An Italian Love Story: Surprise and Joy on the Amalfi Coast (Italian Journeys)

Amazing story of not only finding personal love but also to fall in love with a beautiful country. To experience the amazing friendships that are awaiting you as a foreign tourist in Italy. What is there not to LOVE about the Italians - they have passion for food, family, friends, language, life - the list goes on. The writer did a marvelous job of taking us on an unforgettable Italian journey.

The book was entertaining & educational.I got to travel the small unadvertised towns.If we ever go back to Italy ourselves I would love to see some of those places.We also took the transatlantic Cruise to the Mediterranean. Our tour ended in Rome. We chose to stay & walk all the sections, a day at a time. It was wonderful. The tour included on & off the buses. Amalfi Coast, Capri & all the regular tourist spots. James help me see all that was there, but had no time or insight to see.We fell in love with Italy & all is views, people & food. We were & are in love and found it so easy to express that in Italy. Praying we get to travel there with family next time!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author wrote with such passion and was so descriptive I actually felt like I was there, in those beautiful Italian villages along the Almalfi coast, enjoying the people they met and connected with... eating the food. I'm getting ready to travel to Italy next month on a solo journey & look forward to interacting with friendly Italians, eating the food and enjoying the Tuscany region; then spending a few days in Rome. If I have time I may try to visit Nemi. I would love to see that quaint old village. It sounds like a place I, too, would fall in love with.Grazie, Mr. James (Bond) Shaw for such a great book of your travels with your lovely wife, Mardi. Your story gives others hope of having a long-lasting marriage through valleys & mountain tops and vistas to reflect upon, striving for perseverance. Twenty-eight years for me & my husband, but he still will not travel the world with me so I go it as a solo traveler, but I am never alone... God is with me & I enjoy interacting with the people I meet along the way. Va bene. Ciao!

Have taken a couple of trips to Italy we so look forward to the day we can go again. Our goal the next trip is to go into the country side and hopefully, as in this book, we will be able to spend time learning about the people and their day to day lives. I would have preferred less discussion about learning the language - he makes it quite known that he relishes the thought of accomplishing that goal. I have been married 55 years to my high school sweet heart and I understand the desire to "find each other again" over and over. I am happy for them that they did rekindle their love, though reading about their sex life seemed like I was invading their privacy. What is the saying, "to much information. I debated between three and four stars and gave it four because he succeeded in making me want to go to Italy as soon as possible and to live the Italian concept of enjoying each day we have left and to live as the Italians do even if we never get to leave American soil again.

Love this Book!! So accurate & totally love the relationship between this couple. I would love to return to this region and experience it again ♥️

Did not find the book particularly well written, but what kept me going was knowing so well the places the Shaw's visited and stayed. I even know well some of the people he mentions. While the Shaws fell in love with Maiori, Minori is my favorite town. My husband and I have been invited to meals/parties high in the terraced lemon groves - movie worthy moments (hours) that are life changing. We have never been to the Amalfi Coast in April - that may color all expectations. When we are in the area, Maiori is buzzing with tourists (that's okay - we are only temporary residents, ourselves) so we haven't found quite so much warmth there, but oh, have we experienced it in Minori. There is magic there. While Shaw does name that, he has less success with "naming" his renewed love for his wife. Well, he does name it, over and over and over again. If you know the area, you might enjoy the book as I did - bringing back memories and conjuring anticipation for the next trip (mine is in 2 days!). If you haven't been, just plan a trip and read something else!!

We spent time in Amalfi, Ravello, Maiori and Minori on our first trip to Italy fifteen years ago and go back every year to visit a new region. JUST GO! and stay out of the touristy areas. Get the free Dualingo app to learn some basic Italian before you go and order Let's Eat Italy on Amazon for the best cultural tour of Italy to prepare for your trip and relive many memories after. It is written by a French author who wrote a similar book about France. You will get an idea of which regions appeal to you the most Once you start traveling to Italy, it is impossible to stop. I bought this book because I was curious to see how that region has changed since we last visited but unfortunately, the author spent way too much time repeatedly patting himself on the back for subjects none of needed or wanted to know about including his sex life. After the comments he made regarding his friends and their dependence on pharma to maintain theirs, I am surprised he has any left. I kept forcing myself to keep reading, hoping to learn something other than how highly he regards himself, but gave up halfway through the book which is a first for me. I honestly have a hard time believing that the author spent 7 weeks in Italy because there are so many cultural misunderstandings for someone who has spent so much time there. Other reviewers have pointed out some but the book is full of them. Don't follow his advice....especially the one where he adds sugar to his wine, eats pizza at every meal and does not take advantage of Italy's bountiful and inexpensive local produce or amazing local cheeses. Mamma mia!!!

After reading the reviews I had higher expectations of this book but I found it to be a little long winded and each village described was much the same as the last. The length book could have been reduced but I live in Italy and so a person new to the country may get more out of it.

After spending time on the Amalfi Coast I enjoyed following James & Mardi's journey. Now close to retirement I would so much like to do what they did and this book has inspired me to hopefully pursue my dreams of doing just that

IT IS ALMOST THE SIZE OF A TELEPHONE BOOK FROM THE 70'S . GREAT BOOK.