Wine, food, family, beauty, and romance–all of these words evoke the country we all adore – Italy – and all of them appear at least once in this list about five of the latest books published about Italy and that magic spell it casts on all of us.
VENICE: A 3D KEEPSAKE CITYSCAPE by Sarah McMenemy might become your own favorite keepsake of the water-driven place, even if your own trip was a decade ago. Its die-cut pages are sturdy, McMenemy’s illustrations charming and authentic. If only the book arrived with a fresh bellini from Harry’s Bar, Venezia lovers would feel completely at ease.
THE VILLA by Rosanna Ley weaves a multigenerational tale of a family, its secrets, and its legacy. Tess Angel isn’t sure how or why she’s inherited a home in Sicily, but when she travels there from England and begins to discover all of the recipes and letters and stories hidden there, she realizes that her mother Flavia may have concealed something very, very important.
THE HILLS OF CHIANTI: A STORY OF A TUSCAN WINEMAKING FAMILY, IN SEVEN BOTTLES by Piero Antinori and Natalie Danford Marchesi Antinori is the head of what may be Italy’s most important wine family, and in this gorgeous memoir/homage to his livelihood, he also creates an unforgettable portrait of “Tuscan-ness:” A love of family, land, and hospitality that makes Italy’s most popular region such an evergreen destination.
HOW TO EATALY: A GUIDE TO BUYING, COOKING, AND EATING ITALIAN FOOD by Maria Batali, Lidia Bastianich, and Joseph Bastianich will challenge even the least-talented home cook to make his or her kitchen “molto Italiano,” because the authors (arguably the three greatest authorities in the US on Italian cuisine) start from the beginning. Information about the best pantry staples (you might be surprised about their stance on olive oil), utensiles, and techniques will help you feel you’re got your own Eataly–even if you’re far from New York City.
THE FOUR CORNERS OF PALERMO by Giuseppe di Piazza Journalist Di Piazza began his career in the late 1970s in a Sicily still in the stranglehold of the Mafia. In this stark but beautifully written memoir, he talks about four tragedies that marked him and led him to continue reporting, eventually becoming an editorial director at the Corriere della Serra.
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