Books by Marlena De Blasi
Yes, I know it's not sunny in Italy ALL the time but today when all around us is deep snow, it sure seems like it!
Marlena's incredible journey to residing in Italy began in A Thousand Days in Venice: An Unexpected Romance, the events of which describe meeting and marrying her Italian husband Fernando. This title was followed by A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure, The Lady in the Palazzo: At Home in Umbria and the most recent title That Summer in Sicily: A Love Story. Some of the great things about these titles are that they are about Italy, the interesting people they have met and food! Glorious, delicious, life-affirming food. In fact, several other books by De Blasi in the King County Library System catalog are about the food and cooking of Italy.
So why do I like them so much? Let me give you a taste of the stories she tells (and lives). In The Lady in the Palazzo, Marlena and her husband have long-term leased a decrepit ballroom in a building in Orvieto that the owners, who live elsewhere, promise to renovate but the work is progressing very, very, very slowly. In fact, for stretches of time, nothing is done. Marlena is just about to tear her hair out as she doesn't have a proper kitchen and as a chef, cooking is her life. When she isn't fretting about her kitchen she and Fernando discover amazing food festivals, drink wonderful wine and eat delicious meals in neighborhood trattorias.
How will it all end? Will they one day be able to serve a meal to friends in their renovated ballroom? Will they finally find a real home on the miraculous tufa plateau in beautiful Orvieto? I can guarantee you will love finding out!
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