An Italian Journey: A Harvest of Revelations in the Olive Groves of Tuscany: A Pretty Girl, Seven Tuscan Farmers, and a Roberto Rossellini Film: Bella Scoperta

I am confident that this book has wonderful appeal, as I can concur that Italy is a magnificent destination.
The problem I had was with the 'reader'. He exhibited no particular emotion and, for me, read the text as if he was on a time constraint......he raced through the book and I found his performance listless and uninspiring. I even fell asleep. Really disappointed.

Too much preaching and not enough about the country or the people. Would not recommend it. Narration was not good. Was expecting another Under The Tuscan Sun and was very disappointed.

Inspiring! Fascinating! Personal!

Listening to James Ernest Shaw, through audio, was as though he was sitting with me in my living room, sharing his experiences with me, capturing my attention to every word, waiting for his next story.

Each chapter, with the inspirational quotes as the lead-in, has given me so much pleasure and insight into Italy - the life, culture, and characteristics of the people and their relationship to their heritage and land with a spiritual connection to life and stewardship of all we are given in life.

An Italian Journey - My awakening to the heart of Italy!

I can't say enough about James Ernest Shaw and his revelations of his experiences in Italy! The book is my constant companion. As a reader who loves to hold copy in hand, turning every page, I must say I enjoyed the audio version immensely, as it was a "personal" experience with the author, likened to a friend relating their experience to me in friendly conversation. Well read, easily followed, pleasant voice that the listener could be drawn into the experience and feel it was their own! I would love to sit down at "table" and enjoy conversation with Mr. Shaw! I'm sure he has much more he can reveal!

Stopped listening after 4 chapters. Hates the narrator his voice was not pleasing. It was too scratchy and grates on the ears. Hated the politics that came into the story so often. I hadn't planned to read a book on international politics Waste of my money and my time.

Wow, what an aggravating, depressing listen this was, I listen to books while commuting and I thought it might be funny, but it ended up being mostly frustrating! I'm planning the journey of my life to Italy, and this book makes me want to stay away! Almost Nothing pleased her, makes Italy seem not worth going to, let alone with a disabled, hard to please mother! Sorry, but can I get my money back??

I loved hearing James tales of his experiences with the Italian people in his own words. He shares stories as well as his faith and I was very inspired by his journey and views. I even listened to some parts twice!!

I loved the print book and recommended it to lots of my friends. Shaw's heart for Italy and his immersion in the lives of her small farmers reveals what common 'tourism' cannot. If you've not been to Italy, this book will make you want to go. And if you have been to Italy, you will want to go back and travel the country farm roads.

Shaw decided (in middle age, not a young man!) to travel Italy by bicycle, stopping to help family farms with their olive harvests. His only 'agenda' was to live with small farmers and work their groves, learning Italian and sitting at their tables. Every rise in the road and every person encountered added color to the portrait of Italian people he was painting.

While working on one of the farms, he agreed to 'help' rebuild an ancient stone wall. He ended up doing the job by himself, but found that he really felt the connection to the land, to its history, and to the Etruscan stonemasons of long ago who erected such a sturdy and substantial wall. His physical labor became a meditation for him.

The book is not one of action and high drama. There were no cliff-hangers or tear-jerkers. But Shaw's thankful and willing heart throughout the memoir shine through and give the reader the opportunity to view the world and its people with a similar attitude of gratitude. Shaw's Christian beliefs and worldview permeate his experiences, but he is never judgmental or preachy.

The only downside to an audio book is that the reader (hearer?) doesn't have the delightful drawings that open each chapter of the print version. But Shaw's descriptions of the landscape and his feelings about what he tells paint scenery in your mind.

I enjoyed this book immensely, thank you Mr. Shaw for sharing your experiences. I now want to be a woofer and meet Aurora. I especially enjoyed your post accident perspective and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, this book will be reread many times and will influence my perspective on life.