Anthony Doerr won an award to come to Rome for a year to write. What a fabulous opportunity! The timing, however, was interesting -- the fellowship began when his twin sons were six months old.

Four Seasons in Rome tells the story of that chaotic and amazing year when Anthony Doerr and his wife and infant sons got to live in the Eternal City. This wonderful book combines aspects of many types of memoir: the bemused blunderings and awe of a new parent, cross-cultural adventures and misadventures, musings about the writing process and the ways we avoid it, and the wonders of Rome.

I had an extra interest in the book, because the time our family visited Rome (our last family vacation as an intact family) was during the very year that Anthony Doerr was there -- We were there after the Pope's funeral, but before the next Pope was elected. So we saw a teeny tiny bit of what he mentions.

Here's a little taste:

It's fun to vicariously share in Anthony Doerr's experiences, not quite sure whether to envy him or to feel sorry for him -- mostly glad I can enjoy it in nice comfortable book form.