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Smiling Shelves

Circumreading the World - Seven Seasons in Siena

11/25/2016

6 Comments

 
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Premise of the book: Robert Rodi visits Siena, Italy during the Palio season in 2003, and falls in love with the city, the people, and the culture. He visits Siena seven times (hence the title) over the next few years in an effort to become one of them. His efforts are always amusing and sometimes frustrating, since the Sienese are a very close-knit people.

Random Facts Learned By Reading This Book:​
  • The Palio is a bareback horse race run in July and August every year around Siena's central piazza.
  • Siena is split into 17 contrade, which are essentially neighborhoods/family. Ten compete in each Palio for a chance at the ultimate bragging rights for the year. The seventeen contrade are the Eagle, the Snail, the Owl, the Dragon, the Giraffe, the Porcupine, the She-Wolf, the Seashell, the Goose, the Caterpillar, the Wave, the Panther, the Forest, the Tortoise, the Unicorn, the Tower, and the Ram.
  • Elaborate parades and processions are an integral part of each Palio.
  • A horse can win the race riderless.
  • Siena is split geographically into three districts because it was built on three hills.
  • The police officers' uniforms were designed by Giorgio Armani. (Would you expect anything less from Italy?)
  • Saint Catherine is the patron saint of both Siena and the entire continent of Europe. Her head and thumb are in Siena; the rest of her is in Rome.
General thoughts on the book: This was a really fun book. My only quibble is that I wish Rodi had gone into more of the history of Siena. Instead, he just focused on the Palio aspect of the culture, as well as his adventures there. He tells of those adventures in a very light-hearted, self-deprecating way that makes for a very enjoyable read.
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6 Comments
Katy McCoy
11/25/2016 09:05:00 pm

You may or may not be aware that Marguerite Henry, who wrote so many horse books for children, wrote Gaudenzia, Pride of the Palio, about this same event. It's a wonderful story.

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
11/27/2016 09:16:26 pm

I read a lot of Marguerite Henry books when I was a kid, but I've never heard of that one. I'll have to find a copy!

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Kimberly @ Turning the Pages link
11/26/2016 03:08:59 am

I love a good non fiction book and I love when a book makes me learn things as I read and it seems like you came away knowing lots of neat things. Great review.
-<a href="http://www.turningthepagesx.blogspot.com/">Kimberly @ Turning the Pages</a>

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
11/27/2016 09:16:56 pm

Books are great for many reasons, not the least of which is learning stuff! :)

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Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link
11/29/2016 09:49:58 am

You are rocking this challenge you set for yourself! It goes to show what a little organization can do. I'm thinking I could use some more direction/organization in my own reading. I feel so scattered lately! Or maybe that's just the mom of a toddler thing? Lol

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
12/1/2016 08:56:54 pm

Blame the toddler. It's always their fault. :)

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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