Christmas book list

Hi you two. Here are a couple: Extra Virgin by Annie Hawes -pretty good A Valley in Italy by Lisa St Aubin de Teran - OK, but she obviously has too much money!! Italian Neighbours by Tim Parks - excellent The Italian Quarter by Domenica de Rosa - excellent Another good one but based on Spain is Driving Over Lemons. Cant't remember who wrote it but it was the drummer in Genesis before the little feller, Phil Collins. It's very good and there is also a sequel called somthing like A Parrot in a Tree. Happy ordering.   SimonandJo                 i

  I just read a book called  Where The Hell Have You Been - its a great story about a man who was captured in North Africa and sent to a POW camp in Northern Italy and its about his journey south after escaping to rejoin the allies. Its a great story anyway but when you hear of the villages on his journey especially in Abruzzo it gives it a special edge as i and am sure most of you know them. Its by Tom Carver and its about his Father who was Montys stepson. It is beautifully written even if you are not into WW11 history

HI WE have some 20 or more books in our loft on Italy, from those based in Venice to mainly Tuscany and renovation experiences. if you would like a list PM me regards Roger. acca Masterphoto 

 Have you read the Steig Larsson trilogy?  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; The girl something else; The Girl who kicked a hornet's nest. Gripping - I defy you not to read them in one sitting http://www.stieglarsson.com/

  Hi Anne, read the first 2, the last one is already on our list. They let you back into the Uk then?, no snow yet, this weekend.? Ax

 Thanks all for suggestions and offers, masterphoto you are too far away in the UK but thanks, Nils, Amazon do not have your suggestion listed...shame, Si and Jo have ordered the last one on your list, Anne, may take you up on your offer. A

  Thanks Nils, Robert could not find it, but one for our next list in the New Year. A

 Hi Angie and Robert Apologies for posting this too late for Christmas books but I recommend a non-fiction book The Lady in the Palazzo by Marlena di Blasi.  It is mainly about finding somewhere to live in Orvieto but is so rich in imagery it assails the senses.  Also includes a few recipes.  I could not put it down and finished it in 2 days on a visit to Italy in the summer.  On the  flight home from Italy the lady in front was reading it and was similarly enthralled.  For those who don't know of the author she is a US cookery writer who has lived in Italy for some years since marrying her Venetian husband.   Since reading The Lady ...  I have also read A Thousand Days in Venice which covers meeting her husband to be and their life in Venice.  I enjoyed that too but not as much.

Hello Angie and Robert,  One of my favourites is E.M Forester - A Room with a View  and recently Frances May - Under the Tuscan Sun & The Sweet Life in Italy. Summers Lease by John Mortimer is also a good read. I hope this is helpful.

I highly recommend "In God's Name" by David Yellup.  To quote the blurb on Amazon: "it's been at the top of the bestseller lists all over the world. It contains some of the most explosive and dramatic revelations ever published about the internal affairs of the Vatican." I read it when it was first published - and with each "new" edition, it has been updated.  I found it fascinating but also, to some extent, appalling - and friends who have since read it themselves agree. Two literally read it cover to cover - going without sleep to finish it as they just couldn't put it down! I should point out however that some people might find it offensive, in that the Vatican does not come out of it in a very good light....