Book Review of A Very Civil Wedding

A Very Civil Wedding by V.T. Davy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When asked to review this book I was intrigued by the subject the author tackled in the book: a same sex-marriage of the princess that one day will be Queen and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
I said to myself WOW!. Someone finally decided to face a topic that can, in any near future possibly become reality.
What immediately struck me is the telegraphic, down to earth dairy style of the narration yet deeply supported by a well-documented research of the subtle details of cannon and land law.
The story unwraps itself through three main characters: Princess Alexandra the lesbian first born of the Prince of Wales, an initially unspecified gay young lad and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Through them we get to know the various aspects of a society in its personal and collective journey to provoke, fear, hate and accept change.
In the name of love that knows no boundaries and the conviction that God's love is beyond heterosexual tagging, the sincere asking of a woman in love with her partner that wishes not only a civil marriage to bind a contract but a blessing from the faith that nurtures her believe in life but whose church refuses acknowledgment of such love.
I highly recommend.


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Review of The Dark Wife

The Dark Wife by Sarah Diemer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Dark Wife is a well written tender retelling of the mythological story of Persephone and Hades. It was incredible to see how Sarah Diemer has so intimately assimilated this myth. Such knowledge has enabled her to transform it into a whole new delicate love story, nevertheless maintaining the framework and detail.
The author has succeeded in narrating from a woman's point of view, dissolving male chauvinism that is so rampant in mythology, in a pot of women's innate power and subtly passing the message that the choice is always ours to make.
From now onwards the Autumn Equinox will never be the same for me.


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Review of The Reluctant Tarot Reader: Adventures in the Gypsy Trade

It all started that I dreamt of Raven, of her giving a lecture on GLBT and religion. I tweeted this to her, several exchanges of tweets and all I know the next morning I found a copy of The Reluctant Tarot Reader ebook in my email.

I had just arrived in Malta. And obviously the Universe just though it was absolutely the right time to read such a book.

There is something that connects me to Raven but haven't defined it yet, not even after reading her book, nor after remembering that once I used to hear her podcast (before my 1^st iPod touch died).

We have many things in common and reading her book was like touching white fire, raw sensations, memories which were preferably lost but just kept nagging in the twilight zone.

I found the words burning into the electronic display. Somehow I could feel the pain it takes to write all that.

The pain it took to live all that.

The great courage it takes to make it heal.

Words are written with a purpose.

Paragraphs are used as vessels; Chapters as fullstops and fresh beginnings.

It is not about academical Tarot. It is Tarot in motion.
It is a book that spares nothing.
All is torn to pieces, to be burnt in rage and left to simmer until Love will have Its way, transforming this book in such an intimate gift for us all.

Thank you Raven for not being so reluctant!

The stars are alive.

"There is a correspondence between the microcosm and the macrocosm! The stars are alive, child. Did you know that? Everything out there is alive, and there are grand purposes abroad! The universe is full of intentions, you know. Everything happens for a purpose. Your purpose is to remind me of that. Good, good—in my despair I had forgotten."

Taken from the book: The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials)

I wonder how many times I'll keep forgetting this...everything happens for a purpose...as above so below...

An Utterly Impartial History of Britain Review

I had given this book to my mother for Christmas last year and she loved it so much that she decided that I should read it.
Well I might not always agree with my mother but this time it is an exception. It is really a great book to read.
Well it would seem quite daunting to read 2000 years of British History but John O'Farrell does it brilliantly. 552 pages and I never for a moment felt those school time episodes when you would like to disappear rather to stick out another single word from that teacher.
History is told in a comical exhilarating way. Full of facts without every being boring or overwhelming. On the contrary it made me search on internet for more facts.
I was fascinated by his now and again explanations of certain expressions or words that we use today but have come a long way through history.
I would recommended it as a school text book because it will finally take away the dullness that most of us had to endure while studying history and instill in those who read it the eagerness to know more (which is what teaching should actually be about especially history).
One episode really made me laugh and think. At the end of the book O'Farrell describes the British way of disagreeing with something. So you would like to start with writing to a local newspaper, then a petition and if you really feel strongly about it “there's always the poster in the front window”.
Well you see when I have something to say to my fellow condominium Italian neighbours I always stick an A4 paper on my front door (in the absence of front windows), deeming it as the most civilised way of communicating without pinpointing or accusing anyone.
Probably here Mr. John O'Farrell would have something funny to say as how we ex-British colonies have acquired the bizarre customs of the British Empire and eventually export it to wherever we go obliviously of how silly or alien those methods can seem to others.

