MARIA BEATRICE PANICO AND HER FIRST NOVEL - DEAR ISABEL

I'm sure most of you agree with me: the Net is a treasurable place for interesting acquaintances. It has got its pros and cons, of course, but ,so far , I can say I've just enjoyed lots of pros. Meeting talented, active, interesting people has enriched me so much! It is like being part of  what once was called  literary circle, usually in rich private homes. This online one is boundless and  opened to the whole world and  you can host, be guest, meet,  discuss and learn. Today I'm glad to introduce you one of my latest acquaintances, Maria Beatrice Panico , with whom I share my love for the English language and Mrs Gaskell's works among other things. We don't live far, we are both Italian ,but we only got in touch thanks to my blog. She's published a short novel she wrote both in Italian, as Cara Isabel, and in English, as Dear Isabel. I've read it, liked it and decided to ask her some questions. Here's our chat in English(! ) but we are both Italian ( ! ). 

Maria Beatrice has even granted you the chance to get a free copy of her book in English if you leave your comment and e-mail address after reading . The winner will be announced next Sunday, October 24. The giveaway is open worldwide.

        
   First of all, tell us something about yourself, Maria Beatrice. 

First of all let me thank you, Maria Grazia, for this wonderful opportunity. I’m so happy to speak with you and with the followers of your blog about my first novel. In the everyday life I’m a neurologist and a researcher in neuroscience, meaning that I work both with patients and animal models of human diseases.

          How comes that a doctor and a researcher starts writing novels?

     Writing is such a part of me that I cannot remember when I started writing. I have always been writing something since I was a child: my journal, poems, short stories, even a little novel. I often say that I was born with a book in one hand and a pen in the other!

         Rebecca, the protagonist of your book is a very  sensitive contemporary woman. Does she resemble you anyway?

There’s something in Rebecca that reminds me of myself. But she’s also her own self. She’s beautiful and she speaks several languages and has travelled a lot. Well, let’s say that she takes after some of my dreams, too.

 She writes letters to her friend, Isabel.  We don’t know much about her but she is Rebecca’s dearest friend. What is this mysterious character like? I mean, what should an ideal friend be like in your mind?

You see, when I wrote the first letter I was actually thinking about one of my closest friend. She lives quite far from Rome (where I live) , and we’re always missing each other and struggling to find a way to meet. Then, things began to change. I heard Rebecca’s voice and she started writing through myself. But Isabel is just the friend I have in my heart. Isabel is the true friend, the one we can tell everything, the one who cares so much for us to tell us the truth, the one we can always rely upon.

Letter writing... has it got sense in our times?

5.      Though she lives in our time, Rebecca writes letters and uses rather old-stylished language.Why? What are the reasons of your choice?

At first Rebecca is a suffering creature. Her heart is broken and she finds herself a stranger in this world where most people are rude, superficial and ignorant. She is a delicate, sensitive, passionate human being and she writes accordingly. Therefore, this elegant, old-stylished language is the language of her soul.

6.      Your male protagonist (André)  is incredibly romantic. He reminds 19^th century heroes with his polite manners, elegance and gentle attitude. Is he inspired to anyone in particular?

 I’m in love with 19th century. I love the literature, the music, the art. I wanted Andrè to be a dream coming true, to be a ray of light in Rebecca’s life. So, yes, he’s the heroes of our favourite readings.

(Ugo Foscolo 1778 - 1827)

 What are your favourite writers?  The ones who most influenced you and your writing? 

How hard to name only some and not all the authors of the books I’ve read so far. But let’s say that I adore Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Tolstoj, Dante Alighieri, Giacomo Leopardi, Ugo Foscolo and Shakespeare and...oh how much time do we have??? For example, I have recently discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and David Nicholls. 

  What kind of reader are you? What are your favourite genres?  I read everything from poetry to history, from science to novels. The fact is that no matter how busy I am, I need to read everyday! It’s a sort of addiction, but as a doctor I’m not worried about it in the least!

David Nicholls

David Nicholls in Rome, September 2010. Maria Beatrice was there!

9.      Your novel was also published in English as Dear Isabel. Did you translated it yourself? How and where did you learn English?

I wrote it in Italian as Cara Isabel; then, I asked a professional translator, Mollie Wilson, to help me with the translation because, although I love English, I’m not a mother tongue and the novel required a high-level English language. I’ve been learning English since I was a child and I love this language. English is the language of the scientific community and the language of many of my beloved authors.

