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Simply Italian #4
Paying It Forward
To all outward appearances, Ivanka’s life as a middle-aged ex-pat in Tuscany seems delightful. (Middle-aged is a rather comforting, if delusive term, since few live to 102.) She lives with her charming husband in a gorgeous villa in the rolling hills outside of Florence. The views are stunning, the neighbors are delightfully quirky, and perfect pizza is a short drive away.
Yet despite the beauty surrounding her, and notwithstanding the passing of time, Ivanka still struggles with grief over her father’s death. A decade of living in Italy has taught her that above everything else, it’s family that matters. Italy’s life lessons make her yearn to turn the clock back and be there for the last few years of her father’s life. She knows that’s not possible, so she does the next best thing. She decides to “pay it forward” and learns that although we cannot change the past, we can change the future.
Enter Giuseppe, a crotchety widower who has given up on life. Giuseppe has a heart full of regrets and a mouth full of suggestions for making the world a better place, according to the way he sees things.
Joining them is Marvelous, an African migrant whom David and Ivanka have adopted in their hearts and who is struggling to cling to his hope for a better life ahead.
What do an aging ex-pat, an elderly Italian, and a youthful African migrant have in common? Both more and less than you’d think. In a world so bitterly divided, this unlikely entourage and their adventures together prove that friendship can surpass race, color, and age, when the people involved want it to—and sometimes even when they don’t.
Yet despite the beauty surrounding her, and notwithstanding the passing of time, Ivanka still struggles with grief over her father’s death. A decade of living in Italy has taught her that above everything else, it’s family that matters. Italy’s life lessons make her yearn to turn the clock back and be there for the last few years of her father’s life. She knows that’s not possible, so she does the next best thing. She decides to “pay it forward” and learns that although we cannot change the past, we can change the future.
Enter Giuseppe, a crotchety widower who has given up on life. Giuseppe has a heart full of regrets and a mouth full of suggestions for making the world a better place, according to the way he sees things.
Joining them is Marvelous, an African migrant whom David and Ivanka have adopted in their hearts and who is struggling to cling to his hope for a better life ahead.
What do an aging ex-pat, an elderly Italian, and a youthful African migrant have in common? Both more and less than you’d think. In a world so bitterly divided, this unlikely entourage and their adventures together prove that friendship can surpass race, color, and age, when the people involved want it to—and sometimes even when they don’t.
157 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2019
40 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Ivanka Di Felice
43 books5 followersIvanka Di Felice is a writer living in Tuscany. She will assure you that it's far less pretentious than it sounds. She was born in Toronto, Canada. She is 39 years and 94 months old. In her quest for happiness, she followed Nora Ephron’s advice: “Secret to life, marry an Italian.” She loves writing humorous stories and enjoys reading.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 3, 2019
Hit the mark!
This book had less humor and more (moral of the story) in the pages. I loved it! Your previous books left me laughing for more, yet, this one left me contemplating the changes in life we must open up our minds too. Thank you for for opening the minds of others thru your books and your everyday life.
This book had less humor and more (moral of the story) in the pages. I loved it! Your previous books left me laughing for more, yet, this one left me contemplating the changes in life we must open up our minds too. Thank you for for opening the minds of others thru your books and your everyday life.
July 1, 2023
I very much enjoyed Ivanka's fourth book. I definitely believe that it is her best so far. Her writing skill has really blossomed. Besides their usual zany antics this book served to further open my heart to the plight of disadvantaged people of all nations.
I am looking forward to book #5.
dio vi benedica.
I am looking forward to book #5.
dio vi benedica.
March 26, 2019
Meet more quirky characters and watch their lives blend seamlessly, despite coming from different continents and a different era. Ivanka skillfully turns their dissimilarities into common denominators leaving you with a restored hope in humanity. - Mena Becker
March 1, 2019
‘Time is of the essence’
Canadian born author Ivanka Di Felice is a writer living in Tuscany. After reading her debut book – A ZANY SLICE OF ITALY – this reviewer reported that the author ‘proves herself a quick witted, very well schooled writer who brings to us, her readers, one of the more lighthearted - no make that looney and zany - collections of ruminations about Italy (which happens to be this reader's favorite place to visit!) before the public today. No, make that any day.’ Ivanka followed that tremendously popular book with MY ZANY LIFE: GROWING UP IN A ROOMING HOUSE and A ZANY SLICE OF TUSCANY, ZANY RENOVATIONS IN TUSCANY and now the glee continues with PAYING IT FORWARD IN TUSCANY– Book 4 of her Italian Living Series. .
