Francesca Andreini

Under American Skies Francesca Andreini

An Italian writer and her travel-savvy family are on the move again. This time to Washington DC. Relocating to the United States feels like a dream come true, and should be easy. But will the US live up to their expectations? Through life's unexpected challenges and new, unpredictable experiences, the author finds new feet and gains precious insight into her life and her surroundings.

The experiences of the author and her family during their first two years in the USA are narrated in a witty, ironic style-and a brooding attitude. She ponders the meaning of leaving one's homeland, while dwelling on the daily hurdles and disappointments, but also the discoveries and opportunities that this entails. Her, and her family's, everyday life is set in the social, economic and political context of the United States in a precise time period (the midterm elections during Obama's second mandate, the killing of Bin Laden etc.). The resulting observations are however more general, universal, and come from the author's habit of not taking anything for granted.

Andreini's very personal style, characterized by a fresh, sensitive and imaginative language, results in a highly evocative text. An ever-changing reading, with a sustained rhythm, which captures the reader's attention.