Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Passeggiata–Strolling Through Italy by G.G. Husak

 

            Italy in Books - Reading Challenge 2011

                         

  • Paperback: 355 pages
  • Genre: Travel memoir
  • Publisher: Booksurge Publishing  2008
  • Source: Sent to me by another blogger Maggie of Normandy Life via Bookmooch
  • First Sentence : Prologue ‘for almost fifteen years, March has signified not only the coming of spring, but my husband Al’s and my pilgrimage to Italy.’
  • Quote From Amazon.com : Ms. Husak’s memoir of travels to Italy with her husband will appeal to those who love travel in general and Italy in particular.
  • My Opinion: Suited especially to the first time visitor or virtual traveller to Italy.

                            

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    The November post for the list of books that the other people taking part are reading this month has already been posted. November Reviews

    Although I enjoyed this memoir about this couples travels in Italy, I did not really find it excited me. I hope that does not mean I have been living here too long for a travel memoir of Italy to inspire me. Personally I feel this is more suited to the first time visitor or virtual traveller to Italy and better read in small doses as it did tend to be repetitive in parts. The repetitiveness was a shame as I felt it was due to poor editing as were some of the mistakes I found. Mistakes I hasten to add that those that do not live here or speak any Italian I doubt will even notice, so I am not going to be pedantic and will not even mention them in detail.

    The Cinque Terre is one of the couples favourite places and it  also saddened me somewhat to be reading this so soon after the recent disasters caused by flooding in the area. That withstanding they covered many of the major tourist centres on their annual holidays, including Roma, Florence, Venice, Milan, Orveito, Siena, Naples, Sorrento and Positano.  A wide selection indeed. Some of the things that they had to say about various places and the way things work here in Italy did niggle me a bit at times.  Again this was probably a case of knowing both the places and the vagaries of life in Italy, a little better  in some aspects, not others) than this intrepid pair of adventurers. Also one must remember that this was the early nineties they were writing about for their first trips and times have changed a lot since then.

    There is no doubt in my mind that Italy has got under this couples skin and really enriched their lives, otherwise why would they still be coming here, as we are led to believe they still do. I would be very interested in a sequel as I think they may have learnt a lot more about Italy since those early days. Although even on those early trips they soon learnt to relax and go with the flow, it is the only way to happily exist in Italy.

    ‘Passegiata strolling through Italy’ certainly has a lot to recommend it to lovers of all things Italian, who wish to immerse themselves in the personal details of the Husak’s adventures.

     

    Since 1993, Glen Grymes Husak has made an annual pilgrimage to Italy. Glen brings her background and insight as an English teacher and museum docent to the history and art of Italy.

    Glen Grymes Husak has travelled with her husband Al to Italy since 1993. Their adventures in Italian cities and villages and growing love for the Italian experience provide the inspiration for her writing. She brings the background and insight of an English teacher and museum art docent to historical sights and art of Italy. She tells her friends that she enjoys writing about Italy almost as much as being there.
    In more recent years, Glen and Al have added other Mediterranean destinations to their travels but always end up in Italy. They have not found a place that they like better. The author is I believe currently based in Houston, Texas.

    Other sources of information used in this post :-

    Author's Goodreads Profile

    G.G. Husak's Official Website

     

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    I also post these ‘Italy in Books’ reviews on my other blog.
    News From Italy

  • 7 comments:

    1. Great review, it's the one I forgot to write myself!

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    2. I agree Linda, great review. I guess I myself am a little confused about whether I would like to read this book, or whether I would be annoyed by it (since I live here too)! Although perhaps it would be interesting to see what Italy was like in the early 90s!

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    3. Maggie@ did you think similar to me then?

      Cathy@ Maybe I have read too many Italy travel/memoirs and am getting a little jaded? Shall I put this aside for you?

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    4. Hi, LindaLouMac,
      Thanks for taking the time to review PASSEGGIATA: Strolling through Italy. Yes, it's definitely best for travelers more than residents. We do love Italy and still go back each year and our perceptions have changed. And yes I am working on a second book!
      A better (and shorter!) one, I hope. I appreciate your feedback.

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    5. Hi, I just joined your site. I'd love for you to review my memoir, Leaving the Hall Light On, at some point.
      Thanks for being here. Madeline

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    6. I do love reading travelogues, so this might appeal to me, actually. I've never been to the Cinque Terre and it's on my list!

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    7. Glen@ I am thrilled to have you here as a follower and looking forward to the next book. Thanks for taking the time to comment on my review of your book.

      Madeline@ It would be a pleasure, welcome to my Book Review Blog, I hope you will find it of interest.

      Talli@ I think it is one worth adding to your reading list then.

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