With the Great Help of a Nine-year Old Boy. . .
January 12th, 2012
I have signed on for Twitter and Facebook. For one who still likes ink pens, the process was eye-opening. Most startling to me was when the links start scrolling down and I realized that friends know friends when I had no idea that they did. Or that someone I barely know in Washington is “friends” with good friends of mine in California. I was also surprised at all the welcoming responses. Welcome to Facebook. So glad you are tweeting. I was joining a megachurch, a sorority, a union, a country club–all at once. After seeing these media connections, you have to believe in six degrees of separation, at most. These two activities, I already see, could devour a whole lot of time that I should be spending on writing projects. There’s a compelling, lethal mix of the trivial and profound, and everything in the middle. On my first tweet, I noted that two daffodils were in bloom at my house on New Year’s Day. The second one was from the morning I woke up missing Rome and spent the day there in my head:
This is a trove of a book and a must-read for all lovers of the greatest city.
On Twitter, I’ll recommend a lot of books. Please “follow” me there and on Facebook, where we will have the chance to see photos and to share news. All this is new. I’m still learning. For Willie, my grandson, like so many his age, the digital age came free with his DNA. Fortunately, he likes notebooks and ink pens as well.
My sudden move into the world is occasioned by the cookbook’s imminent release (13 March). I am getting ready to tour, be on best behavior, and be ready to have dinner out of the minibar if a flight is late, late. I am going to be updating the blog: adding lots of Steven Rothfeld’s amazing photographs from the book, adding some recipes, an interview with The Recipe Club, and, of course, posting my tour. I hope Ed will be with me for much of it. It will be fun if I meet readers of this blog. Clarkson Potter (publisher) and Steven Barclay Agency are hard at work right now juggling dates and places. A few dates are already pinned to the calendar:
14 March: Wilmington, Delaware, Smart Women Lecture
21 March: Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta History Center
27 March: New Brunswick, New Jersey, Smart Women Lecture
28 March: Des Moines, Iowa, Smart Women Lecture
More on all that later. Hope everyone’s new year has commenced with a flourish.
Welcome Frances, to the world of facebook and twitter! Are there any plans in the works for a European book tour?
Anders, I would love to visit Copenhagen. Right now, I’m only going to three cities in Hungary in June.
One thing I like about Twitter is the fact that you have 140 characters to “tweet” your message… Sometimes a challenge, but great training for a guy like me, who lives from communicating… Looking forward to reading your tweets while commuting on rainy, Copenhagen mornings!
Just a correction on your list of upcoming events– the two letter state abbreviation for Iowa (your Des Moines appearance) is IA, not IO.
Elske–of course, sorry!
1) Dear Frances,
My novel Two Seas will be published on Amazon next month and I was wondering if I could ask you to comment on a PDF file. I understand that you are busy—and I hope it is busy writing a new book—but if you have time to write a few lines in the next couple of weeks, I would like to feature them on the testimonial page at the beginning of the book. Once the book is available on line, I will have a proper copy sent to you at whatever address in whichever country you prefer. I, too, am an American in Italy, and as you will see, Two Seas celebrates that experience.
All best regards,
Lynn Rodolico
Lynn–I’m pretty swamped right now. Will email you–Frances
Frances, how nice to get even more updates from you, from now on…I was just wondering over the holidays what you might read, might listen to, which dishes you might cook, which travels you might plan…so nice to be a little closer now through twitter & facebook. I couldn’t find you on facebook, though…only fan-pages – which is YOUR page? Can you link to it?
Thanks for all your posts, and lovely books. They rock my world!
Chris
Buon Anno Frances.. a little late, but heartfelt none the less.
The beauty of FB is now you can get a glimpse into the lives of your friend and fans without actually engaging yourself unless of course you choose to. You can do as little or as much as you choose. There is no right or wrong. If nothing else, it’s a little window into the lives of others. Have you ever met someone and wondered a bit about their lives but simply did not have the time to engage them? I’ve likened it to walking down the side streets of any city and peering into the windows of the homes as you pass by; lingering only long enough to see the madonna on the wall, the tv blaring or to catch and savor for a brief moment, the scent of a treasured family recipe on the stove. Now you’ll get to be on the other side of the fishbowl. I hope you and Ed enjoy it.
