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clarebeth's review against another edition
2.0
Some interesting insights about Roman life and food, but felt a bit awkward and forced sometimes.
niueninja's review against another edition
3.0
There was much that I enjoyed in this light, easy read. Italy, as always, comes across beautifully and the food! Don't read this while you're hungry or you will truly suffer.
In this age-old tale of a love triangle Cyranno de Bergerac style, Tommaso woos and then lands the object of his best friend Bruno's affection. Laura is an american student studying art history in Rome. Tommaso is handsome and charming and when he passes off Bruno's culinary creations as his own, Laura falls completely under his spell, much to his chubby, reticent best friends dismay. Things come to a messy head, and our three go their separate ways before coming back together in an almost too neat ending sure to thrill the die-hard romantics out there.
This story breaks no new ground but there is a lot of knowledge about italian food; it's preparation, the use and source of ingredients, even being region specific. But the characters feel shallow; Laura in particular is quite stereo-typical and 2 dimensional and frankly unworthy of Bruno's attention. And in a purely personal-taste based assesment Bruno is a tad too meek and mild, I assume to justify why he keeps being looked-over, but this makes for an uninspiring protagonist.
If nothing else, it is an easy read with enough foody goodness to take the edge of character and plot shortfalls.
In this age-old tale of a love triangle Cyranno de Bergerac style, Tommaso woos and then lands the object of his best friend Bruno's affection. Laura is an american student studying art history in Rome. Tommaso is handsome and charming and when he passes off Bruno's culinary creations as his own, Laura falls completely under his spell, much to his chubby, reticent best friends dismay. Things come to a messy head, and our three go their separate ways before coming back together in an almost too neat ending sure to thrill the die-hard romantics out there.
This story breaks no new ground but there is a lot of knowledge about italian food; it's preparation, the use and source of ingredients, even being region specific. But the characters feel shallow; Laura in particular is quite stereo-typical and 2 dimensional and frankly unworthy of Bruno's attention. And in a purely personal-taste based assesment Bruno is a tad too meek and mild, I assume to justify why he keeps being looked-over, but this makes for an uninspiring protagonist.
If nothing else, it is an easy read with enough foody goodness to take the edge of character and plot shortfalls.
ljm57's review against another edition
5.0
Made me want to pack up & set up house in Tuscany. Such food!!!!!
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderfuly delicious romantic tale. A sort of Italian Cyranno de Bergerac with food. Simply delightful!
bluestarfish's review against another edition
1.0
Clearly not for me...This is a book set in Italy, with lots of Italian people in it, all the Italian food, lots of Italian phrases because we are in Rome, every other food word is first in Italian and then in English, and by the way have you realised this book is about Italy and food? Kind of difficult to get passed all of that to get to the story.
ewg109's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could give this one a 3.5. The plot is formulaic and the characters are pretty much one-dimensional. But, its all worth it for the author's intricate discussions of the food and culture of Rome.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
I had so much fun listening to this book. The reader was great; the story was entertaining and the Italian was wonderful. I could have learned a log of Italian in this book and I did get to hear a bunch of Italian swearwords.
The basic story is based on Rosten's tale of Cyrano de Bergenac. In Cyrano's story he has a large nose that prevents him from meeting women, so he helps a friend fall in love with Roxanne.
In this book Bruno is a chef who is shy, but in love with Laura. His friend Tommaso wants to court Laura. Bruno sees no problem with doing a little cooking to help Tommaso out. Laura wants a chef and so Bruno helps Tommaso look like a chef.
The only problem I had was that I was always hungry while I listened to this book. The food that Capella described sounded so good.
The basic story is based on Rosten's tale of Cyrano de Bergenac. In Cyrano's story he has a large nose that prevents him from meeting women, so he helps a friend fall in love with Roxanne.
In this book Bruno is a chef who is shy, but in love with Laura. His friend Tommaso wants to court Laura. Bruno sees no problem with doing a little cooking to help Tommaso out. Laura wants a chef and so Bruno helps Tommaso look like a chef.
The only problem I had was that I was always hungry while I listened to this book. The food that Capella described sounded so good.
bebbiie's review against another edition
5.0
I adore this book!! I read it for the first time about 2 years ago and I loved it so much I read it 4 times in a row flipping back to the beginning every time I finished.
Its starts meeting Laura, and she is discovering Italy and soon after we are introduced into a host of characters who I love. As the title suggests food is a major player in this book.
I don't want to give anything away but this will literally have you screaming for the under-dog, its utterly amazing heart warming and tickles your taste buds to.
Its starts meeting Laura, and she is discovering Italy and soon after we are introduced into a host of characters who I love. As the title suggests food is a major player in this book.
I don't want to give anything away but this will literally have you screaming for the under-dog, its utterly amazing heart warming and tickles your taste buds to.
mcintoshheidi's review against another edition
5.0
A deliciously, delightfully sumptuous read, about food, Italy and love. Great escapism, this book swept me away for a while, carrying me on the back of a Vespa through the streets of Rome. What a lovely book!