Title: What a disappointing book
Review: I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a satire on Frances Mayes or a satire on bad writing. If it's the latter, it's a classic. All of the characters are either unlikable or stupid, sometimes both. The "plot" is predictable. The pace is turgid. Not to mention the details -- does she not know the difference between "blond" and "blonde"? Does she not know that England might have village greens but Italy has piazzas? Is the Italian's name Franco or Gianfranco? Why does she use present tense throughout? And why does she write her attributions backward -- "says Belinda," "says Kyle," "says Howard" get to be very tedious. This could have been a delightful romp. Instead, a reader finishes wondering why he put all the effort slogging through it.
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