10  Now, present your book to our readers in less than 50 words.

Dear Isabel is the story of the return to life and hope of a beautiful person; it is the telling of what friendship and love can do in our lives. Moreover, it is my humble tribute to the magical powers of writing itself. 

Maria Beatrice in the mirror. Getting ready for ... success?

  Are you working on a new project these days? 
I’m working on many projects, but let’s say that there is one character who is really urging me to tell her story. Her name is Manon. Again a woman, but so different than Rebecca! I have other drafts, too. I’m always full of ideas and images and sensations. The only problem with me is finding enough time for writing.

12  What would you like to achieve as a writer?

I used to write for my eyes only. When I decided to publish something, this was my only wish: how I wish my words could help people to relax, to dream, to think, to express their own feelings in a clear voice. This is still my goal.
 Thank you, Maria Beatrice! Good luck, "in bocca al lupo!"  for your future projects and great success to your Dear Isabel! 

 Now it's your turn, readers and friends, to contribute your "words" to our pleasant chat, leave your e-mail address and have the chance to win Maria Beatrice Panico's book. Giveaway ends October 24th. Dear Isabel can be bought online at Amazon  or lulu.com  It can also be downloaded at a very cheap price from lulu.com 

RA FRIDAY - LUCAS, MASTER OF ... ?

 BEWARE! MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

Episode 4 has arisen great perplexity in my poor mind, that of a regular watcher and old Spooks fan: I'm totally confused, a bit disorientated and utterly disappointed.  Maybe it is because my favourite character is Lucas North.

1. Master of ... naivety?

Can anybody enter a secret agent's house? I don't think so. Only if this agent is  Lucas North in series 9, victim of un...scrupolous writers. You can enter his house, leave a photo to blackmail him and go away meeting no one and no trouble. He was too busy to lock windows and doors.

 2. Master of ... alphas?

Giving directions and orders to his  alpha 1 and 2 ( teacher's pets Dimitri and Beth)  from Thames House, he sounds really cool, a tough section chief. Then he decides to enter the  Chinese Embassy at night, risking his own and Dimitri's lives to generically search the archive. What for? What are they exactly looking for? Finally, to cover their asset, Lucas decides to  pretend to be a burglar ??? But, maybe, my foreign ear didn't get all the necessary details. 

3. Master of ... psychology?

He suggests to Beth to trust her instinct with Kai, the Chinese asset she's trying to turn. What about he himself with Vaughn? Where has his instinct gone in this case? It doesn't work at all! He says he won't help him, never, for no reason , then? I loved his humanity, his frailty alone in that park (Hyde Park) , his nervous body expressing his helpless rage. Afterwards, instead, I hated his coldness in front of that big computer, his calm in surrendering to compromise and betrayal.

4. Master of ... visual memory?

Just a look at his colleague typing his user ID and password on a keyboard and he's ready to use them. Doesn't he know his mates are very smart and will uncover his treason? Does he really think he's been smarter? Ruth is out there when he comes out of  that room ... she has a suspicious look. Already got it? This Lucas /John must be desperate, very naive or big - headed to act like that! What is sure is that this character was unrecognizable in episode 4.

5. Master of  ... the made-fool-by-old-friends?

Vaughn  must know John very well  , hence he easily manages to manipulate him. He knows he has used a fall guy to cover his tracks for taking the Albany file. Vaughn tells him he could have taken a risk and talked his way out of it 'cause Harry Pearce would have believed him. Better to be safe than sorry, best to ruin someone else's life.

Lucas/John is in Vaughn's power, even more now he's passed him the file.

 6. Master of ... foolish lines ?

Is the man running toward Doctor Lahan through the hospital corridors shouting "Maya!" , the same cool agent we've been watching in the last series of Spooks? Unbelievable! Forgive me Lucas (Richard) but  this John is just the shadow of you. Have you heard his silly lines? Does he really believe he has fixed things? He has just ruined everything! And has he actually done what he did to do ... anything (his words) with Maya? "I don't want to waste another moment"  ?!? Is this Spooks or a soap? 

7. Master of  ... deception?

Well , Lucas was cool in the last scene holding and  aiming his gun, giving orders. But soon after, when the result of his deception comes out and Ruth announces Stephen Owen, 22-year-old  section G, has been arrested and will serve for long ... I was chilled by his "A traitor is a traitor". Yes, Lucas/John, you are just right: a traitor IS a traitor. 

