Editorial Reviews. From the Inside Flap. Seven fascinating tales in which Southerners She has written a series of short stories about Southern women living and visiting in Italy in the 's. Ms. Spencer writes beautifully, and her stories are.
Table of contents
- Hardback Editions
- The Light in the Piazza & Other Italian Tales
- The light in the Piazza and other Italian tales - Elizabeth Spencer - Google Книги
- The Light in the Piazza
The affliction that has defined Clara is intentionally vague — a head injury, once, that altered her. How much did it change? Was it ever going to be different for her?
Their family has vacillated between pretending there are no problems with their life and keeping Clara away from everything that makes life up. Margaret as much as admits that they came to Italy to avoid a stickiness with a man Clara began to befriend back home. She may call her a child still, but she knows. And here they find themselves now: Margaret blazing Clara through a well-organized route of art, shopping, and cafes; and Clara practically photosynthesizing in the Tuscan sun. Here, Margaret sees, Clara works. She learns Italian to fluency, she fits the fashion to perfection. She brings no negative attention whatsoever.
What is so good about this story is that it takes very little time for Margaret to notice exactly what is going on. When Fabrizio will not go away — and when Clara will not go away from him — she has a reckoning. If I step back, she wonders, is it possible that this is actually going to turn out fine? Or am I dreaming? But we watch her, and we see which thing she wants more.
And we want her to win. I loved reading this, and I think the author deserves a little renaissance. She won multiple prizes and published many works and now seems to have only a smattering of quiet recognition. And four years ago published a new story collection! Her writing is clever and wry, insightful and sad and vivid. Received a used copy of this from a reseller, with a souvenir photo from North Carolina Aquariums showing five teenage girls being dramatically eaten by a green-screen shark, stuck in as a bookmark before Chapter 8. So many reasons to buy used books. Aug 06, Tony rated it it was amazing Shelves: This short novel is exquisitely plotted and sensitively told.
It is the story of Margaret Johnson and her daughter, Clara. They are on an extended vacation in Italy, starting out in Florence. He is a good looking young man, and was obviously attracted by the beauty of Clara. His name is Fabrizio Naccarelli, the son of the owner of a shop off the piazza. Soon heis talking mostly to Clara, and makes plans to see them the next day.
Johnson keeps trying to tell him, but lacks enough fluent Italian to do so, is that Clara, although she looks and acts normal, is stuck at the mental age of 10 because of a riding accident when she was much younger. The relationship develops to the point that marriage is talked about. Johnson panics and calls her husband. How it all is resolved is the core of this story, one you will not soon forget. This was my second reading and I enjoyed it as much as my first. Jan 03, Ann rated it really liked it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here. This short book from some describe is a novella is written from the point of view of Margaret Johnson, a well-preserved middle-aged American lady who is making a leisurely visit of Italy, together with her beautiful daughter Clara. When the handsome Fabrizio starts courting Clara, Margaret feels terribly conflicted: Should she stop this budding romance in its track?
But Margaret feels strangely paralyzed, partially because she has fallen under the spell of Italy, and partially because she wants her daughter's happiness - and Clara wants Fabrizio. Her husband, back in North Carolina, isn't much help, since he pretty much washed his hands of his daughter since her deficiencies became apparent.
But Margaret, usually such a pliable wife, cannot obey her husband's wish to Clara's marriage to what he believes is a fortune hunting, untrustworthy Italian who - horror- is a Catholic to boot. After much waffling, Margaret decides to let the wedding take place. But during a preliminary visit to the wedding registry, Fabrizio's father takes a look at Clara's passport and abruptly stops the proceedings. He later explains that he cannot countenance a marriage between year old Clara and his year old son. Between Margaret mentioning that Clara will have a substantial dowry and Fabrizio reminding his father that he is actually 23 years old, the wedding does take place.
The book ends with Margaret feeling herself shrink into invisibility, feeling that her role is at an end, and murmuring to herself that she did the right thing. I think that this book is a small gem. The writing is wonderful, impressionistic.
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As other reviewers have noted, there are some stereotypes in how Italians and Americans are perceived the former crafty, the latter energetic. But ultimately the main theme of the story is that of a mother who wants her daughter to experience all the possible joys of life, including that of love. Margaret is a mother first and foremost, and she has defied her lord and master on a number of occasions when it comes to Clara.
One of the book's last musings is that Margaret hopes that the fact that Clara is no longer her responsibility will bring her Margaret and her husband closer together. One of the attractions of the book to me was the veil of ambiguity that covered everything. Did Fabrizio's father really forget his son's age, or was the scene in the wedding office a ruse to extract a larger financial settlement?
Was Clara's father really unable to travel to Italy because of pressing business concerns the crooner who was to be the face of his cigarette company had been called before the Committee on Un-American Activities! This book can easily be read in a single setting, but it is a great little dose of good writing about a theme that is still as relevant today as in Oct 01, Susan Dehn Matthews rated it really liked it. I found this small treasure of a book at a farmer's market! Here was the story behind the Tony award-winning play that I have long-hoped to see.
Amazingly, this small, 54 year old volume is a first-edition with an almost pristine dust jacket. It is also a book that I read quickly less than 24 hours and put down only for the obligatory meals and such. Still, the story lingers in the mind and calls you back at the first moment of opportunity. If you have had the pleasure of visiting Florence, Italy and are able to envision the Arno and Ponte Vecchio, the crowded streets, the Duomo, and piazzas of this timeless city, the story takes on an amplified dimension.
As I recalled all of this, The Light in the Piazza became a vacation of the heart, while Margaret and Clara became my companions on the short journey. The quality of the prose is exacting and delightful, painting an atmospheric picture not only of the city, but of the interior worlds encompassed by the minds and hearts of mother and daughter.
