Neapol, moja miłość

by Penelope Green

Po trzech latach spędzonych we Włoszech, australijska dziennikarka Penelope Green potrzebuje przekonującego powodu, żeby zostać w tym kraju na dłużej. Wtedy pojawia się szansa zatrudnienia w Neapolu – ojczyźnie pizzy, mieście przyczajonym u stóp wulkanu. Penny postanawia zaryzykować i skoczyć na głęboką wodę…

Bohaterka z wrodzoną ciekawością i wyczuleniem na szczegół pokazuje nam Neapol, z całym jego splendorem i degrengoladą, a kiedy spotyka gitarzystę lokalnego zespołu, uświadamia sobie szybko, że być może właśnie znalazła powód, by naprawdę zapuścić korzenie we Włoszech…


Wspaniała, czarująca i prawdziwa opowieść o magnetycznym mieście…
„Marie Claire”

Niezwykle zabawna i szczera historia.
„Notebook”

Urocza książka, doskonale oddająca lokalny koloryt.
„The Australia Women’s weekly”

Penelope Green pisze wprost i bez zbędnych ozdobników, co wraz z jej autentyczną ciekawością świata przekłada się na znakomitą, interesującą i wnikliwą lekturę.
„Sun-Herald”

Genres: Italy, Travel, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lively, spirited book begins as the author, a young Australian journalist, has been in Italy for three years. Penny moved to Italy from Sydney, loving the country and wanting to find out if she could live there but after three years in Rome working casual jobs she wants a little more permanence in her life.

Enter a job offer in Naples, it is a one year journalism contract which she takes. The job features only casually in the book most of the story is of Penny learning about and exploring Naples, the people she meets, the food she eats. Also it is the story of how Naples has such a dangerous reputation as a dirty city, hazardous to tourists and riddled with Camorra. In true journalism style Penny investigates and writes about the rubbish problem that Naples (apparently) is famous for.

One of the real beauties of the book is the writing style, which was vividly descriptive and largely cheerful. By the end of it I was almost ready to quit my job and move to Italy - or at least buy a plane ticket to see it for myself.

[Juliana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not bad, but not good, once again a book that is all about is very thin,,, Naples is an amazing place and the topics the writer introduced were great, but the way it was written it had no beginning no end and no real conclusions.... I expected so much more..

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this at the end of 2007 and got about halfway through before I had to return it to the library. Second time around I read the whole thing and it wasn't really worth it!

[Jodie Ansted · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this 3.5 stars.

This is the follow up to Penelope's book When In Rome. In See Naples and Die, Penelope takes a job in Naples, leaving behind her beloved Rome to throw herself in to the unknown of a new Italian city. She decides to uncover the "real city" of Naples.

Whilst her first book was more about her search for a relationship, chasing a more relaxed lifestyle, and set against the beautiful backdrop of Rome, this book is focussed more so on the actual city of Naples. The people, the places, the culture. She becomes quite fascinated with the Camorra - Naples' mafia, and the Camorra's effect on the city, and she interviews many different locals to help her form her opinion on the city.

But it does have a little romance in it as well. Still chasing a special relationship with someone, she does eventually meet a bass player in a local band whom she thinks might be just the person she's looking for....

Whilst I, once again, enjoyed Penelope's writing, the content for me wasn't exactly what I had hoped the book would be about. Don't get me wrong: I was interested to hear about Naples, but for me, there was too much about the city, and not enough about Penelope and her life in the city, this time. Still a good read though.

[Konrad Plechowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah.. In principle the idea is good - usual "my first year in ... " adventures, mixed with interviews of many actors involved in social fabric of the fascinating city from all across the society. But..it's dull, plot is pretty boring, interviews not revealing much, and writing tacky at times. I learned about Naples, but the book itself tired me. Only for the fans of naples or expat stories (which I'm both a bit)..

[Monika · Rating 1 out of 5]

Autorka jest idiotką, albo się na taką kreuje (po co?). Odpadłam po drugim rozdziale.

PS. Mieszkanie w innym kraju niż swój rodzimy to jeszcze nie jest wystarczający powód, aby pisać o tym książki.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great continuation of Penelope Green's experience in Italy, this time about her time in Naples ... looking forward to reading her third book ..

[Mario Dhingsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

See Naples and smile. Thanks Ms Green!

[AJ Dwyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable.

[Kristel · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Ofta this writing does not flow or stay on the same thread in a chapter, it's all over the place. After a few hours of my time I just couldn't anymore. Ugh.

[Wattle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was no where near as good as the first one. I did enjoy it, but found the history lesson on Naples's underworld to be quite boring, which lasted on and off for the entire book. The different people that the author came across in her travels are the best bits, I just wish there was more of that than what we got.

I do however, look forward to reading the third book some time in the near future.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Penelope Green book and I enjoyed it so much that I'll be going out to find her other books, maybe I should have read then in sequence? I loved her first hand account of moving to, then settling down in Naples, the snippets of information and history she gives of the city, it's people and the Camorra made it a little easier to understand why Naples has such a reputation. In spite of it all, I still want to go!

[Genna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light and enjoyable read, written by an Australian writer living in Naples. I really enjoyed her insights into Southern Italian culture, the book allows you to take a look further into Neapolitan way of life, behind the crime and camorra. Penelope's experiences were a great escape and I finished the book feeling likle I had travelled some of the way with her.

[Jess Stretton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not as good as her first book, When in Rome. I got very tired of reading about Naples political problems and the book was full of interviews with different people being asked the same questions. Yes easy to read but not as relatable as her first book.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good light read and a behind the scenes look at Naples - the contradictions between rich/poor, poverty/wealth, the Camorra (Mafia), role of the Madonna & mother in the family, the rubbish problem, etc.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

More fun, read it after a brief visit to Naples and so glad we survived!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

scared me as I am visiting the city

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have lived in Naples then it would get about 3.5 stars. We lived there around the same time as the author so I was able to relate to the book very much. It was an enjoyable quick read.

[Eveie Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, I enjoyed the writers insights into this wonderful city

[Nicola]

a present from Schnuggi, started, but didn't find the tone, will try again

[Chel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting travelogue - a new city for me to explore in print!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Favourite of all Penelope's books. She is an easy read and always has great tales to tell.

[Sandy Goodrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as enjoyable as her first book. Found it a little hard going in bits.