NINNINI

NINNINI

Ninnini, an almost onomatopoeic name, a child, the character described by Keyofeye, whom I thank for the book.

Keyofeye is also the author of the blog Coulelavie

Eleonora described Ninnini in her Le1000e1recensione, as always, if you click on the bold text, you will be taken directly to the text.

With today’s coffee, I would like to chat about some messages that particularly struck me.

First and foremost: irony.

As you know, I greatly admire those who have the ability to make people laugh with intelligence.

From the very first lines, Ninnini’s world introduces the reader to a humorous dimension that immediately dismantles a ‘sacred monster’ among children’s classics.

After that, the door is open, and even a concept such as anarchy is stripped of any superstructure.

Have you ever found yourself struggling to explain something to a child?

Ninnini could be the key.

Irony is always a key, as is simplicity.

Ninnini is the plastic representation of laziness and shows us the attitude that leads to any kind of excuse not to do something.

On the other hand, his imagination is tireless, and in reality, the characters he creates are “eager to resolve issues in which Evil threatens Freedom and Justice.”

What can I say? More Ninnini for everyone.

Personally, I identified with the moment when, having achieved a record score in a video game, a system bug prevented him from registering his name.

Sometimes I call it my Wile E. Coyote syndrome, but most people call it bad luck.

One thing Ninnini teaches me is to water cacti or they might die. Unfortunately, I killed the cactus Luciana gave me, even though I cared for it like crazy, or maybe because of that.

These are SuperERRORS too 🙂

But we can all grow, starting with Ninnini, who still doesn’t want to drink coffee because it’s for grown-ups 🙂

REVELATIONS

REVELATIONS

Revelations, a gift from Marzia Santella, whom I thank very much.

I would like to share the dedication, which I particularly liked:
I believe that every reader brings a book to life: I hope that you will find something special in these stories.

In fact, I had never considered reading from this perspective: “bringing a book to life”. However, Marzia is right and offers us an excellent point for reflection, or rather, she offers us a first revelation.Have you ever had the feeling of bringing the book you were reading to life?

Have you ever had revelations of this kind?

I would also like to highlight the edition edited by Manuale di Mari

 

Robert wrote the editor’s note: another revelation.

Revelations is a collection of short stories.  Stories of shadow and light, as the subtitle illustrates.

The book is divided into two parts:
– useless questions
– ostentatious kindness
but don’t take these words literally.

What do you think a useless question could be?

Perhaps, for example: “Do you like pizza?” 🙂

Marzia Santella’s useless questions are of a different kind; they are questions that take on a life of their own and are embodied in the ruthless sincerity of the protagonists.

As for ostentatious kindness, especially these days, I think we could fill an entire encyclopaedia with examples of the terrible humanity that surrounds us every day. Would you like to start?

THE HOUSEKEEPER

THE HOUSEKEEPER

I finally read La governante (The Housekeeper) by Csaba Dalla Zorza, published by Marsilio, thanks to Tania.

I was really very curious.

I have been following Csaba Dalla Zorza since the days of Il mondo di Csaba – Csaba’s world because her style struck me immediately.

After many cookery and lifestyle books, La governante is her first novel and, contrary to what we might assume, it is the fulfilment of a long-held dream

She herself has stated several times that she would love to work as a housekeeper, so it is natural to assume that the book is not only the fulfilment of a desire, but also the story of it.

In reality, this is not exactly the case.

While reading, I had a constant feeling that I was visualising Csaba removing a long series of pebbles from a pair of suede Mary Janes in autumn colours.

Have you ever expressed discomfort, vented your feelings, or lifted a weight off your shoulders?

How did you communicate?

Another perception I had was a sort of disbelief regarding the acknowledgements page, because while reading I had the impression that The Housekeeper was the result of deep but individual commitment.

La governante is undoubtedly a celebration of perfection personified.

But… ‘perfect people don’t fight, don’t lie, don’t make mistakes and don’t exist.’

Apparently Aristotle hadn’t read La governante…

Joking aside, perhaps I’m just jealous, since I’m drowning in my multitude of flaws, but doesn’t too much perfection risk becoming tiresome?

