A few months ago my aunt gave me a book called The Stone Boudoir by Theresa Maggio. The book is a collection of short non-fiction stories of small villages throughout Sicily. Being Sicilian, I had to read the book, although for some reason I was not sure if I’d like it at first. However, once I started reading it, the book completely consumed me and I did not put it down until I finished it. I am not sure if you have to be Sicilian to enjoy it, but it helps! Theresa’s writing style is so comfortable and appealing that I found myself not wanting it to end. She finds such beauty in life, clearly, and she paints a story of these various places to make them almost sound magical, and maybe they are in a way. My curiosity is certainly piqued about a few of the towns she describes, as she embarks on her own adventure to learn about hilltop villages in Sicily, including the one where her grandparents are from, San Margarita. Her stories include her rides on the train that go up and around Mt Etna, stopping and passing by various small villages, including Polizzi Generosa, where Martin Scorcese’s family is from. She visits her own family’s town that had survived a horrible earthquake some 100 years ago, as well as the St Agatha festival in Catania, which rivals Spain’s running of the bulls in terms of craziness. She really gives you a taste of a culture that is so detached from our own. I highly recommend this book and if you like it as much as I did, then you’ll want to read her first book, called Mattanza.
This book is about the ancient ritual of men trapping tuna off the coast of Sicily and slaughtering them by hand. It is a practice that is all but extinct, replaced by machines and farm-raised fish. It was written with an equally compelling style and intriguing story telling. It’s fascinating, and yes, she did it again, she’s made me want to book a trip to Sicily tomorrow. I sure hope Theresa keeps writing about this country, because if I can’t get there, I am enjoying living vicariously through her.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
A few weeks ago you mentioned a website that reminded us peoples birthdays. Didn’t get a chance to write it down. can you please help me?
August 4th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I look forward to reading “The Stone Boudoir” for some interesting info on Italy for the sequel to my first romance, “Not So Innocent,” by me, Linda Bergen, published by Publish America in July 2008, available now online. “Innocent” is set in 1975 Atlanta, Georgia. The hero, Antonio, is 100% Italian and will remind you of Rachael’s husband, John.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I have read “Not So Innocent” by Linda Bergen, as mentioned above. It’s a graphic and steamy romance with some very tender moments and humor too. A good story with interesting characters. Angela, the main character, reminds me of Rachael Ray!