Book Review - The Italian Summer - Golf, Food and Family at Lake Como by Roland Merullo

In summer of 2007 the author of The Italian Summer – Golf, Food and Family at Lake Como

wants to escape the stress of life in the U.S. and decides to rent a villa near Lake Como, Italy — one of the most beautiful places in the world. He brings along his wife and two daughters so he can enjoy and appreciate the more relaxed Italian way of living: a focus on food, family, wine and excellent golf on some gorgeous courses

He talks about the stress caused by inaccurate directions from Italians, death defying drives with passing motorists on motorcycles, trucks and cars

Harold Lubberdink is a key and lively character in the book. He is a friend and a real estate agent who found them their place. He spoke and did business in English, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish talking really fast and always on the phone wearing down the battery. Harold likes to begin and ending every phone conversation with “Fahntahstic, fahntahstic” in a certain brand of British English with a Dutch accent

He plays a lot of his golf at Menaggio and Cadenabbia Golf Club. Roland decribes his run-ins with the pretty Doris, the gatekeeper to the segretaria who never seems to be around. The Smiling Matteo handles the caddy master quarters along with the older Emilio. Attitude can prevail on the course and in the dining room at the course.

He plays with all kinds of people and golf can reveal character. Do they cheat?Are they obsessed about score? How is their temper? He plays with people including: the sneering Domenico, the always on the phone Harold and Germans like Karl and Sandra (“It seems ve vill half a slow day today”)

Trips are made onto Lake Como and they try all the great pastas and pizzas. The two daughters compare the pizza qualities. The conversation of food encompasses the smell, the taste and textures in Italy and Roland fondly reminisces on his own home life in the U.S. and Italian heritage including relatives.