Books, Food & Bookshops | An Italian Reading Vlog | March 2023

[@susanschellberg4509]

I agree Lucca is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to. Loved the walk around.

[@SavidgeReads]

It’s such a fabulous place.

[@Nickelini]

Me for the 3rd time . . . I'm so excited to hear about Etta's bookshop. I've never heard of that. Last time I was in Lucca was 2019 (2020 trip was Covid-cancelled). Anyway, in late April we are planning to pick up our youngest daughter in Canterbury, hopping over to Luzern, Switzerland to pick up our other daughter, and then we will all head down to Lucca. Etta's shop is high on my list. I am planning to travel with a carry on, but I'll pack an extra bag to bring things home from along the way. Loved this video so much! Cheers to you and Chris

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha glad you’ve enjoyed it so much. You must have been just before Etta’s Bookshop opened. I’m genuinely hoping that I get to bookshop sit there. Anyways… back away from the vlog 😉 (I am joking. I am glad you loved it so much!)

[@krisprepolec5616]

I loved seeing the two of you having a lovely time touring around and eating wonderful food. The bookish content was a delightful bonus.

[@SavidgeReads]

So pleased you enjoyed it Kris… and that you could join along. Ha.

[@leeh4343]

Well this was really fab! yes please all the food! And what a gorgeous view from the top of the tower 💕 thanks for sharing Simon and Chris 😊

[@SavidgeReads]

So pleased you enjoyed it Lee.

[@janethansen9612]

That looked like the perfect holiday, Simon, food, books, interesting buildings and sleep!

[@SavidgeReads]

It was the loveliest. Have an even lovelier one coming in a week! Woohoo.

[@benreadsgood]

Oh my god, Matt and I did the same buggy-bike thing around the walls of the city a few years ago. In-flippin-credible fun. So glad you loved Lucca!

[@SavidgeReads]

It was soooo lovely to go back and really embrace it. I’ll be back again. And buggying again.

[@Nickelini]

13:42 - Me again . . . you went to Pizza Felice!! In our family we call it "Pizza Via Buia" which is the name of the little street it's on, and means something like "dark alley". Anyway, we always have to go there every trip to Lucca, and my husband used to go there as a child, and his parents used to go there when they were dating (in the 1950s). It's THAT old, and still serving my husband's #1 favourite pizza. He was so disappointed when we took our 3 year old there and she ate a hot dog (she now lives in Switzerland and has traveled back to Lucca and eaten lots of Via Buia/Pizza Felice). Anyway, thanks for including that snippet, and I thought you might like to hear some of its history

[@SavidgeReads]

It’s the longest running pizzeria in Lucca. Over 110 years. I did my research 🧐

[@Nickelini]

@@SavidgeReads Oh cool! I didn't know it was that old. Everyone just says it's been around forever. I guess they were right!

[@dianedickson6366]

Really enjoyed this. Better than watching a movie to be honest. I loved the music - it was perfect. My word that food!! Thank you for sharing your lovely holiday.

[@SavidgeReads]

Awww thanks so much Diane. What a lovely lovely comment to get.

[@cathyi3805]

Thank you for taking us along to Lucca! I so hope to visit one day with a trip to Etta's bookshop! 📚📚❤❤

[@SavidgeReads]

So pleased you enjoyed the trip. I hope you get to Etta’s bookshop too. I can’t wait to go back.

[@kathleenwalsh3556]

Hi Simon. Soooooo relaxed! Loved everything.

[@SavidgeReads]

Thank you. It was a very chilled holiday. Yey we still did quite a bit.

[@cathrineboysen1017]

💜📚💜

[@hollyb118]

Lovely cinematography and music choices. I was transported briefly to Italy. Thanks for the relaxing sojourn!

[@SavidgeReads]

Thank you so much Holly that’s a huge compliment.

[@Nickelini]

OMG when I saw your Instagram that you were in Lucca I was so excited for this. My husband is from Lucca, and we've traveled from Canada back to see his family and friends 5 times. I've seen quite a bit of Italy over those trips, and I love almost everywhere I've been, but Lucca is HOME. My very favourite thing to do anywhere in Italy is to ride a bike on the walls. Usually we are there in warm weather and stop and have a picnic along the way. I watched (listened) to your video while making pizza, and then I made my husband watch it while we ate the pizza. He loved it! I will be back with more comments as I rewatch . . . .

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha. We had unusually warm weather so could have had a picnic, though we only had the bike an hour. We ate outside most days which was lovely.

[@helenjeindl524]

What a lovely looking place Lucca is, thank you for showing us around 🥰😻😻

[@SavidgeReads]

An absolute pleasure.

