Cucina Tipica is the story of Jacoby, an out our of work PR guy from New York, who has taken a year off in Italy, with his fiancee. He's there to relax and unwind, but has has a secret agenda - to try and dig into some family history. It's a relaxed novel, which highlights the charm in a slower pace of life.
Jacoby has suddenly lost his job in New York. An offensive text message intended for a close work friend went rogue, and ended up being sent to the whole company, including his new boss. He's not taken it well, and when his fiancee, Claire was offered a year's trip to Italy as a travel writer, they decided he should go along to try and unwind and find his mojo again. Jacoby's mother was Italian, so he decides to try and find out about his his family history while they are there, and it leads him down a path of friendship, self-discovery and lots of good food. Jacoby is lost in life - as well as losing his job there are clues early on that there are problems between him and Claire, and he is unsure if their relationship will survive the trip. The combination of losing his job, as well as any hope of finding work back in the professional world of America, and sensing that there is no future in his serious relationship would give anyone a lot to worry about.
Italy is more than just a setting for this book. It is a whole way of life - good food, good wine, good company and plenty of culture. The way people live their lives there is slower, more relaxed and much more simple than the life Jacoby is used to in the States. The Italian way of doing things influences almost every page of this book - and it gives it a great atmosphere. It makes the book supremely memorable - I'm sure in a year's time I'll be able to think of this book and remember images of piazza's and Dante's statue looking down upon the characters. Obviously, it's not as immersive as trip there, but after reading this, I think I've got a bit more of an understanding of what life's all about in Tuscany. Cotto has obviously got a great love and respect for the country, and it shows here.
The other highlight of the book was the food. Food seems to be what keeps Jacoby going. He's got a great love of good food - it seems to be what keeps him going at times, and every meal in this book sounds divine. He's in the right place for it - I don't need to tell anyone about Italy's reputation for good food. Italian's seem to have a natural gift for it - I've had the pleasure of eating with the Italian families of friends a few times, and it really is a treat. The passion for good food seems to be in their blood, and they seem to have a natural understanding of how to prepare and serve a good meal. This book is worth the read just to witness the meals Jacoby and co get through.
This book is a charming, chilled out affair, and there is little action, but enough drama to keep it going. Don't be fooled into thinking it's a slow burner - the momentum keeps up through the main plot line and the handful of sub-plots running through it. It's good book, and Cotto has a great passion for what he is writing about - Italy, food, music - and it's one I would recommend for a chilled Sunday afternoon, maybe with a cold white wine.
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