Congratulations to Dianne Hales and LA BELLA LINGUA, her memoir documenting her love of Italian and all things Italy. Seven years after its release, LA BELLA LINGUA this week sits at #8 on a New York Times bestseller list.
“Italians say that someone who acquires a new language ‘possesses’ it. In my case, Italian possesses me.”
Auguri, Dianne, and grazie! Your words perfectly capture what so many of us feel on this journey to conquer Italian.
“There is no English word that quite captures the sensation of innamoramento, crazy head-over-heels love, deeper than infatuation, way beyond bewitched, bothered, and bewildered. But that’s what I am–an innamorata, enchanted by Italian, fascinated by its story and its stories, tantalized by its adventures, addicted to its sound, and ever eager to spend more time in its company.”
Pop over to this week’s New York Times Bestsellers list, and keep up with Dianne at her award-winning Becoming Italian Word by Word. More at Prayers and Piazzas about Dianne’s books or about the time I met her in Italy and we wandered Mona Lisa’s Florence together.
This post first appeared on Prayers and Piazzas. If you are new here, I invite you to sign my guest book. Quotes from LA BELLA LINGUA, Dianne Hales. Photo of Florence by Stacy di Anna Pollard.
Prayers & Piazzas 
I share your love and views, Stacy. I feel more Italian by the day 🙂
The main part of my brain that doesn’t speak English, speaks Italian. I find myself lapsing into it whenever I am in a foreign country, like Korea, for example. Hilariously entertaining to me, but not very helpful when asking for directions.
Italian is a warm generous, very human & romantic language – I even find my husband will willingly do the dishes if I ask him in Italian.
Lovely comment, thank you Annmarie! A default Italian brain — what a blessing. I really like your dishwashing trick, may need to try that one around my house. Blessings!
Ha ha! Do let me know how you get on….xx
I love that you are so passionate about all things Italy. What a romance! 😉
A romance for sure! That’s just the way I feel, in love with all things Italy. It’s a source of pure joy for me. Hope you and your tribe are having a great week! 🙂
I love this journey of learning Italian and finding people who are in the same boat with the same passion. So lucky to have found Stacy!
Thank you, Ishita! And Jen! Appreciate your sweet words. ♡