Hardback Editions
Mar 12, Melissa Stahly rated it really liked it. I am about half way through The Light in the Piazza and it has proven to be a very quick read.
I have to share this passage to show the wit in Elizabeth Spencer's writing: Gra I am about half way through The Light in the Piazza and it has proven to be a very quick read. Granted the copy I am reading is the first edition published in , so I am not sure what current editions look like.
Don't get me wrong, I love the hint of Italian language in the book. I just wish I knew the translation without picking up my Italian dictionary. Tonight I finished reading the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jul 14, Tracy rated it really liked it. I'm not exactly sure why I avoided Elizabeth Spencer as long as I did. Also I'm not sure why it took me so long to read this page book.
I blame that small person I live with.
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It turns out that she is kind of good in a quiet way. Lots of unexpected turns of phrase settled among comfortable 50s prose. Does that make any sense? Dec 17, John rated it it was amazing. A delightful read and basis for one of my favorite musicals of all time. I highly recommend this! Aug 02, Ivan rated it really liked it. I knew the story from having seen the musical years ago. Still the writing made this a worthwhile reading experience.
There was a rather shocking surprise towards the end which I felt was handled brilliantly by the author - she didn't mislead us in any way, and in fact there were some clues along the way [time wasn't making sense to me] - it wasn't a loud "OMG", but rather a quiet "Oh, I see, yes that makes perfect sense. This isn't on the same level as A Room with a View , but it's an engaging story well told.
Jul 12, Georgia rated it really liked it. Ahh, the writing is so beautiful! Felt like actually being back in Italy. The storyline isn't flawless, but it's a quick and lovely read. Though I adore The Light in the Piazza, which has far more nuance and subtlety than the wonderful musical based on it, the other two stories in this collection didn't interest me.
Jun 29, Kim Byrd rated it liked it. The musical is much better - the story is super dated. The most interesting characters are the two fathers one of whom never actually appears in the story save for a phone call and Mrs. Johnson's imaginings of what he might be doing. Again, musical is way better.
The Light in the Piazza & Other Italian Tales
Check out the musical - it's gorgeously orchestrated and Clara and Fabrizio's relationship is developed far more than it is in the novella. Jun 08, Lisa rated it liked it Shelves: I saw this movie on TCM, one of the s movies. It was on Hoopla and a short read, so I added it as a light book to read while on the recent trip to Asia. Jan 13, Barbara rated it liked it Shelves: I first saw this title when I watched the Tony Awards a few years ago, and was sufficiently curious about the story to check for the book.
Finally got it in my hands -- and now I think I'd like to see what they did with it on stage. Please try again later. After watching the Tony Award show this year I was curious about Elizabeth Spencer, a Southern writer whom I had not heard of before the show.
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I have just finished reading her novella "Light in the Piazza" haven't seen the touted play yet and it was a memorable read. It starts out like a fairy taleyou don't quite know why Mrs. Johnson and her daughter are in Florence, what time period they are in, their backgroundand you're quickly engaged in a charming romance story. But there's also an undercurrent of tragedy. You discover lies, family strains, an accident in the past. Every character in the story becomes suspect.
The light in the Piazza and other Italian tales - Elizabeth Spencer - Google Книги
You start to question every character's motives, possible deceptions with the exception of Clara, who becomes a symbol of clarity and innocence, as in the Virgin Mary. For the last 30 pages of the story I am nervously living inside Margaret Johnnon's head, worrying about the future of her "simple-minded" daughter Clara. Elizabeth Spencer is a masterful storyteller, making me ponder what level of control we have in life, how easily we make assumptions about people soley based on appearance, how we can manipulate others and fool ourselves.
Her prose is deceptively simple at times. I found myself reading and re-reading many a sentence to decipher the multiple levels of meaning. I closed the book wistfully, wishing for a sequel! The author, born in Mississippi, brings a Southern sensibility to these stories. She has written a series of short stories about Southern women living and visiting in Italy in the 's. Spencer writes beautifully, and her stories are never overly sentimental or superficial. Italian words are sprinkled throughout the text which adds to the overall effect.
I found the stories a little "dated" though. These women are trapped here in an era of proper white gloves, cocktail parties and long cigarette holders. The 's was a rather repressive time for women, and in many of these stories we find women struggling to be in control of their own lives. They have come to Italy to vacation "abroad"; to fulfill a lifelong dream; to work, or to distance themselves from the past.
By far, the best of the stories is "The Light in the Piazza" which has a warmth and appeal that I found missing in most of the others. One person found this helpful. Enchanting stories of Americans in Italy. I have not yet read the book, but I too love the movie, although I keep missing the beginning. I just wanted to reassure the person posting the question that the book definitely precedes the film, and that yes they are the same story. You can doublecheck me by just looking at the books on zstores and auctions-- same author, same title, and one has a banner that says "now a Hollywood film!
Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. The leather looks like the bag is a seconds or sample. So i wouldnt spend this much again on this brand even reduced. One person found this helpful 2 people found this helpful.
The Light in the Piazza
On the pretext of a holiday, Margaret Johnson takes her brain-injured daughter, Clara, to Italy. In reality Margaret needs to escape the prying eyes and whispers of her "friends. With a subtle wit, Elizabeth Spencer transports the reader to 's Florence with all of the social and cultural conundrums of that time.
A thoroughly charming and thought-provoking read. See all 13 reviews. Most recent customer reviews. Published 1 year ago. Published on October 2, Published on December 26, Published on July 30, Published on March 29, Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers.
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