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 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.

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.

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.

Wonderful Listen

I enjoyed La Cucina so much that I listened to it in one day. The characters are colorful and the narrator is fabulous. I recommend this book highly. I hope that Lily Prior will have her other books put on audio. Until then I'm off to the library so I can read them.

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!