Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help self-published/indie authors with the daunting task of marketing. If I can help even a little bit, I’m happy to do it, and I encourage others to do the same. Below is a humorous and informative book by Bret Thoman, who relates his travels to and eventual life in Italy.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Travel deep into Italy with Bret Thoman as he narrates his lifelong journey from America’s Southland to the South of Italy. Initially drawn to Florence out of curiosity to discover his ancestral roots and study the language, he feels a lure to the South. There, in the slower half, dialects are spoken, America is still revered, and long, lazy lunches are the high point of the day. In his travels, he meets the woman he marries.
The culture of Southern Italy comes to life as experienced through Bret’s in-laws, Whether his mother-in-law is teaching him the secrets of Italian cooking or how to avoid getting sick by closing windows and turning off the air conditioning, his relationship with them wavers from “exasperating to enlightening.”
In the third section, Bret recounts the joys and vexations of living in Italy. While mundane events like getting a driver’s license, paying taxes, or going to a soccer stadium can be maddening, he is ultimately transformed by the Dolce Vita, the Sweet Life. He has become Italian.
If you are curious about your own Italian roots, if Italy is your favorite destination, or if you enjoy wacky travel stories colored by the Italian spirit, you won’t want to miss this one. With an eye for the zany, awkward, and just plain ludicrous, this book will not disappoint.
BOOK REVIEW
Now this is the way to educate others about a country they might not have had the pleasure of visiting! This book is filled with colorful stories, anecdotes, and travel experiences from Bret Thoman, who grew up in the Southern U.S. but ended up living in the South of Italy. With takes from historical to humorous, Bret relates his life and travel experiences in a fun and engaging way. It will make you want to visit Italy even more. I really enjoyed his description of Southern Italy and the vast differences between the Italian South and the North. I was intrigued by his description of the slower way of life there, and I’m all on board with the three-hour lunch! His journey from majoring in Italian in college to becoming a part of the Southern Italian culture is a delightful and informative read.
I downloaded this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bret has a master’s degree in Italian from Middlebury College, a BA from the University of Georgia, and a certificate in Franciscan Studies. He is an FAA-licensed pilot and flew professionally for six years logging over 3,500 hours of flight time. After he left flying, he started organizing and accompanying tours and pilgrimages to Italy for the company he founded in 2004.
Bret began writing initially to provide material for participants on his tours. That turned into a hobby, and then an avocation. To date, he has written six books and numerous articles and has translated over a dozen from Italian to English.
He lives in Loreto, Italy with his wife and three children.
Bret can be contacted at: bret.thoman@gmail.com
His website is here.
BUY LINKS
**Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this for free. And it’s only $1.99 to buy the ebook.
*If you buy the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
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Bonnie Reads and Writes 
must visit, thanks for the reminder, amen
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I hope to go there someday
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I’ve traveled to Italy a few times, and sure could have used a book like this.
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I’ve been to Europe but never made it to Italy. Just Germany, France, and the Netherlands. I would love to see Italy though. It’s interesting how he describes the vast differences between Northern Italy and Southern Italy.
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leaving Friday for a 22-day Mediterranean cruise with multiple stops in Italy. I’ve traveled there 4 times before and LOVE it. I especially loved the cooking classes they offer. I’ve taken three!!
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Oh I’m so jealous! I hope you post pictures!
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