THE WEDDING PEOPLE

THE WEDDING PEOPLE

The wedding people, published by Bollati Boringhieri, is another book I read thanks to Monica.

The author is Alison Espach, who is also a Vogue writer.

The story takes place in a hotel overlooking the ocean where a wedding lasting several days has been organised. During this time, the protagonist finds herself interacting with the bride and, consequently, with the diverse group of guests: people who are very different from each other but forced together for the event.

Would you like to attend a wedding that lasts several days?

Do you like weddings?

How long would you like your ideal wedding to last?

The story told in the book emphasises how even the most meticulous planning can always involve a degree of variability.

How do you deal with unpredictability?

Do you hate it when things don’t go as you expected, or do you love the surprises that fate throws at you?

And how can there be magic in a bad moment?

First of all, it’s an extremely positive point of view.

You would tend to think:

1. The magic of bad moments: great! I want to find out and understand.

2. The magic of bad moments: absurd, it’s nonsense.

On page 122, coffee is mentioned with particular reference to the so-called coffee distributors but above all to black coffee.

La magia dei momenti no

Do you take your coffee black?’ Lila picks up the phone.

Milk and sugar,’ replies Phoebe.

“Thank God. People who drink black coffee are so pretentious, you know? Like Marla this morning: ‘Oh no, no, I don’t put anything in my coffee. I like it black, thank you. Well, excuse me, but I happen to be a human being and I appreciate sugar.”

Are you more like Marla or Lila?

Are you a human being and do you appreciate sugar?

And if you like black coffee, like me, what would you be?

Sugar aside, going back to the magic of bad moments, has there ever been a time when pain, an unpleasant episode, a nasty inconvenience, or trouble represented a turning point towards a new and unexpectedly happy phase?

ESSERE FICHI (BEING COOL)

ESSERE FICHI (BEING COOL)

Essere Fichi – Being Cool by Paola Duca is the latest book I received thanks to Manuale di Mari

What is the first thing that comes to mind?

In Italy we use to tell Being figs when we want to express being cool, a play on words, but in reality, the author truly analyses Moraceae plants

She tells us about them, traces their history and meticulously collects a series of quotes referring to these sweet fruits that, among other things, herald the arrival of autumn

I am better prepared to enjoy them than to quote them, but Luisa Zambrotta always has something new for us to discover, so I recommend you don’t miss Louise Glück’s Vespers here

As for puns, do you often use them in your conversations?

Do you know any about coffee?

Paola Duca mentions coffee on page 36:
The clear horizon
frees me from boundaries,
while the passage
of merchant ships
creates new exchanges,
where I fantasise about the cargoes
of exotic fruit and the inevitable coffee …
and what could be better

for recharging your batteries
than a coffee break?

Excellent question!

Returning to figs, I recommend a recipe by Paola Bortolani from her blog Primo non Sprecare: savoury tart with speck and figs

What does Being Cool mean to you?

WAIT FOR ME AT CAFFÈ NAPOLI

WAIT FOR ME AT CAFFÈ NAPOLI

Wait for me at Caffè Napoli by Chiara Gily published by Mondadori: I sincerely thank my aunt and uncle for this gift, which could not have been more thoughtful!

Discovering that Caffè Napoli is not actually a café was the gateway to learning so much about Naples through the eyes and experiences of the protagonists of a story that reminds us that life takes away, yet despite bitter surprises, it also give in other ways.

The protagonist has Neapolitan origins but lives in Trieste as does the author, Chiara Gily, who writes a column in Il Piccolo: A Neapolitan in Trieste.

However, there are no further similarities between Lidia and Chiara; this is not an autobiography.

Wait for me at Caffè Napoli tells a story of sisterhood and friendship,  emphasising second chances.

Has life ever given you a second chance?

Or perhaps you have given one to someone else?

Wait for me at Caffè Napoli also tells of second chances in relation to objects.

Wait for me at Caffè Napoli talks about second chances, even when it comes to objects.

Since we last chatted about reuse, a lot has changed, and unfortunately many more shops disappeared. Is there a particular shop you’d like to tell me about?

Chiara takes readers to Via Caravita to enjoy coffee in a second-hand shop. Don’t you think that’s fantastic?

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