and thankfully there is more.  Witty book, which is well written telling the story from both sides of a love-hate relationship between two rather eccentric, and wonderfully so, neighbours in the remote countryside of Italy.  Gerry is a snobby Brit who is constantly trying to claw his way up the social ladder (rather unsuccessfully) and Marta is a eastern block escapee who has some amazing connections.  Both think they are above each other.  The book unfolds who they really are, leaving enough to the imagination, as they create a real friendship based on their mutual love of fernat branca and awful food.  I thoroughly recommend, it has been a long time since I've found an author that I love so much and hope to have more and more.  Some amazing laugh out loud moments.

Immediately bought the next book which I'm reading now.

'Cooking with Fernet Branca' propose une intrigue de départ assez simple - mais efficace: des relations difficiles entre 2 voisins, alors que chacun recherchait la tranquillité dans des montagnes de Toscane. Le héros principal, c'est Gerard Samper, un anglais un peu précieux (homosexuel sans doute), 'nègre' pour des célébrités ignares, passionné de cuisine et se prenant pour un génie culinaire, amateur aussi d'opéra - dont il massacre les airs à pleine voix.

C'est bien écrit, souvent amusant, avec même des passages franchement hilarants. Ce n'est peut-être pas aussi drôle que Wodehouse ou que Tom Sharpe, mais le roman vaut assurément le détour. A noter que Gerard Samper est le héros de deux autres livres.

Maybe my state of mind when reading this book.  It was an enjoyable read but not so funny from my perspective.  Appreciate the satire but didn't quite meet my expectation.

5 stars on account of laughing at points until I cried. The two narrators give wildly diverging versions of encounters which are always oiled by a bottle of fernet branca. Both protagonists are supremely disparaging in a long suffering way of ( amongst their counterpart's many other perceived failings) the other's inability to hold their drink and consequent drunken behaviour.

The plot is a bit contrived but gives such a wonderful set pieces that you have to overlook that slight flaw. A brilliant read for anyone who appreciates the art of really good bitchy remarks.

..... but his books, at least Paterson's fiction, don't seem to reach a wide audience. That's a shame and a waste - great fun, wittily audacious, hilariously deranged. Deserves a much wider audience. I'm doing my bit - sent it to my nephew in Norway where they apparently know of it already! So step up US and UK. And elsewhere...... the man should be on the international map already.