S.R.A.

The Secret Papers Of Madame Olivetti By Annie Vanderbilt

2009-01-31T09:09:00.000-08:00

The Secret Papers Of Madame OlivettiTrade Paperback: 304 pagesPublisher: NAL, a division of Penguin GroupRelease date: October 7, 2008Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0451225279ISBN-13: 978-0451225276Where to Buy the Book Read from the book and the Conversation Guide (PDF)Watch videos of Annie reading from the bookLily has traveled to southern France in search of a new perspective, hoping that the sun's soft rays and the fragrant sea breezes will provide a relaxing respite from the demands of her lively daughter and her family's Idaho cattle ranch. Two years after her husband's sudden death, in the house that's been in his family for generations, she finally finds a moment of peace, some stolen weeks to immerse herself in memories and make sense of the past... To Madame Olivetti -- her cranky old manual typewriter -- Lily entrusts all her secrets, pounding out the story of the men she loved, the betrayals she endured, the losses she still regrets. With the companionship of honest, open Yves, the sexy handyman who comes by to make repairs, Lily takes in life on her sun-drenched terrace. Soon Yves is coming in the evenings too, obviously capable of mending more than broken roof tiles. As Lily whispers her tales to Yves in a language he doesn't understand, every sensation and remembrance brings her closer to understanding her exhilarating past -- and to discovering she has a new story to tell, one about the delights of starting over... The Story Behind the Book...A sensual woman, Lily Crisp, and sensual settings, an old stone farmhouse on the Côte d'Azur, France, and the rain forest in Chiapas, Mexico, were the vague beginnings of this novel, more a visual and tactile banquet of the senses than a book. I saw the scenes, smelled them, and felt them long before I attempted to paint them in words. Within this framework I envisaged a plot that was densely layered, moving fluidly between past and present, so that a delicious soup of intrigue, lushness, passion, disaster, humor, and quirkiness would enhance the background flavors of my settings. I wanted to write about long-term marriage and love as it grows, changes, falters, and resurrects itself, but not in some Pollyanna feel-good form. I didn't want a heroine who shone too perfectly, or one who whined and wallowed in regret and remorse. I wanted a woman who knew about death and had lived long enough, after thrashing about in the thick of life's struggles, to maintain some measure of personal perspective and a sense of humor. Lily Crisp emerged from my imagination fully blown, a combination of fearlessness and vulnerability, a naturally erotic but not neurotic woman -- flawed, as we are all flawed, well meaning and committed in spite of which she sometimes takes detours that are not in her best interest. And then there are Lily's men: her husband, her father, her son and her lovers. I enjoy men tremendously and think they have often received a bum rap in women's fiction. I'd be happy to spend time with any of Lily's coterie of males, except perhaps her father, who never quite manages to let the marshmallow-hearted inner Oscar take control of his meaner instincts. I spent a decade writing The Secret Papers Of Madame Olivetti, working on and off through the death of my parents, overseas adventures with my husband, and health issues on the personal front. Love and death: big themes. They slowed me down, set me back, and changed just about everything except Lily Crisp and her oddball intrepidity, and Madame Olivetti, the Lettera 23 portable typewriter to whom Lily entrusts her secrets.

My Tattoo

2008-07-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

My first Tattoo on my left arm. Artist James, philipino guy in Kuwait. -/-/2005 . Barbwire design.

My Second Tattoo on my right leg. Artist Ram in chabahil, Kathmandu. 07-13-2008. Tribal design.

2008-07-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

..........................................................................................Working with my best buddy "PLAYER"

More photos from Kuwait coming soon .........

2008-07-09T03:21:00.000-07:00

Im so honored that i got a chance to work under command of Mr Waleed in Kuwait. He is very generous and kind heart person. Ive worked with him nearly 8 years in his zoo in Kuwait n he never make me feel home alone. He always treat me like his brother and help me everytime, even in impossible case. Mr. Waleed I salute u, no one will ever found a boss like you. Together we create some beautiful and amazing things in your or let's say OUR Dream Project Little Jungle Zoological Garden in Kuwait. I hope some day i can visit and see it. All the wonderfull moments we share will always remain in my memories.
I must have to remeber and gratitude to all the wonderfull person like, Mr. Tarak sir(full of fun n enjoyment), Mr. Abdul Aziz Sir(Perfect commander), Mr. Jamal sir(Perfect problem solver), Mr. Mohammad Sir, Mr. Saleh, Mr. Deghaishem, and to my lovely brother Sayed. These guys are really amazing. Cant forget two very special person Mr Waleed's Mother and Father. Big Salam to both of you.

