Synopses & Reviews
In his American publishing debut, the Bill Bryson of Italy spends a year in one of Washington, D.C.'s toniest neighborhoods, bargain hunting at a mattress
warehouse, savoring pizza from a franchise, and trying not to drown in the shower.
It wasn't humorist Beppe Severgnini's first trip to the States. But when he and his wife arrived in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 1994, they agreed to stay
for an entire year, renting a creaky house in Georgetown and seeing if they could stand a full four seasons in Uncle Sam's backyard. The result is this delightful,
insightful glimpse at America -- and the nation's capitol -- through the eyes of a fiercely funny guest.
Capturing the odd sights and scents of Severgnini's destination, Ciao, America! is a tale of quirky discoveries in a country obsessed with ice cubes,
air-conditioning, recliner chairs, and after-dinner cappuccinos. From their first encounters with cryptic rental listings to their back-to-Europe yard sale twelve
months later, the Severgninis explore their new territory with the self-described patience of mildly inappropriate beachcombers. Succumbing to their
surroundings day by day, they find themselves developing a taste for Klondike bars and Samuel Adams beer, and even enrolling in a frequent flier program.
The realtor who waves a perfect bye-bye, the senator's wife who bellows threats from her stoop, and the plumber named Marx who deals in illegally powerful
showerheads are just a few of the better-than-fiction characters they encounter while foraging for clues to the real America. A trip to the computer store
proves just as revealing as D.C.'s Fourth of July celebration, as do boisterous waiters angling for tips andno-parking signs crammed with a dozen lines of fine
print. By the end of his visit, Severgnini has unearthed a new take on the States, and written a laugh-out-loud yet affectionate tribute to it.
Review
Beppe Severgnini is a columnist for Italys Corriere della Sera and also writes for The Economist. A bestselling author in Italy, his books include Inglesi, a portrait of modern Britain. Severgnini lives with his wife in Crema, Italy.
Review
"A delightful read, full of wonderful anecdotes that capture the eye-opening absurdity of life in the United States."Chicago Tribune
Review
"Witty...Whatever you have taken for granted in America is what Severignini observes with the freshness and charm of the outsider, here for an extended visit. He gives us back ourselves with our manners and mores and even the fine print on our No Parking signs in a shining mirror."Philadelphia Weekly Press
Review
"Severignini is a master in the vein of Bill Bryson...Ciao, America! is a sardonic tale of cultural bewilderment, an incisive peek into the mundane obsessions of our American existence that makes the commonplace seem not only insane but extremely funny."Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
In the wry but affectionate tradition of Bill Bryson, Ciao, America! is a delightful look at America through the eyes of a fiercely funny guest one of Italys favorite authors who spent a year in Washington, D.C.
Synopsis
In the wry but affectionate tradition of Bill Bryson, Ciao, America! is a delightful look at America through the eyes of a fiercely funny guest -- one of Italy's favorite authors who spent a year in Washington, D.C.
When Beppe Severgnini and his wife rented a creaky house in Georgetown they were determined to see if they could adapt to a full four seasons in a country obsessed with ice cubes, air-conditioning, recliner chairs, and, of all things, after-dinner cappuccinos. From their first encounters with cryptic rental listings to their back-to-Europe yard sale twelve months later, Beppe explores this foreign land with the self-described patience of a mildly inappropriate beachcomber, holding up a mirror to America's signature manners and mores. Succumbing to his surroundings day by day, he and his wife find themselves developing a taste for Klondike bars and Samuel Adams beer, and even that most peculiar of American institutions -- the pancake house.
The realtor who waves a perfect bye-bye, the overzealous mattress salesman who bounces from bed to bed, and the plumber named Marx who deals in illegally powerful showerheads are just a few of the better-than-fiction characters the Severgninis encounter while foraging for clues to the real America. A trip to the computer store proves just as revealing as D.C.'s Fourth of July celebration, as do boisterous waiters angling for tips and no-parking signs crammed with a dozen lines of fine print.
By the end of his visit, Severgnini has come to grips with life in these United States -- and written a charming, laugh-out-loud tribute.