Ivanka is getting to know her readers and offers a bit of retrospection as she opens this new book – ‘More than ten years have passed since David and I embarked on our adventure and mover to Italy. I’m still thirty-nine and several months, but clinging to that formula, I don’t look great for my age. I prove that fifty is the new sixty, although on days when I’m especially technically challenged, then fifty is the new eighty. David often hears me having words with my computer. I can’t grasp a world where I cannot keep someone’s attention long enough to show her five pictures, but if that same person views the photos on Instagram, she is captivated. I blame my current inferiority complex on regularly losing out to Instagram. The world is indeed a curious place when I’m with a friend who keeps texting someone else, yet she would be texting me were I not beside her. Tonight we are out for pizza in Tuscany- one of the many reasons we moved to Italy. This no doubt conjures up images of pastel-colored shops, restaurants on quaint cobblestone streets, and fashionable couples who gaze longingly at each other as they sensuously bite into cheesy succulent pizza….’
And so we re-join Ivanka as she offers her unique insights into life in Tuscany – and this time ‘round she veers her gaze on family meanings. Her grief over the loss of her father encourages her to ‘pay it forward’ in order to heal and change the future. Enter an encounter with the cranky old Giuseppe and a young African immigrant Marvelous and Ivanka scores big on incorporating the world views and attitudes of the two new friends and the result is a finely spun relationship building adventure that is sure to both entertain and warm hearts.
What follows is one of the more satisfying books about Italy, and Tuscany in particular, and all the joy, frustrations, relationships, and fun that life Italianne offers. Ivanka serves it up with warmth and sensitivity and with huge dollops of humor. Some books we read for intellectual reasons. This book we read as a tonic for finding humor in just about everything we encounter. Bravissima!
Canadian born author Ivanka Di Felice is a writer living in Tuscany. After reading her debut book – A ZANY SLICE OF ITALY – this reviewer reported that the author ‘proves herself a quick witted, very well schooled writer who brings to us, her readers, one of the more lighthearted - no make that looney and zany - collections of ruminations about Italy (which happens to be this reader's favorite place to visit!) before the public today. No, make that any day.’ Ivanka followed that tremendously popular book with MY ZANY LIFE: GROWING UP IN A ROOMING HOUSE and A ZANY SLICE OF TUSCANY, ZANY RENOVATIONS IN TUSCANY and now the glee continues with PAYING IT FORWARD IN TUSCANY– Book 4 of her Italian Living Series. .
Ivanka is getting to know her readers and offers a bit of retrospection as she opens this new book – ‘More than ten years have passed since David and I embarked on our adventure and mover to Italy. I’m still thirty-nine and several months, but clinging to that formula, I don’t look great for my age. I prove that fifty is the new sixty, although on days when I’m especially technically challenged, then fifty is the new eighty. David often hears me having words with my computer. I can’t grasp a world where I cannot keep someone’s attention long enough to show her five pictures, but if that same person views the photos on Instagram, she is captivated. I blame my current inferiority complex on regularly losing out to Instagram. The world is indeed a curious place when I’m with a friend who keeps texting someone else, yet she would be texting me were I not beside her. Tonight we are out for pizza in Tuscany- one of the many reasons we moved to Italy. This no doubt conjures up images of pastel-colored shops, restaurants on quaint cobblestone streets, and fashionable couples who gaze longingly at each other as they sensuously bite into cheesy succulent pizza….’
And so we re-join Ivanka as she offers her unique insights into life in Tuscany – and this time ‘round she veers her gaze on family meanings. Her grief over the loss of her father encourages her to ‘pay it forward’ in order to heal and change the future. Enter an encounter with the cranky old Giuseppe and a young African immigrant Marvelous and Ivanka scores big on incorporating the world views and attitudes of the two new friends and the result is a finely spun relationship building adventure that is sure to both entertain and warm hearts.
What follows is one of the more satisfying books about Italy, and Tuscany in particular, and all the joy, frustrations, relationships, and fun that life Italianne offers. Ivanka serves it up with warmth and sensitivity and with huge dollops of humor. Some books we read for intellectual reasons. This book we read as a tonic for finding humor in just about everything we encounter. Bravissima!
April 13, 2021
Tears
When I started this book I didn't like the tone of the depression and despair. It felt nothing like the books before it. I didn't want to read about depression and almost put this book a side. But I kept reading and the author spun her story beautifully as a thread on a needle gathering color and texture from people she decides to help as she thinks by helping others will pull her out of her depression. And she finds by reaching out to others her life becomes more full and richer and brings her back into the beauty of life with all its complexities. My tears are happy heart felt that her characters found each other and as diverse as their lives are have formed their own tribe, their own people to lean into as they enrich each others lives. Thank you Ivanka Di Felice, for sharing you story.
