Italian Neighbors

by Tim Parks
Italian Neighbors  
published 2003 by Grove Press
binding Paperback
isbn 0802140343   (isbn13: 9780802140340)
pages 280
description In this deliciously seductive account of an Italian neighborhood with a statue of the Virgin at one end of the street, a derelict bottle factory at th...more
date added
02-07-07



Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Italian Neighbors.







discuss this book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »




friend reviews (0)

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.



lists with this book

This book is not in any lists. Go add it to a list.




other reviews (showing 1-20 of 114)



Ryan
Ryan rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/05/08

bookshelves: italy, memoirs
Read in May, 2008
This was an interesting memoir of living in Italy - usually they're all romantic about the sunset and the flowers and the wine and restoring some villa - but this is the down and dirty nitty gritty of living in Italy as a foreigner, trying to earn enough income to survive by tutoring English and translating, and attempting to navigate the hardened traditions and prejudices of small-town locals, as well as the insane bureaucracy of Italy. Tim Parks is not at all bitter or frustrated, mind you. ...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Nefarious_aquarius
Read in March, 2008
It is a sad reality that the American education system is deficient in teaching students about the true culture, history, and government of other countries. In Italian Neighbors, Mr. Parks, a British expatriate, provides the rare opportunity for us to experience Italy as something more than a tourist destination in a text that is engaging, and filled with fascinating characters. You'll come to appreciate Mr. Parks' neighbors as much as he did. I've already started the sequel to this book - An...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Melissa
Melissa rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/01/08

Read in July, 2008
This book totally indulged my fantasies of running away and living in Italy. I enjoyed the well written, colorful tales about the inhabitants of this small Italian village. The writer does a great job of getting the reader lost in the simple details of these people's lives, plus the ins and outs of Italian laws. If you love visiting Italy as much as I do or are planning a trip there, this book is a small, but picturesque window into Italian life.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Denise
Denise rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/26/08

bookshelves: books-i-love-so-much-i-bought, italy, travel
Read in February, 2005
recommended to Denise by: bookgroup
recommends it for: Italian Lovers
I'm actually enjoying the book and picked up Italian Education to read afterwards.

They really don't have characters in this book (unless
you count Italy as a character)so obviously it's really hard to do a Character Analysis.

But, all in all, I like reading about the little quirks and traditions that foreigners deal with in new countries. I think it would be very interesting to read a book like this but based in Japan.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Cristina
Cristina rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/05/07

bookshelves: travel
Read in August, 2007
Tim Parks tells stories of life in Italy. He has a love-hate relationship with the country, and must find ways to adjust to the Italian way of life. This book is not as good as the follow-up, Italian Education, but still worth the read.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Barbara
Barbara rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/20/07

This book took a lot of the romance out of my view of Italy, but I found it very informative and entertaining. It also made me decide that Italy is a great place to visit, but not a great place to live.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Peg
Peg marked it as to-read
01/25/08

bookshelves: to-read
was given to us by a canadian friend living here in italy with his italian wife. I'm anxious to read this just to get a good laugh over the oddities and pleasures of this italian life.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

christina
christina rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/05/07

recommends it for: anyone who has lived a while in Italy
VERY FUNNY!!! But especially funny if you have lived as an American or UK citizen in Italy for awhile. True insights in the humor. MI RACCOMANDO!
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Mandy
Mandy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/04/08

bookshelves: memoir-non-fiction
I loved this book! It was good training for my trip to Italy - I wouldn't have known how to cross the street without it.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

CJ
CJ rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/25/08

Read in April, 2007
Read this in prep for a trip to Verona...the trip was much better :)
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Susan
Susan rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/25/07

recommends it for: Leslie
Those of us who are planning a trip to Italy must read this book.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Leah
Leah rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/17/07

bookshelves: non-fiction-travel
Read in January, 2003
recommends it for: same as an Italian Education
great book!! really funny!!! i want to meet his neighbors!
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Lee
Lee added it
02/02/08

Read in October, 2007
very good!
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Niccole
Niccole is currently reading it
03/24/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
 

Andrea
Andrea rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
01/23/08

 

Anne
Anne rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/21/07

 

Tbird
09/10/07

bookshelves: italy
 

Gypsy
Gypsy marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0449908186)
01/19/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

Lani
Lani marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0449908186)
03/04/08

bookshelves: non-fiction, to-read
 


« previous 1 3 4 5 6



book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.69 (83 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.73 (71 ratings)
number of reviews: 13






other editions

Italian Neighbors: Or, A Lapsed Anglo-Saxon in Verona (Paperback)
Italian Neighbors: Or, a Lapsed Anglo-Saxon in Verona (Hardcover)
Italian Neighbours (Paperback)