The Foodies Forum

MissMuppet · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: La Cucina by Lily Prior

A delicious début novel set in Sicily about a shy librarian with a broken heart whose passion for cooking leads to an expected love affair.

La Cucina combines the sensuous pleasures of love and food, simmering in the heat of a Sicilian kitchen. Rosa Fiore is a solitary woman who has resigned herself to a loveless life, and expresses her passionate nature through her delicious cooking. Then, one day, she meets an enigmatic chef, known only as l'Inglese, whose research on the heritage of Sicilian cuisine leads him into Rosa's library and into her heart. They share one sublime summer of discovery, during which l'Inglese awakens the power of Rosa's sexuality, and together they reach new heights of culinary passion. When he vanishes unexpectedly, Rosa returns to her family's estate to grieve for her lost love only to find a new fulfilment, as well as many surprises, in the magic of her beloved cucina.

A love song to Italy, La Cucina is a celebration of all things sensual. It spills over with intense images, colours, fragrances, and exuberant characters, all reflecting the splendour of the Sicilian countryside in which it is set.

This is my sort of book, I'm annoyed that I didn't read it sooner... Shanzi sent this to me for my birthday last year (so a year ago!! Oops!). The book reminded me of The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella, totally different story line but in Italy, involving food and romance.

The main character Rosa is very likeable, and I felt sorry for her from start to finish. The writing style was very easy to read, will definitely be reading more of Lily Prior's books... in fact I think I'm waiting one from frangi as we speak.
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Nannyp · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:10 am Post subject:

Maybe you could let your mother borrow it soon

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MissMuppet · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:

How did I know you were going to say that... I swapped it with Fi yesterday after I reviewed it on RiSi! Doh!
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Nannyp · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:24 am Post subject:

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MissMuppet · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

I'd never get any swaps if you keep borrowing them!! Haha!
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Nannyp · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

It's okay...I am taking forever to get through my TBR...so I shouldn't have any more books from you.

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angel · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

Hi All

When you say that you would compare it with The Wedding Officer (can I ask - better or just comparable?) I love Anthony Cappella's Food of Love (was less inspired by The Wedding Officer) but still love his work.

If it was only comparable I would probably give it a miss - but if it was better I would give it a go ..... I've had garble juice for tea, can you tell?

Dx
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MissMuppet · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

See I preferred The Wedding Officer, The Food of Love was good but was maybe a bit chick lit like...

La Cucina for me is probably better than The Food of Love, but not as good as The Wedding Officer...

Did you make sense of that??

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lauzc · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

Sounds like my type of book too with my family coming from Sicily. I have added it to my wishlist!

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