Journal Entry 1 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Sunday, September 14, 2003

A glorious sensuous read. Intense images, colours fragrances .
An unlikely love affair begun in a hot Sicilian kitchen.


Offered as a Bookray 15/03/04

1.MarianneF (UK) finished
2. Koalabare (UK) finished
3. Zarylia (POLAND) finished
4. newk (AUS) finished
5. MsMello (AUS) finished
6. Ada2 (AUS) finished
7. hengameh (IRAN) finished
8. juliebarreto (US) finished
9. Soongsis2 (SINGAPORE) finished
10.Ilios (US) finished
11.PRCS (Canada) added 24/05/05 finished
12.AnglersRest (UK)added 04/07/05 finished!

A bookray completed! This little book has circumnavigated the world. May its travels continue

Journal Entry 2 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Posted Wednesday 31st March to MarianneF

Please enjoy 

Journal Entry 3 by MarianneF from Whitehaven, Cumbria United Kingdom on Friday, April 02, 2004

Recieved from Redhouse as part of Bookray. Arrived in post day after it was posted, pretty good going. 

Journal Entry 4 by MarianneF from Whitehaven, Cumbria United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 13, 2004

I was totally lost in this book. The heat, the smells and tastes are all so real. 

Journal Entry 5 by MarianneF from Whitehaven, Cumbria United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Posted to Koalabare as part of Bookray 

Journal Entry 6 by Koalabare from Fetcham, Surrey United Kingdom on Thursday, April 15, 2004

Received this morning - thanks MarianneF, and Redhouse for starting this ray! 

Journal Entry 7 by Koalabare from Fetcham, Surrey United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 20, 2004

I was in two minds reading this!

One was 'What amazing food descriptions!', and the other was 'is this a comedy or a tragedy?'

Overall I enjoyed this, but the fact that Rosa's story, with its sadnesses and despair at times read almost as a comedy was confusing!

However, I think the food in the story made up for this!

On to Zarylia! 

Journal Entry 8 by Koalabare at Sent to a fellow Bookcrosser in -- By post or by hand --, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Released on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at Sent to a bookcrosser in Royal Mail, City of London, England United Kingdom.

Sent to Zarylia! 

Journal Entry 9 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Warsaw/Poland - Got this in the mail today. Thanks to Koalabare for sending it and redhouse for starting the ring! This looks great; I'm getting hungry already! ;-P 

Journal Entry 10 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Friday, April 30, 2004

Warsaw/Poland - I think one letter will sum up my feelings for this book...mmmmmmmm..... ;-P I loved the imagery, it was all so tangible and delicious, and...oh man, now I'm hungry again! ;-) One of my favorite parts about the book is that it's not the traditional prince charming and the beautiful (but tragically impoverished) maiden. Not that I don't love those books as much as the next hopeless romantic, but it's nice to have a change once in awhile and this book was just that. The one thing that annoyed me though, was the ending. I am one of those people that needs ALL the loose ends tied up and this book, rather than tieing them, ADDED A NEW ONE! I've let it go already, but if any of you would be so kind as to explain what exactly was happening (or even venture a guess) I would be eternatlly grateful.

Many thanks to everyone who helped get this book into my hands...I'll be sending it on to newk as soon as I receive an address. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 11 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Warsaw/Poland - Sent on to newk today. Enjoy!!! 

Journal Entry 12 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, August 09, 2004

I have it thanks. I already have a book or two for Msmello, so I shall aim to read this quickly and pass them on together. many thanks to all of you who have gone before. 

Journal Entry 13 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, August 16, 2004

This is an unusual book. I agree that in parts it is almost comical and yet there is quite a bit of tragedy. And I am unsure just why a writer would make Siamese twins part of this story. Unless maybe there is a much higher incidence in Sicily. Dunno.
I enjoyed the sensuality and the finding of self that Rosa found. The scene describing the eating of a meal off each other was quite fun.
Indeed there are a few loose ends and unanswered mysteries. BUT I love the end. Quite unexpected but adds an element of "truth" to her relationship with L'Inglese, which I suspected of being part of some much bigger and unexplained plot involving the mafia. Unless the end is another of her fantasy day dreaming??
So thanks to redhouse...it does invoke great mental pictures and even smells. And thanks to all of you who helped this little book on its journey.
I am glad I have finished...two more arrived today.
I have msmellos address and I shall make a journal entry when this book is travelling again. It will be a couple of days before I can make the post office. 

Journal Entry 14 by MsMello from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Received today! thanks! am already well into it. 

Journal Entry 15 by MsMello from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Sunday, August 29, 2004

I loved the food descriptions, so lyrical.