[@cindyhaiken5644]

This vlog was absolutely worth the wait!! I adore Lucca and now want to go back and stay in the AirBnB you stayed in so badly! Your dessert Monday night looked incredible and Etta’s Bookshop looked so lovely. What a wonderful, relaxing holiday. Hope you have many more of them with lots of gelato. 🇮🇹Definitely DNF and also I think sharing that you’ve done so is as relevant as sharing when you adore a book. PS: Those Valentine’s Day marshmellows made my whole week!

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha. I will let Chris know about the marshmallows. He will be thrilled they made your week. It was such a fab break, so pleased I could bring some of you along.

[@sbeale276]

Throughly enjoyed this vlog while sat with my cup of coffee and a biscuit. Perfect afternoon watching, thank you for making such great content as always.😊

[@SavidgeReads]

Awww thanks so much for such a lovely comment. Means a lot.

[@jenniferfyffe6949]

I knew I was going to enjoy this video, so I waited until I had a break in my schedule, and a nice bottle of wine and just savoured the views, the food and the book conversation…fabulous! I use postcards of places I’m visiting as bookmarks, because who send postcards anymore!

[@SavidgeReads]

Awwww so pleased that you enjoyed it so much. I’m glad. You’re right about postcards… maybe sending them needs to come back into fashion again.

[@jenniferfyffe6949]

@@SavidgeReads they should!

[@eyesonindie]

I've always wanted to go to Lucca!! Which is kind of random, I'm not sure why this particular town has stuck in my head as somewhere I need to go (I've never been to Italy at all). But now I want to go even more!

[@SavidgeReads]

It’s such a wonderful place. I hope you manage to get there at some point.

[@raymondsouthorn1578]

I'm going to Pisa and Florence next month and you've inspired a day trip to Lucca for us!

[@SavidgeReads]

I hope you enjoy it when you get there. Such a lovely place and only €16 return on the train.

[@VanessaButtino]

You should have played the Rocky theme tune when you reached the top of the church tower haha! This was an absolutely beautiful vlog, Simon. Thank you!

[@SavidgeReads]

Hahaha. If only there was an Italian version of Rocky, would be more apt. Haha. I have done the Rocky steps though.

[@andrearyan816]

Wonderful thank you. I can’t see an Italian clock tower without remembering The Italian Wife by Kate Furnivall (not a Simon type of book) 🇮🇹

[@SavidgeReads]

Never say never.

[@enidlacob1157]

Oh Simon I so enjoyed being with you in Luca . I felt like I was on holiday too Etta’s bookshop is wonderful I love puttering around when on holiday

[@SavidgeReads]

Lovely that you felt it was a little holiday too. Nothing like a good mooch around is there.

[@sharonmorris924]

Great vlog reminds me of a trip we made to Bologna, lots of ice cream, fantastic food , amazing streets and towers! Now I want to go to Lucca 👍

[@SavidgeReads]

Can’t recommend it enough!

[@sharonmorris924]

My husband just reminded me that we put on 7 lbs in 4 days on our trip! Ooops too much lovely food 😂

[@Evegalewitz]

The scenery ‘round Lucca is stunningly beautiful. I read Where Angels Fear to Tread decades ago after reading Maurice and Room with a View. I feel Dickens and Forster lend themselves, in my opinion, to wonderful audio editions. I bet Chris got great culinary inspiration in Lucca. I was drooling looking at those magnificent desserts.

[@SavidgeReads]

Chris actually completely switched off which was nice. It’s good when he just lets other people cook and enjoys it. He’s definitely has some inspiration though. I think pistachio pesto will be a new thing in the house over the summer.

[@sonfederman8212]

Loved this

[@SavidgeReads]

Awww thank you!

[@lucywells6579]

Thanks Simon I really enjoyed this vlog, Lucca looks stunning. That would be my ideal holiday; eating, wandering around and visiting book shops, does Chris enjoy reading as much as you do ? Also can I say the filming and editing in this video was spot on.

[@SavidgeReads]

On holiday Chris often reads more than me. Lol. He didn’t come to the bookshop with me as he would get bored so he went for cake and a coffee.

[@NatalieMeree]

Thank you for taking me somewhere I may never get to see x

[@SavidgeReads]

You will because when you come to stay here for a few weeks at some point, we can leave the boys at home and we will go for a mini break 😉

[@fozzymup268]

What a lovely vlog Simon, looks like you and Chris had a great time. Loved the music throughout the vlog too, beautiful. Lucca looks stunning and the food...yum! Etta's book shop seems a little delight, Julia was so kind and generous, everything was just so perfect, all you could ask for on a holiday. But I agree, it's always nice to come home, I'd miss my dog to much! Best Wishes 💕

[@SavidgeReads]

The food was soooooooooo good. Giulia was sooooo generous with her time and her gifts. So, so lovely. I missed the cats but could easily also have stayed longer. Hahaha.