As I wrote since the first hints at Lucas's "ultimate betrayal"  (HERE),  I'm quite angry with Spooks writers! They are destroying a character before making him leave from the series! Something similar happened with Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood 3. The nature of the character was rather distorted before he was finally killed. I hate incongruity and incoherence.

 However, I hope it is not that foreseeable. I want to be surprised. I want to be contradicted by positive twists in the next episodes. 

I know I've been quite negative this time after being so enthusiastic after the first episodes but I couldn't help it. I just can't bear what they are doing to my favourite character in my favourite series! It doesn't make sense!

Anyway, I want to leave you with a smile. Do you remember I'm away from home being my house invaded by painters and builders? (they are not so many!) Dear friends, this is the latest arrival, my favourite painter man, a new helper who was sent to me by a darling blogger mate. She made my day when I was down and rather depressed. Can you imagine having a gorgeous painter like this working in your house? You'd rather wish work never ends!!! 

LOL! This is too funny!

Thank you, darling friend.

As usual thanks to www.richardarmitagenet.com for all their precious caps

Have a great weekend you all !!! MG

GUESTPOST & GIVEAWAY - SARA PAWLEY PRESENTS HER NOVEL, " OH, THAT I HAD WINGS"

Hello Everyone!

My name is Sarah Pawley (Also known by my pen name, Charlotte Hawkins) Do you remember my interview with Maria Grazia here on Fly High? And my giveaway of The Tempest, my Guy of Gisborne Story? I'm here to inform you I'm doing another book giveaway. This one is for my literary novel "Oh, That I Had Wings" , a love story/drama set before, during, and after WW1.

The contest  ends November 15th, which gives everyone plenty of time to enter. But first ...

The Story Behind The Story...

I didn't intend to write this book, and that's the truth. It wrote itself, and if you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, I'll tell you. A few years ago, I started writing a little tale called "Finding Grace," about a young woman who flees her abusive homelife in search of something better. But as I was writing that story, the background story kept getting in the way. Grace had an older brother named Jack, with his own story, and no matter how I tried to keep his story minimal, it just couldn't be contained. So I had to give Jack his own book. And it turned out to be much more than I anticipated...

Jack's story is not a true story, but it is very much inspired by real life. In many ways, Jack is modeled after my father. My dear old dad doesn't think he's anyone to be inspired by, but I beg to differ. He grew up in a tiny little Kentucky town that doesn't even appear on most maps. He was the third child and second son, born in a house made out of railroad ties. Not long after dad was born, my grandfather sold a car a few cows to buy a tiny little house down the road and that's where my dad grew up. They had no electricity, no indoor plumbing or heating, and the house was very cramped after my dad's two younger brothers were born. In all there were five kids...Ellen was the oldest and the only girl. Then it was Dewey, my dad, Roger, and Donald.

The stories I've been told about living in that house...MAN, there are a lot of them. In the winter, without running water, they had to use a wash bucket that sometimes froze during the night. They had to break the ice and use the cold water to wash. To keep their feet warm at night, they heated up bricks and wrapped them in rags, or they would heat up earthware jugs, and put them between their feet while they slept. When the weather was decent, they bathed in the creek. Maybe I'm spoiled by modern living, but I can't imagine such primitave bathing. I LOVE my shower. But I digress...

Aside from living without modern conviences, they lived in a male-dominated society in a town ruled by religion. My grandfather was like most men of the time and place. He ruled with an iron fist, and he was not shy about punishing his children either in public or in private. If you've ever played with the limb of a tree and heard it make that swishing sound as it cuts the air, just try to imagine being hit with it. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps...

Dad was lucky in one way. He was stubborn, and he grew up with a bit of a temper. And he was a big guy, so when he got in a fight he always won. But he wasn't a bully. Because of my grandfather, he HATED bullies and he would beat the crap out of them if they asked for it. Once, when he was playing king of the mountain at school, another kid tried to push him off the heap...so he broke the kid's arm.  I don't know if he really meant to do that, but others kids knew not to mess with him. Eventually his temper turned on my grandfather. One day, when my dad was sixteen, he threatened to kill him. My grandmother talked him out of it, but not long after that, dad joined the Army. My grandmother was very upset by the idea of him leaving, but he didn't blink an eye. He spent six years in the military. He became a drill sergeant and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. After he came back, he and my mother got married and they've been together for 43 years.

