September to Remember - (Savoring the Olde Ways) by Carole Bumpus (Paperback)

About the Book

"Do you want to visit Italy, or do you want to experience Italy?" Those enticing words were the lure that emboldened Carole Bumpus and her husband to take a month-long trip to Italy one memorable September--a trip during which they discovered a land of unforgettable characters, sumptuous traditional foods, and sublime beauty.

Book Synopsis

Join Carole Bumpus and her husband in Book Three of the Savoring the Olde Ways series as they take you on their first culinary trek through Italy, including regions of Lombardy, Tuscany, Compania, Apulia, and Lazio. Embrace unforgettable characters such as lovely guides Lisa and Margarita, who introduce you to the "true Italian experience." Sup on traditional foods (cucina povera) including local tortelli, pappardelle al cinghiale (wild boar), bistecca all Fiorentina, pasta alla vongole (clams), or saltimbocca alla Romana. Sip regional wines, along with memorable digestivos like limoncello and grappa. Find yourself dancing at harvest festivals, climbing through Etruscan tombs, traipsing among Roman ruins, or bathing in ancient Roman termés (hot springs). Climb to the heights in elegant Capri on the gorgeous Amalfi Coast, or to the top of the "holiest of holies" at St. Peter's Basilica. Soak up ancient and cultural history in Milan, Firenze (Florence), Amalfi, Pompeii, Lecce, and Rome. Bask in the sun and opalescent waters along the rugged coasts of the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas. And, best of all, capture a rare glimpse into the secrets of the Mediterranean psyche while sharing a good meal with new friends. It is truly the trip of a lifetime.

Review Quotes

Praise for September to Remember:

2022 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Finalist in Travel

2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards): Gold Winner in Book Series - Non-Fiction
2021 Indies Foreword Bronze Winner in Travel

"In her third book in the Savoring the Old Ways series (the first two detailing travels to France), Bumpus and her faithful travel companion-husband Win attempt to conquer the wonders of Italy . . . and enjoy the country's maxim--eat well, laugh often, love much."

--Booklist

"A cultural and gastronomic tour through Italy by train, car, and ferry with culinary delights at every turn . . . Elaborate descriptions of almost every meal and snack turn this compelling travel book into an enjoyable vicarious experience . . . A joyous book of Italian history, traditions, and food that's worth savoring."

--Kirkus Reviews

"During a delightful September to Remember, Carole Bumpus and her husband, Winston, journeyed through five regions of Italy, where they explored the history, culture, and traditional foods each unique area had to offer. Peppering her book with humor, Bumpus shares charming anecdotes about the people they met, places they visited, and typical tourist travel mishaps they endured. Her descriptions of mouth-watering regional foods and wines will leave readers yearning for Italy. Insightful and well-written, this book is true gem."

--Lucy Murray, Correspondent for Italian-American Magazine, Fra Noi

"...here, as in other places, [Bumpus] also sends us on a sensory tour with her descriptions of the marvelous meals they enjoyed, of course all handmade, regional, and accompanied by superb wine. A true celebration of Italy. I believe that Carole Bumpus is such a successful author because of the love and passion she puts into her books, through her writing the landscapes, architecture, and gastronomy of Italy are brought wonderfully to life. Highly recommended!"

--Susan Keefe, TheColumbiaReview.com

"In A September to Remember, I was transported to Italy and gratefully sank into the story of Carole Bumpus' real life adventure into culinary and cultural heaven. Her skill as a storyteller shines as she guides the reader into a world of tradition, sensuality, joy, and celebration, immersing you into the rituals, colors, and flavors unique to Italy. I truly felt like I was there! The bonus: excellent recipes in the back of the book."

--Linda Joy Myers, President, National Association of Memoir Writers, author of Song of the Plains and Don't Call Me Mother

"Abundant with Italian culinary traditions of ritual and region, this delightful travel memoir charms and entices. Bumpus is genuinely present in her stories, as if reliving the experiences in real time.... Bumpus extends a gracious invitation to join her, with delectable, regional recipes--a shared feast that brings her journey home to us."