The love affair between Rosa and l'Inglese didn't convince me though. I think Joanne Harris does it better in Chocolat.

Will be on its way to ada2 this week. 

Journal Entry 16 by Ada2 from North Avoca, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Arrived in my mailbox today. Can't wait to read it. Thanks redhouse and MsMello. I have 2 bookrings books before this - one is almost finished, then another, then this one. Should be manageable over the next 2 weeks. (it's my nightmare that stacks of rings will arrive all at once!) I'll keep you posted... 

Journal Entry 17 by Ada2 from North Avoca, New South Wales Australia on Monday, September 20, 2004

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've been held up by a few unexpected things in life. Sorry to slow the ring down, but I will be starting this tomorrow - so hopefully mailing at the end of the week or next Monday at the latest. 

Journal Entry 18 by Ada2 from North Avoca, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, September 22, 2004

What a lovely read this book was: a delight to the senses and an interesting playfulness for the mind. I love the tragi-comedy poignancy of the author's style as she hurtles the reader from tears brought on by laughter to those of genuine sorrow for the characters and their plights. For me it's reminiscent of commedia dell'atre where archetypal characters in exaggerated situations act out the human condition, drawing heavily on both comedy and tragedy. I think this is why the Siamese twins work so well in the story. Very theatrical. I loved it.

At the risk of sounding cliched it all seems so 'Italian' - the Mafia, the intense family passions, the masturbating priest and bank manager, the villagers and their superstitions, the sumptuous foods, all of life just a bit overdramatised (to non-Italians anyway), the passionate and overprotective matriarch, the killing off of unfaithful lovers, etc. And in this the book really works: a slice of life that stretches the imagination but not beyond the bounds of belief.

Rosa's intense relationship with food is also pleasing. The rich detail and imagery is so evocative you can almost smell and taste the dishes she prepares (and see her slaughtering the animals on the farm!). Oh for a kitchen with all of those wonderful ingredients and the time to experiment with them...

I agree too with Zarylia's comments about the non-traditional central characters (though I'm not sure about L'Inglese's bad teeth!).

As for the ending, I think it's ambiguous and finally in the reader's hands to decide whether it's real or yet another of her very tangible fantasies (I won't say more because of future readers). The romantic in me hopes that it's real.

Thanks Redhouse. This was SO enjoyable. Still waiting for hengameh's address and will post promptly. M. 

Journal Entry 19 by newk from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, September 22, 2004

good review ada2! 

Journal Entry 20 by Ada2 from North Avoca, New South Wales Australia on Monday, October 04, 2004

Just heard from hengameh - so in the mail tomorrow to Iran! 

Journal Entry 21 by Hengameh from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Monday, November 22, 2004

got it, thanks. 

Journal Entry 22 by Hengameh from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Monday, May 16, 2005

finished it yesterday. actually not my type but thanks anyway 

Journal Entry 23 by juliebarreto from Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Friday, June 17, 2005

It arrived today from Iran. I love the international aspect of bookcrossing! Handwritten Farsi - what an alphabet!

6/19/5 - I polished this one off in less than a day; it's a very quick read. I found it completely enjoyable. I loved the descriptions of the food and the sex. All right, it was far-fetched, but, what the heck, it's a novel. It was a very nice complement to another book I've read recently that was set in Sicily, which was awfully dry in comparison. http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2246914/juliebarreto/book_-On-Persephones-Island:--A-Sicilian-Journal-Mary-Taylor-Simeti

I will be mailing this off to Soongsis2 in Singapore, who got accidentally skipped, due, I imagine, to the misspelling of her screenname in the list. (I had to use my BC detective skills to find her!)

6/24/5 - My aunt sped through it and really enjoyed it, too. I'll be mailing this to Singapore today. 

Journal Entry 24 by Soongsis2 on Monday, June 27, 2005

It arrived in the mail today. Thanks for the great detective work, julie!

Updates: 2 July 2005
Lovely book and easy to read... the description of the preparation of the Sicilian dishes is gorgeous. I do identify with Rosa's stress management technique which is to cook and bake - it's very effective indeed.

I did wish that the loose ends were tied-up though particularly with regards to the l'Inglese...

I already have Ilios address and should be able to send this off by end of next week. Thanks Redhouse for sharing such a great book.

Updates: 8 July 2005
Dropped off the book at the post office today via airmail. Cheers! 

Journal Entry 25 by Ilios from Tampa, Florida USA on Thursday, July 14, 2005

I just got this today. Thank you so much for sharing it! I can't wait to read it. It seems really interesting. I will make another journal entry once I am done reading it.

