7. Can cultural differences help us live with one another?

[Manuel]

Cultural differences show up in several ways in this novel: American versus Italian, medical versus natural, heavenly versus earthly, husband versus wife. How do these different perspectives help the characters grow in understanding? Has such a difference ever helped you take a fresh look at something you took for granted? How can a couple develop and nurture the kind of mutual trust we see Gary and Tessa sharing?

[Jill]

Book seems awfully negative on Italians, especially the family feuding.
I love the way Gary and Tessa use humor in their relationship, e.g. "learning" that he's married a whore (according to those Italians).

[Jane]

Since I'm allowed to comment on all the threads, here's a silly bit of trivia about the "subterranean streetwalker" comment that Martin refuses to translate.

My grandmother was Foggianese (and may have met Padre Pio as an infant HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?!) but they always considered themselves Napolitani. My stepfather's Scilian grandmother treated my mother to her opinion about Napolitani women, and it was "subterranean streetwalkers". My mother...well, she refused to tell me what the actual Italian words were. LOL. But I never forgot the way my mother translated the slur, and I had to keep it.