Archive for the ‘books’ Category
Reading and Writing Friday
Some news to share in my little world of reading and writing:
I. Winning!
My lion Leonardo and I won 4th place in both member’s and jury’s choice in The Shameless Lions Writing Circle awards for our poem, which you can find here.
You can also find Leonardo’s guest post about his father here.
I’m beginning to think that 4 is my lucky number!
I’d like to thank Seamus for all of his hard work, jury gathering, and vote counting, and also the jury and other members of the Circle who took the time to vote.
Warmest congratulations to my fellow winners and to all members of the pride (so many outstanding pieces, choosing my favorites wasn’t easy), and a special roar out to our good friends Wanderlust Scarlett and Viaggiatore who were awarded 1st place, Member’s Choice for Best Looking Lion. That *is* one stylin’ lion!
II. Writing!
There is a wonderful writing workshop going on over at author Rosina Lippi’s place called the Story Machine Workshop. Today will be Day 4’s exercise, but don’t worry about joining the party late. You can catch up rather quickly as I did yesterday.
There are prizes available for participants–it is called, after all, the I-read-your-work-and-give-you-feedback contest, which means that yes, one lucky winner will have Rosina Lippi, a widely successful author, read his/her work and give valuable feedback.
There are also prizes for each day as well, and you have until Sunday to comment on the week’s posts to be eligible for prizes–but I hope you’ll also try your hand at the exercises. So much fun and a lot of great advice!
III. Reviewing!
Fellow Shameless Lions Writing Circle member Dewey over at The Hidden Side of a Leaf is hosting this month’s Bookworms Carnival–the theme is novels.
The deadline to submit posts is today, and be sure to check back there for the round-up! There are bound to be some great summer reading list suggestions.
IV. Reading!
Speaking of summer reading…
One of my lovely Australian readers came and visited me yesterday with her Calabrian husband–they are here on holiday, but I’m so excited to learn we may have some more English speakers nearby on a more permanent basis!
We went on a gorgeous walk, taking in the natural beauty and precious silence surrounding my town (whenever we weren’t talking and talking and talking (in English!)), and then they left me with these:
Bet you’ll never guess what I’ll be doing this weekend.
V. Swapping
Many of you know about this and are already members, but for those who don’t, Jessica of In Search of Dessert and Shelley of At Home in Rome have gotten together and formed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Books:
This is a bookswap and a godsend for those of us without great access to books in English–but it’s not only for expats. Far from it, in fact, as we already have many members from all over the world.
If you like to read and you like to swap, head on over to The Sisterhood and check it out!
Buon weekend a tutti!
***UPDATE: ATTENTION WRITERS!***
I just saw an advertisement for an online magazine looking for someone
to write a piece about the Coliseum in Rome.
2000 words/$100
In bocca al lupo!
I am Charlotte Simmons by Thomas Wolfe
I started. And stopped. And repeated that pattern since December until yesterday when I was so happy to close that 700-plus page tome once and for all.
Read on...
Virginia Woolf’s Diary: On Being Brilliant
Virginia Woolf’s writing is always evocative and gorgeous, but the characters in her real life are every as bit as entertaining and eccentric.
Read on...Thinking About Charlotte Simmons
I’ve gone this far without mentioning what I’m currently reading, which is surprising since I’m usually working on at least two books at a time. What can I say? I bore easily so I need variety. In books. Don’t go reading into things please. Unless they are books. Sheesh.
I picked up I am Charlotte Simmons after reading that the main character is a small town girl who goes off to a prestigious university and is shocked by what she finds. At that point, I wondered if I had been Charlotte Simmons 10+ years ago.
I’ve also liked Tom Wolfe ever since a “Modern Southern Writers” seminar I had in college where we also tackled William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and some works of our own humble professor. I have kind of a love-hate relationship with southern literature though. I have to admit that sometimes I feel (a lot) left out of southern fiction, but I mostly enjoy it. And Tom Wolfe is a master–so much so that he doesn’t even need the name of his book on its cover. That’s big people. So I gave this one a go.
Now I’ve read the first 100 pages or so of Charlotte, and I’m pretty sure that the answer is no, I am not nor ever was Charlotte Simmons. I do recognize some of her acquaintances, though, and Wolfe makes observations of prestigious university life that are worth examining. So I’ll continue. Well, plus I never abandon a book. Can someone help me with this disease?
Overall, I’m not sure if I love or hate this one yet, but I have another 500 pages to figure it out. For those who have read it, what do you think? And what did you think after 100 pages?
Eventually I’ll do up one of those Book List thingees, if for nothing else to keep track of what I’ve read, but for right now, I’m also looking for suggestions.
So hook me up. What are you reading?
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[tags]books, i am charlotte simmons, tom wolfe[/tags]
Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Italians
It’s dark at 4.30 p.m., I have an insatiable craving for candy canes, and visions of sugarplums are dancing in my head. All of this can mean just one thing–the holidays are quickly approaching.
How are you doing on that list? Are you a bit behind? Stuck on what to get your favorite Italian? I just may be able to help you out. If a Vespa is in your budget, by all means, go for it. But for my loyal readers (one week today!), I’ve set up my own Amazon.com store with Italian gift suggestions. Books, movies, and music for now, and more items will be added periodically. Buying directly from my site earns me a small referral fee (as does buying a gift certificate from the above link), so please have a look.
Today’s feature pick is a book that a dear Italian amica gave me before I left for Italy three years ago: Sprezzatura: 50 Ways Italian Genius Shaped the World by Peter D’Epiro and Mary Desmond Pinkowish. The word “sprezzatura” is defined by the authors as “the art of effortless mastery,” and as something that no one has demonstrated quite like the Italians.
The volume is comprised of fifty fact-filled and entertaining essays that celebrate Italian contributions to the world. Subjects include well-known Italians such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, Columbus, and Palladio, and also some lesser-known Italian feats including the establishment of the world’s first university in Bologna, the first medical school in Salerno, and the inventions of both the piano and violin. Catherine de’Medici, the godmother of French cuisine, and Cesare Beccaria, the founder of modern penology, are also featured.
Other essay topics include Ovid, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, Petrarch, Monteverdi, Bernini, Garabaldi, Marconi, and, of course, the Ferrari and Italian fashion.
There’s a little bit of something for all interests within these 50 essays, and it’s especially convenient because you can read one at a time and let the information resonate or skip around to where your interests lead you. Sprezzatura is also an excellent resource book–it can decide many “who was the first to” arguments in your house for years to come. The gift that keeps on giving, if you will.
Please take a tour around my store and let me know what you think. Suggestions are welcome, especially if you have a favorite Italian-themed item you’d like to see there. I’ve written some reviews, and more will be added as time permits; in the meantime, if you have specific questions about something I’ve listed, please feel free to email me at the address in my Blogger profile.
Happy shopping!
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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