Advance reader copy.

Going out on a book circle before I read it. Flight list is below.

pinewood21093 in USA
phillycarol in USA
cobaltcat in USA
JDT in USA
kbgoffe in USA

And then back to me :-)

Just received from Zmrzlina. Thanks. It will probably motivate me to renew my Italian lessons!

I requested this book because I love to read about Italy -- fiction and nonfiction alike -- however, this was a disappointment. It seemed to be full of caricatures of what Americans think Italians are like. I'm very guilty of forming opinions based on who publishes the book, so I was a little leery when I discovered it was published by Warner. It lived up (or down?) to its reputation.

On to PhillyCarol, whom I will advise not to read my comments before giving it a try!

I received this book sometime last week while I was away on a business trip. My husband neglected to tell me that it came. Sorry for being a slacker!!! I have one BC book in front of this one, so I should be able to get to this one within a week or so. I'll definitely add a journal entry after I've read it. :)

I have to disagree with pinewood21093. I really enjoyed this book. It was a good story, reminding me somewhat of the town in Chocolat. It's fiction so I don't expect it to truly represent Italians. It was a cute story and well tied together at the end.

I will say that it didn't feel like the story was set in the present. I don't think dates were ever mentioned but there are references to it being sometime after WWII. Unless I missed something (which is quite possible), I think the author is leaving it to the reader's imagination.

Thanks for sharing this book, Zmrzlina! Another good one from you!

I'm mailing the book to cobaltcat today. Enjoy!

Received today. I love anything to do with Italy, and in fact I have just now returned from my intermediate Italian class. Since the opinions of the two previous readers are split between, it will be interesting to me as to how I feel about this book when I'm done.

I'm kind of leaning towards not liking this book. I didn't dislike it, but I was mildly disappointed. I had the vague impression of Italians portrayed as "backward" or behind the times, or just ....something...that bothered me. The characters were stereotypical, I didn't feel the author fully developed the characters and I wasn't able to form an affinity for any of them. This is my true test of liking the book...do I miss the characters when I finish the book? In this case, I did not. I was disappointed in the ending. Everything tied up just a little too neatly in my opinion.

I think I'll go with pinewood on this one, and give it a thumbs down.

Update: this was mailed out on August 02, 2003. Out of 3 bookring books mailed out, this one and one other are still missing in action. The 3rd bookring book finally was journaled yesterday, but the crosser said it didn't arrive until Wednesday. I'm now getting nervous.......

Just received today from cobaltcat!
Looking forward to reading this in the next few weeks (speaking of miracles - says she with 8 ring/ray books ahead in line, and school/teaching starting next week!) before our trip to Italy.
Renting a villa in Tuscany for a week with 3 other couples - long-time, close friends of over 30 years!

A wonderful read-- filled with colorful descriptions of this small Italian village and its people, sensitive insights into human nature, numerous complexities of developing and disintegrating relationships, and gentle humor. (Actually Santo Fico did remind us a bit of some of the smaller out-of-the-way villages and towns in Tuscany we've visited.)
Smith's style is direct, sincere, honest, powerful and warm. In a realistic way to discover the miracles of Santo Fico.... and to begin to realize our own miracles surrounding us in everday life.

-JDT's husband

Sending out to kbgoffe. Thanks to all before us.

Last week was just so busy that I barely had time to eat I was so exhausted. My husband left on the 9th to backpack Mt. Rainier’s Wonderland Trail. I was busy either being at the hospital with my mom all day or now at my parent’s house. Normally the moment I get a book in I register it right away. This past week I just had no energy at all. Please forgive me for registering your book so late. I did keep all the books I received in order to make it easier when I did log them in.

I am really looking forward to reading this book. It is next after the following bookray/ring books:
Six Shooters: Hockey's Sutter Brothers

I will read as fast as I can! :) Thank you so much!

Looking over the previous journal entries for this book I was amazed that there seemed to be no middle ground. You either liked it or didn't. I happened to fall in the liked it category. I liked how the story seemed so sincere and simple. It was also beautiful at times. It will be interesting to see what you think Zmrzlina. Thanks for sending this out.

Enjoy your week in Tuscany JDT. I keep dreaming of the time I will get to visit Italy. Last year I planned a 3 week trip for my best friend in Italy. Her pictures made me want to go even more. Thanks for the wonderful postcard.

Release planned for Friday, October 17, 2003 at Mailing to fellow bookcrosser in Beaverton, Oregon USA.

This book is headed back home. Thank you!

Thank you all for participating. I will read and release, I hope on vacation next month.

Just received as part of the BookRelay...thanks!