L'Enfant Réparé by Gregoire Delacourt

 A beautiful, classy, intense book this one written by Gregoire Delacourt and published by Grasset: L'Enfant Réparé.

I don't have problems in reading accounts of real crimes committed by someone, but stories involving paedophiles are all the time devastating. 

It's very difficult for many reasons: first of all this one is the most disgusting crime existing on Earth! perpetrated against angels, kids without any kind of fault.

Looking at the cover of this book, you can't imagine that this sunny kid, curious, sweet, later would have experienced the sexual attention of his father. 

If a person experiences something like that, the rest of his existence will mean a perennial fight: big will be the desire to re-discover the kid who had existed before the violence for trying to re-capture the real essence of the being: or, as writes correctly Gregoire, the work will be the one of trying to "repaire the kid" after the horror: said that, the personality of the person won't never completely return to the normality: it means that there will be implications with sex and relationships: the cruelty inserted by the paedophile in the mind and body of the kid won't never permit a healthy and beauty sexual and affective existence. 

What built in this book by Gregoire is, more than the story of what his father did to him, the topic is just touched, without insisting too much, what it meant to him to trying to cope with a father who abused him. "I was still a genuine kid when the man touched the Moon" writes. A kid plenty of dreams and expectactions.

It's much more complicated in this case because it's a story of a child and his father: it is true, as writes Gregoire, that not all the men who become fathers, will be great fathers. Absolutely. I agree. For sure, what suffered by this kid has been tremendous. 

Gregoire, with great sufferance, tried to elaborate in a way or in another what happened becoming a good person, bringing with him the problematics that every kid abused experiences, being more strong and intelligent than the cruelty experienced: he became an avid reader, he loved to  burying himself in a book, for searching answers, for being transported somewhere else, and although affectively experienced problems, his life has been and is successful: he became a writer and much more. 

Everything appeared as a revelation when, one day someone somewhere said that it isn't fault of kids when they are abused, but that they are, simply, who they are: victims. And Gregoire understood that this statement, this simple consideration was setting his soul free, because he had constantly felt the sensation of having being part of the process that brought his father in his bed. But, simply, it wasn't his fault.

He became a writer also for this reason: for putting in words his story. It happened with his book Mon Pére. Gregoire tells that once, in a meeting very participated for introducing the book to his readers, started to crying, telling the reasons why he had written that book. A book that under many ways has sets him free. You are never free once abused, but speaking and writing, helps a lot. Both his parents are dead now. Gregoire lost at first his mother and then the father. His biggest desire? To discover that what did by his father against him, was not done "contre moi" writes Gregoire. He won't never know the reason why his father abused him and his pain will remain forever. 

Although there was at first conflictuality with his mother, for the reasons that you can imagine, Gregoire affirms that he would want to see her again now and this book is also an act of devotion dedicated to her.

Touching. Please, read it. 

Highly recommended.

Anna Maria Polidori 

The Silver Lining and How to Find it A 90 Days Journal Extended Edition by Jacqueline Pirtle

The Silver Lining

and How to Find it  A 90 Days Journal Extended Edition, is the newest, exciting journal by Jacqueline Pirtle.

Absolutely interesting, let's define the silver lining: the silver lining is "a conscious choice to experience life in the best way possible, suiting your whole being and nourishing your time here through whatever is going on for you right now — so you can show up as the best version of you that you can be while

also having the most fun ever" writes Jacqueline. In this journal we will work trying, first of all, to discover if we are on a more positive or negative vibe, so that we can later experience at our fullest, the silver lining. The silver lining means taking good care of us, analyzing ourselves, our reactions, our motivations, for discovering how we are; do we cry often? Are we happy in a daily base? What is it stopping our projects? What kind of dreams have we got? If we would fail which would be our sensations and why? And if we succeed?

For sure: search, always search, for the bright side! Create our own reality, celebrate also grey days, let's smile more, and let's life happier.  

Living in the Silver Lining is not a "superficial act to wash away burdens, hardships,

and shocks in life. Instead, it is a very deeply and mindfully elected option to wizen up and rise to a growth in which you allow life to be, and take full responsibility for all that you are" writes Jacqueline.

It is a way for being completely ourselves.

Fabulously interesting, a stunning journal of our Jacqueline Pirtle for living a more happy and satisfying existence thanks to our unique silver lining.

