SALENTO BY 5 is an informative book about Salento, a region at the southern tip of Puglia, in the heel of Italy's boot. The book is written (in English) by five authors: three Salentinians and two travelers from California who have been visiting the area for many years. The Italian contributors are each teachers of English-related subjects in Italian high schools and each brings his or her own singular voice to their writing. Together, the five authors introduce themselves and write about Salento and why they love the area. The Italians also write about their family history, the land, the distinctive pizzica music and, of course, the traditional food of the area. Although the book contains various tips for travelers to Salento, it is primarily a Travel Memoir and Salento Love Fest. Sixty-one drawings and sketches in the book are contributed by one of the authors and colorfully depict the sea, the ancient towns, the olive trees, and more. The authors' stories and descriptions are each from a different perspective-on the book's cover, they identify themselves as The Traveler, The Raconteur, The Music Maker, The Sketcher, and The Cook-and each offers the reader a more insightful picture of Salento than is typical of the usual travel guide.
