On August 28th almost 300 people came through the doors of the Nanaimo Museum to help Lynne launch Whoever Gives Us Bread. The delicious smell of barbequed sausage made by members of the Felice Cavallotti lodge also lured people into the Museum.

 

In Vancouver at the Italian Cultural Centre on September 7th it was the Italian made nibblies from Bosa foods and the wine that drew people in. After the reading, while she signed books, Lynne enjoyed the background murmur of people speaking Italian to each other. Such a beautiful language.

 

It was very special to sit in the City of Vancouver Council Chambers while Mayor Gregor Robertson read the citations for the four books shortlisted for the city of Vancouver Book Award. Whoever Gives Us Bread did not win. That honour went to Michael Christie for The Beggar's Garden.

 

On November 5th the McGill Branch of the Burnaby Public Library will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Lynne will be reading from Whoever Gives Us Bread and answering questions at the library from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whoever Gives Us Bread,
The Story of Italians in British Columbia


           

Whoever Gives Us Bread is finished and available in book stores. Some of the organizations that helped Lynne during the eleven years she has worked on the book will now be front and centre in launching the book to the public.


The Nanaimo Museum, always a source of encouragement, information and publicity, hosted the Nanaimo launch. The museum staff's enthusiasm was kindled when they hosted "Fortunata Nanaimo" several years ago which celebrated Nanaimo's Italian commuity. At that time they were aided by the Felice Cavallotti Lodge in a partnership so successful that the lodge was a partner in the launch of the book on August 28th.


Eleven years ago, when Lynne started her Italian project, she was very pleased to be able to join the Felice Cavallotti Lodge as a social member. Since then she has attended banquets, Sunday night dinners, picnics, bocci tournaments, dances and crostolli- and sausage-making sessions. The friendliness and helpfulness of lodge members has gone a long way to making Lynne forget that she doesn't have a drop of Italian blood in her veins.


The Vancouver launch took place on September 7th at the beautiful Italian Cultural Centre whose museum and archival staff had introduced Lynne to key members of the Vancouver Italian community and unearthed some valuable and rare photographs for the book. Lynne signed books after the reading and saw many friends and colleagues

 

Coming "home" to our apartment in
Penne, Abruzzo.

Lynne contemplating the ruins of a castle amid an olive grove near
Spoleto in Umbria.

Italians are very frugal. They even recycle rocks from old buildings when they're building
a new one.
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