La Cucina

By: Lily Prior

Narrated by: Lisa Passero

Since childhood, Rosa Fiore - daughter of a sultry Sicilian matriarch and her hapless husband - found solace in her family's kitchen. La Cucina, the heart of the family's lush estate, was a place where generations of Fiore women prepared sumptuous feasts and where the drama of extended family life was played out around the age-old table.

When Rosa was a teenager, her own cooking became the stuff of legend in this small community that takes pride in the bounty of its landscape and the eccentricity of its inhabitants. Rosa's infatuation with culinary arts was rivaled only by her passion for a young man, Bartolomeo, who, unfortunately, belonged to another. After their love affair ended in tragedy, Rosa retreated first into her kitchen and then into solitude, as a librarian in Palermo. There she stayed for decades, growing corpulent on her succulent dishes, resigned to a loveless life.

Then, one day, she meets the mysterious chef, known only is I'Inglese, whose research on the heritage of Sicilian cuisine leads him to Rosa's library, and into her heart. They share one sublime summer of discovery, during which I'lnglese awakens the power of Rosa's sensuality, and together they reach new heights of culinary passion. When I'Inglese suddenly vanishes, Rosa returns home to the farm to grieve for the loss of her second love. In the comfort of familiar surroundings, among her growing family, she discovers the truth about her loved ones and finds her life transformed once more by the magic of her cherished Cucina.

©2000 by Lily Prior
(P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Succulent saga...with a sensuous tone, a folkloric narrative style and most original set of characters, La Cucina could well satisfy the hungriest of appetites". - (People Magazine)
"Prior cooks up a cinematic yarn full of characters so rich you'll fear they're fattening, but readers will be sure to splurge on this saucy tale chock full of sex, recipes, and murder." - (Publishers Weekly)

Linda from Maine

Anyone who understands the place of food in passion and love will get why this is a wonderful book. The reader is fabulous, and the images engendered involved numerous senses and were terrific. I had to restart this before I was really able to hear it, so give it a chance.

A good story, very well told ...

This charming story combines cooking and sex in equal portions (okay, just a little more cooking than sex) and is all the better for Lisa Passero's well accented narration -- it's an easy, if not compelling, yarn to listen to and you'll probably be as reluctant as I was to have to hit the pause button occasionally. Highly recommended.

Fabulous rich and complex yet simple story of cooking and lovemaking

This story filled my imagination and held me enthralled from start to finish. not for children.

A little Shocking

Okay, don't get me wrong, this book was very good, and the narrator has a wonderful talent. The sexual parts are a little bit graphic, so if your not 18 stay away.

You will never think of tomato sauce the same way

This is a very entertaining book. We all know that our senses of smell and taste are powerful, We also know that food is a primal urge. Finally, we know that sex is a powerful emotion. Now all come together in a book about Sicily, people, and food. A very entertaining read that will leave you wanting more...you just have to devide more of which!

OMG... But in a Unexpectedly Good Way...

I am lately interested in books that melt the rich culture of cooking, food, etc., into the souls of their stories. I did a random search and La Cucina showed up on a list. I read the summary, downloaded the book and...WOW! What I mean is that I did not expect what I got...HOWEVER, it was a breath of fresh air. I felt like I was reading some seedy version of Strega Nona (one of my kids' favorite books, by Tomie dePaola)! It has an old world fairy tale feel to it, but is hilariously detailed and very adult, if you know what I mean...wink, wink. The experience is very unique and heart lifting; I found myself surprised into shocked gasps and laughing out loud at many points throughout. The narration was perfect and the ending sweet.

As for my interest, after making my disappointed way through other books who claimed to incorporate the culinary arts, this one really had what I was looking for. Rosa Fiore's calling as a cook is very much part of who she is. It is interesting that, despite this, Prior has her earn her living as a librarian the majority of the story. This seemed to me to drive the point that cooking was part of Rosa, like her arm or part of her heart, her brain. It wasn't a job. La Cucina is a character itself. Most of the monumental events in the story, and indeed in Rosa's life happen in La Cucina. It is her birth place, the place her family mourns their deaths, a place of contemplation and of refuge. It is the beginning and the end of the story. This novel is altogether obscene and yet completely wholesome. I loved every delectable word!

Molto Moods

Here we have "Under the Tuscan Sun" meets "The Godfather", meets "Harlquin Romances" meets "Penthouse Forum ". Something for everyone, whether you want it or not. Makes for an interesting listen while in your car with your spouse for 6 hours. The one things we were wondering --- did the author actually taste the "fried calf's brains" recipe she offers in the narrative? She certainly doesn't menton how it tasted. Oh well.

Sorta Depressing

Doesn’t talk much about Sicily, more about the old lifestyle in Sicily, she’s much too zealous about murdering poor little animals for food, and much too descriptive for me. I thought I would enjoy it, but I just didn’t. 🙁

Delightful adults fairy tale!

It's not often that I finish an audio book and search madly for another one by the same author!

I didnt want this story to end, the descriptive nature of this book is "delicious" very "saucy" in lots of ways!! It will leave you licking your lips at the thought of all that wonderful food!

Highly recommended, wish I could find more of a similar nature.

Very Italian

"La Cucina (unabridged)" was a very entertaining novel. The story of this pasta maker is intriguing. I almost wanted to try making my own. It was sometimes hard to follow, but that was due to my listening skills, not the storyline. I'm just learning to read with my ears instead of my eyes. I recommend this as light, entertaining reading (or listening) to anyone who loves to cook and finds peace in the kitchen.