I confess that Jacqueline to me has been the best discovery in recent years. Jacqueline is a motivator who searches realistically to help you: she treasures every your development, she is happy if you reach new steps, if you are happy and satisfied, and if you are becoming someone more conscious of yourself, and more satisfied of your existence. That's why she is one of my  heroines: the world needs a lot of people like her. I highly suggest you of following her on Instagram. A joy to see her face everytime! I know that you'll completely understand what I am writing: she is pure joy and motivation: happiness and changes in yourself will be possible thanks to her. 

Highly recommended.

I than the author for the copy of this book.

Anna Maria Polidori  

Media Capture How Money, Digital Platforms, and Governments Control the News Edited by Anya Schiffrin

 Media Capture

How Money, Digital Platforms, and Governments Control the News Edited by Anya Schiffrin is a new book by Columbia University Press.

This book on journalism offers a very important mirror on the state of this profession seen through the lenses of situations, people, governments, that are keeping information, news, "captured."

The internet that, at first was seen positively because could, theoretically, facilitate the arrival of news has meant, with the time, misinformation, hate, news manipulated or invented for trying to deviate from the reality the minds of people, (see at the voice Covid-19), while the common newmsagazines and magazines started to develop a profound, real crisis because people preferred the net for being informed,using discutible channels sometimes and avoiding the real magazine, newsmagazine, more expensive.

Of course media has been captured before the advent of the net by moguls, people who invested in the news, but that at the same time removed oxygen to the media that they controlled or that they are still controlling.

This book tells the fragility of journalism, analyzing the state of news in several countries, but also reading what it is going on in social medias, taking in consideration giants like Google, Facebook, but also blogs and their death, because of the advent of social medias and still unclear characters; problems of independence and freedom of telling.

This book reveals the fragilities of a profession in high sea, offering a base of discussion for trying to return to see the light after this long tunnel of obscurity.

Highly recommended book.

I thank Columbia for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

The Resignation of Penny Radford as President of Books for Dogs

Penny Radford, first on the right 

It's a charity, the one of Books for Dogs, that I follow from the first hours of its creation. I remember that I was introduced to it by Peggy Lefebvre and her husband. I had previously interviewed them, a couple who spent some years in a locality called Loreto, close to Gubbio, and that later were involved in the creation of Books For Dogs.

They knew I was a journalist and they asked me if I was interested in this project and if I wanted to write down few lines.

I immediately said them yes, becoming also a good customer of Books for Dogs during the years considering my passion for books.

Penny Radford has always been the mind of the charity with Angela Nutt: a kind, strong, supportive lady, with the ability of making the difference for the canile of Lerchi, at first, and later, for other realities.

It is still undisclosed why Penny decided to resign from Books for Dogs. Anyway, the activity of Penny and the one of the other ladies has been simply wonderful and incredible during these years.

Penny, in her statement, tells the birth of her charity. Everything, (15 years ago) started when, a Christmas Day, Penny and the co-founder Teana Newman volunteered at the Canile Refugi for Dogs at Lerchi. The ladies understood immediately that there was an urgent need for a fund rising: the dogs lived in very poor and miserable conditions.

Some blankets, but also a washing machine the first concreet acts of kindness of these ladies and their numerous community.

Everyone answered more than positively: but these ladies wanted something more: a continuative help, so that these dogs could become decents and very well treated animals.

Books for Dogs was borning, with the help of the rest of British, American, Canadian, Australian community pretty fertile and numerous in Umbertide.

The first step was a book stall of second hand books in several languages, french, english, italian, german every wednesday at the local market of Umbertide. 

Wonderful years, the ladies reached important steps: then the idea of having also a refugee where selling books and CDS in a pub during the winter-time: then the creation of the first charity shop in the city: books, but also CDS, and clothes. The store, at first, was located close to the pub: space was not enough and soon the ladies decided to move in Via Cibo where they created an emporium. You can buy everything there: clothes, books, CDS, objects for the house, games, puzzles, blankets, hot bottles of water, whatever you can think at, probably can be found there: when objects or furnitures are too big for being brought to the store, a newsletter sent to all the people interested, will inform you of the latest news. 

Penny tells that during these 15 years the charity has earned 100.000 euros all spent for the dogs of the several canili that they follow, help and support.

But Penny has been great also promoting with the ASL, the state veterinary organization, free or very discounted microchipping for dogs, helping the rehoming for dogs. 

