A Roll in the Hay in Northern Italy
I thought this article was most interesting in its approach. It covered such a small, specific experience, but managed to introduce the reader to aspects of northern Italian culture. It begins by setting the scene of the writer in a very ambiguous situation. She gives precise description but keeps the reader wondering what's going on until the third paragraph. You can tell that she did her research on the practice of hay bathing; she tells us the history of it in South Tyrol, the ingredients, and the government regulation.
She also uses the attendant to incorporate some history of the area's culture by mentioning her German accent and connection to Austria in the past. I thought that her method of touching on all this information was very well done; she always prefaces or follows factual information with its direct connection to her experience, so the facts don't weigh the piece down.
Part of what kept the piece interesting and moving forward was the writer's voice. She kept her tone light and humorous, like her skeptical comments on the g-string and that "this is what it must feel like to be a teabag." Her language and descriptions were very precise. Every word added to the piece.
I felt like one place where she had the opportunity to expand the piece and tell us more about northern Italy was the moment where she mentioned the scratch she got from a hike earlier. If she had wanted to, she could have included information about the hike and the story behind the scratch, and it would have given the reader a broader view of South Tyrol. However, I think that the reason the piece works so well is because she focuses on this single unique experience. Telling a story about her hike would have diverted the reader from the experience of the hay bath and I think it would have bogged down the tone and the voice of the piece.
So I think the success of this piece lies in the author's quick, precise description of this unique experience in northern Italy.
I agree with Lauren in liking the approach of the article. The topic sheds light on a part of northern Italy and a piece of its culture that not many people probably know about. The idea of the treatment seems odd, but the history is there and her experience is new and unique, instead of her sharing a step by step description of her trip. It was very good. I do think there could have been even more history and culture related to the treatment included, though.
ReplyDeleteI really like the voice in this piece. It's spunky and quirky, yet not so much so that it sounds immature, unprofessional or annoying. It provides a bit of the history and culture of northern Italy's uncanny tradition, and gives modern feedback. Although after all the complaining, I didn't really feel convinced that the author actually enjoyed the experience.
ReplyDeleteI loved this piece, just so so much. I got to this line: "I also think this is what it must feel like to be a teabag." and I was dying. It was too cute! It definitely sells the experience well.
ReplyDeleteThe topic is an interesting choice: to distinguish South Tyrolean by it's spa treatments--it makes for an imaginative perspective of the culture.
I enjoyed the sassiness of this piece. It was smart and witty, and didn't get stuck in its own descriptions. This was a novel topic written about with a novel voice, and I liked how we went on the journey with her from being worried about the treatment to never wanting to leave. I agree with Lauren, the approach was pitch perfect.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the voice in the piece, she was able to make a spa treatment witty and interesting. I liked that she was able to look at the treatment objectively, historically, and subjectively. I liked the way the piece started with her hesitation toward the treatment and ended with her never wanting to leave.
ReplyDelete"I also think this is what it must feel like to be a teabag."
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased with this.
The narrator's voice is almost flawless. Her reactions and predispositions to the spa treatment were relatable and kept me reading. I didn't want her to stop talking as much as she didn't want to get out of the hay. My first thought after reading was that it didn't say a lot about the place to be a travel piece, but looking back she intertwined the situation with Northern Italy so intricately. I agree with Lauren a description of the hike (not too long to distract from the piece) would've boosted the story a little bit more.