They stayed in Kentucky for a few years, but eventually they left and moved up north. Eventually they had my older sister, and then me, and then my younger sister. We grew up in a small house in a small town just outside of Chicago. It wasn't a perfect childhood, but then again, is anyone's childhood perfect? My parents have been the best they can be, and my dad has always been my role model. If ever there was a copy of a child and parent, it's me and him. We look alike, we talk alike. We're both middle children with that classic middle-child syndrom. But if there is a difference between us, it's that I have mostly happy memories of growing up. And much to dad's credit, he never tried to breed a hatred in me of my grandfather or my grandmother. We went to see them all the time, occasionally on weekends and always at Thanksgiving and Easter. When I was a kid, I never saw the dark side of my grandfather, and being in that little town never gave me anything but happiness.

I thought it was facinating to be in a place where everything shut down at dark...where they only had four TV channels and every meal was eaten around the kitchen table. I have fond memories of being in the chicken coop with my grandmother and holding warm, fuzzy little chicks. I played in the barn and the hayloft. I climbed trees and fences, and I went swimming in the swimming hole. At night, we would sit out on the porch and look up at the stars. Needless to say, it was idylic for me. How boring it was to come home to the suburbs of Chicago. I was always ready to get back on the road "Down Home" as my parents called it.

As an adult, I'm aware of how much my views have changed. I no longer wear rose-colored glasses. I know now that I was shielded from certain realities. But I am thankful for being allowed to see both sides. I like to think my mind is much sharper, my views more open, and my imagination brighter because of it. I know he would call me crazy for saying this, but I owe my dad an awful lot. In some ways, I think he created the writer in me.

Thanks, Dad. You're the best, whether you want to admit it or not.

OK, then. I'll wait for you on my blog, FROM THE QUILL TIP,  for more information about the giveaway. To be entered you should leave a comment there. CLICK HERE and GOOD LUCK! Don't forget to add your e-mail address so that I can contact you. Thanks. Sarah P.

This book is available on amazon.UK (kindle) , amazon.US (kindle), amazon UK (paperback)  , Barnes and Noble Nook.

ON EXILE AND ... MISSING HOME

Well, restoring and painting your house when it's full of books and bookshelves and computers and DVDs and clothes and ... tons of your stuff is not a holiday. We had to pack and cover everything .Then we packed the essential and moved to my mother's:  4 people and all their things  for a fortnight ( I hope it won't take longer!)  in a very small space already inhabited by other 4! It's being quite complicated. You can't take everything with you and I'm a bit ...spoilt: I need my books, laptop, DVDs more than anything else.
Moreover, I'm not in one the fittest periods in my life these days so ... I'm quite depressed. Why must time fly away like this? Yeah, because my health is flying away with it! Add that it has been always raining and  imagine what my real mood might be like.

I'm trying to keep up on my routines but it's not that easy. I'm reading, keeping in touch with my e-mail contacts, preparing lessons and correcting tests, more difficult is being watching my DVDs or blogging but I have to be patient. 

I've just finished reading one of my  new online acquaintances's first novel, Maria Beatrice Panico. She's an extraordinay young woman: a doctor, a researcher and a writer. We've met on line, thanks to my blog/s since both love Austen and Gaskell.  Reading her first publication has been a lovely extra  activity among the many items in my TBR list. I'm going to introduce her and her novel, CARA ISABEL (or DEAR ISABEL in English) to all of you soon. There will be an author interview + giveaway here on FLY HIGH!

Now I'm reading an extraordinary good book. It's an Italian and, unfortunately, hasn't been translated. "La Bambinaia Francese" tells about young Sophie's story. She's Céline Varens's daughter 's nurse and baby-sitter. The child's name Adéle. The story takes place between France and England and ... it is a different, original, intriguing look at bleak Thornfield Hall and its inhabitants ,among whom Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester.

I couldn't see many new movies or series though I've got many in my TBW list. I started seeing Vexed (1 episode) with Toby Stephens which is a recent BBC series in which our Mr Rochester/ Prince John plays a weird amusing police detective.

I want to see the other two episodes. It's just comedy, more a parody than serious police investigation. But this is just what I need in such a distressing time. I also saw the first episode of the latest BBC Sherlock but I can't say I liked it very much. Let's wait for the other two episodes before the final verdict.

What I couldn't miss was Spooks 9 new episode. I watched it later than usual, I mean I didn't watch it on Monday night, impossible this time . But I watched it anyway and that's great luck for someone loving the series so much but living outside the UK. The first episodes were brilliant, packed with emotions. Maybe I'm influenced by my awkward missing-home mood, distressed by the idea of my poor house needing hard work to get back to its ordinary aspect (Poor me! All those books to be put back onto their shelves! Floors, windows, doors and furniture to be cleaned!) ...

