In the sumptuous tradition of Chocolat and Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and already optioned for a major motion picture, comes a magic...
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Jan 08, 2009
Bunga Mawar
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Bukunya tebal, 568 halaman. Tidak heran kalau ceritanya boleh belok-belok. Dari judul dan sampul depannya sudah jelas ya, kalau ini buku roman. Dan memang iya. Maunya pasti romantis, karena setting-nya di Italia, masa Perang Dunia II pula.
Yuk, lihat ceritanya. Ada gadis desa yang pintar masak yang tinggal di lereng Gunung Vesuvius. Namanya Livia. Ia bertemu dan menikah dengan prajurit muda bernama Enzo, yang kemudian mati dalam perang melawan Sekutu di Rusia. Italia pun diduduki Seku More...
Yuk, lihat ceritanya. Ada gadis desa yang pintar masak yang tinggal di lereng Gunung Vesuvius. Namanya Livia. Ia bertemu dan menikah dengan prajurit muda bernama Enzo, yang kemudian mati dalam perang melawan Sekutu di Rusia. Italia pun diduduki Seku More...
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Sep 18, 2011
an
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bukan cerita cinta biasa
melihat judul dan cover na yang seakan berbunga-bunga, maka perkiraan isi na akan penuh dengan cinta-cinta. awal na malas membaca buku dengan genre seperti ini tapi karena diobral hanya 10 ribu dengan buku setebal ini, kanapa engga' mencoba memiliki na.
dan ternyata... isi na tidak semurah harga na. kisah cinta yang diawali dengan konflik perang, konflik budaya dan konflik kepentingan. berlatar belakang italia pada masa perang dunia, cinta antara pendud More...
melihat judul dan cover na yang seakan berbunga-bunga, maka perkiraan isi na akan penuh dengan cinta-cinta. awal na malas membaca buku dengan genre seperti ini tapi karena diobral hanya 10 ribu dengan buku setebal ini, kanapa engga' mencoba memiliki na.
dan ternyata... isi na tidak semurah harga na. kisah cinta yang diawali dengan konflik perang, konflik budaya dan konflik kepentingan. berlatar belakang italia pada masa perang dunia, cinta antara pendud More...
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Feb 23, 2009
Uci
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Sebuah kisah cinta klasik. Terjadi di tengah peperangan, melibatkan dua manusia berbeda negara. Kisah cinta berlatar belakang sejarah memang selalu menarik, karena penulis bisa memanfaatkan seabrek data yang aslinya memang sudah menarik, tinggal dikutak-kutik dan ditambahkan bumbu-bumbu penyedap. Ditambah lokasi cerita yang sangat eksotis, maka jadilah.
Tapi yang membuat buku ini sangat berkesan bagi saya sebenarnya deskripsi makanan Italia yang bertebaran di sana-sini. Membayangkann More...
Tapi yang membuat buku ini sangat berkesan bagi saya sebenarnya deskripsi makanan Italia yang bertebaran di sana-sini. Membayangkann More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Kate
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Anthony Capella - The Wedding Officer (Sphere, London, 2007)
This is the first of my summer reads, and what a summer read it is!
The setting is the Bay of Naples, 1944. Naples has been occupied by the Allies, and the ongoing rationing makes it hard for the people to survive. Restaurants have been shut down, but operate officially, and one can get hold of almost anything on the black market. Most of the women of Naples are forced to prostitute themselves to soldiers in o More...
This is the first of my summer reads, and what a summer read it is!
The setting is the Bay of Naples, 1944. Naples has been occupied by the Allies, and the ongoing rationing makes it hard for the people to survive. Restaurants have been shut down, but operate officially, and one can get hold of almost anything on the black market. Most of the women of Naples are forced to prostitute themselves to soldiers in o More...
Jan 31, 2009
Joel
rated it: 
My most recommended book for 2008. Fans of many genres will enjoy this example of great story-telling and rich characters. So, when you someone asks "What is this book about?" - I respond "Well, what is not about!?" (Okay, so I won't regurgitate the synopsis in which much more experience reviewers have taken such great care).
