Natalie Galli

I loved this book, more than I’d expected. I enjoyed the writing style and beautiful writing throughout (some might think that in places it’s too descriptive/flowery but I found it pleasing and think it was perfect for this book) and I loved the entertaining storytelling. I was hooked from the start, from the prologue all the way to the extras at the end. I hadn’t been sure just how interested I’d be in the topic, but I found the entire book delightful and I enjoyed basking in it as I read.

Not only was I interested in the story of the “girl who said no” and the journalistic research the author did about her, but I was at least just as interested in the writer’s memoir, her story and the stories about her family members and her ancestors, and by her various experiences over the years. They were just as compelling as the woman the author was researching. I was fascinated learning the parts about Sicily, its culture, its history, its art, and its nature/the natural world. I completely understand the passion and curiosity one can feel and its inspiration for wanting to research another, especially when first introduced to a story as a young person.

This is a wonderful, really perfect, armchair travel book. It made me want to visit (with certain caveats) and I yearned to experience much of it for myself, but the account made me feel as though I was there and it was a pleasure. I learned so, so much about so many aspects of the place.

The account is tragic, inspiring, and thankfully at many points amusing. I really appreciated the humor in the book and the complexity of many of the situations shown. I enjoyed (mostly with joy, sometimes with horror) spending time with the many people the author described.

I admired the whole arc of the story, from start to how it was wrapped up. Speaking of which, I could have been satisfied no matter what the outcome of the author’s search because this is one of those tales where the journey is at least as important as its destination, but I felt particularly satisfied by the ending. I was never heavily invested in any particular outcome though.

I adore maps in books and there is a map of Sicily here and I did frequently consult it. I do wish it had been even more detailed as not every place mentioned appeared on the map. (I guess that’s what the internet is for. It was easy to find places when I chose to look them up. The map as is was incredibly helpful.)

I made a lot of use of the Italian-English glossary in the back of the book, but I noticed not every Italian word used was included. The vast majority of the missing words I could translate given their context, and if I’d chosen I could have looked up the other relatively few. I also frequently used and enjoyed the glossary a lot. Italian is such a beautiful language.

I believe it was smart on the author’s part to place certain contents in the back in an appendix the way she did. It was perfect placement for readers’ enjoyment following this true story.

While I would no longer eat most of the foods described (though my mind was veganizing those foods not naturally vegan) reading this book made me hungry. The foods native to the area sounded delicious and contributed to feeling truly immersed in the culture of the place, on both trips there that the author made.

Full disclosure: I have met author a few times and have been friends with two of her family members for almost my entire adult life so for over 4 decades. Those two friends gave me this book, but with no expectation or requirement that I would review it, shelve it, or mention it anywhere online unless I wanted to do so. (A note: For me at times it was a bit personally emotionally painful in ways it would not be for other readers, but I was able to mostly just enjoy the reading experience.) I’ve never been to Sicily but now feel as close to having had that experience as I could have without actually being there. I do know San Francisco and the San Francisco Bay Area well and I enjoyed those short portions the way I always do when reading about this area of the world.

Highly recommended for those interested in the current “me too movement” and feminist history, and those with any interest in Sicily and its culture and its history, its art and its food, etc. etc. etc. and those who enjoy rewarding/gratifying armchair travel via reading books. For those with a big stake in the resolution, there is quite a bit of suspense.

4-2/3 stars

Mine is the first review here at Goodreads. I hope that there will be many more.… (mehr)

Full disclosure: I’ve known the writer and the artist of this book for over 40 years and been friends with them for nearly 40 years. I felt obligated to buy the book but I also really wanted to buy the book. I’m really glad I own it; just to have the illustrations makes it worth it for me to have at hand, and I know I’ll want to occasionally reread it.

The story is about a cat looking for a forever home, getting help from all the animals she encounters along the way, as she searches for a specific little girl in an orange dress.

The illustrations are wonderful, very colorful and intricate and interesting. 5 full stars. I love them.

I was worried I wouldn’t like the story but I liked it very much. 4 stars, maybe demoted by me to 3 ½ due to the inclusion of egg & dairy, which obviously wouldn’t bother most people, but vegan parents take note. Very engaging tale with just the amount of repetition and rhyme (not too much of either) that I think, greatly enhanced by the pictures, will entertain young and old, children and older children and adults who might read the tale to them. The story would also be appropriate for young readers with just the right amount of familiar and unfamiliar/challenging words. The meaning of the Italian word Ciao is explained at the very beginning. Engaging story, with just a touch of humor and just a touch of suspense, overall a very gentle and sweet tale, especially for those who love cats and other animals.

I love that the inspiration for this very fictional story, that has a fantasy element of talking animals, came from a real Italian town and I got a really good feel for that town, and enjoyed the experience of learning about it. I’d love to visit it.

I got a kick out of and thoroughly enjoyed the author & illustrator section in the back titled “When They Were Girls” which includes the roles of the author and illustrator (on an illustrated page) and has photos of the book creators when they were girls.

It is a self-published paperback book, but the design is lovely and it’s a beautiful book.

I hope that there will be more books forthcoming.

4 ½ stars… (mehr)