Worried, Lucas? So am I. But ... Where has your cool head gone?

 I was rather puzzled, unsatisfied, confused, disorientated by this episode. I'm not saying more in this rambling post of an exiled blogger. I'll wait for you on my next RA Friday.

Serious troubles!

Maybe I'll change my mind watching it again. Maybe. But, Lucas! What happened to you? Did the writer of this episode read the previous scripts or watch the  episodes  you were in before?!? I know, it's difficult to keep a clear head when you are lost in love but ... where has  series 7 quite cold  Lucas gone to? Maya, Maya, Maya! This story will come to no good. Ok. I said I'll stop ... and I'll do it here. I don't want to depress you too much ...

Master of deception?

Your exiled and a bit sad,  

 MG 

Spooks stills from http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/

RA FRIDAY - HAVE YOU CLOSED YOUR EYES ?

ALERT SPOILERS - IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE EPISODE , MAYBE , IT IS BETTER FOR YOU NOT TO READ!!! 

Have you closed your eyes? Have you closed your eyes and dreamt to be Maya? Don't lie ! Don't cheat! I know what it was like... It happened to me, too!  I was there shivering in the darkness of my bedroom at 1.25 a.m. , staring at any little crinkle, look or smile coming from that blue-eyed , velvety-voiced  charmer. But who can blame any of us ? He really seems to charm her, sort of hypnotize her, and with Maya all of us  who were watching those incandescent 3 final minutes of Spooks 9 ep. 3.

Who could blame a poor helpless woman ? Ehm...our darling husbands maybe , but ... wouldn't they dream of being Lucas/John in order to snog - and not only - dr.  Maya Lahan? So... DRAW! 1-1

Episode 3 of Spooks was another brilliant piece of series 9 jigsaw: lots of action and dramatic moments, twists and surprises, suspence and bitter violence but  we  RA girls (ehm ... girls of any age)  will remember this s09 e03 as  the  "Close your eyes" episode.   That ending was a   rush of adrenalin , a deeply ,  involving sensation of surrender, a terrible  risk for our poor hearts!

We've seen North & South train station kissing scene tens of times  and have dreamt about that  John, Mr Thornton, as our favourite romantic hero. What now? What about this kissing scene with this charming mysterious John ? Is it second to N&S finale? Has it instead  surpassed those moments in your heart?
I'm sure that to me they will be on the same level with the passing of time. But, for now, this tense scene at n.42 of an anonymous modern  London house, is sort of haunting me with its unforgettable refrain: "close your eyes".
 I liked so many things in those 3 minutes !

1. He opens the door in a light blue shirt ( a different colour for once) and welcomes her with a fixed stare, few decisive words ("Ok, come in") underlined by an imperceptible nod of the head which reminded Guy of Gisborne's brusque manners. From his unbuttoned shirt  the notorious Blake tattoo peeps.

2. Once inside, he seems to lose his previous apparent self - confidence. Poor John! He doesn't know where to put his hands. First in his jeans pockets, then he tortures them a bit, then again in his pockets... First part of his confession: "OK. I went to  prison for a year. Is that good enough?"  The camera moves closer, close -up on his sad serious face. Why ? Did you kill someone? she asks. "No",  he says with an impassible look and slighlty shaking his head to deny . "Did you hurt someone, then?" she goes on.

His second "No" is different, ascendent tone + crinkles+ look down to the floor for a while. "So.. were you innocent", she seems almost to state. But his third "No",  lower , deeper and sad confirms her suspects. However, she seems relieved. Now she can be sure he wants to tell the truth, he is trying to be honest. "Why did you decide to turn up now"?

I especially love his reaction here. He has to search inside himself to find the words . A nervous hand on his mouth, then a little tender smile...it is time to confess his feelings: A photo ... of you... all those years I spent trying to forget just fade away... (shakes his head a bit, almost unbelievable to himself?) I had to see you.

When she asks if that is the truth he has got such a raptured expression and his answer ," Every word" cannot be equivocated. He is telling her the truth !
She comes nearer, she knows that can be dangerous but she approaches. Her defying attitude is fading away little by little: "I don't even know you anymore"
And now , my friends, once they are  facing each other and she still tries to resist,  his  masterpiece: he wins her  resistance with very few whispered words and small gestures.