[@elaineray245]

What a lovely vlog Simon, it was lovely to see Luca and the lovely buildings. The food looks amazing too. Thank you x

[@SavidgeReads]

A pleasure Elaine. I am so pleased you enjoyed it.

[@mariasmiles68]

What a great vlog! That first bookstore after the first clock tower is stunning. I love bookstores in a vlog and will click to watch everytime.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha, you’re only human 😉

[@AnnNovella]

Domenico Starnone IS Elena Ferrante. Love Lucca too, I cycled there a lot.

[@SavidgeReads]

Really? Had that been confirmed? I heard rumours she was his wife writing under a pseudonym.

[@AnnNovella]

The money goes to them and the same software that uncovered Galbraith as JK Rowling pointed Starnone out as the author. it started in 1992 as a concept where he wrote two novels with the same story but with a male and female pov.

[@stellawatson-hu4rw]

Oh perfect timing! About to board flight on my way to Lucca. Will definitely be popping into Etta’s ❤

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh say hello to Giulia from me!

[@Georgesmomsu]

What a gorgeous vlog! The food looked amazing, and the town is just lovely. What a wonderful winter escape.

[@SavidgeReads]

Was a real treat and totally didn’t feel like winter so was exactly the winter escape I needed. Very excited for the next one.

[@readingbytheriver5752]

Thank you and Chris for letting me tag along on your trip. Luca is beautiful and Etta's Bookshop wonderful. I spent a summer in Naples one year (working and some traveling) I purposely lost some weight before I went and gained it all back and then some. Italian is my fave food. Gelato, pizza, pastries, and any other food I could find just called to me. Will Chris do some cooking again. Italian food maybe? Welcome back.

[@SavidgeReads]

I think Chris will definitely be doing some cooking inspired by the trip. I don’t know if it’ll be on the channel. He may have hung his apron up here, he didn’t love making content which is fair enough. He didn’t hate it. But I think he just likes to cook without cameras and pressure.

[@readingbytheriver5752]

Fair enough thank Chris for the ones he did. Would you, Chris, and your mom ever consider doing a video talking about cookbooks, biographies of famous chefs, etc. Thank you@@SavidgeReads

[@62comet]

My son’s name is Luca chosen randomly as a popular Italian name since we are both Italian though American. I learned it meant bringer of Light but Lucca is the feminine derivative. Don’t know if we will ever visit but glad you had a nice trip.

[@SavidgeReads]

It’s a wonderful place so a wonderful namesake, or almost namesake.

[@bibliomania158]

Thank you for sharing! I'm so happy for you that you get to see that amazing place and get to just relax. It is beautiful there. 🥳

[@SavidgeReads]

We relaxed but also did stuff which was so nice. The next one is just about relaxing. Nothing else. Lol

[@barbaradegarcia6310]

I had not heard of Lucca but thought it is such a brilliant idea to go to Italy in the winter time and to go to places off the heavily trodden tourist trap spots. I was only in Italy once for a conference at Lake Como and what I enjoyed most was eating wonderful food in humble places.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha. I think Lucca is quite the tourist spot from Easter onwards. We actually didn’t know it would be as quiet as it was, though in the days it was busy on the weekends but not ridiculously so. It also mean, again accidentally, that we could only eat in the restaurants locals eat in as they were the only ones open. So lots of pros to out of season Italy.

[@susprime7018]

Thanks for the vacation. looks lovely.

[@SavidgeReads]

Glad you could come along.

[@susprime7018]

​@@SavidgeReads We had fun taking one of those four wheeled bikes around the Lido in Venice several years ago, especially since my husband's hobby was biking, so he was the one really powering the bike. I mostly just put my feet on the pedals.

[@pamelaaibangbee2995]

Hello! I'm from Italy, the intro in Italian is correct 😎

[@SavidgeReads]

Hooray. I’m so pleased. Thank you Pamela.

[@enidlacob1157]

Garden of Finzi Continis is also set in Ferreira by Bassani is a must read

[@SavidgeReads]

Thank you for the recommendation. Is that one of the series that also makes up The Novel of Ferreira? I will see how I get on with Bassani before I get anymore though lol.

[@CUBS83]

Really loved Days of Abandonment. And if you get on with it, it's definitely based on or borrows from Simone deBeauvoir's collection "Woman Destroyed" which is SO GOOD. Superior tbh lol.