Sex is metaphysics / Il sesso è metafisica

“Because sex is not there to answer questions such as “it is ok what I am doing?”, “is it right?”. No, sex answers always to the question “who am I?”. Because sex is metaphysics in its pure and practical state…
According to my own personal opinion the true reason why we make love is: to discern, starting from what we are, who we are.”



The Non-handbook of Sex by Valérie Tasso
(hasn’t been translated in English yet. Sorry folk!)

Mind-boggling!!!



“Perché il sesso non serve a rispondere a domande come “va bene quello che faccio?”, “è giusto?”. No, il sesso risponde sempre alla domanda “chi sono io?” Perché il sesso è metafisica alla stato puro e pratico…
A mio modesto parere, è questo il vero motivo per cui facciamo l’amore; sapere, a partire da quello che siamo, chi siamo.”

"Antimanuale del Sesso" di Valérie Tasso

Da spremersi le meningi!

Luckly enough / Veramente fortunata

I was really enjoying this book, learning a lot about my modes of behaviour but life has decided otherwise.
Last Friday while I was swimming someone decided to steal my bag. I was left fortunately enough with my towel and shoes, able to go back home call my neighbour to give me the spare key. Went in home put my spectacles on ( I was till then moving around in a fogging environment) and a gown, then went back to the seaside to see if I could find my bag thrown over somewhere.
I eventually did find it. Two young lads have ran after the villain and found my bag back thrown near a big dustbin. I found everything inside, my house keys, my spectacles, my swimming gown, my sun tan lotion except for Lise Bourbeau’s book I wrote about in my last post!
Gosh, I never thought my blog had this effect on my readers!!!!!
Well it seems someone needed it more than I do. Wish you luck fellow and thank you Universe for bringing back home all my belongings (nearly).




Stavo veramente godendo a leggere questo libro, imparando molto su i miei schemi comportamentali, ma la vita ha deciso diversamente.
Venerdì scorso stavo nuotando quando qualcuno decide di rubare la mia borsa. Fortunatamente mi sono rimasti l’asciugamano e le scarpe che mi hanno permesso di tornare a casa, chiamare la mia vicina e farmi dare le chiavi di scorta. Sono entrata a casa, messo gli occhiali (fino a quel momento stavo barcollando nella nebbia) messa un vestito e tornata nella spiaggia per vedere se ritrovavo la borsa buttata da qualche parte.
Eventualmente lo trovata. Due giovani ragazzi hanno corso dietro il villano e hanno trovato la mia borsa buttata vicino a un cassonetto. Ho ritrovato tutto, dai chiavi di casa, i miei occhiali da vista, il mio vestito da spiaggia, fino alla mia crema solare. Solo il libro di Lise Bourbeau che avevo citato nel mio ultimo post, era sparito!
Non immaginavo che il mio blog potesse avere tutto questo effetto sulla gente che lo legge!!!
Bhè presumo che a qualcuno serviva più urgentemente di me. Auguri chiunque sei e grazie Universo per avermi portato indietro tutti i miei averi (o quasi).

The Humiliation Wound / La Ferita dell'Umiliazione

"The masochist (person suffering from humiliation wound) doesn’t realise that in doing all that is possible for others he belittles and humiliates them, making them feel that, without his presence, on their own, they are not capable of succeeding."