1.   Yeah, you do ( meaning you remember everything like me, I can see it, so you know me!)

2.  When she says, "No, I've forgotten", he tries his best trick: sweetness. "Close your eyes, you'll remember"

3.  She has her eyes into his now but ...too dangerous so she moves her look away from him. He insists, bends his head slightly and  searches to get in touch with her, he tries to capture her eyes and ..."Close your eyes" , he repeats in an almost  imperceptible whisper. 

4. She surrenders , she closes her eyes and... he feels she's there for him now. Maybe she is thinking to similar past moments...intimate , sweet moments in their common past. His face approaches, his lips search  for hers and...

I MUST STOP HERE. 

I suddenly feel an urgent, pressing need to watch the scene again and , meanwhile, I'm looking forward ep. 4. we have already heard something, we've heard of a kitchen table,  of the return of Lucas's tattoos. Anyway, I think the best  has past: the tension of this emotional meeting after all those years has been consumed. Time for their appeased but just re-discovered  passion to burst. But that's another story. Full of different emotions. Ready for those too?

I particularly liked  that bit of Laila Rouass's interview on The Mirror online about the scene between Lucas/John and Maya we are going to see next time: "There’s one scene where we get together in the kitchen and the director was like, ‘Come on, let’s be honest, you haven’t seen each other for years, you’re not going to get all romantic, you’re going to shag her on the table,’ and I must have looked a bit nervous because Richard whisperered, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not really going to shag you on the table, you’ll be fine".

Isn't he lovely?

In the latest interview I read  ( look at how lovely Richard is smiling at the reporter ,  drinking  coffee or laughing out loud with Max Brown), Richard states he has a romance with the show and let us understand that it is because he works too much (really!?!). No time for love. But now he's on a break and he hopes something happens in his life. Fingers crossed for you, Richard.You deserve a real romance, a true reward for the many incredible emotions you've given to all of us so far.

Thanks for reading. Till next Friday. Have a great weekend!

P.S. Many thanks, as usual, to Ali at www.richardarmitagenet.com for her precious screencaps.

NORTH AND SOUTH NAXOS AUDIOBOOK - WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

Thanks  again to Laurel Ann at Austenprose , who organized the event, and to all the participants and commenters in the Elizabeth Gaskell Bicentennial Blog Tour on September 29th ( my post on BBC North & South for the occasion is HERE)  The drawing for the unabridged Naxos Audiobooks recording of North and South has closed, and I am happy to announce the lucky winner is…

Annette who posted a comment on September 29th on Stiletto Storytime’s review of Sylvia’s Lovers.

LATEST ENTRIES ON MY JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB

Have you had a look at my latest posts on My Jane Austen Book Club?

1. LOST IN AUSTEN - A RE-WATCHING FOR MY EVERYTHING AUSTEN CHALLENGE II

After 2 years, I've been re-watching this delightful ITV comedy based on Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice as my 5th task in The Everything Austen Challenge hosted at Stephanie's Written Word.

MY REVIEW

2. AUSTEN AT UNIVERSITY

Oxford University offers an interesting on line course about Jane Austen and her works. If you, unlike me, have got enough spare time, you can learn more about our beloved authoress and her major six!

HAVE A LOOK

3. INTERVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Last but not least...have you read my interview with Abigail Reynolds? Have you commented it to have the chance to win her just released MR DARCY'S OBSESSION? Giveaway ends tomorrow! Don't miss the chance.

READ MY INTERVIEW, COMMENT AND... GOOD LUCK!

(giveaway open to US and Canada only)

MY SURPRISE WEEKEND - BACK IN TIME IN FUMONE

I hinted at my surprise weekend  and to the fact that I was leaving for an unkown  - to me - destination  in my previous post... Maybe you've got curious so here I  am with some pictures and information about the enchanting location I was driven to by my  resourceful husband on Friday afternoon. It had been our anniversary on the 29th,  but we couldn't go anywhere then, since we had to work. So he decided he wanted a special weekend (Friday - Saturday) out  for us but didn't want to tell me anything about our destination nor about what we were going to do there. It was a lovely surprise and quite a romantic trip. Actually , we didn't drive so far from home, only 40 km. However,  it was to a place we had never been to before and somewhere really worth visiting: FUMONE and its borgo medievale.

