Chewing Gum in Holy Water: A Childhood in the Heart of Italy

by Mario Valentini and Cheryl Hardacre

Book Overview

A warm, tender, and richly nostalgic look at growing up in a remote village in a postwar Italy on the brink of modernity. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1559708379
• ISBN13: 9781559708371
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

I love Mario!

Chewing Gum in Holy water is a fascinating coming-of-age story that is laced with humorous, heart-warming life lessons of an adventurous boy growing up Catholic in post WWII Italy. His struggling mother sends four year old Mario to live with his uncle, a traveling priest, and his spinster aunt. The book covers Mario's life from 4 years old until his teen years. Each chapter is a scene from his life; the tales center around Mario's experiences with religion and his wild times with friends. From switching toys during Epiphany to hiding cigarettes and gum behind church statues and touching a bull for love; Mario's childhood was certainly unique. Every few years he moved to a new village and had to make new friends. Along the way his life was shaped by an elderly painter, the bickering Friar and Jesuit, the priest-eating Communist, two very different girls, equally adventurous friends and his beloved uncle. I would love it if a movie was made based on this book, it's a really sweet story.

Wonderful read.

One of the most enjoyable books I have read in quite a while. I loved it