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whiskingthroughtime's review against another edition
3.0
Sweet story, but disjointed, predictable rushed ending.
theuncorkedlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
Like others, though, I couldn't get by this standalone, which seemed plotless, tedious, and full of problematic assumptions and stereotypes.
I had picked up the title for our Uncorked Reading March 2022 theme: wine books (https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/best-books-about-wine/) and had to call it halfway through.
What a bummer.
Like others, though, I couldn't get by this standalone, which seemed plotless, tedious, and full of problematic assumptions and stereotypes.
I had picked up the title for our Uncorked Reading March 2022 theme: wine books (https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/best-books-about-wine/) and had to call it halfway through.
What a bummer.
mrs_w24's review against another edition
4.0
He has to rent a bulldozer because of a mixup at the rental car place, and drive slowly through Tuscany, meeting people as he goes. Add in a little Italian family politics, personal life upset, and you've got a great story!
amyradak's review against another edition
2.5
2.5 stars. Vaguely entertaining, but not 'interesting.' I think I must need a book that's a little more plot driven than this. The main character is a food and wine writer in a slump after a breakup, and he takes a short residence in a small Italian village to hunker down and get his next book done. There are several entertaining elements to the book, such as the fact that he ends up in an Italian jail for a day over a misunderstanding regarding a rental car, and the fact that he ends up having to eventually rent a bulldozer to drive to the remote Italian village due to a rental car shortage. But beyond that, it's just 'a series of stuff that happens' in my opinion. The writer meets some interesting people, and eventually finishes his book and goes home. That's it.
gadrake's review against another edition
3.0
Surprising adventures await Paul Stuart who slips away to Italy to find time to complete a writing deadline. Paul is a revered food and wine writer from Scotland. Living mainly in obscurity as he writes magazine articles, he becomes quite popular after his new editor, Gloria, discovers a successful formula for writing books on the same subjects. He currently has a mental block though.
After an ego humbling breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Paul is eager to get away to Italy. At the airport, his car reservation never materializes and a bulldozer becomes his transportation of choice. Thus begins a series of comic mishaps.
Romantic complications emerge as the ex-girlfriend, his smitten editor, and a certain lovely American artist vie for his attention. His experiences with an escaped convict, a priest who take matters into their own hands, and a depressed vintner add up to a lot of humor. This is an amusing lightly romantic, entertaining novel.
After an ego humbling breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Paul is eager to get away to Italy. At the airport, his car reservation never materializes and a bulldozer becomes his transportation of choice. Thus begins a series of comic mishaps.
Romantic complications emerge as the ex-girlfriend, his smitten editor, and a certain lovely American artist vie for his attention. His experiences with an escaped convict, a priest who take matters into their own hands, and a depressed vintner add up to a lot of humor. This is an amusing lightly romantic, entertaining novel.
heartless_sigyn's review against another edition
4.0
Cute, charming read that still gives readers a lot to think about. Also serves as an informative travelog of an actual village in Tuscany. Never really thought about visiting Italy much (apart from Venice), but this book made me want to go. AMS peoples Montalcino with such salt-of-the-earth people that I would love to visit it myself.
jackster62's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0