Deeply Rooted in Faith & Family by Ginda Ayd Simpson
A few years ago, Ginda’s book first caught my eye because she writes about her family’s ancestral town, Davoli, which is just minutes from me.
In Deeply Rooted in Faith & Family, Simpson invites us with her and her husband as they transplant their lives from Egypt to Umbria, the Green Heart of Italy.
We follow Simpson through her travails with the infamous Italian bureaucracy, her time in Florence learning new crafts and perfecting her Italian, her constant deep faith in God, and, perhaps most intimately, her reconnection with her Calabrese family.
During the course of the book, Simpson shares many details of Italian living that every Italophile will appreciate, particularly the luscious descriptions of the regional foods of both Calabria and Tuscany.
We are also guests of Simpson at the wedding of her daughter; the family’s church, Santa Lucia, in Davoli is the chosen location. For this most special of all occasions, a cousin has written a poignant, spectacular poem, which Simpson has graciously shared in her memoir.
I give this book five espresso cups out of five:
This engaging, vivid tale paints perfectly the emotions of all of us who have traveled back to our ancestral Italian home–those who haven’t yet taken this journey will find the courage and inspiration to continue the search.
You can buy a copy of Deeply Rooted through Ginda’s site or a Kindle version at Amazon.
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12 Beans of Wisdom to “Deeply Rooted in Faith & Family by Ginda Ayd Simpson”
Recipes
I know I can count on you for a good recommendation. Sounds good, even if I’m not an Italophile.
cheeky’s last blog post..Bush By Foot
This is really a lovely memoir Cheeky; I think you’ll enjoy it–any lover of beautiful things will 🙂
I meant to check the spelling of *recommendation*. I always mess that one up but I know you can appreciate my obsession in correcting my spelling errors.
cheeky’s last blog post..Bush By Foot
Yes I can, and through the magic of the editing button….
I will be looking into this. All for a good cause. Thanks
Vee’s last blog post..For Real
My pleasure, and by the way? You are *amazing* Vee.
Sounds like another great book to add to my “must read” list…it is getting long!
Cherrye’s last blog post..Meme Monday: Friday Fill-Ins
I hear you! This one is truly a pleasure 🙂
Ohhh, another Italian memoir…you know I’m on it!!! And for a good cause too!!!
My Melange’s last blog post..The River Arno
Yes yes! An excellent cause indeed 🙂
awesome!! our friend who just passed away died from leukemia, my daddy did also (& he had non-hodgkins lymphoma as well), & in my sidebar there is a link for liza’s race,…she is doing it for her daddy too. the leukemia & lymphoma society is a regular on our tithe list…thanks for putting this out there.
& the book…i’m on it!
oh yeah,,, i have 2 titles on my nightstand that just might show up in calabria soon…good stuff 🙂
qualcosa di bello’s last blog post..heavy heart in the midst of spring
Wow Qualcosa, I had no idea how much this disease has touched your life. I’m happy to do anything I can of course 🙂
Also, woohoo! Looking forward to some new reading material…if you can fit them in your luggage, you can even ship them from inside the Bel Paese 😉
I have to count my pesos very carefully right now, but once I get paid by this client I will surely get one! 🙂
Yay for Italian memoirs.
Tina’s last blog post..Un Fiorentino a Buenos Aires
I hear you Tina! You’ll definitely like this one 🙂
Love the artwork and it sounds like a great book. But like your last commenter, right now I need to stop buying books (and all other things I spend frivolously one)…I’ll add it to my list of future buys, after I get that great paying job I’m going to get. 😉
Karina’s last blog post..Attack of the Teen Idols – Fun Monday
I definitely am there with you Karina. Can’t wait to hear about that job 🙂
What a wonderful way to raise money for such a worthy cause! Rich’s mother was one of the first longest survivors of a bone marrow transplant (even though she is no longer with us she dedicated her life to this research by giving of herself so much) I am so happy that the author’s sister-in-law is doing so very well…
sadira’s last blog post..Jerome…
Thank you for sharing Rich’s mother’s story! A worthy cause indeed; thanks for coming by 🙂
Sounds like a great read,and beautiful art work too!
Marie’s last blog post..ANTIPASTI
Indeed Marie; I hope you’ll check it out 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion – I’m always on the outlook for new books to read and especially love them if they are about life in Italy! Also a very worthy cause!
Leanne’s last blog post..A new friend
Hope you go ahead and get a copy Leanne; I think you’ll enjoy the Calabria parts especially 😉
Sognatrice,
I visited her site, read her resume, am duly impressed with her life choices and with her many and varied accomplishments and will buy the book because 1) I can relate 2) it sounds very interesting 3) a young friend/coworker of mine died of leukemia and 4) I believe that what this painter/author is doing is very admirable.
Thanks, as always.
Wunsch-d
You will enjoy it, Wunsch-d. It’s such a great story.