Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Intro to Recent Sicilian History & Food
Review: Though his style is idiosyncratic and thus sometimes difficult to completely follow, Robb's short work is an excellent introduction to Sicily--its food and Mafia culture. Never boring or trite, Robb tells the fascinating story of the extent of the Mafia's influence over Italian political and popular culture from its humble roots in Sicily. Along the way he expertly tells the stories of fascinating Italians at all strata of the society and their universal love for, and the central role played by, food in their culture. Truly a delight to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but thick going
Review: While presenting information that is, in itself interesting, this book was difficult for me to get through. The use of italics in place of quotation marks seemed pretentious, and the book itself leapt from topic to topic, so that I was frequently confused as to who was doing what to whom. Better books on the topic might be _Excellent Cadavers_, an exhaustive book on the Mafia, and _On Persephone's Island_, about an American woman's experiences after marrying a Sicilian. I really wanted to enjoy Midnight in Sicily, but wasn't able to warm up to it at all.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but thick going
Review: While presenting information that is, in itself interesting, this book was difficult for me to get through. The use of italics in place of quotation marks seemed pretentious, and the book itself leapt from topic to topic, so that I was frequently confused as to who was doing what to whom. Better books on the topic might be _Excellent Cadavers_, an exhaustive book on the Mafia, and _On Persephone's Island_, about an American woman's experiences after marrying a Sicilian. I really wanted to enjoy Midnight in Sicily, but wasn't able to warm up to it at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Intense, Although Sometimes Difficult to Follow
Review: You will be amazed by the corruption/politics/ history in this book. Political ties between corrupt politicians and the Cosa Nostra. A detailed discussion particular of Sicily (palermo) and why things are the way they are. Anyone who investigates the cosa nostra ultimately is killed...and this is all happening just a few years ago. My only complaint is the author's reference to things Italian which many readers will not know about. A short glossary in the back would have helped.
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