Dining Out with The Boys

Mima and Marcello

Dessert is always the best part of the meal!

 

Dining Out - Spectacular Desserts

 

Chocolate Cake for Christian

Torta della Nonna for Mima 

and

a Cannolo for Marcello

An Italian Restaurant in Centreville

Ciao, An Italian Restaurant

Mary suggested this restaurant and we ate well.

Indra

Christine

 

St. Christopher's Birthday Club June 2021

We missed our annual birthday lunch in 2020 but we were back again in 2021!

Lunch at Yindee Thai

From left to right: Eleanor, Pam, Christine, Indra, Pat

Then to Christine's for cake and ice cream! In the gazebo!

Pam brought two sinfully rich chocolate cakes from Whole Foods - absolutely heavenly!

Pam

Eleanor

Pat

Indra

Christine? She was the photographer.

 

The Phillips with George June 2021

 

George in front of 

The Trail of Tears

An interesting exhibit followed by lunch outdoors at Kramer's near Dupont Circle

The Doves at the Washington National Cathedral

Mary, Indra, and I went to the Washington National Cathedral to see the installation of The Doves. It was lovely!

After admiring the exhibit and the beautiful cathedral for about an hour, we walked to a nearby French restaurant.

Indra and I had vegetarian omelettes that were out of this world. We were unfortunately too stuffed to partake of one of their delicious French pastries. Maybe the next time!

 

A Museum Outing at long last!

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

A delightful day with three dear friends - George, Mike, and John

Mike suggested that we go through the Italian Art rooms. It was a mighty big task - room after room after room!

Looking at a painting of Dante

Mike, Christine, and George

Photos by John

After going through the rooms of Italilan art, we found a place to eat outdoors.

John

George

Mike

Christine

My Book in three languages: English, Italian, and French

My book based on Andrea's memoirs is now available in English, Italian, and French. 

The English version is available on the publisher's website, http://www.xlibris.com, as well as online booksellers such as amazon, bookdepository, barnes & noble, etc. 

The Italian and French versions are available on amazon and other online booksellers.

Spread the word! Tell your family and friends! 

If you like the book, please leave a Customer Review on amazon or Xlibris. These reviews have already been posted. So far all of them have given my book Five Gold Stars!

Here are some of the reviews. More to be posted soon~

Editorial Reviews

“At the crossroads of biography, memoir, essay, and history, Growing Up in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy: The Story of Andrea Marcello Meloni is a vivid and moving tribute to a unique period in time and a unique individual who lived through it. Weaving firsthand accounts and photographs with a wealth of research and insights, Christine Foster Meloni gives us a detailed excavation of a period that is no less fascinating or relevant now than it was when it occurred, and she paints a memorable portrait of a man who was forever altered by it.
- Kirk Kjeldsen, author of Land of Hidden Fires

“Often left out of World War II accounts set in Europe, Growing Up in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy: The Story of Andrea Marcello Meloni offers a vivid picture of life in Italy during Mussolini’s 21-year iron rule. “When I was born, in 1928,” Andrea writes, “I was born a little fascist. Yes! In that period one was first born a fascist and then an Italian.” In this memoir, author Christine Meloni wraps her husband’s own words in her own extensive research on the rise of Mussolini and the historical context of Andrea’s life. This is both an entertaining and informative read for anyone interested in World War II history and fascism in Italy.” 

-J.L. Oakley, author of The Jøssing Affair and The Quisling Factor

Wendy Swallow, author Searching for Nora: After the Doll's House

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating window into a world we need to remember -- life in fascist Italy.

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020

This haunting account of life under Mussolini, as see from a child's perspective, reminds us that times of disturbing local strife and the poverty of war are not that far away. Meloni does an excellent job of adding historical context to her husband's childhood memories of life in Rome before and during World War II, expanding the story into a broader portrait of that time. Carefully and beautifully done!

Elizabeth Hardisty

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Timely

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2020

Curious to know a little about “Fascism”, I loved reading this - and the additional resources too (they are excellent: to hear one of Mussolini’s speeches ‘live’, see link on p. 75.) Meloni writes a gentle, personal account from her husband’s notes - one aches for the hungry little village boy, understands his enthusiasm later on when he gets his own uniform and marches, with his friends, in the military parade. One aches again when he endures the sufferings of the war imposed on all his people - and deeply understands his eventual, mature hatred of oppression and his love of freedom and peace. This book is more than readable and enlightening tho’: it’s applicable to the present. We're seeing our own freedoms being curtailed (for whatever-many reasons); poverty is growing and so is the centralization of political power. “Growing Up In Mussolini’s Fascist Italy” is a book to read now and keep in mind and heart as we make choices for our own future.

In Memory of Andrea Meloni

 Colin and Christian sitting on the benches I donated to the church for the Memorial Garden in memory of Andrea.