[@CUBS83]

p.s. "peaks and troughs". LOL

[@CUBS83]

Actually, going by the end of your video, my suggestion is to skip Days of Abandonment and head straight to The Woman Destroyed! I hope you'll read it and let us know what you think of it! DeBeauvoir fiction is so slept on!!

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh thanks for the recommendation.

[@helenwilson9622]

Hey ho Ferrante is marmite like. Troubling Love was odd but good odd to me. Lucca looked amazing. Kept thinking of Elena Knows being set there in that bell tower in my mind. Bassani is good stuff though.

[@SavidgeReads]

Lucca IS amazing. I’m smitten. Will definitely be back.

[@carolewatson2113]

What a lovely break, the pasta looked amazing. I couldn’t get on with Ferrante either, despite my friends raving they are their favourite novels.

[@SavidgeReads]

I liked The Lost Daughter a lot. The others have just not been for me and that’s ok. Not every book or author can be a fav.

[@EMM_84]

What a lovely place to visit! Looks like you did a lot but didnt overdo it so it was actually relaxing and fun.

[@SavidgeReads]

I think the balance was just right. I need to remind myself of this on all breaks no matter how near or far.

[@allisonryder4781]

Fab tour and Video, Simon! I thought your editing and music pairing was spot on! I’ve noted Nives for my TBR. Wouldn’t mind seeing a bookshop tote giveaway somewhere , somehow along the line! No Indies in my town and -shock, horror- no book bags available😢! Looking forward to you and Mum Louise on the Women’s Prize long list! Caip❤🇨🇦

[@SavidgeReads]

Oooh I’ll try and remember next time I am at an indie bookshop. I did one once with Scarthin books totes. That bookshop means a huge amount to me so when I go back… maybe. I’m sure lots of them do competitions on their socials though.

[@nathansnook]

not DNF'ing Ferrante 😭😭😭 Days of Abandonment is actually waiting for me this year if you ever plan to get to it and want to buddy read! hehe but WOOF this vlog was just the thing i needed to get out of my afternoon slump. lucca looks so lush. you make me miss europe!

[@SavidgeReads]

Yes. I DNF’d because reading is sexy but DNFing something you don’t love to start something new you might, is so arousing it hurts hahahahahaha 😜 I am down for a buddy read… could the internet handle it?

[@nathansnook]

@@SavidgeReads ooooooo we love a good arousal every once in a while, don’t we? 🤭 idk, could the internet handle it?? 🙈

[@karenmoore4430]

Going to Rome in 3 weeks time, cannot wait. Can you recommend an English book shop in Rome. Also a light book set in Rome to read. Thank you Simon love your vlogsx

[@SavidgeReads]

Books set in Rome, not sure I can help with. I think I ended up reading books just set in Italy when I went last year. Bookshops I loved were Otherwise Bookshop and Almost Corner Bookshop. There’s lots of bookshops there though that also have English sections. I may made a video about it when I went last year.

[@karenmoore4430]

Thanks Simon for your help. I will let you know what I end up reading therex

[@jenniferrosebruce6385]

Wow, first time we see Chris this whole year! Hehe

[@SavidgeReads]

Are you sure lol. Cos he’s been in every vlog bar one this year. And we did a video together for Patreon. That said, he wants to be in less videos and that’s fair enough.

[@jenniferrosebruce6385]

@@SavidgeReads still cant connect the patroen. Ill rewatch the previous vlogs to spot him! Thanks for reply.

[@fmarginalia]

I’ve read troubling love and days of abandonment and days of abandonment is much more comprehensible, though quite unsettling

[@SavidgeReads]

I don’t mind unsettling, in fact I would go as far as to say those are the books I like most ni just need to know what the heck is going on. Haha.

[@creationspast.janebowell1903]

I just adore Lucca then Florence but Italy is just so amazing. Thank you for sharing🎉 I have just ordered the Within the Walls by Giorgio Bassani it sounds amazing so thank you for that recommendation 🎉. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of Ferrante either I just cannot get on with her except for one short story and I cannot remember it’s title oops.

[@SavidgeReads]

I have to say I feel a bit like I do about Ferrante as I do Florence. I like bits of it… yet find it mostly overrated. Hahahaha. I love Rome and Sienna. Florence I just didn’t gel with. But we can’t all love the same things, going back to Ferrante again 🤣

[@62comet]

This music is lovely. Can you please post the artist?

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh I can’t it’s from a site for free copyright (which I pay for) music and once I’ve used it I tend to delete it from my phone, sorry.

[@62comet]

That’s ok.