Can’t wait to catch you on tour again… always a treat for me.
Rick–a good synopsis. ciao, Frances
Dear Frances, I am delighted to have discovered your blog! I always enjoy your posts and photographs. Each January, I reread Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany. They help me to get through the dreary days. I spent the summer of 1991 in Cortona as an art student. I suppose this was one of your first summers there as well. I am a Georgia girl too. I live in Rome, Ga. and actually owned a house right around the corner from Ms. Cornelisen (speaking of six degrees of separation). My family will be in Cortona for several weeks this June. Perhaps I will have the good fortune of meeting you in the piazza. I am very excited about your upcoming cookbook. Buona Fortuna, Connie Saunders
Connie–Well, see you in the piazza! Hope Rome remembers Ann. Best, Frances
Is your facebook page the one which exists as a fan facebook page or under another name?
Amber–thanks for asking. There is a “fan” page, created by someone –and I’ve just started on Facebook myself, so there are two. Frances
I can’t seem to find your facebook page. The only one that comes up is a wikipedia link. Is there a link you could share so we can follow you? Thanks!
Frances, so I understand your facebook page is not public, then? Thanks for twittering!
Emily
Frances, you write: ‘Please “follow” me there and on Facebook’ but no chance to find YOUR facebook page – sad!
Georgina
Georgina, I don’t know why. Others are posting on it. I’ll have to consult my nine-year-old whiz to see what’s what. Thanks, Frances
Dear Ms. Mayes,
Yes..what-you-learn on Facebook can be an eye-opener. Just last week, I mentioned (with predictable sourness) that my ever-vigilant GP had scheduled my very first colonoscopy. I did NOT go into details concerning anything except my enterprisingly grim view of the whole prospect. Surprisingly, my inbox was flooded, within an hour, with lengthy, detailed responses/advice/personal-reminensces from folks such as the widow of my college-advisor. All in all, about twelve quite well-mannered, old southern ladies just launched right into a topic which I would have expected them never to even acknowledge. It was all fairly wince-making.
Of course, I was the silly one. My second thought was “Oh….this is a GOOD thing. People SHOULD discuss what should be routine maintenance.” If nothing else, that little incident on Facebook taught me once again (this seems to be a lesson I’ve to re-learn every month or so over the past forty years) to be wary of underestimating Old Ladies.
An what fun to realize that you’ve been reading “Rome” just as I was doing so. I finished the book a few mornings ago. Isn’t Robert Hughes a wonder? I’m a great fan of his brusque (and often very funny), take-no-prisoners opinionating (which serves as a reminder that, for all of Hughes’s decades in Manhattan, he’s a born&bred Australian).
My favorite lines from “Rome” (and, yes, I’ll admit to having enough time on my hands this morning to type them out for your readers):
“Constantine…was afflicted by a sense of failure: having killed his eldest son and likely successor, the gifted Crispus, along with his wife, Fausta, he could hardly have felt wholly fulfilled.”
Regarding the 19th century Doctrine of The Assumption?….”the belief that Mary had been….taken up body and soul into Heaven. Perhaps she was, but so far the sight of those pristine blue robes in outer space has eluded the world’s observatories. (One assumes the robes would be there; the image of a naked virgin in perpetual orbit is hardly thinkable).”
Speaking of 18th century British gentlemen on the Grand Tour?…..”The frequency with which tourists indulged their tender passions is certainly hard to gauge, since letters home do not always describe it—sex with Italian strangers, socially high or low, was not the first thing you would tell the family about.”
According to Hughes, Gabriel D’Annunzio “believed that war would rehabilitate his country in foreign eyes: that Italian aggression would cancel his homeland’s annoying image as the mother of waiters, tenors, and ice cream vendors.”
