Archive for the ‘books’ Category
Book Giveaway: 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go + 3 Other Italy Titles from Travelers’ Tales
Today is the last Monday in August, which means our last book giveaway associated with the Gita Italiana 2010 — but I couldn’t possibly only give away just *one* book.
Remember when Susan Van Allen was here a while back telling us why women love Italy so much? Well today it’s my turn to tell you a little more about her book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, and give you yet another chance to win Susan’s book as well as three other titles from Travelers’ Tales.
We’ll get back to the contest in a bit, but first let me tell you what a treasure 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go would be in your library, virtual library, or even in your life via iPhone app.
Check it out on Amazon!
Whether you want to find a cooking course, spa, religious retreat, great beach, or just some fabulous shopping, Susan has it covered –in every corner of the Bel Paese. When I first received this book, I thought it would be something I’d flip through every now and again when the mood struck; instead I found myself reading chapters straight through, imagining myself visiting all of the wonderful places Susan describes so well.
The tone is friendly and the advice sincere, so you really do feel like you have a knowledgeable girlfriend by your side with the inside scoop on where you should go on your next Italian vacation. I probably don’t need to tell you this book would make a *fabulous* gift for your favorite Italophile who also happens to be a lady, either.
So if you entered the last drawing but didn’t win, here is another chance for you to win this book; even better, in addition to 100 Places, Susan’s publisher has also offered up one copy of each of the following:
- Travelers’ Tales Italy: True Stories of Life on the Road
- Travelers’ Tales Tuscany: True Stories
- 30 Days in Italy: True Stories of Escape to the Good Life
To be eligible for the drawing, just leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. next Sunday, September 5, 2010. For an extra entry, head to Facebook to “like” 100 Places Every Woman Should Go and let me know you’ve done so in a separate comment. I will draw four winners randomly at the close of the drawing; the first winner will receive 100 Places; the second will receive the second book on the list, etc.
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Now be sure to come back tomorrow for the final day of our gita!
Book Review & Giveaway: Palermo by Roberto Alajmo
If you’ve been to Palermo in Sicily, you probably either loved or hated it. My love for the city is no secret. Palermo is not a place that throws open her arms to you; she makes you work for it, makes you discover her charm one ridiculously busy street at a time — and I tend to like that in cities. See also: Philadelphia.
I’ve written a series of posts about some of my favorite popular stops in Palermo including the Duomo, Fountain of Shame, Antica Focacceria San Francesco, and the Capuchin Catacombs, so when I got an offer to review Roberto Alajmo’s new book Palermo from Haus Publishing, I jumped at the chance. The fact that it fits in perfectly with the Gita Italiana 2010 is like icing on the cannoli. Or something like that.
Roberto Alajmo is a native of Palermo; this book is translated into English by Guido Waldman. When I received it, the first thought in my mind was whether this was going to be a love letter to the gritty Sicilian città probably known best for the Mafia and its pastries — and I’d say yes. Yes it is, but it’s a palermitano love letter, if you will.
Now let me explain.
Alajmo speaks directly to a first-time visitor to his city from the first sentence: “You have to get yourself a window-seat and arrive on a clear sunny day.” This sets the tone of the entire book as he educates the reader about the city’s sights, but not just tourist attractions. Much of the book is a tongue-in-cheek look at the city and its natives with caustic, wry observations about illegal structures, Palermitano mentality about corruption, rubbish, politics, and so much more.
Buy Palermo by Roberto Alajmo on Amazon
I found myself smirking through most of Palermo (and underlining an overwhelming portion of the book) because Alajmo’s analysis is so keen, his criticism subtle and yet full of daggers. He leaves you with many thought-provoking ideas such as the real reason why the South has so many unfinished buildings: “an unconscious sense that total completion carries with it an inbuilt sorrow.” It’s just a brilliantly written book.
So where’s the love?
Remember, Alajmo is a native of the city. He knows it. He appreciates its beauty, but he really delves into its problems — *big* problems in many instances — and the latter is what nearly all of this book is about. But in order to truly love someone (or in this case, something), don’t you have to recognize the faults and decide to love anyway?
So, yes, I would characterize Alajmo’s Palermo as a love letter to his city — a whopping, entertaining dose of tough love, but would a Palermitano have it any other way? I just loved it. Five very full espresso cups out of five.
Aside from content, by the way, this is simply a snazzy little book. It’s hardcover and measures 15.6 x 11.6 cm (about 6 x 5 inches); perfect for stuffing in your bag on a trip and a great gift item as well.
Haus Publishing has kindly offered a copy to a lucky Bleeding Espresso, so here’s the spiel:
To be eligible to win a copy of Palermo, leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. (Italy time) next Sunday, August 29, 2010. Haus Publishing has agreed to ship anywhere in the world, so international readers are free to enter as well. For an extra entry, become a “liker” of Haus Publishing on Facebook, and let me know you’ve done so in a separate comment here. If you’re already a fan of Haus, let me know and that will be your extra entry. I will select a winner via random number draw at the close of the contest.
Have you been to Palermo? Would you like to go?
Be sure to come back tomorrow for a trip to the beach in the Salento!
P.S. If you read Karen’s post yesterday and wondered if she ever found the Loggia, please go back and read the post again. I had inadvertently deleted the juicy part! Many apologies to Karen!
El Marsam B&B Cookbook: An Umbrian Farmhouse and Its Kitchen
Kicking off the Gita Italiana 2010 is a giveaway of my friend Ginda Simpson’s wonderful new cookbook, El Marsam B&B: An Umbrian Farmhouse and Its Kitchen.
If you’ve been around Bleeding Espresso for a while, you might remember Ginda from when I wrote about her first book, Deeply Rooted, in faith & family. Ginda’s family has roots in Calabria, but she has made her home in Umbria, where she operates the El Marsam B&B and also creates gorgeous paintings (which was also featured in the previous post).
Ginda’s cookbook is full of great recipes from Artichoke Chicken to Zuppa Frantoiana (Tuscan white bean soup), but if that isn’t enough to draw you in, you will love reading the anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book that tie all the dishes together. With some snippets you’ll learn the history of a recipe or a cultural tradition, with others you’ll devour how certain foods came into Ginda’s life, and then, of course, there’s my favorite — the one about the shepherd in Calabria making pecorino as it’s been made for centuries.
Ginda’s writing style is friendly and conversational, so you’ll feel like you have a supportive guide in the kitchen with you as you work your way through 70 gorgeous recipes; if you’re like me, though, you’ll read through all the stories first and then backtrack through the recipes, re-reading the stories as you make your way through the book again. I haven’t tried any recipes yet as our kitchen slows down considerably in the summer, but I’ve already marked off the first three I’ll try: Farfalle with Speck & Rucola, Red Pepper Jam, and Cappuccino Mousse. Yum!
Ginda has offered up a copy of El Marsam B&B Cookbook to be given away to one lucky Bleeding Espresso reader. You must have a U.S. shipping addresses to be eligible for the random drawing. Simply comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. (Italy time) next Sunday, August 22 for your chance to win. For another entry, “like” El Marsam B&B on Facebook and come back here and tell me you’ve done so in a separate comment.
If you’d like to purchase Ginda’s cookbook and learn more about life in the Umbrian countryside, you can do so at El Marsam’s website; please also take a look at GindaSimpson.com for more information on Ginda’s art and writing.
Be sure to come back tomorrow when we’ll be off to Sardinia!
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