In the back streets of Old Rome, near the famous Bernini monument, The Fountain of the Four Rivers, La Dolce Vita turns from sweet...to sour. A na???ve American tourist gets involved with poets, the Mafia, an opera singer, a movie star, and a film being shot at Cinecitt???. In the grand tradition of Mark Twain, Norman B. Schwartz recounts the comic misadventures of an innocent abroad-neither an Ugly American nor a Quiet one-but someone young who soon learns that within the Eternal City one cannot stay that innocent for long ...
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In the back streets of Old Rome, near the famous Bernini monument, The Fountain of the Four Rivers, La Dolce Vita turns from sweet...to sour. A na???ve American tourist gets involved with poets, the Mafia, an opera singer, a movie star, and a film being shot at Cinecitt???. In the grand tradition of Mark Twain, Norman B. Schwartz recounts the comic misadventures of an innocent abroad-neither an Ugly American nor a Quiet one-but someone young who soon learns that within the Eternal City one cannot stay that innocent for long.In the late 1950s NORMAN B. SCHWARTZ was working as an assistant film editor at Columbia Pictures in Hollywood when he heard that the studio was making a series of films in co-production in Rome. He left the states on his own and headed to Italia, where as his buona fortuna would have it, he found work and stayed for ten years.In Italy the first picture he worked on was the Ray Harryhausen's Dynamation classic "Jason And The Argonauts" (1963). When he was not working in the Roman studios, he went south and beachcombed in old fishing villages like Positano on the Amalfi coast. He learned to speak Italian and live as Italians do: Dolce fa niente, "the sweetness of doing nothing. "In the 70s Mr. Schwartz returned to Hollywood, eventually to collaborate on the sound tracks of such Oscar-winning feature films as "The Exorcist" and "E.T. the Extraterrestrial." He became the first ADR sound editor and director ever admitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also taught writing, directing and acting for 20+ years in the U.S.A., France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Nigeria and the UAE. Norman Schwartz is the author of three comic novels: ALL THINGS small; Don Juan in Space; and Hollywood Below and Beyond (an illusory memoir).
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Add this copy of ALL THINGS small to cart. $10.46, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2021 by Cresting Wave Publishing.
Add this copy of All Things Small to cart. $31.01, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Cresting Wave Publishing.
Add this copy of All Things Small to cart. $60.40, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Cresting Wave Publishing.
All Things Small by Norman Schwartz is a charming literary fiction novel following the journey of Nathan Epstein in the city of Rome, an innocent, directionless American tourist struggling with everyday interactions in the local language. Nathan is wandering the streets after quitting his job and he is trying to make his way through the city with the help of a popular guidebook. While placing an order in the restaurant he unexpectedly encounters Sergio. The chance meeting helps him find an affordable residence, means of living, and even an opportunity for new life. But where will it all go? Is everything as good as it looks like or is something else going on? As the quote in the book by Cicero goes, ââ?¬Å"The beginnings of all things are small.ââ?¬Â? More important things will happen, for better or for worse. Only time will tell.
Author Norman B. Schwartz gives readers a thought provoking contemporary story that is takes readers in unexpected directions. The characters, the scenes, and the plot all come alive with the authors easy yet engrossing writing style. The book has a a fascinating aura of mystery that permeates the story, as well as a bit of melancholy as beauty and gloom are contrasted well in this riveting story. I enjoyed how the author provides a sharp contrast between shiny famous monuments and the dark underbelly of the city that is full of crime and lust.
Another fascinating aspect of the book was the generous sprinkling of Italian language; I felt that it adds to the exotic appeal and increases its authenticity. The graphic depiction, architectural details, and sharp and imaginative presentation of it all makes the reading experience immersive. While I thought the book was a bit slow to start, it eventually picks up and takes readers on a well written and entertaining ride that is full of alluring characters.
All Things Small by Norman Schwartz is a highly captivating book that keeps you engaged and yearning for more. If you love historical events, picturesque landscapes, architecture, and a mesmerizing story of human experiences in a foreign land, this book is for you.
