Book Review: Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita

Book: Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita

Genre: Travel narrative/ Non-fiction

Author: Barbara Conelli

Cover Critique: 

A sketch of a bohemian chic girl with a big Italian hat and funky travel bags on the cover is good enough to understand that this book is about a girl’s journey to the fashion capital of Italy, Milan. The lemony background is bright and lively in sync with the zest of life which this book promises to talk about.

I just love this glamorous shiny cover!

Review:

“Chique” means stylish and hip girl. “Dolce” means ‘sweet’ and “vita” means ‘life’ in Italian, so the title suggests that the book is quintessentially about knowing the secrets of living ‘a sweet life’ in a stylish way – more precisely, the Italian way! The writer has used a mix of Italian words and phrases here and there, which makes the stories of Italian people, sensually sweet and fascinating to read. The book starts with these words which perfectly sum up the gist of life as well as the theme of this book, “La vita e bella, life is beautiful and the most amazing wonders of this world often hide in the simplest things.”

There are sketches with every chapter which help you visualise the things, scenery or people which the writer talks about in detail. The book is not a travel guide with maps and locations to tour Italy; it explores further into the lives of common people and tells the stories of simple Italian men and women from fashion designers to small village bakery shop owners. It does not just tell about Italian art and its awe-inspiring museums and galleries but about life in general and how to make the most of it by being aware of who you are and by appreciating the people and the place around you. It is more like a “self-discovery” than just being able to witness the lifestyle and the rich culture of Milan.

It helps the reader appreciate the breathtaking ‘sights and sounds’ of Italy while reading about the hidden aspects of its cultural heritage and legacy, apart from ‘fashion’ and its famous ‘nightlife’. The chapters are short and words used are irresistibly sweet filled with the warmth of Barbara’s heart and made me feel the heat and soul of Milanese. For example, while telling about Brera, she personifies this Milanese quarter near La Scala, by calling it a “capricious woman” who “gets under your skin, whether you like it or not”. In another chapter, she talks about a mysterious saxophonist who plays in the streets and how she later finds out about his real identity. There is so much passion in the stories infused with elegance and wit that it made me finish this book in one sitting.

I have never been to Italy but after reading this book, I want to go there and witness everything from my eyes especially the places that Barbara describes in this fantastic book and maybe meet that sixty years old lady who has been working at a local silk factory for past 30 years or perhaps go to eat Da Gancio’s famous polenta with butter and home-made cheese along with a glass of home-made rose wine. The diversity of famous Italian food made me sigh with temptation and filled my mouth with the unknown flavours like those of delicious home-made saffron risotto. Ah! The gourmet pleasures!

At the end of each chapter, the writer concludes one secret towards achieving that ‘tranquillity’ and finding ‘happiness’ from within. It is like a spiritual journey and reminded me of the pulsating energy I felt when I used to listen to Ricky Martin’s “Livin La Vida Loca”. The book does not teach or preach with moral lessons but states a philosophy, a way of living which is “to stay young at heart, forever, no matter where you are or what you do”.

I highly recommend this book to people who love to travel and unravel the mysteries of different cultures and who are open to learn and experiment new things in life, without any inhibitions. I enjoyed this book a lot and being a sucker for travel books, I have already read it three times. For me, it serves like meditation. It does not matter whether you have been to Italy, you will never go to Italy or you live in Italy, the book still offers something for every kind of reader. Just read it, you will love it for sure!

Review Girl Rating: 10/10

“I would like to thank Barbara Conelli for sending me a free copy of her book, “Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita” for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To buy this book on Amazon in Kindle or Paperback, click here.”