REVIEWS
June 2020 - Marisa with Jan at the Canungra Books & Art as local MP, Scott Buchholz was buying books from local authors to hand out as gifts so as to "support our local businesses, artists, writers, hospitality and so on. Look forward to reading and promoting".
NBC (American) press release, July 2019
“City of Ipswich recognizes and wishes to congratulate local author, Marisa Parker on the publication of her book, Goodbye To Italia.”
Cr Wood and Mayor Pisasale (Nov 2016)
"A sweeping love story set against the backdrop of Italy after the end of World War II."
Kat Davidson - ABC 612 Radio Presenter
“Marisa, I loved your book, beautifully written and so interesting. I am passionate about anything Italian, but to read the true account of your parents struggles and triumphs was an utter delight. Thank you for sharing and I cannot wait for the sequel!”
Jenny Old – Author of 'McAllister' (Australia)
“Have just finished my copy. It was wonderful and now can’t wait for the 2nd installment of the adventures in Africa. Your are truly inspirational Marisa!”
Cassandra Singleton (Australia)
"Hi Marisa, just finished reading Goodbye to Italia. Congrats. Absolutely loved it - very elegantly written and the family love really shone through. So looking forward to your next book.”
Vicky Gurney (South Africa)
Ann Hewitt - Manager at
The Book Tree, Toowoomba says:
"A big thank you to Marisa Parker and Jenny Old ...Apart from being a success from a book selling perspective at the Meet the Author event on 9/11/18, it was a lovely night thanks to the many guests who attended. They were having a good chat and bought lots of books!"
'Mi è piaciuto molto, GOODBYE TO ITALIA, per tre motivi: l’atmosfera degli anni di guerra a Torino è resa molto bene così come la descrizione degli anni di prigionia a Zonderwater (sono piemontese e anche mio padre restò nel campo dal '41 al '47 e rientrò con la stessa nave, la Chitral). Infine è una bella e appassionata storia di famiglia.'
—Enrico Fossati (Ottobre 2020)
GOODBYE TO Italia was listed as part of the Moving Memoirs LibraryBub Monthly Selection (July 2019) in an NBC (American) press release - https://www.nbc-2.com/story/40735761/moving-memoirs-at-the-forefront-of-librarybub-selection-for-july
Readers Favorite reviewed Ciao! WE’RE IN AFRICA in March 2019 and gave it five stars: “From finding that first location for their store, following the Piergiovannis as they discover their niche in high fashion is a remarkable story, and Parker is an accomplished and engaging narrator. Ciao! We're in Africa is most highly recommended."
Readers Favorite 2018 Annual Bronze Award for GOODBYE TO Italia reviewed as: "Sweet, endearing, heart-warming, emotional and simply lovely, this book is too interesting to put down. The double POV makes the story interesting and ensures that the reader keeps on reading."
Readers Favorite reviewed GOODBYE to Italia in November 2017, and ALL FIVE reviewers each gave five stars. Jack Magnus, one of the reviewers said, "I’ve long been interested in first-hand accounts of the war and found so much in this book that I hadn’t known about before. "
indieBRAG reviewed GOODBYE TO Italia and gave it FIVE stars on June 12, 2017 claiming: “We are proud to announce that GOODBYE TO Italia by Marisa Parker is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. This tells the reader that this book is well worth their time and money!”
The judges of the International Rubery Book Award reviewed GOODBYE TO Italia and claim: "There’s a photo at the beginning of each chapter, and you find yourself delayed endlessly by examining these delightful photos. It's a wonderful story, very well written, told in a nicely informal, accessible prose."
