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Showing posts from July, 2011

Kimberly Menozzi and... Water Makes Rust

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As one might suspect, family dinners are a huge part of my Italian life. These happen an almost-monthly basis, marking the important events on the family calendar: holidays, birthdays and the occasional "Just Because" meetings. In the last eight years, there are certain things I have come to expect and look forward to each time we meet. A typical dinner usually goes like this: Unless there is a storm of some kind, my husband, Alle and I walk the three or four blocks to his father, Paolo's place. I enjoy this most in autumn or winter, my favorite seasons, as the quiet and calm of our neighborhood is especially noticeable then. A walk in the cold tends to increase the appetite, after all – and it keeps the bottle of wine we bring along that much colder, too. When we arrive at the palazzo , we call on the citofono to let him know we're there. He buzzes the door open and we take the elevator up to the top floor, where the door to Paolo's flat is already open, waiting

"Italy in Books" - July reviews

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Thanks again for joining the " Italy in Books ” reading challenge 2011! What? You haven't joined yet? No worries, there is time to sign up until the very last day of the year... Below you can find a list of all the book reviews submitted in July (via this link ). I am sure that everyone will find it useful to learn about new and interesting reading ideas - in fact, I suspect that as a result of this challenge my TBR list will expand dangerously! Whether you know the books that are being discussed or have never heard of them, I strongly encourage you to leave comments below and on the blogs themselves. I want to hear your voices! Despite its name, the reading challenge is not a mere competition, rather an opportunity to share ideas and bond over common interests! Let's begin! 01. Barbara read and reviewed Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. 02. Maggie read and reviewed The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato. 03. Gretchen read and reviewed Caesar's Legions by Steph

LGBT reading challenge - July reviews

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Thanks again for joining the LGBT reading challenge 2011 ! If you haven't joined yet, don't worry: there is still time. Below is a list of all the book reviews that have been submitted in July (via this link ). Hopefully you will all find new and interesting titles to explore - I, for one, am sure to gather another few books to add to my TBR list! Whether you already know the books that are being discussed or not, I strongly encourage you to leave comments below and on the other blogs. I want to hear your voices! Despite its name, the reading challenge is not simply a competition, more of an opportunity to share ideas and bond over our common interests! Let's begin! 01. Juliet read and reviewed The Mammoth Book of New Gay Erotica edited by Lawrence Schimel. 02. Lucy read and reviewed All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West. Don't forget, one July reviewer is in for a chance to win a copy of Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas, courtesy of Serpent&#

Book review: Faithful Place

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By Tana French Reviewed by Natazzz There are crime novels that you read to pass the time and crime novels that you truly enjoy. Faithful Place (2011) by Tana French is one of the latter. Having already read her previous two novels - In the Woods and The Likeness - which I thought were both great, I was eager to get started on this one. Luckily, it did not disappoint. Faithful Place tells the story of Frank Mackey, an undercover cop in Dublin (who was also a main character in the previous novels). Twenty years ago he planned to run away with his then girlfriend Rosie, but she didn't show up and he never heard from her again. He decided to leave home anyway and hasn't looked back since. That is, until he hears that Rosie's suitcase has been found. Frank is forced to return to the place where he grew up and get reacquainted with his dysfunctional family. Back home, Frank is soon to discover exactly what happened all those years ago. It is your typical crime novel, but with

LGBT challenge - Link for July reviews and prize draw

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It’s July and the LGBT reading challenge 2011 continues! This month, courtesy of Serpent's Tail , one of you will have the chance to win a copy of Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas. To participate in the prize draw, all you have to do is: • Read a book - fiction or non-fiction - whose author is LBGT, whose topic is LGBT and/or whose characters (even minor ones) are LGBT • Share your review (or opinion, if it sounds less intimidating!) by clicking here Easy, isn't it? IMPORTANT! Please note that you need to have signed up for the challenge to be eligible for the prize draw. If you haven't signed up yet, you can do it here (full instructions here ). If you can't remember whether you have or haven't signed up, you can check whether your name is listed here . Happy reading!

"Italy in Books" - Link for July reviews and prize draw

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It’s July and the “ Italy in Books ” reading challenge 2011 continues! This month, courtesy of Hersilia Press , two of you will have the chance to win a copy of Inspector Cataldo's Criminal Summer by Luigi Guicciardi. To participate in the prize draw, all you have to do is: • Read a book set in Italy or about Italian culture & language • Share your review (or opinion, if it sounds less intimidating!) by clicking here Easy, isn't it? IMPORTANT! Please note that you need to have signed up for the challenge to be eligible for the prize draw. If you haven't signed up yet, you can do it here (full instructions here ). If you can't remember whether you have or haven't signed up, you can check whether your name is listed here . Buona lettura!

LGBT challenge - June winner

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5 book reviews this month! Did you miss them? Don't worry, follow this link and catch up with all the bookish goodness! And if you’ve just come across the LGBT reading challenge 2011 , you can find all the information you need by clicking here . Joining couldn’t be easier! And now, the long-awaited moment of the prize draw! The lucky reviewer who, courtesy of Little Island , will receive a copy of Flick by Geraldine Meade is: Lucy, who read and reviewed Carol by Patricia Highsmith.

"Italy in Books" - June winners

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20 reviews: people seem to read more in summer! Did you miss the reviews? Fear not, follow this link and catch up with all the bookish goodness! And if you’ve just come across the Italy in Books reading challenge 2011, you can find all the information you need by clicking here . Joining couldn’t be easier! And now, the long-awaited moment of the prize draw! The lucky reviewers who, courtesy of Constable & Robinson , will receive a copy of Roma by Steven Saylor are: Dorla, who read and reviewed The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi & Juliet, who read and reviewed The Passion by Jeanette Winterson.