This book has almost everything. Passion, food, characters, passion for food, passion for others! Reading this book took me back to Napoli (I More...
This book has almost everything. Passion, food, characters, passion for food, passion for others! Reading this book took me back to Napoli (I More...
Dec 19, 2011
Sammie
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After reading the synopsis on the back of the book, I was quite excited to read it; however, I walked away a little disappointed.
Set in WWII, it begins with Livia Pertini, living in a town on Mt Vesuvius. She is a cook at her family osteria, which is like a tavern of sorts. It later introduces Cpt. James Gould, a British officer. It is Gould's job to prevent the soldiers from marrying Italian women.
The book started off quite slow for me. Since I am an avid reader, I will More...
Set in WWII, it begins with Livia Pertini, living in a town on Mt Vesuvius. She is a cook at her family osteria, which is like a tavern of sorts. It later introduces Cpt. James Gould, a British officer. It is Gould's job to prevent the soldiers from marrying Italian women.
The book started off quite slow for me. Since I am an avid reader, I will More...
Sep 09, 2010
Faith
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I included this book in a Bookcrossing article about the "empty nest" trip my husband and I took in the fall of 2009. Here's the excerpt regarding this book:
"We had a three-hour break between work and dinner for cleaning up, napping and/or visiting the local bar and shops. That's when I'd catch up on my reading. I finished Julian (loved it!) and started on The Wedding Officer. A love story—the perfect book for readjusting to a childless life. Plus the food! The story i More...
"We had a three-hour break between work and dinner for cleaning up, napping and/or visiting the local bar and shops. That's when I'd catch up on my reading. I finished Julian (loved it!) and started on The Wedding Officer. A love story—the perfect book for readjusting to a childless life. Plus the food! The story i More...
Jul 21, 2010
Kate
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Another enchanting read from Anthony Capella, filled with good food, great scenery, and marvelous characters. James Gould is your typical upright and well-behaved Englishman, stationed in a small town near Naples during World War II and stuck with a difficult job: discouraging soldiers from marrying their Italian girlfriends. Even more difficult when he starts falling in love with an Italian girl himself: Livia, the pretty and prickly barracks cook who eventually introduces James to Italian
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Apr 24, 2009
Shannon
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Having read Capella's first book, I was very excited to read how he would weave words together in order for me to actually taste the Italian meals that the character Livia makes. I was disappointed, however, as the book started off strong and detailed the lives of Italians during World War II in a way I had not yet previously considered and then dragged on and on and on.
James Gould is an officer for the British army who meets and falls in love with Livia despite being unable to ma More...
James Gould is an officer for the British army who meets and falls in love with Livia despite being unable to ma More...
Apr 26, 2009
penelopewanders
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On loan from Alex. Had read and loved The Food of Love by this author, and am quite caught up in this one as well!
Half way through I was talking to a friend and said it reminded me a lot of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. After finishing the book, I read all the little tidbits, kind of licking the plate, so to speak, and saw that on the back cover they make the comparison too. So I'm not very original but I do agree. What a great book. Frequently I was laughing out loud, or close to te More...
Half way through I was talking to a friend and said it reminded me a lot of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. After finishing the book, I read all the little tidbits, kind of licking the plate, so to speak, and saw that on the back cover they make the comparison too. So I'm not very original but I do agree. What a great book. Frequently I was laughing out loud, or close to te More...
May 16, 2010
Fluffychick
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 21, 2010
Amkd69
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I previously read this author's book The Food of Love & really enjoyed it. I expected this book to be as good but in my opinion it was better. More of a structured story and stronger characters. A really lovely read & not too heavy. It made me aware of other aspects of WW2 & the occupation of Italy which is very interesting. Of course Italian food featured prominently throughout the book & did make me want to rush out & find some fresh buffalo mozzarella. Very funny & entertaining in parts. My o
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Jun 07, 2009
Palsay
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Buku romance yang bikin laper...hehehehe...