U will always remain in our heart and soul ............

2008-07-09T02:37:00.000-07:00

We beleive that you are in safe and sound in the place of god called Heaven, watching us and blessing us all the time.

My wife .............

2008-06-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

Hand in hand we walk together, God's grace warms us from above. It's him I thank each day I wake for blessing me with all your love. The sunshine in my morning and the bird that sings my song. In this life when I am troubled through God it's you who keeps me strong. The wind beneath my wings as this eagle takes to flight. You are the stars that brighten up my sky in the darkness of the night. The mother of my children and the air that gives me life. My truest friend of all... my heart, my soul, my wife.
She is the apple of my eye, The reason that I live. She is all that I could wish for. My heart to her I give. It is for that someone special, These words that I do pen, To thank her for always being, My wife and my best friend. She is the sunshine in my morning, The star that's in my sky, And if I should ever lose her, Then I would surely die. She stands always at my side, No matter what comes our way. She comforts me with steadfast love, Each and every day. She carries many burdens, And her heart is sometimes broken, By all the thanks she never gets, And all the words unspoken I know her life is not her own, I always seem so needy, And asking her to do one more thing, I feel so really greedy. How can I ever thank her, For all she has done for me? I can only give her all my heart, And love her to eternity.

Big hug n kisses for both of you ...........

2008-06-25T02:44:00.000-07:00

ANNIE , Mr BILL I want to tell you " HUGE THANK YOU", But it doesn’t seem enough.Words don’t seem sufficient--"Blah, blah" and all that stuff.
Please know I have deep feelingsAbout your generous act.I really appreciate you;You’re special, and that’s a fact!
Thank you for your kindness.Thank you for being the person you are:kind and thoughtful,sensitive and considerate,a generous and thoughtful giver.You are unselfish always,putting others before yourself,making us feel special and important.It is a privilege and a pleasure to know you.
Thank you so much for all you do;You're truly a delight;When my life overwhelms and does me in,You make everything all right.
You are a personwho makes life easier and betterfor everyone around you.Your continual actsof thoughtfulnessand kindnessbrighten each day.What you did for mewill glow in my memory,reviving pleasant feelingsevery time I think about it.I appreciate you,and I thank you.
I appreciate your kindnessMore than words can say;The very nice thing you did for meReally made my day!
You care about peopleand it shows.You are generous with your time,giving of your energy,lavish with your unselfish deeds.I will remember your kindness to me.Thank you for brightening my worldwith your thoughtfulness.It really meant a lot.

This poem is for u, my little angel .................

2008-06-25T01:48:00.000-07:00

Who would of thought, to my surprise, The day I looked in my daughter's eyes, That I would find my sunshine, my star, my pearl,
All the thoughts in my head, of this little girl. You came to me on the sixth June ,
That day in my life, I will always remember.
I did not know who I was as a man,
'till the moment you were placed inside of my hands. And it was at that split moment, when you opened your eyes,
Your true identity was no longer disguised.
As the lights glistened, in your beautiful eyes,

Inside I slowly started to cry. I was given an angel, from heavens' above,
The final test as a man, A little girl to love.
I believe by God, I must have been touched.
I love you ALEYA, I love you so much. Your face lights up, whenever you smile,
A glow that can last an endless mile.

When you were born you filled my heart with pride, And I was overcome by the joy I felt inside. As I held you in my arms that very first day, I knew I would never let any harm come your way. With your tiny little hands and tiny little feet, Every time I look at you my heart skips a beat. As I watch you sleep in the middle of the night, I hope and pray I will do everything right. I know I may make some mistakes along the way, But I promise to do my best not to every single day. I can say this without any doubt at all, I will always be there to catch you if you fall. And another promise I make to you from me, Daddy's little angel you will always be.

Family

2008-06-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

me with my angel ......... Yashaswe(blessed with name,fame and longlife), we also call her ALEYA(great gift from god).
Me , Yashaswe and my wife Rashmi
One happy family

misterious

2008-06-19T22:52:00.001-07:00