With the time the customer base of the Emporium became international, with people from several part of the world thanks also the the multi-ethnicity of the city.

Penny says that she is sad to leave this wonderful organisation that she created, but she hopes "To be handing on to the capable hands of  others."

Radford precises that she remains very involved with the Ponte Pattoli dog refugee adding that she will continue to work with "animal welfare in whatever way I can in the future."

Anna Maria Polidori 

Le Droit d'Emmerder Dieu by Richard Malka

 Le droit D' Emmerder Dieu

by Richard Malka is a new book by Grasset and maybe one of the most intense and revelatory ones that I have read till now on the story of Charlie Hebdo.

 If you want to understand what happened and why, in the newsroom of Charlie Hebdo that January 7 when 12 people of the staff of Charlie, a satirist magazine, were brutally killed and four ones survived, this book is for you. 

This one, published by Grasset, is the plaidoire, harangue of mr.Malka at the end of the trial. 

His speech represents, the most, the essence of the spirit of french people. 

A spirit where freedoms are more than welcomed; where freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of writing, freedom of drawing what a person wants, is considered incredibly important and of great value; like also the laicité, laicity of the State, so a strong disconnection from the various religions installed in France, starting from the Catholic one. The French President in general doesn't tend, for example, to visit when in Italy, the Pope, (he can does it, of course), because he doesn't recognize to him any authority, keeping well divided the role of the State and the one of the church. 

France, also removed blasphemy as penal offence in the distant 1790: so everyone can express, pretty largely, thoughts, ideas, also using irriverent, blasphemic methods without any kind of incrimination; Charlie Hebdo for these fanatics was "The Other" underlines the attorney. 

An Other, Charlie that had to be "killed" and suppressed because freely telling what that dessiners, drawers, wanted. The point is this one and the attorney is clear: it is not possible to think that a religion would be put aside because doesn't tolerate some laughs, while other ones could be portrayed blasphemically also. There is a right, an important adds strongly the attorney, right: the one of emmerder, to put some poo on God. Maybe it is a strong metaphore, but real freedom is the creation not the suppression. 

It's impossible, for french population, to lose that freedoms conquered a lot of centuries ago, remarks Malka and from a certain time the nation assisted at several atrocious terrorist attacks: I want to remember the decapitation of Samuel Paty a teacher who just told to his students during his lessons the importance of being free, thinking free, and living in a free land. 

Millions of muslins, millions of thinkers, journalists, writers, common people wants these freedoms and search for these freedoms everyday, says Malka: it is impossible to renounce at important freedoms like these ones, that give a certainty: people can experience real freedoms! There wouldn't be any hope, in different case.

The attorney then, reconstructs the long series of battles fought by Charlie Hebdo when at first were published in 2006 the  drawings till at the moment of the terrorist attacks, with considerations also on Theo Van Gogh and what happened in Netherlands.

Malka focuses the attention on all that people who were sometimes unsupporting with the satirical magazine, searching for a compromise, that to him is just one: the right of telling, reporting, writing down and drawing whatever people want, because these ones are freedoms that can't be lost.

Beautiful and moving, you must read it.

Highly recommended.

I thank L'Editions Grasset for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori

Ragioniamoci Sopra by Luca Zaia

 It is a pleasant reading the book by Luca Zaia

Ragioniamoci Sopra. 

Zaia is the governor of Region Veneto: yes, the region where there are Venice, Padoa, Verona for my foreign readers.

I am personally affectionated to Veneto because our origins are not Umbrians: we were citizens of Veneto. We went away, tells the story told by our ancestors, during a pestilence more than 800 years ago, colonizing this central part of Italy, more protected and less exposed to these immense problems.

Speaking of the book, Luca Zaia tells that, what happened with Covid, was a sorta of Big Bang, a deflagration in a moment where the region experienced other heavy problems. 

He can't sleep more than 2-3 hours per night. He has been one of the strongest and firms italian governors.

While in Lombardia, Codogno, they tried to understand where Mattia Maestri had caught Covid, Covid in the while had also reached a little town called Vò Euganeo, in Veneto causing the first victim in Adriano Trevisan a peaceful guy of 76 years, to the hospital for treating a nasty penumonia unresponsive to antibiotics for ten days. 

When they did the test, discovering Covid, it was panic! Everyone understood that that one would have been a great calamity. 

