Posts by Kimberly Sullivan
Canalside living in Milan’s Navigli
When I was a student earning my Master’s degree, I lived in Milan, in its picturesque canal district in the city’s south: the Navigli. I loved my time there, I loved the busy nightlife as the bars and restaurants came alive after dark. I loved the silence of early weekend mornings, and even the way…
Read MoreMarguerite Yourcenar’s gender-balanced approach to evil
“Human wickedness is almost equally distributed between the two sexes.” —Marguerite Yourcenar Interesting words from Belgian-born, naturalized American author and essayist Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987). Yourcenar is the first woman to have been elected to Académie française, and is perhaps best known for her novel Memoirs of Hadrian. I’ve never been a fan of the “Believe…
Read MoreA Milanese landmark since the 4th century – San Ambrogio
I used to live in Milan many years ago. While everyone knows Milan’s famous Duomo, and I never fail to visit when I’m back, I also made a point to get back to my second favorite Milanese church on my last visit. San Ambrogio. San Ambrogio is a must of any trip to Milan. San…
Read MoreBook review: The Lost Family
I enjoyed this novel that spans three decades, told through the voices of three members of the same family. Peter Rashkin is the elegant, successful and enigmatic restauranteur of 1960s’ New York. The A-list crowd flocks to his Manhattan eatery, Masha’s, as much for his sophisticated European menu as for the tragic and mysterious aura…
Read MoreMedieval skyscrapers in Bologna
Italy’s Bologna, in medieval times, would have been a city filled with medieval-era “skyscrapers”. It s estimated that up to 180 towers may have existed during the medieval period. The reason for the construction of so many towers is not known. It is assumed that these constructions would have been built for defensive purposes, but…
Read MoreProud to be 8!
Wow – an exciting EIGHT candles on my cake. Beautiful, aren’t they? Enough candles to make the cake appear full and luminous, enough years to have reached a point of some reflections on growth and what has been learned along the way. In case you’re scratching your head in confusion, I am obviously not speaking…
Read MoreViews over Bologna from the terrace of San Petronio
During the holidays, my younger son and I decided to take the fast train up to Bologna for a day trip. I hadn’t been to Bologna for years, and my son was visiting for the first time. He and I both have a passion for finding the highest object in town and climbing to the…
Read MoreBook review: Io e te
I decided to read Io e te (You and Me) by Italian author Niccolo’ Ammaniti after both of my sons read it and urged me to do the same. Years ago, I loved reading Ammaniti’s novel Io non ho paura (I’m not afraid). Unfortunately, I read other Ammaniti novels and his short story collection and…
Read MoreViews over Gubbio from atop Mount Ingino
Last week I wrote about the charming, medieval town of Gubbio – located in Italy’s Umbria region. If you’re there on a clear day (as we were), you don’t want to miss out on spectacular views over the medieval tile rooftops from the peak of Mount Ingino – a small peak of the Apennine mountains…
Read MoreI’m taking the 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge
It’s that time of year again – time to sign up for the 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge. I enjoy taking the challenge each year – and keeping track of the novels I read for the new year. Once again, I’ll be setting a goal of 45 books for the new year. Will you be signing…
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