"Il masochista (la persona che soffre di ferita d’umiliazione) non si rende conto che facendo tutto il possibile per gli altri li sminuisce e li umilia, facendo loro sentire che , in sua assenza, da soli non possono cavarsela."

Tratto dal libro: Le 5 Ferite e come guarirle di Lise Bourbeau

Review Under the Tuscan Sun / Recensione di Sotto il Sole della Toscana

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

I found this book quite funny at the beginning. As a foreigner living in Italy for these last 12 years I laughed out loud reading those everyday life incidents and lets call them diplomatic misunderstandings that different cultures bring with them.
I could just simply relive the bizarre situations that the author describes and in a way feeling a bit relieved I wasn’t the only one having problems.
Somewhere in between the book became a bit boring and I had to plod my way through the pages. The author seems to love a lot Italian cuisine because she’s always describing what she’s eating in the various restaurants she’s been at, in different places in Italy, especially Tuscany.
She even at the last quarter of the book fill the pages with very luxuriant recipes, which only the thought of them makes my stomach ache, wondering if I’ll ever digest all that she has described and burn all the fat accumulated all over my body.
Anyway it is a humorous book to read especially if one would like to know at first hand what it feels like for a foreigner living on daily bases in Italy.



Sotto il Sole della Toscana di Frances Mayes.

Ho trovato questo libro molto divertente all’inizio. Essendo una straniera che vive in Italia da 12 anni, ho riso a squarciagola quando ho letto degli incidenti così detti diplomatici, di quando due culture molto diverse si scontrano nelle situazioni di tutti i giorni. Ed era anche un sollievo perché mi ha fatto sentire in buona compagnia.
Leggendo ho potuto rivivere sulla mia pelle le situazioni bizzarre che l’autrice descrive e farmi sentire un po’ sollevata per il fatto che non sono l’unica che ha avuto problemi di adattamento.
Strada facendo il libro diventa un po’ monotono e ho dovuto faticare per andare avanti. All’autrice sembra che gli piaccia molto la cucina Italiana perché sta sempre descrivendo minuziosamente quello che ha mangiato nei vari restauranti in diversi posti dell’Italia, specialmente la Toscana.
Nell’ultimo quarto del libro, lei riempie le pagine con lussureggianti ricette, il cui solo pensiero mi fa appesantire lo stomaco al punto tale da chiedermi se mai avrei digerito e bruciato tutti i grassi accumulati mangiando tutto ciò.
Insomma è un libro a tratti umoristico, specialmente se uno vuole sapere di prima mano cosa vuole dire vivere quotidianamente da straniero in Italia.

Review / Recensione: When You and Your Mother Can't be Friends

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever had problems with their mother or simply need to understand mother-daughter dynamics. This interplay does not only effect the direct protagonists but it also has a profound effect on our choice of friends, partners and work. Understanding this relationship means starting the road to real maturity.

I myself being a person who is in therapy because of a dominating mother, found this book helpful. Reading about other women having problems with their own mother helped me feel less lonely and less of a freak.

The book is divided in various sections amongst which the various types of dysfunctional mothers and the different types of dysfunctional daughter. One the result of the other in a series of cause and effect transmitted down through generations.

Reading it helped me understand more of what my therapists says and proud of having started a journey in not only discovering myself but also maybe of one day being able to accept my mother for who she is….a person with all its pros and cons, daughter and product of her generation and those of her forebears.



Suggerirei questo libro a tutti quelli che hanno avuto problemi con la loro madre o semplicemente hanno bisogno di capire le dinamiche fra madre e figlia. Questa dinamica non solo ha effetto sulle due protagoniste direttamente ma anche sulla nostra scelta di amici, partner e lavoro. Capirlo vorrebbe dire cominciare la via verso la vera maturità.

Pur essendo una persona che è in terapia perché ha una madre dominante, ho trovato questo libro d’aiuto. Leggere su altre donne che hanno avuto problemi con la loro madre mi ha fatto sentire meno sola e strana.