At first no one knew exactly what it was necessary to do, and how to interact with the new pestilence, admits, Zaia: he remembers some meetings of the first hour with collaborators that later wouldn't never been done anymore in presence because with too many people. 

Zaia  anyway decided to take all the powers in his hands, taking strong decisions, creating new places for potential people affected by Covid-19, destinating an hospital to the cure of Covid-19 patients because a modern structure. He blocked the Carnival of Venice, that it is one of the most beautiful representations known in the entire world: but, as admits Zaia, it couldn't be possible to do differently. Venice started to be affected by Covid, although, during that first wave, the contagion was controlled. He decided to change operative city, leaving Venice, he created the famous bullettin of the late morning with new positives, dead ones, people in quarantine, not forgetting to add also new born children, a signal that, soon or late normality would be returned. 

Zaia tells also that, (let's also add that Veneto is a productive and rich region and so it was possible to use a lot of funds for contrasting the arrival of the pandemic), every expense has been clearly documented. Zaia writes that children sent him drawings, and money; when children spotted him along the street and donated something for the Covid, everyone, he said, received a regular receipt for the money received; also for just a euro donated. Being clear and transparent is important.

Zaia tells the story of his family describing also the characteristics of people from Veneto; amicable, compassionate with old ones, plenty of hospitality and healthy values, like also his political story that brought him to the guide of Veneto, treating at the end the thematic of autonomy.

Luca Zaia anticipating the central government ordinance has put Veneto in Yellow Zone two days ago. The war against Covid is not yet finished and this fourth wave deserves more and more attention than what we can think.

Highly recommended.

I than Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

Faust Dalla Leggenda al Mito edited by Paolo Scarpi

Faust Dalla Leggenda al Mito

edited by Paolo Scarpi is a beautiful book published by Marsilio Editori treating the myth and legendary character of Faust seen under the lenses of famous writers like: Eudocia, Spies, Marlowe, Caldéron de la Barca, Goethe, Heine, Valéry.

I had read the Faust written by Marlowe and Goethe when I was a teenager. Pretty powerfuls, you will discover other scenarios, reading the characterization made by these immense authors on the character of Faust. 

But..Who was Faust? Faust represents the ambition that there is in every man, adding a heavy touch: for having a secure success and knowledge in this life will sign a contract with the devil: the pact is tremendous: the soul of Faust will descend to the hell once dead. 

The scheme more or less is similar in these short tales or theather's play.

 

There is this man called Faust: he loves magic, sometimes he wants more from life, he searches to conquer the woman he loves, or differently he desires wagons of women, or magical powers... 

In a way or in another, he meets along his way  the devil asking him how to have these powers or possibilities: the devil explains with calm: he will have knowledge, success, love, whatever he wants, but, but... The devil will ask for his soul once dead. If at first Faust is thrilled because of the deal reached with the devil, close to the end of his existence he will understand the horrible error and the impossibility to return on own his steps, because too late, because, anyway there was a signed contract between him and the infernal creature that must be "honored" if we want to use this expression.

In some of these tales there are portrayed scenarios of the hell as for example in the tale written by Spices. 

De la Barca changes names of the main protagonist: that one is a funny play thanks to the co-protagonists as well! 

Cipriano is in love for Giustina, would want to conquer her heart, and he ends signing a contract with the devil. The end of this play is more happy. The play written by Goethe is more obscure but what it is impressive in these plays or short tales like the one by Heine is, is the immense poeticity and verbal rich expressions for describing situations, feelings, state of minds: they make the difference:  a precious writing-style. I was thinking that in our modern world, is difficult to find someone writing with such intensity and accurate description. 

Apart these considerations, in some of these tales/play you'll also find a healthy humor close to the obscure one of the story. Faust sometimes understands that he is falling in a situation without escapism but what he wants is too strong for listening to that internal voice that says him: "no, no, it's an error, don't close any pact with the devil." In itself, also this part is plenty of comicity, because you can see a human being petrified, understanding that the chap close to him is not a remarkable one, that he should be diffident, that, after all the devil is telling him that the soul of Giustina has the cost of his soul! Cipriano should just run away but, in love, will sign the contract with the devil! 

It is tremendous the end of Faust portrayed by Spies, like the final speech to his students before his horrible "disappearance." 

After all, it's better not to joke with someone like the devil, tells us Spies between the lines. 

Absolutely beautiful! This book is the perfect Christmas gift for people in love for theater, literature and an immortal character life Faust is.

