This week I finished listening to Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer – narrated (with the loveliest lyrical Italian accent) by Edoardo Ballerini. Sharron told me about it. She always has the best suggestions. This is not one I would have chosen… even though I did actually read his previous book Less, and enjoyed it. I simply would not have selected it off the shelf of all the things on my list, were it not for her.
All of that said, this is the story of an American archivist looking back in time to his first assignment out of school. He takes a position recording the contents of the home of a Baronessa in the Italian countryside. The job is a bit different than he expected, including the pruning of roses, harvesting olives, and teaching Nimale (the cook) a few phrases in English while she teaches him to speak Italian. There is a colorful cast of characters, all with stories to tell.
I found it to be quite delightful. A fanciful adventure I enjoyed being a part of. Again, the narrator… nails the reading perfectly. Plus it concludes in Venice which is a spot that sister says we MUST visit.
In other news, somehow the universe heard that I had retired and pulled out all the stops on this fall weather. The morning walks, the leaves, the last of the zinnias… saturated through and through with beauty causing me to stop in my tracks and say to no one at all, “will you look at THAT”.
With all that color in my brain, and these remnants from napkins sitting around, there are architectural plans taking shape to construct some kind of table runner. Maybe?
So many possibilities to ponder.
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