I think at this point there must be a whole genre/category built up around people who chuck it all and move to either Italy or France, live in run-down, dilapidated houses, discover la dolce vita and then write books about it.  I am their target market.

This is a follow up to her previous book A Thousand Days in Venice which I have not read, and it works fine on its own.  The writing is philosophical, sometimes overly so, and occasionally florid, but overall it's engrossing.  There's a definite air of self-satisfaction that almost crosses over into smugness, but doesn't; the narrative isn't about the author finding her bliss - she's already done that - but more about her awareness of her bliss.  It works better than it sounds like it should, although probably not as well as it could have.

The subtitle of this book is A Bittersweet Adventure and it is rightly titled (although it's not a thousand days, but merely a year, so maybe not).  I won't say more because I'd hate anyone considering this read to stumble on to this review and be spoiled.

Not sorry to have read it at all, even if others have appealed to me more.

I forgot when I did my book haul post yesterday, about the book sale one of the local churches was putting on today.  This is the second of their sales I've been to, and I am now a fan - not a big selection, but lots of quality.

Books I've never heard of before but looked good:

The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things - Paula Byrne 

A Small Unsigned Painting - Stephen Scheding 

A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure - Marlena De Blasi 

O Christmas Three: O. Henry, Tolstoy, and Dickens - Leo Tolstoy,Charles Dickens,O. Henry 

Books I've seen/heard of before and have been moderately interested in reading:

The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco 

Brother Cadfael's Penance - Ellis Peters 

At Bertram's Hotel - Agatha Christie 

Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie 

That last one, I bought not only because I'm eventually going to read all of Christie's work, but because the pulpy cover just called to me - I love it!

I'll admit, I got a bit mercenary this morning.  On one of the tables was a cache of 5 Ian Fleming James Bond paperbacks.  Old 60's editions in good condition, for .50 each.  I've read a few book articles lately about people searching for the old paperback editions, so I grabbed them.  Then, I had a fit of conscience, because I have no desire to read James Bond.  So I put them back and about 10 seconds later, a guy grabbed all of them and walked away, which made me feel both better about myself and like I wanted to kick myself too.  

I moved on, and on my last run of the tables (to make sure I hadn't missed anything), I found all 5 of the books again - the guy had changed his mind and put them back.  So this time, I grabbed them.  I'm not sure what the heck I'm going to do with them, but one of them is a first edition.  I am going to try to put my conservation lessons to the test and gently clean them up - then decide what to do from there.

I recommend these fantastic books - to see my reviews for them, look below on the blog or use the search dialog box.

This is the story of Nic and Gia.  Nic is a rich man who wants to have the right to paint and enjoy the arts.  His family, and his father in particular want him to work at the family company and like it - as they do.  Gia has a family who steamrolls over her, since she is the baby.

Gia works as a waitress in her family's restaurant.  Her father thinks she should only settle down and get married.  He wants grandchildren.  He does not see the talent she has and is vital to her being.  

Nic has a family who has refused him the right to attend an arts academy.  Before his mother died, he promised he would keep the art in him alive and paint often.  Now, with her gone, he realizes he has not done that and takes a ten day vacation - where he literally bumps into a gypsy woman who captivates him.

Gia is not sure if she can believe everything Nic tells her.  She has been told all her life her "little hobby" is nothing more than a nuisance, since she should be doing what they say she should do.  Her family - mostly her father - does not see the passion it ignite in her.  Nic does, and he unleashes a passion for her all his own.

I found the characters to be solid in their dreams and their desires.  The chemistry is also very hot.  The plot just went a little slower than I am used to.  But good book to curl up with.  I give it a 3.5/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This ARC copy was given free from Netgalley.com and its publisher.  My honest opinion does not reflect Netgalley, nor its affiliates.