{"product_id":"book-br87","title":"Only in Naples","description":"\u003cb\u003eFull of lighthearted humor, sumptuous food, the wisdom of an Italian mother-in-law, and all the atmosphere of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels, this warm and witty memoir follows American-born Katherine Wilson on her adventures abroad. Thanks to a surprising romance—and a spirited woman who teaches her to laugh, to seize joy, and to love—a three-month rite of passage in Naples turns into a permanent embrace of this boisterous city on the Mediterranean.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhen I saw the sea at Gaeta, I knew that Naples was near and I was coming home.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“There is a chaotic, vibrant energy about Naples that forces you to let go and give in,” writes Katherine, who arrives in the city to intern at the United States Consulate. One evening, she meets handsome, studious Salvatore and finds herself immediately enveloped by his elegant mother, Raffaella, and the rest of the Avallone family. From that moment, Katherine’s education begins: Never eat the crust of a pizza first, always stand up and fight for yourself and your loved ones, and consider mealtimes sacred—food must be prepared fresh and consumed \u003ci\u003ein compagnia\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Immersed in Neapolitan culture, traditions, and cuisine, slowly and unexpectedly falling for Salvatore, and longing for Raffaella’s company and guidance, Katherine discovers how to prepare meals that sing, from hearty, thick \u003ci\u003eragù \u003c\/i\u003eto comforting \u003ci\u003erigatoni alla Genovese \u003c\/i\u003eto\u003ci\u003e pasta al forno,\u003c\/i\u003e a casserole chock-full of bacon, béchamel, and no fewer than four kinds of cheeses. The secret to succulent, tender octopus? Beat it with a hammer. While Katherine is used to large American kitchens with islands and barstools, she understands the beauty of small, tight Italian ones, where it’s easy to offer a taste from a wooden spoon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Through courtship, culture clashes, Sunday services, marriage, and motherhood (in Naples, a pregnancy craving must always be satisfied!), Katherine comes to appreciate \u003ci\u003ecarnale,\u003c\/i\u003e the quintessentially Neapolitan sense of comfort and confidence in one’s own skin. Raffaella and her \u003ci\u003efamiglia\u003c\/i\u003e are also experts at \u003ci\u003esdrammatizzare,\u003c\/i\u003e knowing how to suck the tragedy from something and spit it out with a great big smile. Part travel tale, part love letter, \u003ci\u003eOnly in Naples \u003c\/i\u003eis a sumptuous story that is a feast for the senses. Goethe said, “See Naples and die.” But Katherine Wilson saw Naples and started to live.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003ePraise for\u003ci\u003e Only in Naples\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “In a world filled with food memoirs, this one stands out. Katherine Wilson gives us more than the fabulous food of Naples. She offers us a passport to an exotic country we would never be able to enter on our own.”\u003cb\u003e—Ruth Reichl, author of \u003ci\u003eMy Kitchen Year\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Warmhearted . . . an exuberant account of love and great Italian food.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews \u003c\/i\u003e(starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Sweet and humorous.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Wilson has written a glorious memoir celebrating the holy trinity of Italian life: love, food, and family. Her keen eye and sense of humor take you through the winding streets of Naples at a clip, on a ride you hope will never end.”\u003cb\u003e—Adriana Trigiani, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Shoemaker’s Wife\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “How lucky we are to get these hilarious and wise perceptions filtered through a sincerely loving eye.”\u003cb\u003e—Julie Klam, author of \u003ci\u003eFriendkeeping\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “This thoroughly enjoyable love letter to Naples is a tribute to the author’s irrepressible mother-in-law.”\u003cb\u003e—Luisa Weiss, author of \u003ci\u003eMy Berlin Kitchen\u003c\/i\u003e and founder of The Wednesday Chef\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49335142383920,"sku":"BDbr87","price":17.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/102159-br87-Square.jpg?v=1733921670","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-br87","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}