One of the steep alleys of the medieval village

It was a bit cold and it had rained  in the afternoon, anyhow , when we arrived at the cute , little B&B hotel , ANTICO BORGO, where my husband had booked our room,  we were welcomed by the warm smile of the kind English lady who runs the place. Lisa comes from Exton but she has been living in Italy and in Fumone for many years now . She speaks perfect Italian, has 3 Italian sons, and,  as you can imagine, I was so happy to meet an English native-speaker! It's not an ordinary event in my life. She offered us a good Italian coffee and we had some nice chat over it. Then we went upstairs and unpacked the little we had taken for the night and the following day, we rested a bit and changed for the dinner at the TAVERNA DEL BARONE  which was nearby.

 Taverna del Barone

It was a lovely evening : a typically medieval inn, excellent food and good red wine, waiter and waitress in a period costume. We ate  as much as we could but it was impossible to eat everything : for only 20 euros they serve delicious huge dinners!

The room and the bed were so comfortable that we slept tight till past 8. Lisa was expecting us with a  tasty  breakfast and there were other guests too: a German couple and an English lady. Fumone is a very small, still undiscovered- by- mass- tourism , ancient village but there are very active international inhabitants working  there,  trying to give it new life and opportunities. Apart from Lisa, who's English, we also met Daniel who's German and lives and works in Fumone. He is young, speaks several foreign languages and  runs a culture centre with his Italian wife:  at their INSITUAZIONE they  offer their guests language and culture holidays, intensive Italian language courses , cultours and seminars.

After thanking Lisa for her perfect hospitality, we left our room and visited the CASTLE OF FUMONE, which was the main papal stronghold in southern Latium. It dates back to the 11th century and belongs to the noble family Longhi  De Paolis,  whose heirs and heiresses still live there. Unfortunately, even a Marquis has to face the harsh reality of our consumeristic world and to afford to live in that wonderful castle has to share it with paying guests (B&B)  and let part of the rooms for wedding celebrations and elegant parties. 

Moreover, the castle   houses an archaeological museum, and the tiny claustrophobic prison cell where Pope Celestine V was jailed  after his renunciation of the papal throne. He died there after a 10 month's seclusion.

Inside the castle

The castle  is said to be haunted by ghosts but what shocked me was the vision of the poor little mummified corpse of a 2-year-old Marquis, Niccolò Longhi, who died poisoned by his jealous sisters ( 7! ) who envied him for being the heir of the family's patrimony. The tiny corpse and some of his tiny clothes are kept in a display case in a  room of the castle. Probably one of the ghosts is that of his poor mother coming to visit him . She became crazy after his death. In addition to these terrible stories, there are others such as the one connected to "il pozzo delle vergini" (the well of the virgins). It is  linked to the ius primae noctis:  in the middle ages the lord of the castle had the right to check if a just married woman was a virgin before she slept with her own husband. If the lord discovered she wasn't, she was thrown down  into a deep well which is still in one of the halls in the castle. Awful, barbarous custom dating back to distant  times that become so impressive when told about in such a location.

Fumone - Borgo Medievale

Everything was perfect in our romantic escape: the setting , the weather, the accomodation, the food, the people we met, the moments we had completely by ourselves, the chats, the walks...well... as for the walks.. . there was something definitely wrong : my high-heeled shoes!!! If you want to visit Fumone, remember, you'll need a pair of comfortable shoes!
Leaving Fumone late in the morning, we went for a picnic by the Lake of Canterno , just few kilometres from there. It's a picturesque site, quiet and relaxing, where you can walk, breathe the fresh air, fish or  have a picninc .

The Lake of Canterno

Watching the lake

Glittering water, cool wind, warm sunshine

We were back in the middle of the afternoon, after just 24 hours from our departure. Too quick? Too short? I really don't mind being back at home. It's been beautiful, relaxing, romantic and, especially, out of ordinary. We rarely go out for the weekend. I'm happy I went, I'm happy I'm back. It's just my philosophy : appreciating all the precious little moments, whenever and wherever we are granted the chance to live them. 

 P.S. I've found two videos about  Fumone  from Utube HERE and HERE

RA FRIDAY - JAMES BOND: A POLICEMAN? A PRIVATE DETECTIVE?!? DON'T TRY TO CHEAT, I'M A SPOOKS FAN!!!

English conversation class 
Welcome to my RA Friday! I'm sure, apart from a very dear friend of mine, who perfectly knows what my nonsensical title refer to, you are all there wondering: "James Bond? . Isn't she going to talk about Richard Armitage this week"? Some optimistic fans may even have started hoping I've read somewhere about RA being the next James Bond or his nemesis. None of these . I haven't read or heard about any RA's Bond Project nor I'm going to talk about 007 instead of Spooks. I prefer MI5 Section D to MI6 adventurous Bond. 