Il libro è diviso in varie sezioni tra cui le diverse tipologie di madri disfunzionali e le diverse tipologie di figlie disfunzionali che si possono incontrare. L’una il risultato dell’altra nel susseguirsi di generazioni intere.

Leggerlo mi è stato d’aiuto per capire di più quello che la mia terapista dice e sono orgogliosa di avere cominciato un viaggio per scoprire non solo me stessa ma forse anche per essere in grado un giorno di accettare mia madre per quella che è…una persona con i suoi pro e contro, figlia e prodotto della sua generazione e di quelle antecedenti.

aNobii a Dynamic Virtual Library / aNobii una Biblioteca Dinamica e Virtuale

I’ve recently signed in a remarkable site about books. When you register you start virtually placing books in your shelf for you to keep private or share them with others. You can browse around other people’s shelves, view your compatibility through the books both of you have on the shelf, start discussions, join groups of particular interests and even meet if you want other registered users.

See you there!


http://www.anobii.com/anobi/anobii_home.php?pid=14&lid=


Mi sono recentemente iscritta ad un sito che parla di libri. Quando ci si registra si apre una biblioteca virtuale dove ognuno mette i suoi libri da tenere privati o dividere con gli altri. Uno può esplorare le librerie altrui, vedere la compatibilità attraverso i libri messi nella libreria virtuale, cominciare discussioni, iscriversi a gruppi con particolari interessi e anche se uno vuole incontrare altri utenti.
A proposito di inscriversi a gruppo con particolare interessi ci sono vari gruppi che discutono di libri gay. Tra quelli più numerosi sono il gruppo “Froci” e il gruppo “Lelle”.
Trovato molto interessante ed utile specialmente per l’informazione che riesco ad avere attraverso i due gruppi sopramenzionati su i libri di tematica omosessuale che sono sempre un po’ difficile da scoprire e eventualmente trovare in Italia.

Spero di incontrarvi lì!

The Calender / Il Calendario

I’ve finally finished reading this book.
A appealing fact-jammed book about something we use everyday – the calendar – and it’s more than 5000 years of story.
I never thought there were so many events and people involved in its story dating back to time immemorial. Facts at times amusing, others outright dramatic.
It’s fascinating the interplay between time and who dictates it. Control over time and its deployment gives boundless power to the beholder that usually one can’t even ponder. Various examples have been brought by the author David Ewing Duncan.
What intrigued me most, is the unchallenged power, various religions over the millennia had on creating, stopping and deleting time at pleasure. Last one on the list is the Roman Catholic Church, who’s reform on the calendar is the one we’re still using today.
A reform that started, not for any scientific endeavour but for the down to earth task of celebrating Easter on the appropriate day!

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Finalmente ho finito di leggere questo libro.
Un libro pieno zeppo di fatti su un qualcosa che usiamo tutti i giorni – il calendario – e la sua lunga storia di più di 5000 anni.
Non avrei mai immaginato che c’erano coinvolti così tanti eventi e persone in questa vicenda che ha i suoi albori con la nascita dell’essere umano. Fatti alcune delle volte interessanti e curiosi, altri decisamente drammatici.
E’ affascinante l’interazione tra il tempo e chi lo detta. Il controllo sul tempo e il suo utilizzo da chi lo detiene un potere senza fine, che normalmente non immaginiamo neanche. Sono stati riportati vari esempi dall’autore Davi Ewing Duncan.
Quello che mi ha intrigato di più, è l’indiscusso potere, che varie religioni attraverso i millenni hanno avuto sul tempo, creandolo, fermandolo o eliminandolo a piacere. L’ultima sulla lista è la Chiesa Romana Cattolica, la quale riforma sul calendario è quella che noi ancora tutt’oggi usiamo.
Un riforma nata, non per amore della scienza ma per il “terreno” scopo di celebrare la Pasqua nella giusta giornata!