The bibliophiles that we are...

Books we have already finished on our Italy trip, and their corresponding reviews:
-----
Tom:
Mark Salzman’s, "Lying Awake"
( a Carmelite nun has visions that lead to rich insights and poetry, she also has a brain tumor, is it religious experience or a medical problem that creates this state)

Jake Morrissey, "The Genius in the Design"
(Bernini, & Borromini transform Rome into the Baroque. Fun reading, lots of 16th century gossip)

Judith Testa "Roma Amor"
( art and architecture in the eternal city, from ancient times to the present, lots of history but also the back story from the point of view of an American academic.)

Anthony Blunt "Roman Baroque"
( THE book on the subject, lots of scholarship from the man who later would be outed as the 4th man in the Cambridge spy ring. Nevertheless, he’s the source on the baroque.)

Megan K. Williams "Saving Rome"
( Ex pat and NPR contributor on life in Rome. A must read for anyone coming to Rome for a stay……more than insightful, she captures the chaos and inexplicable people of Rome.)

---
Lisa:
Ruth Reichl’s "Garlic and Sapphires"
(Rich personal narrative of a restaurant critic and her disguises. A bit like sex… indulgent, addictive, and a sensual feast.)

Brenda Vantrease’s "The Illuminator"
(Medieval artiste with secrets woos noble woman. All hell breaks loose. Sex, plague, religion. Nuff said.)

Gerald Durrell’s "My Family and Other Animals"
(Wry, pastoral, kooky. A look at a family crazier than yours who moves to a Greek island and tries not to kill each other.)

Judith Testa’s "Roma Amor"
(All the confections of the period broken up into digestible chunks. An eye-opening read and a convenient portal into Baroque thought.)

Adam Gopnik’s "Paris to the Moon"
(Disapponting. Rather like leaning in for a kiss numerous times, only to find your lover asleep, snoring, or otherwise engaged.)

on tap to read:
Edwidge Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory
Megan Willams’ Saving Rome