"Maggio is a compelling writer who can render even the simplest moments into sheer poetry... The Stone Boudoir is delightful."
–L.A. Times
"Deliciously descriptive... a mosaic of an older way of life perched on the edges of modernity."
–The Boston Globe, June 16, 2002
"Pristine prose unsullied by prettiness or sentimentality... This memoir offers an austerely voluptuous pleasure for anyone seeking the heart of Sicily."
–Booklist (starred review)
"Rooted in poetry and human emotion, Maggio's writing shines."
–Bloomsbury Review
" ...It's her quick understanding of the residents' humanity that brings the landscapes to life... "
–Publishers Weekly
"Maggio's lyrical prose evokes sumptuous cuisine... and breathtaking scenery... Thoughtful character sketches render intriguing personalities... All these narrative strands are woven together in a compelling meditation on Sicilian culture... "
–Kirkus Reviews, Dec. 1, 2001
"Mostly her tone will be familiar to readers of Mattanza, her vivid account of the epic Mediterranean tuna hunts. Curious, light-hearted and enthusiastic, Maggio roams the villages of Etna and the Madonie Mountains as though hunting butterflies. Each detail is worthy of scrutiny, from the way Sicilian women hang out their wash to the peculiar placement of Sicilian kitchens on the top floor of the house. While her fascination with the bedrock of Sicilian communities is evident, it's her quick understanding of the residents' humanity that brings the landscapes to life in this engaging travel memoir."
–Publishers Weekly, Feb. 4, 2002
"Particularly fascinating are her encounters with Sicilian women, whose closely scrutinized lives are rooted in centuries of tradition... The Stone Boudoir gives lyrical illumination to an enduring landscape and culture."
–Donna Marchetti in Islands magazine, April 2002
"Ciolino," the first chapter of The Stone Boudoir, appears in the anthology, The Italian American Reader; A Collection of Outstanding Fiction, Memoirs, Journalism, Essays and Poetry edited by Bill Tonelli, with a foreword by Nick Tosches. (William Morrow, March 2003)
The Stone Boudoir is available in a Dutch translation published by Uitgeverij De Arbeiderspers (Amsterdam and Antwerpen), translated by Evelien Chayesand, and in a Hebrew edition published in Israel by Am Oved Publisher Ltd. (Tel Aviv)