What I was thinking about writing my weird title is a school anecdote. I wasn't such an expert of British Secret Services until I started watching Spooks and following Tom Quinn's (Matthew Macfadyen) adventures. But after 8 series and 2 episodes I've slightly improved. What happened?

By chance, one of my students  chose to read an abridged and simplified version of "007 - Casino Royale "as his summer task for English. Maybe he hoped I forgot to ask?  Or that I didn 't know anything (like him) about that book... but a Spooks addict like me can't be easily deceived! I immediately understood he was inventing a story. So I asked: "Do you know who James Bond is? What does he do? In front of his perplexity,  I went on asking:"What's his job?" After a while he came out with: "A private detective?" My stunned look must have told him more than any word so , he went on trying: " A policeman? A body guard?" Well, you know, I ignored him and started talking to the rest of the class about the British secret services, MI5 and MI6, their nickname "Spooks" and all of them were listening to their teacher who  - do you remember? - is trying to improve her knowledge about football and knows quite a lot about secret agents!So much that it is better not to try to cheat her! I think "he" understood, he got his comeuppance ... and a bad mark! Poor boy, I hate being like that but I also hate being cheated. So, thanks Spooks for making me able to defend myself from my lazy students' tricks!

 Chemistry

Please, could you look  at me like that for a fraction of a second?
I could die but, eventually, I'd die so happy!!!

Don't worry! If you -  like me -  are not very good at science , I'm not going to talk about any school experiment or teaching Chemistry in English! The chemistry I want to talk about is that meaningful eye-contact, body tension, electricity (well , maybe that's Physics not Chemistry!),  I perceived  between Lucas /John and his ex-lover. I mean, Laila Rouass and Richard Armitage together in Spooks, have you seen them?!? Do you agree with me?  There IS chemistry between these two extremely charming performers... natural or manufactured? Only they can answer this question but... they work so well as a couple. I'm ready to hugely exciting moments between them.
Laila as Maya appeared back in Lucas /John life in episode 2  and their relationship sparkled up, intriguing and involving, wrapped up in the mystery of our hero's past hidden in the mysterious suitcase he got from Vaughan Edwards at the end of episode 1.
First meeting at the hospital she works in , early in the morning (see pictures above) : they were brilliant at conveying with their facial expressions, body stillness and broken voices the tension of meeting again after all those years. She had gone on thinking he was dead, her surprise is printed in her stare. Then her rage prevails, thinking about how much she mourned for a faked death she reacts and suddenly slaps him on his (lovely, sweetly smiling) face. Brilliant! Bravo! The two of them.

Second meeting,  at night , an isolated place (meaningful to them?): John/Lucas tries to explain that, when he was in Africa 15 years before, he had to make difficult choices, he had to leave her in order to protect her, he also suffered much at parting from her.
However,  she's too angry to accept his faltering apologies. She tries to wound him: she doesn't need him, she has a boyfriend, a job, friends ... a life!
He is wounded and in a low , deep whisper asks her: "So why are you here?"
I'm completely caught in this new plot, I can't wait for next Monday. Well, Tuesday maybe. I really love this series so far. Brilliant!

Sorry I must go now ...
Now, I'd love to tell you about how much I appreciated Peter Firth's performance (How comes that I'm noticing his presence this season?), the complex well-structered plot, the multiple -point of- view technique, the suspence created with great twists and much more. I'd love to discuss  the fact that the director of this episode insisted to give us female audience so many gratuitous shots of  RA's backside ... greatly appreciated by so many fans but was it really necessary? I don't think RA could go too far if they insist on him as hunky actor. I'd love much more attention on his undeniable talent and also a bit more respect for our ... category: (female audience supporting RA)  we can appreciate other features in Spooks, I can even understand the complicated political plots!  But the showbusiness has rules ... others than my own taste.
I'd even add some strange facts I noticed, such as ... why does John / Lucas wear these jacket  and shirt outside the hospital

Jacket 1+ shirt 1. Both black. Outside the hospital

and , instead, he has got different  ones on,  once he goes inside to meet Maya?

Jacket 2+ shirt 2: both blue. After only some minutes, inside the hospital

Again, I'd love to stay here and go on with my RA Friday but ... FORTUNATELY, I have to leave. A surprise weekend, a gift from my husband. Unknown (to me) destination to celebrate something important... More important than my RA Friday?!? YEAH, even more important than that.

A very special weekend to you all! MG

P.S. Special thanks to Ali (http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/)  for all these beautiful caps !