--Kate Farrell, author of Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories

"Bumpus is such a successful author because of the love and passion she puts into her books, through her writing the landscapes, architecture, and gastronomy of Italy are brought wonderfully to life."

--Midwest Book Review

"...a delightful romp....This is an intimate and affectionate book (complete with a generous array of local, easy to follow recipes!) that takes us with this energetic couple to experience Italian life as it is lived as well as learn more of the rich history of Italy. "

--Mag Dimond, author of Bowing to Elephants: Tales of a Travel Junkie

"This is a must have guidebook for those people (and that includes me) who plan a trip to Italy. The author's humor fills the pages with great hints of do's and don'ts. Written with poetic description, the book is a dash of travel memoir, a dollop of history, and a taste of cuisine. And to enhance the Italian Table, Bumpus ends the book scrumptious recipes."

--Cheryl Ray, author of Spirited Voices: Marauders (emagazine), Fault Zone Anthology: A Sea Shift of Mind, and Sail: Blow Out at Johnson's Lee

"How much can one experience in a one-month sojourn through the Italian South? Quite a bit obviously. This delightful read takes us to commonly visited destinations as well as on roads less well travelled. Along the way we are introduced to history, local cuisines and traditions as well as entertained by a free flowing, often witty, account of the joys and frustrations of foreign travel."

--John Pinto, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Riverside

"As you would expect (from Bumpus' previous works), we learn a lot about the food . . . experienced in different parts of the country. But this book is much more than that. Carole makes you feel like you're there with her. If you want to learn about Italian history, culture, and food, then A September to Remember is a book for you."

--Lloyd Russell - booksage.blogspot.com

Praise for Book Two of Savoring the Olde Ways:

"The author's straightforward narrative delivers vivid imagery of both the surroundings and the people . . . an engaging gastronomic presentation of French history and culture."

--Kirkus Reviews

"This book captures the French people, their love of family and friends, their generosity, and their passion for sharing good quality fresh local food. The author has generously ended the book with a collection of some of the wonderful recipes for us to enjoy making in our kitchens, whilst embracing the flavors and traditions of French family life. In conclusion, I would highly recommend this excellent book, and I am sure it will be enjoyed by anyone loving France, cooking, traditions, and history."

--TheColumbiaReview.com

Praise for Book One of Savoring the Olde Ways:

"Both a regional history and a cooking memoir, this is even more than the sum of its parts, and a celebration of living life every moment. Francophiles, history fans, and foodies will love this book."

--Booklist

". . . engaging. . . . Bumpus' writing is perspicuous and economical. . . . The recipes, too, are enticing and detailed, and the book as a whole should appeal to Francophiles and ambitious cooks. A culinary adventure that's enhanced by familial and regional histories."

--Kirkus Reviews

"The book is peppered with descriptions of regional and family dishes . . . and is a wonderful ride through four regions of France, generating great excitement for its follow-up."

--Foreword Reviews

"Mouth-wateringly delicious, evocative, and utterly charming."

--French Book Worm, on Good Life France.com

"These are stories of history and change, of cherishing traditions partly because of the sense that they may not continue forever, making them even more precious and Bumpus's recording of them even more vital. . . ."

--Jeannette Ferrary, author of MFK Fisher and Me: A Memoir of Food and Friendship

About the Author

Carole Bumpus, a retired family therapist, is the author of the historical novel A Cup of Redemption, published October 2014 through She Writes Press. She is a state board and branch member of the California Writers Club's San Francisco/Peninsula Branch and has been published in three CWC short-story anthologies: Fault Zone: Words from the Edge, Fault Zone: Stepping up to the Edge, and Fault Zone: Over the Edge. She continues to write a travel blog taken from excerpts of her interviews with French and Italian families, Savoring the Olde Ways, and her articles on both food and US WWII veterans in France have been published in both the US and in France.