As someone who’s inevitably annoyed by the sort of folks who trill “As a lover of ALL things Italian!..”, I was particularly amused by: “It is easy…to assume that Italian culture has sunk below some IQ level it once occupied in the past. This is an illusion. Italian television—one is tempted to say Italian popular culture in general–is crap, always has been,. and will never be anything else. It may not be the absolute worst in the world, but it is certainly way down there.” Howz THAT for blunt???
Oh, and lest anyone think Hughes has gone soft in his old age?…..”Most Italians are artistic illiterates. Most people anywhere are; why should Italians be any different?” (and, yes, I thought of all those cliches whereby ALL Italians are likely to burst into snatches of Verdi while running the vacuum-cleaner).
Suffice it to say that I think “Rome” is a wonderful book, although I expect a lot of sensitive folks might get their feelings hurt by reading it.
As for your upcoming book-tour? That sounds grueling, particularly that bidness (which I know full-well from openings) of Being On Your Best Behavior & Presenting a Grateful Face To Your Public. I’ve never had to do that for more than three hours at a time, and I have no idea how my writer pals maintain the pose for three entire weeks or more, but I expect you’re a gracefully seasoned-pro at it by now.
Level Best as Ever,
David Terry (who, contrary to what one might assume, does not get a single penny from the sales of Robert Hughe’s books)
http://www.davidterryart.com
David–Your letter certainly should draw some new readers to ROME. Love that D’Annunzio quote. I do think he’s wrong about “artistic illiterates.” Despite the cliché, I HAVE heard workers burst into aria, quote Dante (many times!), and compare the merits of Signorelli and della Francesca. Our housekeeper last summer was watering some pots for me and quoted a poem about gardens by Montale. That ain’t happening here!!! Thanks for the delight this Sunday a.m. Frances
Robert Hughes’ Goya is another wonderful read….was introduced to Hughes’ writing on art years ago by my artist son and agree that his observations are compelling and worth re-reading -
I’m sure you and Ed are following the sad news of the cruise ship mishap in Italy. Assuming you might be familiar with the island of Giglio where the passengers are now stranded, can you share any insights as to that island and how far away is the nearest city/airport for ALL of the no doubt frightened passengers who will probably be transported to for their safe passage home to their various homelands? Perhaps others who enjoy your blog will find your reply to my inquiry of interest too.
Judy (San Francisco Bay Area)
Judy–Yes, what a strange accident. Giglio is marvelous and if you have to be stranded, it’s fine. No problem getting out of there–it’s not far offshore. From the photos, it didn’t look as though anyone should have died. It looked like an evacuation would not have been too difficult. . . But maybe there are unforeseen problems. I feel terrible for those involved. Captain, hello–what’s with your sonar?
Frances
I am crossing my fingers that Trondheim in Norway will be on your list one day :-)
BrittArnhild
http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/
Welcome to the online worlds of Facebook & Twitter! I myself swore I’d NEVER join any online social networks/sites, but after much cajoling from an Australian friend of mine… I finally took the plunge & joined in. I was completely surprised at how many of my friends & family were already participating! I’m now enjoying the online communications & it has become such a convenient way to share news & photos.
Congratulations on the upcoming book tour! It’ll be exciting to see if you’ll be anywhere near Austin, TX! *Keeping my fingers crossed!* :)
Enjoy the day :)
Valerie R.
Hello Frances, so very exciting to now get updates on both Facebook and Twitter from you! I can’t wait for the pictures and book recommendations. I was able to find your FB page from a link someone else posted on the other entry on the blog here (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003336534163 for those looking), and your Twitter comes right up (I’m Alicia Banks on FB and inkedfaerie77 on Twitter). I’m seriously considering driving down to New Brunswick, NJ on March 27th, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed you’ll hit NYC, CT, or RI during your book tour. I would love to meet you!
Emily, yes it is public. I’m still on the learning curve with it. Thanks, Frances
Leah, oh, dear, there must be a problem, since several people have had trouble with my Facebook. You are a member of Facebook, yes? Because you have to have an account to get on. Will look into it. Thanks–Frances
Found it! Your updated blog was very helpful. Look forward to having another place to read about Italia :)