Amare: A True Italian Love Story

by Sheila Wright

"Sheila Wright takes us beyond the tourist trails and describes in detail the natural beauty and chaos of Italy. Wright passionately illustrates that Amare - to love- means accepting the good as well as the not so perfect."
-Licia Canton, Author of Almond Wine and Fertility and editor-in-chief of Accenti Magazine When Sheila Wright travels to Sorrento, Italy, on a whim, she knows from the moment she arrives that she has found an extraordinary place. With a certainty even she doesn't understand at first, Sheila throws herself wholeheartedly into an enchanting yet chaotic country. Amare is a magical memoir of an odyssey that began as a trip around the world and transformed into an unforgettable journey into the heart and soul of southern Italy. In lyrical, often humorous prose, Wright describes the adventure of living the life of a foreigner in Sorrento. From hunting wild mushrooms to learning a new language, she shares moments full of promise and discovery. When Italian authorities throw her out of the country, she returns, undaunted and determined to make Italy her own. A glorious romance ensues, not only with a tall, dark, and handsome Italian, but with the land itself. Join Wright on a fabulous adventure as she snorkels along the Amalfi coast, camps on the island of Sardinia, devours pizza in Naples, and to her surprise, falls madly and passionately, in love.

204 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Sally Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not an "Under The Tuscan Sun" kind of read which romanticises the faults as well as the beauty of Italy; Sheila Wright is honesty quite brutal and her love of Italy, the people and culture also clearly strong; she doesn't over dramatize her love story, she includes what we all love about Italy, but she does not cover up the ugly. It is not great literature but the book brings out well, how one country is neither better, nor worse than another, they are just different. Every country has its beautiful natural places; it's gorgeous shining jewell cities. Each place has a side which the natives put up with but would change if only they could. How can you possibly compare Italy with America - it is not possible. Wright expresses well what those of us who have changed countries know, the home you grow up in, will always be home to you, even if you know you will never return. When living in a different country you will ache for that part of you that is your birth home. Your heart has to live divided. I like that Sheila Wright describes that feeling: she loves Italy, her Italian man and her life but sometimes she yearns for anything without "Italianess". She begins to romantise Canada. This is what we all do. As an English person living in America, I sometimes yearn for the non American. I was so delighted to have an Italian exchange student because he was European. When I came to America from England I discovered a stronger European in me because I am not only English, I am European. Europe is a known world to me and I sometimes yearn for that world; that culture, food and history. Life is never be perfect. Whilst I have seen one person write that she doesn't like the insertion of Italian words and phrases into this story, I do. In fact, I will probably go back through every page to make notes. This is a good book to read if you are travelling to Southern Italy; it will open your eyes. I would recommend it as a light read.

[Kim]

One of my handwritten notes, perhaps from an anthology - Sheila Wright, The Nature of Italy: "travertine marble facades...turning honey-toned in the lowering sun" (p.88) "water turns from light turquoise to darkest green"