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori

Cahier de L'Herne Giono

Oh, Jean Giono! What a fairy-tale is this new Cahier

hi

de L'Herne dedicated to this beloved author!

Giono has represented per generations the writer of the  rural life: born in Provence, Giono supported spasmodically an existence distant from the city, and strongly connected with the most beautiful nature's values: we speak of trees, grass, farm animals, good wine and food from the natural products of farms and fruits trees.

It became a philosophy of life the one of Giono embraced in particular after the second world war by socialists, communists, jewish, minorities and people in search of tranquillity and peace.

Giono is not just this: he loved paintings and music, he appreciated poetry, he thought that friendship, largely treated in his books, was the best value of this world. 

He adored several writers: Melville, Virgil, Homer, Machiavelli (he truly appreciated the florentian writer) and Hemingway for his writing-style; he was an avid diarist as you'll learn, someone researched and pantheistic in his description of nature, people, men and women. 

He adored his wife and his children.

In the cahier you'll find letters to his family and friends. Friends and correspondents most of the time never met in real life as it happened with Henry Miller or Saint-Paul Roux: some not yet known writings, witnesses of his daughter with beautiful and touching anedocts and memories; poetry he adored; movies produced thanks to his books; pacifist, his most symblic book is represented by Que Ma Joie Demeure

. 

A wonderful cahier of a stunning writer.

Personally I consider this cahier a real treasure. I adore Giono and his messages to the humanity. Sometimes I ask to myself what he would think of the disappearance of many forests and trees in the world, so beloved in his books and which solutions he would proposes. 

A wonderful Christmas Gift this one!

I thank L'Editions de L'Herne for the physical copy of the cahier.

Anna Maria Polidori 

 

Il Piccolo Libro di Bridgerton by Charlotte Browne

 Il Piccolo Libro di Bridgerton

by Charlotte Browne published by Sonzogno is wonderful if you love that magical time that was the Regency period and Bridgerton the tv series (I confess, never seen.) In this nice, kind and funny book you'll discover the story of the Regency from 1811 to 1820. It was a convulsive historical moment in which Napoleon was, at first, the strongest Emperor of Europe, where Mozart introduced to everyone Così fan Tutte; when, again, Napoleon lost his power: Lord Byron died and there were strong polemics regarding  the place where he had to rest in peace, considering the immorality of the man.

After many other historical facts, you'll discover also how to talk in regency-style thanks to the expressions used for describing men, women and situations.

You'll learn the best characteristics for becoming attracting in that society, with a lot of gossip; you'll dance wearing the perfect outfit and combing the hair according to the Regency-style: the importance of objects for a lady and their meaning will be a revelation.

Oh, a wonderful little book that will transport you in another era!

Perfect as Christmas-Gift, if you have romantic friends in love for past.

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

A Revolution in Three Acts The Radical Vaudeville of Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay &Julian Eltinge by David Hajdu & John Carey Foreword by Michele Wallace

A Revolution in Three Acts The Radical Vaudeville of Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay &Julian Eltinge by David Hajdu & John Carey

Foreword by Michele Wallace is a new brilliant book by Columbia University Press. No, better: an incredibly delicious graphic novel exploring what it meant a tranformation of customs and performing in the USA at the beginning of the XXth century, where most people emigrated in cities with the desire, also, of assisting at new, exciting and elaborated shows.

Bert Williams, Eva Tanguay and Julian Eltinge were the first ones of a generation of performers: the advent of variety or the so-called Vaudeville, en francais was their art.

They were three different kind of persons: Bert Williams was black, so he experienced, as you will largely see a lot of racists problems; Julian Eltinge loved to perform wearing female clothes. He was gay and had a companion although he tried to keep silent his being homosexual with pictures and articles with always new girls, affirming he had had more than nine relationships.

Eva Tanguay was a provocative girl, with a great career.

Bert Williams became a great name and after the first years on stage he launched himself in several great productions. Discriminations didn't just touch him but also Jewish and italians.

Variety was pretty diversified and was for all tastes, after all. There was in fact a number of acrobats in it, you could find a comedian performing a monologue, there was space for classical music; whatever you wanted to see there was in a variety.

Bert Williams experienced a lot of problematics also inside his category; when there was a big strike for bettering the condition of workers at theather, Williams was not invited. Later someone called him but he didn't find a great atmosphere when arrived preferring to return home, discomforted. He died pretty soon. He was still in his 40s.

