Brian Johnston (4) (1966–)

I was surprised by the average reviews of this work, which I found one of the most refreshing contemporary travelogues of Sicily I've read. Voluptuous descriptions of food, vivid descriptions of the architecture and cities and towns, and laugh-out-loud glimpses into the chaotic and wonderfully realistic lives of contemporary Sicilian families with its pious grandparents, striving parents, and "I'm out of here" children, as seen through the eyes of a visiting 'voyeur' from Australia.

Brian Johnston was the friend who accompanies Tina to Sicily to experience the country while she visits her family and fulfils her role as godparent to a teenager she hasn't seen in more than a decade. The melange of subjects Brian faithfully recorded in his travel journey range from how to make a true Italian pizza to appropriate confirmation gifts (in Sicily) to religious pageantry and family ties to politics and the prickly subject anywhere of a family's "honour".

There are many ways cultures are understood and seen by authors--through the eyes of the short-time but curious visitor, through the eyes of someone who has lived in a country for several decades but came as an outsider, those of the native son or daughter, and the academic, to name but a few. Sicilian Summer falls into the first category, but is the best I have read thus far for the willingness to engage (at times so sweetly naively), for the matter-of-fact observations taken at face value left to the reader to evaluate, and for the captured dialogues and gestures that convey a culture's deepest truths. (Not to mention the valuable tips on foods and wines that future visitors can jot down for later reference.) No description of Padre Perrino could top Johnston's portrayal of this parish priest who is the thorn in Johnston's host family's flesh.

I truly enjoyed Sicilian Summer. Yes, it's light reading but I found it just as absorbing as John Julius Norwich's 1000-page [b:The Normans in Sicily: The Normans in the South 1016-1130 and the Kingdom in the Sun 1130-1194|6110|The Normans in Sicily The Normans in the South 1016-1130 and the Kingdom in the Sun 1130-1194|John Julius Norwich|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387701052s/6110.jpg|9457]. But I find in exploring or trying to understand a culture, one needs to dip into a variety of sources, from the short-time visitor to the dedicated scholar and Johnston's fit the first bill perfectly. It was with great reluctance that I turned a page to find Padre Perrino waving his hand "in a lordly, dismissive gesture" walking off the stage of this charming glimpse into Sicilian life.… (plus d'informations)