Do you see a theme here? Yes, we have booked a trip to Italy for early summer. As is my wont, from now until the plane takes off, I'll be cooking Italy, reading Italy, and singing Italy. Here are books I hope to finish in the first five months of 2018:
Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson (I'll finish it today)
Italy for the Gourmet Traveler
A Literary Tour of Italy
Walking in Italy
Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino
Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan
The Italian Baker by Carol Field
The Wanderer's Guide to Lucca
Italian Days by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison
A Traveller in Italy by H. V. Morton
The Seasons of Rome by Paul Hofmann
Christ Stopped at Eboli by Carlo Levi
One Summer Day in Rome by Mark Lamprell
Songbirds, Truffles, and Wolves by Gary Paul Nabhan
Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King
Eating Rome by Elizabeth Minchilli
Aldabra by Silvana Gandolfi
Do you have any more recommendations? Have you read any of these? What did you think?
I love First Book. Thank you, Sheila of Book Journey. Here are my First Books of the last four years.
First Book of 2017: Atlas Obscura
First Book of 2016: Every Thing, Every Thing
First Book of 2015: The Rosie Effect
First Book of 2014: The Grapes of Wrath
Head over to Sheila's Book Journey right now and see what other books people are reading on this first day of the year!
I love ALL of this - and plan to follow your book reviews on GoodReads :) We are planning an Italian family vacation in 2021, and like you, I want to read and research from now until the plane takes off. I think it enhances anticipation and appreciation for the culture. Happy New Year - filled with lots of great travel (literary and otherwise).
ReplyDeleteI hope you will share some of your Italian books and Italian foods with me from time to time. I love the idea of spinach bread with pimentos for Christmas. I hope to try this Italian dish and others from your blog this year.
DeleteAll sounds wonderful! Italy is on my bucket list and I'll live it through you and books for now! Enjoy and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed following many others in their European trips in the past. It will be fun to have my own adventure this year.
DeleteI love that you included previous First Books...My very First Book of the Year was The Rosie Project, in 2014. I have a page on my An Interior Journey where I've included all of my First Books.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your newest one...I LOVE that cozy looking chair you're in. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy your preparations for Italy.
Happy New Year, and thanks for visiting my blog.
It’s nice to look back, isn’t it?
DeleteWhat a lovely idea:)). And I love your photographic record of the first book of the year, too. I hope that 2018 is a happy, healthy one for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you! And your family, too.
DeleteCongratulations! Hope you truly enjoy your summer trip to Italy. Will look in from time to time to get an Italian feeling. I would love to read that Isaacson's book about Da Vinci.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a whopper of a book but a fascinating one.
DeleteWent there when I was 15 with my school. Next time was with work instaling equipment but I had a cnace to visit Pompeii. Have a read to give you a taster of what to expect
ReplyDeletehttps://spuduka.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/visit-to-pompeii.html
Pompeii. Wow!
DeleteFour Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteOooh! I need to get ready for my first book of the year! Have a wonderful New Year!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Sunday Post!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog and join in this week’s Book Photo Sundays!
Immersing yourself in all things Italy before your trip sounds like a lot of fun - holiday prep is a lot of fun, well so I find, and I bet this element makes the countdown all the more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading in 2018!
Good idea to include previous years... I'm going to try and remember that next time. Happy New Year and happy pre-travel reading!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything on your Italy list, but I am so jealous of your trip! How fun to have all these months to prepare and look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI love your theme and how exciting to have such a reason for it! Enjoy your Italian reading until you get on the plane bound for Italy! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHi there, I hope you have a great time in Italy. I just saw your comment so thank you. You can try getting some sleep phones. They come in all colors and would be more comfortable on the plane for sure.
ReplyDeleteI love the concept of first book of the year and loved even more seeing the first book for each year past. What a creative post!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do see a theme. It's following me. The lovely Italy which I've read about only in books.
ReplyDelete