Read e-book Just One Cornetto: London to Sicily in a Small Motorhome

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A couple's journey through Italy Travel Journal Book 1. Hobbit House in Italy. Product details File Size: October 20, Sold by: Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review. Showing of 6 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now.

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What a vocabulary the author has! Many mistakes in the Italian, be it names of places or quotes. That's a minor point and could be easily overlooked or corrected. I had high expectations when I bought this novel, as I thoroughly enjoyed this Author's first account of he and his wife's engaging journey across Europe in an American RV: A curious mixture of the dark, and the lighter side of civilisation on one fascinating island.

Keith Mashiter obviously possesses an analytical and precise mind. Keith Mashiter is naturally funny in the delivery of his reality show, and he peppers the story with just the right amount of humour and irony to transform it from interesting into entertaining. To be honest, my knowledge of any of the vehicles he describes would fit on the head of a pin, but it doesn't matter. He and his wife could enter a three legged race across Timbuktu and I would still buy the book to enjoy his interpretation of the journey.

In summary I would say that, as well as being highly informative, and very amusing, the Author has an optimistic approach to travel, and life in general, which would appeal to us all. Delicious intrigue from Italy and Sicily! This quirky journal is the second offering from the author of How Katie Pulled Boris. As the title suggests, the book follows author Keith and his wife Gail as they meander down through Italy and on to Sicily in their small motorhome.

Delivered in the form of a polished journal, this travelogue relates the couple's experiences through expansive description and observation intercut with snippets of humourous dialogue, and makes for an encapsulating read. It is possible that Mashiter's distinct writing style may not suit everyone's taste. The journey is, for the most part, motivated by the couple's simple desire to explore, as well as the author's hope of retracing some of Charles Dickens' own journey across the mainland, which became Pictures from Italy.

This relative lack of driving force can give Just One Cornetto a loose, rambling feel at times as the author documents everything from the magnificent to the mundane; the narrative drifts between wistfully descriptive passages that paint colourful pictures of landscapes and their inhabitants, to accounts of time spent seeking a parking spot or a place to empty the chemical toilet.

But the main triumph of this tone is how accessible it makes the book and the friendly relationship that it creates between writer and reader. It is, in fact, Keith's evaluation of such people that make for some of the most enjoyable sections of the book. He exhibits a fine ability in drawing interesting pictures of character, such as 'Tony Blair's Friend' Corallo Martino or former boar-hunter Aldo. It is the inherent tragedy of a travelogue that these 'characters' feature so briefly in the tale, and we can sense throughout that the author laments this also.

This is an excellently self-aware decision, and again contributes to the informal, accessible nature of the book. But this is not to say that Just One Cornetto cannot be regarded as a valuable resource for potential travellers. The aforementioned manner in which the author pitches the glamour of travelling alongside it's unavoidable drags and annoyances gives excellent insight into what undertaking an expedition such as this entails, and whilst motorhomers especially will enjoy the pithy observations on the day-to-day life of such travel, they are not exclusive, and laymen and armchair travellers alike shall also relish the humourous tidbits of banter and bickering that such issues provoke between Keith and Gail.

All in all, the book as a whole reads like an interesting adventure recounted by an enthusiastic uncle, with the overriding constant being Mashiter's unwavering, almost childlike, fervour and enthusiasm for exploration and investigation. One person found this helpful. Italy, more so than any other country which I have personally traveled, is so packed with history, legend, architecture, beauty, food, personality and tradition, that to fit it into one book is a near impossible feat.

Just to take in a fraction of one Italian city requires weeks of exploration in itself. I spent a year living in Italy and felt like I had only scratched the surface of it's enigmatic mystique. Kieth Mashiter does a fantastic job though at transcribing the Italian experience in his new book, and he does so with a fine juxtaposition of humor and challenge that is both hilarious and at the same time, quite nerve wracking.

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Anyone who has ever driven through Italy knows that even a small car seems big, taboo's abide around each corner, and I can't even begin to imagine how Keith traversed the narrow Italian roads in a motor-home! It is possible that Mashiter's distinct writing style may not suit everyone's taste. The journey is, for the most part, motivated by the couple's simple desire to explore, as well as the author's hope of retracing some of Charles Dickens' own journey across the mainland, which became Pictures from Italy.

This relative lack of driving force can give Just One Cornetto a loose, rambling feel at times as the author documents everything from the magnificent to the mundane; the narrative drifts between wistfully descriptive passages that paint colourful pictures of landscapes and their inhabitants, to accounts of time spent seeking a parking spot or a place to empty the chemical toilet. This is, however, not necessarily a negative point, and makes the book pleasantly voyeuristic; there is a Kerouacian immediacy to Mashiter's style that draws the reader along and in fact, some of his most interesting observations are motivated by considering the unspectacular — watching tourists boarding a coach, or considering the abundance of rubbish in the streets of Naples.

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But the main triumph of this tone is how accessible it makes the book and the friendly relationship that it creates between writer and reader. At no point are we made to feel distanced or excluded — like all good travel writing we are right beside the scribe in their adventure - and whilst the author clearly detaches his ethos on travel from that of the 'coach-party tourists', he does so without ever descending into insulting or berating.

It is, in fact, Keith's evaluation of such people that make for some of the most enjoyable sections of the book. He exhibits a fine ability in drawing interesting pictures of character, such as 'Tony Blair's Friend' Corallo Martino or former boar-hunter Aldo. It is the inherent tragedy of a travelogue that these 'characters' feature so briefly in the tale, and we can sense throughout that the author laments this also.

