ITALIAN WAYS : ON AND OFF THE RAILS FROM MILAN TO PALERMO
by Tim Parks

Tim Parks has lived in Italy for thirty-two years. Coming from England, you wonder why he ever left. He doesn't seem to have one nice thing to say about either Italy or the Italians.
The first section of the book he drones on and on about acquiring train tickets with all their nuances. (You get excruciating details.) Parks talks about the interesting people he meets on the train: gypsies (the women beg), immigrants, prostitutes, etc.
I stopped reading at page 60.
What's a shame is that Parks has written quite a good many books, both fiction and nonfiction. Years ago I read his Italian Neighbors and that was wonderful. I don't know what happened. Maybe his style of writing changed.
If you're planning a trip to Italy, there are many other good books that tell you what trains to take or you can just go to www.YouTube.com for priceless information.
Not recommended.