Eltinge at some point created a magazine dedicated to women; once appeared in all newsmagazines and magazines with this news: he would have married Eva: the story ended before the celebration of the marriage. 

Eltinge of all these three, was the latest one who participated at a silent movie. After some perplexities, launched himself in that career, different from the one of the variety, without any kind of success, but buying in the while a big house when in California, with mega-galactic ideas. He dilapited all his money. Some people, he died close to the stage, thinks that maybe killed himself. 

Eva lived till at 69 years dying in California, alone. 

Variety has been a real gym for these artists and many other ones.  

Let's remember Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (later Stanlio and Ollio) who at first started in the Vaudeville like Charlie Chaplin did.

Intense, well done! Captivating. Sad, happy, this book is a mixture of sentiments. I found it funny sometimes. Eva was funny, for sure! I really enjoyed reading it and I highly recommend it. Not only: being Christmas close, this one can be and it will be, a wonderful, wonderful gift for your friends in love for Broadway and acting!

I thank Columbia University Press for the physical copy of this book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

In Pace con la Pancia by Silvio Danese

 In Pace con la Pancia

is another interesting book by Silvio Danese. I read and reviewed also his previous book La Pancia Lo Sa, published also in that case, by Marsilio. 

Danese is a doctor specialized in that field at the hospital of San Raffaele, Milan and so if you have any kind of disturb involving your intestine, your digestion, if you are affected by a nasty colitis, the most common inflammation of the colon, or the Chron syndrome, if you suffer of allergies or intollerances (we will discover the difference between these two disturbs) this book will reveal you everything, permitting an approach that it is reassuring and at the same time clear. It is important.

Danese decided to write this book after the lockdown and the advent, first of all of the Covid Pandemic.

Alimentary disorders, more stress, more sedentarietà, more time spent at home, less hours of sleeping because constantly worried, means to the second brain of our body an immense stress, because of an alteration also of the metabolism of the body. If, in fact, our brain is our rational organ, the intestine is the brain of our emotions, so everything, from joy, happiness passing through sadness, stress, fears means a message for that organ.

That's also why, suggests Danese, is important to keep cleaned our intestine, helping it when necessary with probiotics. 

An intestine kept cleaned and functional means happiness for the person and health for sure!

Written pretty friendly, with an approach you'll surely love, I highly suggest this book to all of you!

I thank Marsilio for the physical copy.

Anna Maria Polidori

Il Prete dei Fucili si Confessa by Antonio Mandrelli

Priest Antonio Mandrelli, 85 years, was born in Umbria. He serves the countryside churches of a little town called Pietralunga.

This priest became litterally famous after that, two years ago some burglars entered in his prestbytery stoling several objects including a pistol.

The priest, reached by press, confessed that in case of new aggression would have used his guns for protecting himself, reclaiming the possibility of legitimate defense.

It was a crucial moment in Italy: in the Parliament there was the discussion of this law. Don Antonio Mandrelli, a priest! saying these words, became incredibly popular and everyone wanted to see him on TV shows or magazines and newsmagazine. He became a real character.

Last may Antonio Mandrelli published a little book of memories, "Il Prete dei Fucili si Confessa"

and few days ago presented me a copy. While he was autographing it, Antonio told me: "I will be interviewd by Barbara D'Urso. Do you know her?" I told him I can see that she is a beautiful woman.

You'll read this book pretty quickly; 38 pages, plenty of illustrations of his existence, the one of Antonio the so-called "Priest of the Guns." 

Love, agriculture, friends, church priesthood, celibacy, Antonio spaces a lot sometimes with revolutionary ideas and strong, always strong, ideas.

You can feel, reading this little book the fragilities of this man of church, his anxieties, because don Antonio, at the end will embrace God and the church, becoming priest, but remaining alone, without a companion and several children and a feminine presence has been, absolutely his biggest regret.

Antonio reclaims his human weaknesses, his being first of all a man and then a priest: in the book he will let us know which had been  his flirts, loves, imaginary girlfriends, all of them sacrificed because of the church. Don Antonio has alweays been unsecure regarding what he wanted to be in his life: he decided to study for another degree because he wanted to teach as well. This one was his plan B. If his body would have been too weak for resisting the temptations, he would have left the church having a good job. 

