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Only in Naples: Lessons in Food and Famiglia from My Italian Mother-In-Law
Only in Naples: Lessons in Food and Famiglia from My Italian Mother-In-Law | Katherine Wilson
16 posts | 10 read | 1 reading | 9 to read
Full of lighthearted humor, sumptuous food, the wisdom of an Italian mother-in-law, and all the atmosphere of Elena Ferrante s Neapolitan Novels, this warm and witty memoir follows American-born Katherine Wilson on her adventures abroad. Thanks to a surprising romance and a spirited woman who teaches her to laugh, to seize joy, and to love a three-month rite of passage in Naples turns into a permanent embrace of this boisterous city on the Mediterranean. "When I saw the sea at Gaeta, I knew that Naples was near and I was coming home." There is a chaotic, vibrant energy about Naples that forces you to let go and give in, writes Katherine, who arrives in the city to intern at the United States Consulate. One evening, she meets handsome, studious Salvatore and finds herself immediately enveloped by his elegant mother, Raffaella, and the rest of the Avallone family. From that moment, Katherine s education begins: Never eat the crust of a pizza first, always stand up and fight for yourself and your loved ones, and consider mealtimes sacred food must be prepared fresh and consumed "in compagnia." Immersed in Neapolitan culture, traditions, and cuisine, slowly and unexpectedly falling for Salvatore, and longing for Raffaella s company and guidance, Katherine discovers how to prepare meals that sing, from hearty, thick "ragu "to comforting "rigatoni alla Genovese "to" pasta al forno, " a casserole chock-full of bacon, bechamel, and no fewer than four kinds of cheeses. The secret to succulent, tender octopus? Beat it with a hammer. While Katherine is used to large American kitchens with islands and barstools, she understands the beauty of small, tight Italian ones, where it s easy to offer a taste from a wooden spoon. Through courtship, culture clashes, Sunday services, marriage, and motherhood (in Naples, a pregnancy craving must always be satisfied!), Katherine comes to appreciate "carnale, " the quintessentially Neapolitan sense of comfort and confidence in one s own skin. Raffaella and her "famiglia" are also experts at "sdrammatizzare, " knowing how to suck the tragedy from something and spit it out with a great big smile. Part travel tale, part love letter, "Only in Naples "is a sumptuous story that is a feast for the senses. Goethe said, See Naples and die. But Katherine Wilson saw Naples and started to live. Praise for" Only in Naples" In a world filled with food memoirs, this one stands out. Katherine Wilson gives us more than the fabulous food of Naples. She offers us a passport to an exotic country we would never be able to enter on our own. Ruth Reichl, author of "My Kitchen Year" Warmhearted . . . an exuberant account of love and great Italian food. "Kirkus Reviews "(starred review) Sweet and humorous. "Publishers Weekly" Wilson has written a glorious memoir celebrating the holy trinity of Italian life: love, food, and family. Her keen eye and sense of humor take you through the winding streets of Naples at a clip, on a ride you hope will never end. Adriana Trigiani, author of "The Shoemaker s Wife" How lucky we are to get these hilarious and wise perceptions filtered through a sincerely loving eye. Julie Klam, author of "Friendkeeping" This thoroughly enjoyable love letter to Naples is a tribute to the author s irrepressible mother-in-law. Luisa Weiss, author of "My Berlin Kitchen" and founder of The Wednesday Chef"
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Anre1
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Pickpick

I liked this book it‘s about being an American living abroad in Italy at first going to school then meeting an Italian guy and immersing yourself into his Italian family and learning about the differences and how to adapt. It was a good read a little slow in places but nevertheless still good.

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Kshakal
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OriginalCyn620 Awesome! 😊🇮🇹 5y
45 likes1 comment
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DMC_run8
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Pickpick

This book made me so homesick for my Italian American family!

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BarbaraBB
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I am visiting Naples. This is a street full of books, how lovely is that? Only in Italian unfortunately...

