Customer Reviews

Chewing Gum in Holy Water: A Childhood in the Heart of Italy

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Chewing Gum in Holy water is a fascinating coming-of-age story that is laced with humorous, heart-warming life lessons of an adventurous boy growing up Catholic in post WWII Italy. His struggling mother sends four year old Mario to live with his uncle, a traveling priest, and his spinster aunt. The book covers Mario's life from 4 years old until his teen years. Each chapter is a scene from his life; the tales center around Mario's experiences with religion and his wild times with friends. From switching toys during Epiphany to hiding cigarettes and gum behind church statues and touching a bull for love; Mario's childhood was certainly unique. Every few years he moved to a new village and had to make new friends. Along the way his life was shaped by an elderly painter, the bickering Friar and Jesuit, the priest-eating Communist, two very different girls, equally adventurous friends and his beloved uncle. I would love it if a movie was made based on this book, it's a really sweet story.

I recommended this book to a friend and so I came here to Amazon to provide her with the link and was so surprised to see the book only has one review. I thought I should add mine since the book is so deserving.

I discovered Chewing Gum in Holy Water on accident. I was at the library and just randomly saw the title. I found it amusing and took it home.

This is the biography of a boy named Mario in Italy. His mother can't afford to take care of him and so she sends him off to live with his uncle who is a Catholic priest. Mario is really precocious and gets into all kinds of trouble.

The characters in this book are so well described and Mario's antics were so humorous. I really loved this book. What an interesting life Mario had. I'm glad I got to experience a small piece of it.

A great read. Funny, entertaining, historical - at time hysterical! He might be destined for the seminary but he is no saint but rather the leader of all the mischief around. I loved this book so much that I bought three copies to pass on to friends.

One of the most enjoyable books I have read in quite a while. I loved it