Chatting Books Online Day 201. Today's recommended book is See You in the Piazza by Frances Mayes. If that name sounds familiar it should. Frances Mayes is the author who brought us Under the Tuscan Sun , Bella Tusacany , A Year in the World and others.
In this book Frances Mayes delights us with some of the lessor known towns she has come to know and love in Italy. The book is arranged geographically as if you jumped in a car in the Piemonte region of Northern Italy and drove south stopping in the towns she suggests along the way and ending the trip in Catania in Sicilia. Sounds like a good idea to me!
Along the way she not only tells us what to see in each town, but she also gives reference notes to websites and books that might be helpful along the way, and The book also has a lots of recipes thrown in here and there of wonderful foods from each area. The book really reads almost more like a travel log or memoir , mixed with a cookbook, so it is thoroughly readable as entertainment even if you never make it to visit - though that would be a shame! One of my favorite things about the book is that it does indeed point you in the direction of lessor known towns that are really worth seeing. For instance, I am a huge fan of the Ligoria region of Italy and having visited several times. I thought I knew the best little known places to visit ( and touristy areas to avoid) , but she does not mention my favorite little town at all but instead mentions Genova. Now I have been through Genova ( train station closest to my fave town) multiple times but never took the time to explore. She waxes absolutely poetic about the beauty of this ancient town for 9 pages! I can assure you I will certainly explore Genova on my next visit once the current weirdness is over and we are again allowed to travel freely.
The book is Hardcover, 412 pages plus two (recipes and general) fabulous indexes ! (Now where was that Risotto with Asparagus and Prosecco recipe I read, you may ask yourself - and Voila, easily found!). The book sells for $27.00 a copy.
To purchase a copy of this book come see us Mondays - Saturdays between 10:00am and 4pm, and Sundays between Noon and 4pm at the shop, or you can message me and we can ship a copy directly to you. Take Care , Mask Up and I hope to See You in the Piazza (at least in our dreams!).
