Posts by Kimberly Sullivan
In need of a little holiday cheer … in Rome
2020 is winding down. and while I’m old enough not to generally wish for the rapid passage of time – this year has broken all the rules. It can’t wrap up fast enough for me. So as 2020 comes to an end, I’m grateful the city didn’t skimp on the Christmas lights this year. I…
Read MoreA fascinating glimpse into sea-sourced vocabulary from author Grace Tierney
From baggywinkle and gollywobbler to tempest and flotsam, the sea in all her moods has given a boatload of words to the English language throughout history. Grace Tierney’s fascinating Words the Sea Gave Us explores their origins along with a cargo of old sea dog yarns. Cast your line for the salty history of skyscraper,…
Read MoreA weekend in Italy’s center – Rieti
I’ve already written about this medieval town north of Rome, at the upper edges of the Lazio region. I got to know Rieti quite well when my younger son began running for the town’s competitive track and field team. Although his daily practice is (thankfully) in Rome, we get here fairly often for track meets.…
Read MoreBook review: The Last Collection
I picked up this novel last summer because I was curious about one of the historical figures. This is the tale of two rival fashion designers that unfolds in pre- and post-World War II Paris. One of the designers was quite well known to me (and perhaps everyone): Coco Chanel. But the focus of the…
Read MoreA taste of the Old World in Columbus, Ohio’s German Village
My older son and I were in Columbus, Ohio this past summer, and we decided to walk down to the German Village area, on the southern edge of the city. Originally settled by Geman immigrants in the early 1800s, Columbus’ German Village still has a distinct character today. It sits adjacent to the Brewery District…
Read MoreI’m (not) leaving on a jet plane
Some of you may remember the old John Denver song, but in keeping with 2020, think it’s fair to say that most of us aren’t going anywhere on a jet plane. Even if we did, what would there be to do? Quarantine for two weeks and go out to observe the closed museums, shuttered bars…
Read MoreThe odd nighttime silence of the Eternal City
It’s déjà vu, all over again…. But so it goes in 2020. Here in Rome, we have a lockdown lite. Perhaps not that ‘lite’, however, to businesses trying to get back on their feet after our long lockdown. Currently in Rome, restaurants and bars must shutter up at 6 pm. Supemarkets, pharmacies and some shops…
Read MoreBook review: Miss Iceland
I picked this novel up in a bookstore this past summer. I liked the cover and the book blurb, and I liked that it was translated from Icelandic. I’m always eager to discover good translated literature. Luckily, this was a great discovery. Miss Iceland is the sixth novel by Icelandic novelist Audur Ava Ólafsdóttir. Miss…
Read MoreA needed breath of fresh (mountain) air in Abruzzo
In the familiar tradition of all things related with 2020, autumn sucked… Usually, I make efforts to get out to our mountain escape in Abruzzo, enjoying the autumn foliage, hiking and mountain biking with my family. But 2020 has ruined all our beloved traditions, so it’s no surprise it also hampered my mountain getaways. Nevertheless,…
Read MoreA shout out to all you 2020 Nanoers out there!
It’s rolled around once again. November – the month writers anticipate/fear/loathe – especially those who participate in the annual National Nove Writing Month challenge, or NaNo or NaNoWriMo for short. The challenge is this: Write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Do so by putting your nose to the grindstone and throwing out your…
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