A simple and complicated man at the same time, Antonio Mandrelli tells anedocts of the countrysides populated by a lot of families with communists ideas. It was the normality in the past, and Antonio, anyway, has never experienced problems with anyone.

He has strong ideas on the church. Brief prayers, concreets, he disagrees with the final part of the Holy Father, changed recently; he opens to women and men interested in entering in the church as priests. At the moment, remarks the priest, it's quiet impossible for a married man to become a diacon, or, at least, very difficult.

He feels a lot of melancholy for his parents with which he shared twenty-four years of his existence: an existence less wild, less vagabond. 

Past and future of the agriculture: being a truffles seeker, Antonio thinks that it is not possible to continue in this way and that the real seekers of truffles should respect, thanks to new modalities, fields and forests preserving and helping financially the owners of that fields and forests.

This book is available at FOTOLITO 90, Città di Castello.

E-mail info@fotolito90.com.

Price:12 euro.

Anna Maria Polidori 

World as Family A Journey of Multi-Rooted Belongings by Vishakha N. Desai

 World as Family

A Journey of Multi-Rooted Belongings by Vishakha N. Desai is one of the best memoirs I read this year. Simply clear, sincere, I firstly met online mrs Desai as moderator during a symposium organized by Columbia University Press on Covid-19 and vaccines: now we both follow each other on Instagram.

Born in Ahmedabad, India, in a family with seven other siblings, parents involved in the profound changes started by Gandhi, with which the father of Desai, journalist, worked with, Vishakha discovered an intellectual and fertile environment. She studied with success in exclusive schools and at the age of 17 her father encouraged her: spending a year in the USA would have been exciting. Vishakha hadn't never left her family, her loved siblings, the connections she had established, the new boyfriend she had, her dancing classes. How could she live well in a different distant country, with a foreign language, different customs, the idea of speaking 24 hours per day just American/English, eating different food, and living a different existence?

It hasn't been a simple choice, but Vishakha, also thanks to another friend interested in the program by the AFS, sent the application. Vishakha was accepted like also her friend and both of them left India for good: that one was their first intercontinental trip. They could not sleep for the excitement, and once arrived in New York City they admired the magnificent skyline. Vishakha was later directed to Santa Barbara where an adorable new family, the Reeds one, would have followed her during the year. New food, at first it was a weird world, a weird school, with weird students with their weird questions on drugs, but as also adds Vishakha, this experience, a complete full-immersion in another culture gradually changed her perspective of the world because these experiences open new horizons and let us think differently. 

She noticed this, when her father stopped by there, invited by the AFS: Vishakha saw him as a provincial man if compared with the people she met in a daily base in Santa Barbara. 

Simply: Vishakha was discovering other realities, more complicated and more different from her own existence in India, more simple and protected.

Once returned home the adaptation was not simple because Vishakha in the USA discovered individualism and privacy: the one she could not have in her own house. Also her accent at first appeared weird: and plus...Smells, perfumes of her own land appeared much more accentuated, and strange: was she noticing this because of her trip to the USA?

Vishakha changed, stopping to consider herself just a citizen of India but of a more big world, that included the USA.

In the while she fell in love for an American soldier, Tom, although their relationship, with a marriage celebrated in India, didn't continue once in the USA.

The end of it was reason of sadness, but Vishakha, who had also decided for an abortion in the while, because she was building her own career, became a name in the field of Indian art. She started to collaborate with prestigious realities and museums, ending in the MFA, Museum of Fine Arts of Boston where she worked with success for several years, before to start another adventure in New York City.

She found in Robert the companion of her existence, while she assisted at the degradation of health of her beloved parents, in particular her father, with a diagnosys of Parkinson.

When she married Robert, her father could not attend the wedding; after a while he suffered of a massive stroke. Vishakha tells that most of her family, now in the USA was hyper-busy and could not stay at long in India: at the same time, after three weeks of choma her father died.

Oh; Vishakha remembers the joy when she started to work at the MFA of Boston, receiving the visit of her parents; in particular her father was intrigued by the city where Gandhi studied in and he loved to search for all the places where he had been, and what influenced him giving coverage to this visit in a regular basis in the magazine where he was writing for; the popularity of Gandhi needed to be remarked in fact. 

I loved a lot the description of Vishaka's parents's second house in India with ten rooms plenty of books and statues of different divinities, a big garden and the fertile intellectual activity breathed everywhere.