Gaya berceritanya kental dengan aroma perfilman, umm..gimana yah.., maksudnya, banyak adegan yang sangat filmis *bahasa apa pula*..misalnya saat Enzo diajak bicara oleh ayah Livia mengenai keseriusannya menikahi Livia, dengan latar belakang sapi yang sedang kawin..(hihihi), lalu saat teman-teman sekutu James yang pernah diluluskan permintaan pernikahannya membangun restoran yang ambruk, trus saat James mengaku dalam bahasa Italia pada acara More...
Gaya berceritanya kental dengan aroma perfilman, umm..gimana yah.., maksudnya, banyak adegan yang sangat filmis *bahasa apa pula*..misalnya saat Enzo diajak bicara oleh ayah Livia mengenai keseriusannya menikahi Livia, dengan latar belakang sapi yang sedang kawin..(hihihi), lalu saat teman-teman sekutu James yang pernah diluluskan permintaan pernikahannya membangun restoran yang ambruk, trus saat James mengaku dalam bahasa Italia pada acara More...
Nov 10, 2009
Carly
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What I learned from this book?
A whole lotta' stuff about cooking!
Jeff and I read it together - a bit each day.
The reason I had it out of the library was because I thought it was the book for October (monthly discussion at High Park Library - Toronto). But it wasn't. We finished it just the same.
All in all, I enjoyed the book; I don't consider it to be the greatest thing in literature though. The ending was a bit contrived, in my opinion.
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A whole lotta' stuff about cooking!
Jeff and I read it together - a bit each day.
The reason I had it out of the library was because I thought it was the book for October (monthly discussion at High Park Library - Toronto). But it wasn't. We finished it just the same.
All in all, I enjoyed the book; I don't consider it to be the greatest thing in literature though. The ending was a bit contrived, in my opinion.
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Jul 23, 2009
sinta
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Berlatarkan Perang Dunia kedua, kisah romansa antara Livia Pertini dan James Gould bergulir. Sebuah kisah yang mengambil setting tempat di Negara Italia. James Gould adalah seorang pejabat pernikahan, yang bertugas untuk menghalangi para tentara sekutu menikah dengan wanita Italia. Semula Gould adalah pejabat pemerintahan yang tegas dan berhati dingin. Segala pengajuan pernikahan yang mengatasnamakan, tentara dan wanita italia, pasti akan ditampik dengan berbagai alasan. Tidak hanya masalah pern
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Jan 10, 2009
Emily
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The book is about a guy, James, who is stationed in Naples as an intelligent agent and Wedding Officer who has to approve of all marriages of British Soldiers and when he takes over he starts making people follow the rules really maybe a bit to much even. Then there is the girl, Livia, who lives in a village outside Naples and cooks for the family restaurant. Livia is married before the war to the soldier and he is killed in the war, but Livia still won't break her marriage vows fighting against
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Jan 10, 2012
Michelle
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This novel is set during WWII in Italy, and starts with Livia, a talented cook who works at her family's small osteria in a village near Mt. Vesivius. She is charmed by an Italian soldier and agrees to marry him. They arrive in Naples to live with his family. When he is shipped out and the bombing begins to become terrible along with the shortages, Livia returns to her village. To escape a local thug who sets the Allied authorities on her family when Livia refuses him, and to find out what has h
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Jan 07, 2009
Rina
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Lebih bagus wedding officer daripada the food of love menurutku. Ceritanya masih seputar italia, tp pada masa jaman perang dunia 2. Masih ada soal makanan meski nggak banyak dan masih cerita guylit.
Yang bikin menarik sih menurutku pas cerita gunung visucius or something itu meletus. Itu kejadian beneran tapi sang hero nya bukan tokoh disini melainkan orang lain. Cuma kerena aja tuh ngeliat cowoknya lari2an menyelamatkan banyak jiwa ampe2 nggak sempet nolongin si cewek. Dah gitu dia n More...
