"ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I have ever read on the good people of Italy, its foods, customs, and hospitality." ~ Virginia H. Bliss
"I LOVED READING THIS BOOK!. It made me grateful to be half Italian." ~ Lynn Z
"THE MAN IS A GENIUS! James Ernest Shaw captured the Italian spirit." ~ Lucretia Votta
"A GREAT BOOK" ~ Debbie Barnard Heinzman
"WONDERFUL BOOK!l An Italian Journey takes you to the real Italy...and you learn why its siren song is so magical." ~ Nancy E Roberts
"FABULOUS BOOK! What a great read." ~ Cheryl D
"LOVELY BOOK! I highly recommend it." ~ Carmella DiRienzo
"LOVED AN ITALIAN JOURNEY! The last chapter filled my heart with such pride, faith, and love of family. Thank you....Ciao!" ~ Jeanette M
"A GREAT BOOK for anyone who loves Italy." ~ Liz S
"WONDERFUL WRITER! Really brings the landscape to life. Love this book!" ~ Diane Chrapliwy Lybbert
"THE REAL ITALY!" ~ Eleanore Fiori
"IF YOU HAVEN'T YET READ AN ITALIAN JOURNEY, I highly recommend that you do." ~ Pam Fox
"A MUST READ!! You will love it" ~ Maria Lodge
"A VERY GOOD BOOK! James Ernest Shaw writes very well--you can almost feel and see the things that he does." ~ Roberta
"I LOVE ITALY & LOVED THIS BOOK! I fell in love with Italy 3 years ago. This book brought back some of the delightful scenes and experiences. I, too, noticed and enjoyed the hospitality. Tuscany was so beautiful and magical, just as the author described. It was like being there again." ~ Nancy
"A MARVELOUS BOOK ABOUT MARVELOUS PEOPLE! The book transported me back to two happy experiences. One was growing up on a farm with my Italian grandma, the other was spending a summer in Tuscany. Shaw's adventures are divided into engaging chapters that nicely incorporate quotes and beautiful illustrations. AN ITALIAN JOURNEY made my heart glow with appreciation for Italians, the land, and life in general." ~ Janine O
"PLANNING A TRIP TO ITALY? Read this so you don't miss out on the Italy that tours never visit. If you're staying at home, just sit back and enjoy the ride. Preferably with a nice Tuscan wine at your side." ~ Dianne Hales, author of La Bella Lingua
"MANY OF US WOULD LOVE TO LIVE THIS BOOK. James Shaw has done it for us and allowed us to come along. I like it all, an adventurous journey with a compassionate author. Well Done, Well Done." ~ Roscaloni
"I LOVE ITALY & LOVED THIS BOOK! I fell in love with Italy 3 years ago. This book brought back some of the delightful scenes and experiences. I, too, noticed and enjoyed the hospitality. Tuscany was so beautiful and magical, just as the author described. It was like being there again." ~ Nancy
"I didn't want AN ITALIAN JOURNEY to end. We all have a "story" to tell of how our lives have been shaped by our faith. I so appreciated how the author wove the story of his faith journey into his journey of discovery in Italy. I'll be sharing this wonderful book! Ciao!" ~ Jeanne A
An adventure of the heart in the mold of literature's classic spiritual journeys.
It began with a girl. Then it was Italian food. After that it was books and discovering that even Mark Twain had fallen for Italy. E.M. Forster was smitten too: Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvelous than the land.
What is it about Italy and Italians?
Italian movies immortalize the mystique. Fellini called it La Dolce Vita. Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso took James Shaw back to the sweet memories of his childhood and the Italian family who operated the hometown theater. And just like in the movie, young James had an Alfredo who, by example, taught him about serving people.
James learned that Italians don't feel they're special. Luigi Barzini, author of The Italians, repeatedly asked, Why are we the way we are? and found no conclusive answer.
But James was convinced there was a reason why the Renaissance was born in Tuscany and Italy has given the world Saint Francis, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Galileo and now Benigni, whose film Life Is Beautiful showed the world that the Italian zest for living can even make a heaven of a hell.
And so, after a lifetime of thinking about Italy James became convinced that the way to find out why Italians are the way they are, would be to eat with them at their kitchen tables. Day after day he picked their olives and the Italians began treating him like family. And James began seeing their unique human quality that attracts people to Italy and keeps pulling them back again and again.
But the story doesn't end in the olive groves of Tuscany. To discover the heart of Italian life, James had to travel back to World War II Italy.
An Italian Journey will inspire you to follow your passions, your enthusiasms,
to your own Beautiful Discoveries.
BELLA SCOPERTA