Kalalalatja 😍😍 7y
Cinfhen Beautiful photo 😍😍 7y
Cinfhen Enjoy!! 7y
See All 12 Comments
Izai.Amorim Naples is cool! 7y
readinginthedark 😯😍😍😍 7y
TrishB Lovely 💜 enjoy your vist. 7y
Ms_T ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
Billypar I know I should be thankful for even having access to street-side book sales in New York but man does this have more visual appeal than fold out tables 🙂 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely! Enjoy :) 7y
RidgewayGirl I adore Naples, with all that vibrant chaos. Hope you're having a fantastic time! 7y
BarbaraBB @RidgewayGirl Thank you! Me too! Love the rawness of it! 7y
79 likes12 comments
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Cortg
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Pickpick

I've been entering Goodreads giveaways for 5 years and finally won my first ever giveaway! This was a fun memoir of a girl who travels to Naples after graduating college, meeting an Italian family, falling in love with the son, family, culture and FOOD! It was hilarious to read about the cultural differences between Americans and Italians. I would love to visit Italy some day. I chuckled my way through and loved the bonus recipes at the end!

LauraBrook I think I have an ARC of this but with a different cover and title? Same story and author - huh, wonder why they changed it! 7y
Cortg @LauraBrook Yes, it was probably titled Only In Naples. I've been wondering why the title was changed. 7y
LauraBrook @Cortg Yup, you're right. It seemed more like a book about her MIL than her life in Naples, so I thought the title and the way it was pitched wasn't quite right. They made a change for the better! 7y
26 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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booksbytheglass
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To trust is good. Not to trust is better.

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LyndseyReads
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Harry Potter class prep and food/travel escapist reading on a Sunday.

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LauraBrook
Mehso-so

I've been a big fan of travel lit and memoir for well over 15 years now. While I've read good and bad, this book seemed to fall right in the middle of both genres. The writing is fine, I loved hearing about Naples and her family history, but when it came to the central relationship between the author and her eventual husband, I just didn't get it. Or care. There was more love for her MiL and food than anything else, IMO. Fine if you're going to...

LauraBrook ...Naples, or have been there and want to reminisce, or are looking for a fluffy NF beach book. Otherwise, I can't really recommend this one, unfortunately. 😕 8y
22 likes1 comment
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LauraBrook

Okay, guys, I need your help. I've been actively reading. This book for almost two months now, and I'm only halfway through. Should I keep pushing and finish it? Leave it where it is and consider it "read"? Or something else? This is a fine book, not excellent and not crap, but I just don't really care about what happens. Thanks in advance!

AmberJoy Consider it read. You put in the effort. Life is way too short to sludge through a book you don't like. 8y
MrBook Hmmm, I would tend to agree with @AmberJoy . If anything, slot some time to speed read through the rest of it. 8y
[DELETED] 3216391035 I agree....it goes in the "read" column! 8y
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LauraBrook Thank you @AmberJoy @MrBook @Basia! I'll give myself 20 min, max, to speed read the rest of this and then call it a day. Since its for review, I kept trying over and over again, but now I feel okay about letting it go. Thank you, y'all are the best! 😘 8y
MrBook That's what we're here for, all the biblio-help one can handle 😆. 8y
MeghanK Abandon it. Don't waste time on something you don't enjoy if there is something better waiting for you. If I'm at least 3/4 of the way I would count it as read. But usually if abandoning a book, I do it much earlier. 8y
16 likes6 comments
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LauraBrook
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About to do my first reading of the day for the #24in48! I've been reading this one for weeks now, and I'm finally getting into it a little more. Very glad that I've got about a half hour at work where I can put my feet up and relax!
#Readathon

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AWahle
Mehso-so

Her writing is comfortable - like an old friend catching me up on her adventures. I found myself craving pasta more than usual and wanting to sit in the sun by the sea. This is a lovely book and I enjoyed it.

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Monique1
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"I saw Naples and started to live." pviii

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LauraBrook
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Plans for the day! (Plus dishes and laundry.) it's supposed to be in the 90s and humid today, so I'm happily in the AC on my couch. 😌

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled That mug cracks me up 8y
pppooraikul Like that mug. ;) 8y
LauraBrook Thanks, @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled.com & @pppooraikul! As soon as I saw it, I had to have it. I think it was the most fragile thing I brought home from Europe - of course, I had a giant suitcase full of books! 8y
27 likes3 comments
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JaneYReads

A trip to Italy without the plane! Food, family and navigating life in Italian and finding love all wrapped ip in one book.

1 like1 stack add
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howjessicareads
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Pickpick

Part travel guide, part foodie memoir, part Italian-American cultural exploration. Lots of fun!

5 likes1 stack add