Yang bikin menarik sih menurutku pas cerita gunung visucius or something itu meletus. Itu kejadian beneran tapi sang hero nya bukan tokoh disini melainkan orang lain. Cuma kerena aja tuh ngeliat cowoknya lari2an menyelamatkan banyak jiwa ampe2 nggak sempet nolongin si cewek. Dah gitu dia n More...
Oct 12, 2011
Jenny
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This book got off to a slow start--I wasn't sure where it was headed. But the more I got into it, the better it was. The book takes place in Naples in 1944 and tells the story of James Gould, a British officer stationed there as the "wedding officer" (the one who had to approve marriages between local Italian girls and British officers, and Livia Pertini, a local girl who came to work as a chef for the Allied officers. Though this book tells of the developing relationship between James
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Jan 08, 2009
Natnat
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Yak langsung aja. Buku ini saya beri bintang 3, karena rasanya ada bagian yang tidak berimbang (ritme bacanya gini: bagian awal sangat pelaaaaaaaannn, bagian tengahnya cepat dan ngebut semalem suntuk, lalu di bagian akhir-stop-melelahkan). Apalagi banyak adegan seks yang dibuat vulgar, tapi kadang-kadang diceritakan secara tersirat dan malah membuat bingung (contoh: apa itu secara teknis masih perawan, dan secara teknis sudah tidak perawan?), padahal kalo gak ada adegan itu, ceritanya gakkan nga
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Jul 21, 2011
Kate
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I loved this book too! What a delight. The story of a love affair between a British officer and his tempestuous Italian cook in the final years of the Second World War, it would make a wonderful movie. I'd pay to see it, for sure. I've read two earlier books by Anthony Capella, The Food of Love and The Empress of Icecream, and like them, this book is full of fabulous descriptions of food. I cooked my family an Italian feast once I'd finished this book, though I had to look up some of the recipes
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Jan 04, 2009
tukang kue keren
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Buku romance yang kereen..berlatar belakang perang dunia kedua, kisah cinta Livia,seorang juru masak italia dengan Kapten James Gould, seorang Inggris yang menjabat sebagai Wedding Officer atau pejabat pernikahan.
Suka banget dengan karakter Livia yang keras hati, dan berhasil hidup di jalan lurus meskipun tengah berkecamuk peperangan, dan ternodai ketika harus memilih antara harga diri dengan orang yang dicintainya.
yang pasti...laper deh baca buku ini...sarat dengan berba More...
Suka banget dengan karakter Livia yang keras hati, dan berhasil hidup di jalan lurus meskipun tengah berkecamuk peperangan, dan ternodai ketika harus memilih antara harga diri dengan orang yang dicintainya.
yang pasti...laper deh baca buku ini...sarat dengan berba More...
Jun 27, 2011
Beth
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This book was a great vacation read, which is what I wanted. Absolutely loved the food talk, best part of the book!!! Loved the description of the setting and placement of the characters in history. Was a little embarrassed by the sex talk, probably because I (a grown and married woman, mind you) was reading this on vacation with my parents. :-) Kept fearing my Dad would glance over! I agree that the ending sped up and lost a little credibility, but still the book delivered what I expected
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Oct 09, 2011
Katie
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An amazing World War II novel from the Italian perspective. England's Captain Gould is assigned a post in Naples, where corruption, rations, and living each day to survive is a necessity. Through a series of events, country girl Livia comes to cook for him. Not only does her food inspire his actions in war, but shows him the taste of love. On top of dealing with a war, Naples must also deal with a natural diaster of their seemlingly dormant volcano. This novel makes one wonder what they wou
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Jan 07, 2009
mina
rated it:
Terpancing membaca buku ini gara-gara jadi buku baca bareng kubugil Januari hihihi. Padahal aku jarang suka baca roman. Tapi.... ternyata aku salah. Aku suka banget roman yang satu ini. Semua yang kusuka ada: makanan, makanan, makanan (banyak keju!), humor, dan cowok berusia 22 tahun yang naif (awalnya).
Untuk yang suka adegan cinta-cintaan, banyak juga bertebaran.