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In terms of an application for the book, Mashiter constantly asserts an awareness that he cannot — and would not want to attempt to — be a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet style guidebook, and to this end he chooses not to make the narrative overly heavy on facts: This is an excellently self-aware decision, and again contributes to the informal, accessible nature of the book. But this is not to say that Just One Cornetto cannot be regarded as a valuable resource for potential travellers. The aforementioned manner in which the author pitches the glamour of travelling alongside it's unavoidable drags and annoyances gives excellent insight into what undertaking an expedition such as this entails, and whilst motorhomers especially will enjoy the pithy observations on the day-to-day life of such travel, they are not exclusive, and laymen and armchair travellers alike shall also relish the humourous tidbits of banter and bickering that such issues provoke between Keith and Gail.

All in all, the book as a whole reads like an interesting adventure recounted by an enthusiastic uncle, with the overriding constant being Mashiter's unwavering, almost childlike, fervour and enthusiasm for exploration and investigation. Oct 25, Keren Pugh rated it really liked it. Just One Cornetto is the fantastic travelogue detailing the adventures of Keith and Gail as they set out in their re-fitted panel van around Italy and Sicily.

Leaving behind the comforts of their previously owned spacious American RV, they hit the road of the western coast of Italy to follow in the previously trodden steps of Charles Dickens. Eager to emulate the previous journey of the classic author, they end up determined to find villages and reference points mentioned, even if it does mean fa Just One Cornetto is the fantastic travelogue detailing the adventures of Keith and Gail as they set out in their re-fitted panel van around Italy and Sicily.

Just One Cornetto: London to Sicily in a Small Motorhome | Writing and Travel

Eager to emulate the previous journey of the classic author, they end up determined to find villages and reference points mentioned, even if it does mean facing locals who don't look too pleased to see them and lanes which were not built to take a motorhome however small.

Whilst this part of the journey feels a little rushed, with only brief mentions of the geography and history they drive past, this does perhaps tie in with their own desire to reach Sicily as quickly as possible. This in itself provides food for thought for the couple in that they have the freedom to go where they please in the amount of time it pleases them, so why rush to somewhere? Once reaching Sicily however, the reader is treated to a smorgasbord of lyrical descriptions of destinations and picture postcard painted words of the beauty of the local scenery and people.

Cleverly tied in to the details of the places visited are the often humorous anecdotes about people met, places eaten in and the conversations with those they meet along the way. This gives the book its personal edge and takes it above a standard travel guide.

Just One Cornetto: London to Sicily in a Small Motorhome

It's about people just as much as it's about places. The book had a particular appeal to me after a recent move to rural Portugal and the probability of buying a similarly sized and styled motorhome in the next couple of years to travel around parts of Europe. Just One Cornetto could well become our inspiration for the planning of our journey, just as the guide by Duncan Fallowell and the travels of Dickens had the same effect on Keith and Gail. I smiled with recognition about the issues with name pronunciation, the references to the men playing cards in the square and the fact that people always seem to thing we aren't English when they first meet us.

As a foody, I would have loved to read more anecdotes about the details of their cafe and restaurant experiences, in particular the icecream so loved by Keith. This is a book for anyone who travels in a motorhome - it will inspire them to visit Italy. It's also a great read for anyone interested in the architectural history of Italy, or anyone wanting to know more about places to visit - or not! My husband is next to read this - he's travelled around more of Italy than me so he will be able to nod in agreement and smile in recognition at some of the references to places mentioned.

My mouth is now watering with anticipation at finding icecream with wild strawberries on top - I can't wait to be sitting in our motorhome with Just One Cornetto open on page 1 as we set off with thoughts of wondering if we will meet the Mafia, or merely a friend of Tony Blair's. Nov 26, Jane Fazackarley rated it it was amazing. We begin in Genoa and the opening chapter really brings this vibrant, picturesque region alive for the reader. However, Etna, with its lava brick walls was the place that really stood out for me, and the more I read about it, the more I want to keep my promise to one day visit Etna.

Just One Cornetto: London to Sicily in a Small Motorhome

I also read about Pisa with a special interest as this is a place I plan to visit one day. From the opening dialogue, to the closing pages, this book is a real joy to read. I like the easy going way in which the book has been written, and I like the tongue in cheek humour. The book is easy to read and I found it a great way to wind down at the end of a long day. I liked the pictures that each chapter begins with and the map at the front is a good addition as well.



Nov 04, Anneka rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: So firstly, I haven't read Mashiter's first book. I chose to read this particular book because I am a young woman who dreams of being able to travel someday and there is nothing more inspiring than hearing someone have a warble about their own adventures.

I love it, and I especially love it when its opinionated. Don't get me wrong, you don't read this book and end up with a curled lip tense with rage. I found it was like listening to an older man chat about his travels, maybe sitting with Granddad So firstly, I haven't read Mashiter's first book. I found it was like listening to an older man chat about his travels, maybe sitting with Granddad hearing about the good bits. The difference is this is one of those cheeky and witty old guys that always have a clever quip up their sleeve.

I want to read about travel sure, but if I wanted endless descriptive blah i'd read a guidebook or something. Sure his descriptions are pure, colorful and quite wordy at times but the truth was not hidden. He simply decorates the words enough to make them nicer to read, to add a little beauty to a very interesting memoir.

Why wouldn't you want that? You get humour, you get wit and you most definitely get adventure very early on! I don't think you could want for much more. What I am trying to get across is that this book is warm. It is warm and funny and real. It doesn't give you a painted impression of a far off land you'll never get to it gives you a descriptive funny account of an older man and his wife intelligently fumbling through tiny roads and dusty towns.

I cannot recommend it enough, it was all the more inspiring for me because it made me feel like travelling is achievable and reachable and like fun does continue when the joints begin to creak and the hair begins to grey! Its sweet and its funny, it does feel like an adventurous holiday with Granddad. Or if you are of a similar age group, a holiday with a funny and dear friend.