto et al but its hard to believe that any Italian builders would be working on the bank holiday in August! Hm!
When Umberto's huge bill comes in the couple try to intimidate him by framing a photo of someone from the 'Sopranos' and claiming that he's a mafia relation who will sort Umberto out unless he reduces it. Apparently this works and Umberto offers to cut the bill for cash! As I said suspend belief and you'll love it!
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This is the first in book written by Annie Hawes and it's easily my favourite! Unbelieably Annie and her sister Sara were only in their 20's when they bought an old abandoned rustico in Liguria.the house is miles from anywhere and all the locals think they are mad to try to live there but slowly the 2 women start to make friends.
Predictably in this sort of book they meet with all sorts of 'loveable rogues' who offer help and advice from fixing the roof to growing tomatoes.It's obvious from the beginning that the project is going to run on a tight budget which makes a refreshing change; instead of employing scores of buliders and other tradesmen they tackle most of the work themselves with a little help from their neighbours.lf you don't already own a house in Italy you'll want one after reading this!!!
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This is a brilliant thriller set in a poor village in the South of Italy in 1978's. A young boy discovers a terrible secret that he doesn't even trust his friends with.
When his father returns from working away it's clear that he is involved and the boy becomes even more frightened.His loyalty to his father and his sense of morality are in conflict and he feels unhappy and confused.
The last part of the book if full of suspense which builds to a nail biting ending!I have also warched the dvd which although not as good as the book is very affecting.
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The heroine of this story is Rosa a middle aged librarian who lives alone in a small appartment.She copes with this lonlieness by cooking and the book includes sections with her recipies.
Romance comes into Rosa's life at last in the shape of a enigmatic Enfglishman who Rosa falls in love with.
Their affair is a passionate one but it seems doomed to end tragically.However the book has a surprise ending!
Terrific book and not too long.I read it in one go !The cover intrigues me as Rosa is a rather large lady in the book!
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If you get tired of reading about rural idylls in Tuscany then this tale of appartment hunting in Venice is a delight.
The author is an American who became better known after the publication of her book book 'Guilding the Lily' about the National Trust .
Her and her partner are looking for the perfect appartment to become a base for them.Paula is much more enthusiactic than her partner who find the Italians they deal with rather frustrating and annoying.She tracks down an appartment in the Palazzo dona della Rose but manages to fall out with the owner.Some readers have been put off by her rather hectoring manner and at times she does seem to hate Italians so much its a wonder she wants to live there.I suppose thats happened to everyone at some time though! Its just hard to keep it up!
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for a wider selection of books on Italy and 'green building' look at my amazon book shop
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