Update 8/30/05
I PMed the next BXer today to get an address. 

Journal Entry 26 by Ilios from Tampa, Florida USA on Sunday, September 04, 2005

I enjoyed this book most of the time. The author was very successful at re-creating the universe of a Sicilian farm kitchen and all the pleasures of the senses involved in it. The descriptions of the selection and preparations of the different foods was truly mouth-watering. It really made me want to hop on the first plane to Sicily. I also enjoyed her creation of down-to-earth characters, who are not picture-perfect and drown their sorrows in kneading bread and cooking. Rosa's characters is very likeable and we root for her to blossom and find happiness throughout the book.

I was not so fond however of all the loose ends and the unexplained developments in the book. At times, I had the impression that the author knew where she wanted her story to go, but didn't want to be bothered with the work of actually getting her readers there.
- Rosa's mother would not accept Rosa to be involved with a boy from a Mafia family; nevertheless, Rosa's brother becomes a Mafia leader somehow and he is so powerful that he knows everything about his family's business even though he lives in Chicago. What's up with that?
- Also, when Rosa finally finds someone to replace Bartolomeo in her heart, Ms. Prior wants to make him "mysterious", but does not want to do the work of explaining or even hinting why the Mafia would want him dead.
- We never find out who is really the village's priest and what he has done in the past to need Bartolomeo's father help to hide.

The ending, although happy, was not satisfying, due to all these "holes" in the plot. However, it is a good read and a good "first book". I would definitely read another book from this author, once she gets more experience. :o) 

Journal Entry 27 by Ilios at post office in BOOKRAY, Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, September 04, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (9/2/2005 UTC) at post office in BOOKRAY, Bookray -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

mailed out to PRCS via airmail. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 28 by PRCS on Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Got this book yesterday..cute address label on package
Very unusual book,funny,a real reading feast!!!
Should be a fairly quick read ,on page 96 ..266 pages 

Journal Entry 29 by PRCS on Saturday, September 24, 2005

Really enjoyed this book,it was a fast read I have read all the journal entry's and agree with what
most of the bookring readers say !
She has written 3 other books I think as well
which would also be good to read I think
1.NECTAR
2.ARDOR
3.CABARET...
Am PMing Anglers Rest for address, I hope to mail book sometime within the next 2/3 weeks
thanks again Redhouse for another good bookring 

Journal Entry 30 by PRCS on Saturday, October 01, 2005

Saturday mailed to Anglersrest Devon U.K. Airmail Oct1st
this is such a wonderful,and unusual book I really enjoyed this !! Hope you do to 

Journal Entry 31 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Received from PRCS today. Thanks for sending.
Looking forward to reading this, although it will be a week or so before I can start it. 

Journal Entry 32 by lellie from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Journal Entry 33 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 04, 2006

A lovely read, slightly far fetched in places, but with warmth & humour.
Enjoyable! 

Journal Entry 34 by AnglersRest from Teignmouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Journal Entry 35 by WormyOne from Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Sunday, April 16, 2006

Thank you AnglersRest for this book from my wish list. :-)

The blurb reads:

"A delicious debut novel set in Sicily about a shy librarian with a broken heart whose passion for cooking leads to an unexpected love affair.

La Cucina combines the sensuous pleasures of love and food, simmering in the heat of a Sicilian kitchen. Rosa Fiore is a solitary woman who has resigned herself to a loveless life an expresses her passionate nature through her delicious cooking. Then, one day, she meets an enigmatic chef, known only as l'Inglese, whose research on the heritage of Sicilian cuisine leads him into Rosa's library and into her heart. They share one sublime summer of discovery, during which l'Inglese awakens the power of Rosa's sexuality, and together they reach new heights of culinary passion. When he vanishes unexpectedly, Rosa returns to her family's estate to grieve for her lost love only to find a new fulfilment, as well as many suprises, in the magic of her beloved cucina.

A love song to Italy, La Cucina is a celebration of all things sensual. It spills over with intense images, colours, fragrances, and exuberant characters, all reflecting the splendour of the Sicilian countryside in which it is set".

The cover art is different from that shown here. 

Journal Entry 36 by WormyOne from Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Mostly I enjoyed this simply told tale of love, lust and sensuality overshadowed by the Mafia. The erotic descriptions of the climate, food and the acts of cooking and lovemaking are well done. However, towards the end it became saccharine and I lost interest. 

Journal Entry 37 by WormyOne at Train station in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Monday, January 28, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (1/29/2008 UTC) at Train station in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

On the seats nearest the ticket barriers, on the concourse, at about 17:30.