Sangat layak baca!
Silakan membaca review lengkapnya di blog bukuku:
http://bookquickies.wordpress.com/2009/0... More...
Untuk yang suka adegan cinta-cintaan, banyak juga bertebaran.
Sangat layak baca!
Silakan membaca review lengkapnya di blog bukuku:
http://bookquickies.wordpress.com/2009/0... More...
Apr 28, 2011
Nikolay
rated it:
Романтична комедия, но на книга. С доста боза.
Момиче от италианско селце говори като филмова кучка.
Най-клишираната свалка:
- Не ставай смешен, та ние изобщо не се познаваме.
- Е, това е проблем, който може да бъде разрешен много лесно. Аз съм Енцо, а ти си...?
- Заета - отсече тя.
Други клишета: Той е влюбен в нея, а Tя го мисли за гей; на официална реч пред военни и цивилни Той не може да каже нищо и чистосърдечно (по Хю-Грантски) си признава, че е на More...
Момиче от италианско селце говори като филмова кучка.
Най-клишираната свалка:
- Не ставай смешен, та ние изобщо не се познаваме.
- Е, това е проблем, който може да бъде разрешен много лесно. Аз съм Енцо, а ти си...?
- Заета - отсече тя.
Други клишета: Той е влюбен в нея, а Tя го мисли за гей; на официална реч пред военни и цивилни Той не може да каже нищо и чистосърдечно (по Хю-Грантски) си признава, че е на More...
May 25, 2011
Helvry
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Sembari membaca novel ini (sekitar Juni 2009), saya berkenalan dengan seorang tentara yang sudah berdinas lama di kesatuan TNI. Niatnya yang memang benar-benar kepingin masuk tentara, dibuktikannya dengan mengikuti seleksi masuk menjadi tentara sampai enam kali! Baginya, menjadi tentara adalah keinginan terbesarnya dari kecil. Ia sangat mensyukurinya, dari tamtama hingga perwira, ia sangat menikmati profesi sebagai tentara.
Ketika profesi menjadi sesuatu yang menyenangkan, tentu tidak s More...
Ketika profesi menjadi sesuatu yang menyenangkan, tentu tidak s More...
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May 02, 2009
Fiona
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This is the second book I've read by Anthony Capella, and again he describes in mouthwatering detail, the preparation, cooking and eating of traditional Italian food, as he lays out the plot of the story. I enjoyed this book and had no idea that Mount Vesuvius erupted towards the end of the 2nd World War. Nor did I realise just how close to Naples the volcano actually is. The book is an enjoyable read, though the last few chapters went off at a bit of a tangent that i could have done without.
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Jul 29, 2011
Sue
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What I would call a "mouth-watering read". I seem to crave lots of pasta and mozzarella and sunshine and lemons now! Good for packing for hols, this was a story about a British officer falling in love with a fiery Italian woman during World War II.
Some very descriptive gastro moments intertwined with a few raunchy bits, made this an enjoyable read. I liked how the author also wove in some real facts about war brides and a very interesting fact on sending women with sexual dis More...
Some very descriptive gastro moments intertwined with a few raunchy bits, made this an enjoyable read. I liked how the author also wove in some real facts about war brides and a very interesting fact on sending women with sexual dis More...
Apr 11, 2010
Cindy
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Just started this book. All ready intrigued by the story, might take me awhile 2-3 days to read. There is a fair amount of Italian scattered throughout the author's writing. I'm already seduced by the language. I'll keep you posted.
This book is sooooooooo good it's like bathing in warm olive oil scented with lemon zest, and makes you want to cook onions for 5 yrs into a caramelized jam. Yep, its that good. OMG! Pellecchiella in wine sauce. Buona Notte,
Signora Cindy
This book is sooooooooo good it's like bathing in warm olive oil scented with lemon zest, and makes you want to cook onions for 5 yrs into a caramelized jam. Yep, its that good. OMG! Pellecchiella in wine sauce. Buona Notte,
Signora Cindy
