Saving Rome

by Megan K. Williams

In Rome, a traveler must quickly learn valuable lessons on how to assimilate into Roman culture. Never purchase a hamster unless you are wholly committed to its care. Never drink a cappuccino anytime after breakfast, unless you want to be recognized as a foreigner. Never wave at your Italian aerobics instructor if you don't recognize the man she is kissing. And never, ever, eat the banana from a fruit bowl arrangement. Saving Rome is a collection of stories about family, friends, second chances, rebirth and new life — all connected to the dramatic backdrop of Rome. Canadian Megam Williams, who maker her home there with her Italian family, looks at it all from the perspective of both an insider and an outsider.

Genres: Italy, Short Stories

225 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Shweta Ganesh Kumar]

Some of the stories were really good with a proper Roman flavour making one want more.
The others seemed to have been crammed in to complete the collection though.

[Amanda Barker]

I truly loved this book and savored every story. I found very funny at times and poignant at others. If you have Italy/Italians in your life I would say this is a must read.

[Miruna Găman]

It seemed promising at first, but the short stories could have been punchier, and some of them were barely involving Rome - I found the title to be rather misleading.

[Lisa]

Terribly disappointing. The publisher description is misleading. I picked this book up in Rome, the city I fantasize living in. As is expected from a collection of short stories, some are stronger than others. But most are trite and ridiculous. And several have nothing to do with Rome. A minor character that is from there does not make a story set in Toronto about Rome. A few stories evoke visions of the city streets and culture. But not enough to carry the silliness of the stories.

[Bronwyn]

A solid first collection of stories, a pleasure to read. As the back copy suggests, this is not Far From the Tuscan Sun. Williams takes deliciously dark turns in her stories. Mothers strike back against their children, small acts of cruelty abound, but in ways we're all familiar with, but dare not admit. Also, Rome is never fetishized–something you might expect from such a book.

[Deanna McFadden]

Read this for my book club and just finished it this morning. It's a solid yet uneven collection of short stories each with a common touch point of Rome, Italy. Whether it's an Italian student or Rome as the setting, the stories themselves reveal the author's obvious love for both the country and its culture.

[Michelle]

Trite

[Mj Meade]

Very insightful. Great prose. Memorable characters.
A must read.

[iliotropio]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13060549