As I laid in bed last night, struggling through another page of Isabella Dusi’s Vanilla Beans and Brodo
I bought that book from Amazon because it’s a memoir, foreigners living in Italy, living my dream, and I just can’t resist books like that. And yet I don’t like it, and I couldn’t figure out why.
I had already read a few other, similar, books on the subject which I really enjoyed: The Reluctant Tuscan
My expectations were rather high when I received Vanilla Beans and Brodo in the mail, as I’ve heard so much about it and it’s been given raving reviews online. To be honest, I don’t really have anything to complain about. It is well written, she seems to have done a lot of research about the area before writing, she combines funny anecdotes with historical information, and apart from constant misspellings of the Italian words she has thrown in there, it’s a good book. And yet I don’t like it.
I’m bored by the book. I don’t find the funny anecdotes to be very funny. I can’t concentrate on the text. I don’t care for the characters. I only continue reading because I think I ought to like it, and because it’s conveniently located next to my bed.
So what’s the difference between the books? What makes me love one and loathe the other?
It’s all in the language.
I’m all for lyrical descriptions – Frances Mayes, anyone? – as long as they’re not cramped.
I can’t stand pompous texts where it’s all too obvious that the author wanted to write a perfect sentence. I don’t like over-ambitious texts; I want to feel that I am being told the story straight from the author’s heart.
There are some people who speak that way too, who speak slowly, lengthy, solemnly, often quietly, carefully weighing each word; people who embrace every opportunity to use a “difficult” word…. do you know the type?
I find it frustrating. I lose interest before they finish the sentence, my mind wanders off and I stop listening. When books are written that way, the same thing happens. I find myself looking at the pages but I don’t see the words, my mind is already somewhere else.
I’ve never been accused of talking too quietly, or too slowly.
Upon this insight, I completely abandoned the idea of writing on one topic and one only. That’s just SO NOT ME. And by the way, while I do know a whole lot about a whole lot of things, there’s not really one thing that I know enough about to write about every single day, year in and year out. I was always a geek, but never nerdy like that. Or if it’s the other way around with geeks and nerds. I always forget.
I am my topic. I am the product or service of this site. This site is me, and I’m all over the place. If I were to stick to one single topic, I would get bored and stop writing.
After all, it’s all there in the title: Dove mi porta il cuore. Where my heart takes me.
It’s funny that you should mention that book. II’m struggling to read her next book “Bel Vino”.
I’v read so many wonderful books on people living my dream (of living in Italy) and this book just doesn’t do it
for me. Have you read “Seasons in Basilicata” by David Yeadon or any of Marlena di Blasi’s books?
No, I haven’t. Are they any good?
Vroom with a View is the first travel book I ever bought, and my introduction to Peter Moore’s writing. I loved it so much that I am now wanting to buy all his books (3 down, 3 more to go!). What I loved about Vroom with a View is that not only is it funny, it is written so simply that it’s like listening to a friend sharing a story.
Overly made up prose turns me off as well. I’ve read books where authors would go on and on for several paragraphs and pages just describing one thing. It can get pretty boring, you know?
If you like to cook at all (especially Italian food) you’ll like Marlena di Blasi’s books. Her first one was A
Thousand Days in Venice, then A Thousand Days in Tuscany and the last one was The Lady in the Palazzo.
I’m the same as Janie, struggling to read Bel Vino. Too full of hyperbole for me! Is virtually the only unfinished book on my shelf…..
I have to say that it makes me relieved to hear that I’m not the only one with this problem! Last night I actually put the book away and started re-reading Annie Hawes’ Journey to the South which is much better
Janie, I will make sure to get those books. When I ordered Vanilla Beans and Brodo, I actually chose between that one and A Thousand Days in Tuscany. Guess I chose wrong!
More books of Peter Moore will follow too, just like Nina I got hooked!
You should start with A Thousand Days in Venice-the other books make more sense if you do.
You know I felt the same way about that book. I STILL haven’t finished it. I got bored and was disappointed because I expected to like it alot. I will have to add Vroom with View to my list of must reads. Have you read Italian Neighbors & An Italian Education by Tim Parks? They are great!
I have a copy of Italian Neighbors and have read it two or three times
Haven’t read the other book though. Oh, I can also recommend a book by Ferenc Mate ; The Hills of Tuscany. A great read!
Hi, I read your blog a lot along with other blogs about Italy or by people like me who want to be there. I haven’t replied to yours before but after I read this post I wanted to suggest a great book to you. It’s called Eat Pray Love and you can find it on amazon.com I first saw it on a recent trip to Philadelphia and as soon as I saw that the author was writing about moving to Italy I bought it to read on the flight home. Two of my other friends bought it and they love it as well. Check it out if you get the chance.
I could have written this post! I am with you on every point, I don’t like frou-frou writing, it bores me when it’s too much, I actually get annoyed. I felt this way when I started reading Mistress of Spices but I forced myself to finish it.
I haven’t read The Reluctant Tuscan or Vroom with a View (though I did read the same author’s book The Full Montezuma and loved it!!) but I share your passion for Italy, especially the Italian countryside. My dream is to travel the entire length of the country, explore every nook and cranny. You are living my dream and I’m so glad I found your site.