ABC Books
9780733329548
Zoe Boccabella grew up in Brisbane, in an Anglo-Italian family. Her father’s Italian family had strong links back to ‘home’ and Zoe was constantly being reminded of her Italian heritage. However, this was ‘Joh’s’ Queensland in the nineteen-seventies and eighties and Zoe was taunted at school as a ‘wog’ and Italian food and culture were openly derided. Consequently Zoe tried to adapt, ‘not to stand out or be different’. It is not until she is in her twenties, travelling around Europe with her boyfriend, that Zoe can bring herself to visit her family’s home village of Fossa, in the mountainous Abruzzo region. After years of denial Zoe immediately realizes her emotional link to the house, in which her family has lived for several centuries, and her Italian ancestors. What follows are wonderful descriptions of relatives and other villagers, the countryside and the food – the Abruzzo produces more superb cooks than any other part of Italy. When an earthquake strikes Zoe describes the strength of the villagers to endure yet more hardship. This is a beautifully written memoir full of characters and places which will appeal to the literary traveller, to people who already love Italy and to all those intending to visit.
Books in Print staff review by Chris *****
