Book review: Naples chapter from A Year in the World

As expected, I got a bit bogged down in Italy, following Frances Mayes' trip to Italy. She completely disagrees with previous writers of all genres and types (as well as some Italian stereotypes) who apparently have labeled Naples forever as a city of "bad people". Frances falls in love with the architecture, the Roman ruins, the scenery (Vesuvius is looming somewhere in the background), and even with the people. There is nothing wrong with Naples, she argues, if you are willing to ignore the maddening traffic that dissipates on Sundays.
Regardless, it's a short (a lot shorter than the previous depictions of Spain and Portugal), yet informative count of Naples.
She also recommends some books on this city:

The Gallery by John Horne Burns
Earthly Paradise by Colette
Bay of Noon by Shirley Hazzard

This should be enough to get you started with your preparations for your trip to Naples (or so we hope). Add to that a slice of pizza napolitana at your local Italian restaurant and you are good to go.

Also, don't forget to check out some trip ideas that would include Naples (or Napoli):

The Amalfi Coast (Naples, Pompeii, Amalfi, Capri and Sorrento with a rent a car)

Naples - Taormina

The Heel of Italy by Rail (Naples, Foggia, Lecce and Taranto by train)

Archeological Treasures of Southern Italy (Rome, Naples, Amalfi and Sorrento with a rent a car)

Rome - Naples - Taormina - Palermo

Venice - Florence - Rome - Naples