When I started this book I didn't like the tone of the depression and despair. It felt nothing like the books before it. I didn't want to read about depression and almost put this book a side. But I kept reading and the author spun her story beautifully as a thread on a needle gathering color and texture from people she decides to help as she thinks by helping others will pull her out of her depression. And she finds by reaching out to others her life becomes more full and richer and brings her back into the beauty of life with all its complexities. My tears are happy heart felt that her characters found each other and as diverse as their lives are have formed their own tribe, their own people to lean into as they enrich each others lives. Thank you Ivanka Di Felice, for sharing you story.
March 4, 2019
An emotional heartwarming journey in Tuscany
Ivanka is having difficulty coming to terms with her father's death and seeks out another elderly man to give her solace. Meanwhile, she and David continue to help the tide of immigrants in their bit of Tuscany. A wonderful interaction between her newfound elderly friend and a young Nigerian who is struggling to find work, becomes a strong bond and Ivanka finds herself starting to feel happy again. A wonderful story about the true meaning of life, love and friendship against almost impossible odds..
June Finnigan - Writer
Ivanka is having difficulty coming to terms with her father's death and seeks out another elderly man to give her solace. Meanwhile, she and David continue to help the tide of immigrants in their bit of Tuscany. A wonderful interaction between her newfound elderly friend and a young Nigerian who is struggling to find work, becomes a strong bond and Ivanka finds herself starting to feel happy again. A wonderful story about the true meaning of life, love and friendship against almost impossible odds..
June Finnigan - Writer
June 4, 2019
A Fun Read that Tugs at the Heartstrings!
Ivanka gas done it again in this fun take on Tuscan Life with a twist! Her stories of life in Tuscany continue to delight with laughs and warm. This time though, she has added a deeper element with stories of migrants. This aspect of Italian life is often overlooked, brushed aside or misunderstood. Ivanka shares touching stories of the real dilemmas faced by migrants and the reasons behind their choices. The book is at it's best when the different worlds intersect in unexpected, yet satisfying ways. What an enjoyable read!
Ivanka gas done it again in this fun take on Tuscan Life with a twist! Her stories of life in Tuscany continue to delight with laughs and warm. This time though, she has added a deeper element with stories of migrants. This aspect of Italian life is often overlooked, brushed aside or misunderstood. Ivanka shares touching stories of the real dilemmas faced by migrants and the reasons behind their choices. The book is at it's best when the different worlds intersect in unexpected, yet satisfying ways. What an enjoyable read!
August 15, 2024
What started out as a funny story about living in Italy, turned out to be much more than that.
The author, who feels she has neglected her own father before he passed away, cannot find peace before she goes looking for another elderly, lonely man to take care of.
On her journey, she encounters other people who are somewhat lost and to whom she reaches out, not knowing what it will bring.
This book, which seemed just light and funny at first, turned out to be so much more, it is a simple, but sometimes heartbreaking, tale that will stay with me for quite a while.
The author, who feels she has neglected her own father before he passed away, cannot find peace before she goes looking for another elderly, lonely man to take care of.
On her journey, she encounters other people who are somewhat lost and to whom she reaches out, not knowing what it will bring.
This book, which seemed just light and funny at first, turned out to be so much more, it is a simple, but sometimes heartbreaking, tale that will stay with me for quite a while.
August 29, 2019
This book surprised me. When I started reading it, I had just finished reading a book that I had greatly enjoyed. Therefore, I was just "cruising" along in this book and not giving it my full attention. I was thinking at first that it was not going to capture my interest. Then, bam, all of a sudden, I was drawn in and found myself captivated by the events and characters. This has been a very rewarding read.
July 12, 2020
Fun and Enlightening
I really enjoy Ivanka's books. They are very humorous and charming. The characters are very endearing and I love learning about life in Italy. This book is even more special with the addition of the immigrants from Africa. I hope Ivanka can continue sharing her love of Italy and the people in her world in future books.
I really enjoy Ivanka's books. They are very humorous and charming. The characters are very endearing and I love learning about life in Italy. This book is even more special with the addition of the immigrants from Africa. I hope Ivanka can continue sharing her love of Italy and the people in her world in future books.
March 4, 2019
Thoughtfully written
This is a book with geatly thou
Great book, This forth book has many touching and enjoyable momemts.
Read it and change your point of view .
This is a book with geatly thou
Great book, This forth book has many touching and enjoyable momemts.
Read it and change your point of view .
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews