Syndetics cover image
Image from Syndetics

Wandering through life : a memoir / Donna Leon.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York, NY : Atlantic Monthly Press, an imprint of Grove Atlantic, 2023Copyright date: ©2023Edition: First Grove Atlantic hardcover editionDescription: xi, 193 pages ; 22 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780802161581
  • 0802161588
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
Preface -- Part one; America. Noll's farm -- My family -- Halloween -- First day of school -- Reading -- Tomato empire -- Christmas turkey -- Tosca -- Handel -- Moo -- Part two: On the road. Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll -- Odd job -- $audiopoly -- Made in the USA -- Part three: Italy. Italia, ti amo -- The perfect cappuccino -- Wagner -- Caigo -- Sir Peter Jonas -- Von Clausewitz at Rialto -- Gondola -- Waiting for the plumber -- Cruise ships -- Letter for the questore -- Part four: In the mountains. Other countries, other habits -- Gotthard -- Bees -- Tigger -- Confessions of an American Handel junkie -- Miss Brill.
Summary: "The internationally bestselling author of the Guido Brunetti mysteries tells her own adventurous life story as she enters her eighties. In a series of vignettes full of affection, irony, and good humor, Donna Leon narrates a remarkable life she feels has rather more happened to her than been planned. From a childhood in the company of her New Jersey family, with frequent visits to her grandfather's farm and its beloved animals, and summers spent selling homegrown tomatoes by the roadside, Leon has long been open to adventure. In 1976, she made the spontaneous decision to teach English in Iran, before finding herself swept up in the early days of the 1979 Revolution. After teaching stints in China and Saudi Arabia, she finally landed in Venice. Leon vividly animates her decades-long love affair with Italy, from her first magical dinner when serving as a chaperone to a friend, to the hunt for the perfect cappuccino, to the warfare tactics of grandmothers doing their grocery shopping at the Rialto Market. Some things remain constant throughout the decades: her adoration of opera, especially Handel's vocal music, her advocacy for the environment, embodied in her passion for bees-which informs the surprising crux of the Brunetti mystery in Earthly Remains-and her eager imagination for crime as she watches unsuspecting travelers on trains. Yet as Leon inspects the cracks in the wall of a friend's bedroom, caused by the seven-story cruise ships making their way down Venice's canals, she admits regretfully that the thrill may be gone as mass tourism renders the city less and less appealing to its longtime chronicler. Having recently celebrated her eightieth birthday, Leon now confronts the dual challenges and pleasures of aging. Complete with a brief letter dissuading those hoping to meet Guido Brunetti at the Questura, and always suffused with music, food, and her fierce sense of humor, Wandering through Life offers Donna Leon at her most personal"-- Provided by publisher.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library Biography LEON, D. L579 Available 33111011195548
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Theinternationally bestselling author of the Guido Brunetti mysteries tells herown adventurous life story as she enters her eighties

In a series of vignettes full of affection, irony, and good humor, DonnaLeon narrates a remarkable life she feels has rather more happened to her thanbeen planned.

Following a childhood in the company of her New Jersey family, withfrequent visits to her grandfather's farm and its beloved animals, and summersspent selling homegrown tomatoes by the roadside, Leon got her first taste ofthe classical music and opera that would enrich her life. She also developed ayen for adventure. In 1976, she made the spontaneous decision to teach Englishin Iran, before finding herself swept up in the early days of the 1979Revolution. After teaching stints in China and Saudi Arabia, she finally landedin Venice. Leon vividly animates her decades-long love affair with Italy, fromher first magical dinner when serving as a chaperone to a friend, to the huntfor the perfect cappuccino, to the warfare tactics of grandmothers doing theirgrocery shopping at the Rialto Market.

Some things remain constant throughout the decades: her adoration of opera, especially Handel's vocal music, and her advocacy for the environment, embodied in her passion for bees--which informs the surprising crux of the Brunetti mystery Earthly Remains . Even as mass tourism takes its toll on the patience of residents, Leon's passion for Venice remains unchanged: its outrageous beauty and magic still captivate her.

Having recently celebrated her eightieth birthday, Leon poignantlyconfronts the dual challenges and pleasures of aging. Complete with a brief letter dissuadingthose hoping to meet Guido Brunetti at the Questura, and always suffused withmusic, food, and her sharp sense of humor, Wandering through Life offers Donna Leon at her most personal.

"The internationally bestselling author of the Guido Brunetti mysteries tells her own adventurous life story as she enters her eighties. In a series of vignettes full of affection, irony, and good humor, Donna Leon narrates a remarkable life she feels has rather more happened to her than been planned. From a childhood in the company of her New Jersey family, with frequent visits to her grandfather's farm and its beloved animals, and summers spent selling homegrown tomatoes by the roadside, Leon has long been open to adventure. In 1976, she made the spontaneous decision to teach English in Iran, before finding herself swept up in the early days of the 1979 Revolution. After teaching stints in China and Saudi Arabia, she finally landed in Venice. Leon vividly animates her decades-long love affair with Italy, from her first magical dinner when serving as a chaperone to a friend, to the hunt for the perfect cappuccino, to the warfare tactics of grandmothers doing their grocery shopping at the Rialto Market. Some things remain constant throughout the decades: her adoration of opera, especially Handel's vocal music, her advocacy for the environment, embodied in her passion for bees-which informs the surprising crux of the Brunetti mystery in Earthly Remains-and her eager imagination for crime as she watches unsuspecting travelers on trains. Yet as Leon inspects the cracks in the wall of a friend's bedroom, caused by the seven-story cruise ships making their way down Venice's canals, she admits regretfully that the thrill may be gone as mass tourism renders the city less and less appealing to its longtime chronicler. Having recently celebrated her eightieth birthday, Leon now confronts the dual challenges and pleasures of aging. Complete with a brief letter dissuading those hoping to meet Guido Brunetti at the Questura, and always suffused with music, food, and her fierce sense of humor, Wandering through Life offers Donna Leon at her most personal"-- Provided by publisher.

Preface -- Part one; America. Noll's farm -- My family -- Halloween -- First day of school -- Reading -- Tomato empire -- Christmas turkey -- Tosca -- Handel -- Moo -- Part two: On the road. Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll -- Odd job -- $audiopoly -- Made in the USA -- Part three: Italy. Italia, ti amo -- The perfect cappuccino -- Wagner -- Caigo -- Sir Peter Jonas -- Von Clausewitz at Rialto -- Gondola -- Waiting for the plumber -- Cruise ships -- Letter for the questore -- Part four: In the mountains. Other countries, other habits -- Gotthard -- Bees -- Tigger -- Confessions of an American Handel junkie -- Miss Brill.

Powered by Koha