Italy Is My Boyfriend

A Memoir

De: Annette Joseph

Narrado por: Devon Sorvari

Would wonderful beaches, great sunsets, wild friends, endless cocktails, and fabulous food be enough to keep this relationship together?

Annette Joseph's years in Italy revealed this truth: Italy, in all its multifaceted, glorious history and culture has to be experienced in full. Over almost three decades, Italy has fed, entertained, confused, excited, lured, promised, lied, satisfied, occasionally disappointed, and utterly enchanted her. She's left, but can't stay away - she'll always return. Always. Just like a beloved partner....

Italy Is My Boyfriend will take you through the journey of finding love, life, and a sense of home. While often times a lonely, challenging place, never once did the love for this special place waver. See how one very determined lady finds her dream place in the Tuscan sun.

©2020 Annette Joseph (P)2020 Tantor

Not worth the time

I wanted to like this book but it was kind of basic and forced. I don’t feel like I learned much.

I wanted to hear what was wonderful and maybe interesting about life in Italy.

I soon began skipping chapters about all of her difficulties and eventually decided not to finish the book. Complaining about real estate problems and unpleasant guest experiences fills much more space than anything good or fun that happened.

Dissapointing

If you love Italy and enjoy books that make you feel like you are there, this doesn’t do it. It could have taken place Anywhere, USA. There’s no sense of place, only the author’s recollection of her exchange with people and whether they pleased or ticked her off.

Should have read the reviews first

This story began decently but left me empty. Who wants to hear about the “poor me” story of a wealthy, entitled woman. Bragging just doesn’t work for me.

Loved it!

This book was exactly what I needed to hear and read. To further inspire, and confirm my decision to move to Italy myself. It was fun and adventurous.

Italy, do you need help?

Blink once for yes, twice for no.

Annette Joseph ham handedly combines complain-bragging about property search and insulting every person she mentions, minus her husband. Poor, patient Frank.

When Italian women summer without their husbands, it is because it is well known their husbands have mistresses. But when Annette Joseph summers alone, it is because her husband has an important job.

Friends are maligned, and acquaintances are denegrated. The story of the ever rotating cast of visitors and employees is written between the lines.

The banter is mind numbing and, "We laughed so hard I almost peed myself," isn't edgy. It's a foregone biological misfire in women our age.

Don't skip this one - leap it in a single bound.

Fell in love with Italy and Annettes life there.

Narrator was so easy to listen to. She kept me entertained. Great read for sure!

A cautionary tale

This is really a book about searching for, purchasing, and renovating property in Italy over several excruciatingly long years, as well as the author’s critical view of all things Italian. It also serves as a cautionary tale to all those who dare to slight or depart from the author’s micro worldview. If you have the bad taste to wear too much lipstick, “yammer” too much, look like a “troll” of a human, or have a dissimilar temperament, idea, style, or culture - you are sure to make the cast of characters roster in volume 2.

It felt entitled, gossipy, self-important and I couldn’t roll my eyes back far enough at times. The elementary-level writing is peppered with tired clichés and a narrative that drags on with soap-opera-style minutia. The author manages to criticize friend, foe, and acquaintance, as well as the very culture/country she claims to adore.

Not the story I hoped for.

It wasn't until chapter 3 or 4 that I realized this author was an internet influencer. Then the story made more sense; how to acquire a home in Italy avoiding real estate pitfalls, etc. make connections and expand her presence maybe? I'm not sure because I didn't finish it. With no opportunity for international travel I was hoping for a rich story to remind me of the welcoming and tasty Tuscan region, or fascinating, bustling city of Rome.

One big YAAAAWN

those are listening hours unfortunately i will never get back . What a big waste of time.