Laura Mattera Iacono Archivi - Keep Calm and Drink Coffee

LA FAMIGLIA FORTUNATA – THE LUCKY FAMILY

Oct 15, 2021 | BOOKS

The lucky family is the further translation requested to Laura by Enzo Migliaccio, founder of the Imagaenaria bookshop in Ischia Ponte and of the publishing house of the same name, author of the series Works from three pennies for four cats that I had already mentioned for La Pietra Cantante.

Here you can find another fantastic photo of Cenerella, which Laura introduced us on the blog Al tavola di Amalia, and I couldn’t help but immediately think of the Acqua Alta bookshop.

Books and cats, isn’t it a perfect match?

Returning to the reading: I was immediately struck by another “familiar” aspect: the character who introduces the reader to the story is called Pisani.

Very popular surname in the country where I was born!

Since we are very far from Ischia, it seemed to me a curious connection as if The family of the title could somehow take on a universal connotation.

The lucky family.
Luck is what each of us represents a bit synonymous with fulfilled wishes.

Or the other way around?
As this quote from the Dalai Lama suggests
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

I was very curious to find out how Vilhelm Bergsøe would represent this good fortune.

Obviously I don’t tell the plot, but I would like to ask: how would you represent a lucky family?

LA PIETRA CANTANTE – THE SINGING STONE

Sep 11, 2021 | BOOKS

I thank very much Laura who immediately fulfilled the wish I had expressed, making me discover The singing Stone.

“Threepenny works for four cats” could I not immediately fall in love with this book necklace?

IMAGAENARIA is an old-fashioned bookshop, as less and less are found in Italy … the presentation looks like the beginning of a fairy tale and I honestly still am enchanted when I read these things and I feel grateful for the precious recovery of unjustly forgotten works of literature from every time and country.

Vilhelm Bergsøe who I discovered a frequenter of the Caffè Greco in Rome as a member of the Scandinavian Circle was a zoologist and in his book a meticulous and dedicated attention to Nature in all its aspects.

While I was reading, I never stopped imagining Laura intent on her translation work: which must not have been easy at all and for which I can only congratulate her endlessly.

I don’t know about you, but very often, reading books by foreign authors, I do not dwell sufficiently on the scope of the work of those who translate, which undoubtedly plays an essential role.

It is far from simple in fact to recreate the same atmospheres that the author generates with his completely personal way of writing and to keep faith with the original writing style.

Writing is the painting of the voice.

I believe that this quote by Voltaire contains the essence of what level the necessary competence must reach to translate “painting” into another language.

Among other things, The singing Stone is very rich in detailed descriptions of the environment and vegetation, with names of plants that I, for example, did not even know.

A book that has the power to carry the reader on the same path to discover a part of the island of Ischia known only to those who were born there, and who have handed down the stories of their ancestors.

An exploration in nature, but also in time, among the legends that I particularly love and which reunite natural phenomena with the history experienced by the people, in a complete immersion in the magical atmosphere of the place.

Obviously I don’t want to completely reveal the identity of the singing Stone so as not to spoil the pleasure of discovery, which I advise you not to miss.

Rather, we will reconfirm my highest esteem to Laura.
Again and again thank you!

AT AMALIA’S TABLE

Aug 27, 2021 | BOOKS, ITALY, JOURNEY FROM MUG TO MUG, WOMEN

As promised I go back to have coffee with three c by Laura: the pen of the group At Amalia’s table.

We tell about Ischia between chat and coffee.
It’s the slogan underneath the photo of six gorgeous smiling women.
Fantastic! Don’t you agree?

I obviously couldn’t help but immerse myself instantly!

Following the blog I discovered absolutely interesting information, tales, stories, traditions and itineraries that led me to go beyond the perhaps best-known entrance of the Terme to find out for example unexpected details on agriculture that honestly I would not have imagined.

Because At Amalia’s table friends talk about Ischia, going in search of the soul that not even the Ischitans know fully, in a succession of in-depth studies that also range geographically up to Casamicciola, Lacco Ameno, Forio, Serrara Fontana and Barano.
Did you already know these places?

Coffee as a meeting point.

What to say? PERFECT!!

And coffee was the very first exchange within this project that grew up at Amalia‘s table, which kicked off thanks to which the friends met, and subsequently matured between walks, villages and characters.

In particular, I became passionate about the stories of Aunt Mariuccia and Sue: opposed in a sort of mirror vision that I advise you not to miss.

But there is another character to discover: Laura.
Interpreter and translator, she changed her life by exploring herself through a total immersion in nature, during which she retraced the Ischian experience of the Danish author Bergsøe.

La pietra cantante – The singing stone is one of her translation works that fascinated me as soon as I discovered that Laura translated it from a text in gothic characters … as I already said, I love these things that I consider a bit like dreams.

At the bottom of dreams isn’t it always nice to write to be continued?
So we can’t help but continue the discovery of this Singing Stone soon, right?