But...What is World as Family? And when can we consider the world as a family? I personally consider the world as a family where I am accepted and loved and appreciated; it can be in my close or distant world/connections. 

Vishakha found that the integration or her being Indian didn't change the fact that she was an American citizen:that her world as family can be in India, but also in other parts of the world. 

An important chapter is dedicated to the current COVID-19 pandemics with reflections on economy, social injustices and discriminations in the world.

Highly recommended.

I thank Columbia University Press for the physical copy of the book.

Anna Maria Polidori 

La France Goy by Christophe Donner

 La France Goy

by Christophe Donner traces the story of antisemitism in France at the end of the XIX century, and then the entrance in scene of Henri Gosset, the father of Jean Gosset dead in a concentration camp during the last second world war conflict.

I adore Jewish people, I love to be surrounded by them where possible and if possible, so to me reading some passages of this book have been pretty painful but here we are and let's try to define through the pages of this book written very well by Christophe what it meant anti-semitism in France.

OK: that word was born as you'll learn reading the book, that years, defined by a thinker. And now, imagine Alphonse Daudet.

Close to people he loved to be surrounded by like Emile Zola, Victor Hugo, there was also the frequentation with this certain Drumont that will become the central character of this book. 

Drumont was still a little journalist when met the first time Daudet: he didn't make a lot of his existence yet, but for many reasons Alphonse Daudet liked him immediately. Drumont became also close friend with Leon, Daudet's son. He had an extreme simplicity in the interaction with the little son of Daudet, influencing him heavily.

Drumont was not appreciated by all the friends of Daudet for his fixation regarding Jewish people. He hated them and he dreamed to see a jewishless world. When Zolà read some of his writings he had an animated conversation with Daudet: he understood that maybe he could not appreciate some jewish because of their behaviors, and we find good and bad people everywhere and a classification is a big error: totalizing, added Zolà, come on! was too much. 

Daudet asked to Drumont, where possible, of continuing to write something on Jewish people and Drumont accomplished the desire of Daudet creating a book long something like 1200 pages, and called La France Juive. 

Once finished, Daudet suggested to Drumont Les Editions Flammarion for the publication. At the Flammarion they appeared pretty...embarassed, when they received the manuscript. And not because they didn't want to publish the book for the thematic treated: no, no, in France there was freedom of expression but...It was too long, too heavy. Who could buy a book like that one? They risked to lose money in a bad investment. It wasn't the case. 

Daudet decided to speak with the guys at Flammarion, paying for the publication. The book was released in two tomes. At first it didn't sell any copy and no one, no one, reviewed it.

So, one day, Daudet had a conversation with the editor of Le Figaro. "Why is that?" he asked him.

"It's an embarassing situation..." started the editor of Le Figaro.

Daudet was categoric.

"Someone must write a review: also a very negative one, but I want to see a review in Le Figaro."

The editor looked at him perplexed, but with the idea of accomplishing that influential writer.

The review appeared, negative, (as I always say, they pay much more than when we write a positive review because there is more curiosity in the reader and be sure that in that case they will buy the book!), and the book became incredibly successful: a comparison that we can make? La France Juive became a sort of Bible: no one read it, but everyone had a copy in their houses.

Drumont didn't suffer anymore of economical problems and became a politician as well. His main crusade of course was his hate for Jewish people.

The hate spread by Drumont in his 1200 pages was big and when you plant that seed, you introduce in the society a dangerous and poisoned plant. His hate meant a personal fight against many jewish people: the story of Panama and the affaire Dreyfus is just an example. 

If Alphonse was becoming old, a new generation of antisemitists was becoming important: Leon Daudet, the son of Alphonse is a case. When his father died, with him died also that social peace still existing in France. That years in fact we assisted at several, turbulent events. 

Henri Gosset once in Paris entered in strict contact with Leon Daudet and his antisemitism. Henri was the father of Jean, later deported in a concentration camp during the last world war where he died. Jean was a philosopher, an anarchist. Jean was born thanks to the immense love felt by Henri for an anarchist called Marcelle. Thanks to this union, the arrival of Jean.

You will see terrorist attacks, fake news, false incidents, duels, departures, lies, suicides... 

Enjoy the reading. The book leaves more than an important message to all of us and the importance of building a good society, vehicoling healthy and positive messages of inclusion, friendship.

Highly recommended.

I thank Editions Grasset for the physical copy of the book.

Anna MariaPolidori