Like her A Thousand Days in Venice, Marlena De Blasi's That Summer in Sicily leaves you both enthralled and cynically envious. Obviously, her professional writing skills have enabled her to settle into faraway idyllic places that most of us can only imagine. In this book, Marlena and her husband settle on the rustic island of Sicily to research a new book of regional recipes. (Imagine the daily agony of sampling superb food in the region already being touted as "the new Tuscany"!) De Blasi's accounts of her excursions to neighboring villas demonstrate that her inquisitive appetite is not reserved for food alone. A joyous beach or backyard read that could transport you to distant climes.