Renato's Luck

Rating:
Summary: Lovely book lovely time
Review: ****
Renato's Luck is a pleasant read and a very postive (as opposed to dark and negative) book. I would recommend it for those who would like to be uplifted while they are entertained. It is a peaceful and satisfying book too.

The perspective of small town life from Renato is enjoyable. I have often wondered how and why someone would live their entire life in one place, avoid the change and almost designed "personal growth" that our culture encourages, and still manage to carve a happy and fulfilling life for her/himself. This book shows how this is possible. To be a little clearer, the book answers the question "How can you be a very ordinary man and live a boring life in a boring town and have no education or ambition or much spiritual life to speak of---and yet participate to the max in all life and the universe has to offer?"

When I finished reading Renato's Luck, I felt uplifted and inspired about the little things in my own life, and the value of each life, no matter how mundane or ordinary it looks to the outsider.

The descriptions of Italian life are beautiful too; they are not long windy descriptions though but more a "showing" than a "telling" which allowed you to absorb Tuscany culture feeling almost like you were there.

I rated it four stars instead of five because I think it is a very good book but not a great book (not one that I will read and reread over and over again, highlight and treasure forever). That said, it's well worth the money.
****

Rating:
Summary: Lovely book lovely time
Review: ****
Renato's Luck is a pleasant read and a very postive (as opposed to dark and negative) book. I would recommend it for those who would like to be uplifted while they are entertained. It is a peaceful and satisfying book too.

The perspective of small town life from Renato is enjoyable. I have often wondered how and why someone would live their entire life in one place, avoid the change and almost designed "personal growth" that our culture encourages, and still manage to carve a happy and fulfilling life for her/himself. This book shows how this is possible. To be a little clearer, the book answers the question "How can you be a very ordinary man and live a boring life in a boring town and have no education or ambition or much spiritual life to speak of---and yet participate to the max in all life and the universe has to offer?"

When I finished reading Renato's Luck, I felt uplifted and inspired about the little things in my own life, and the value of each life, no matter how mundane or ordinary it looks to the outsider.

The descriptions of Italian life are beautiful too; they are not long windy descriptions though but more a "showing" than a "telling" which allowed you to absorb Tuscany culture feeling almost like you were there.

I rated it four stars instead of five because I think it is a very good book but not a great book (not one that I will read and reread over and over again, highlight and treasure forever). That said, it's well worth the money.
****

Rating:
Summary: simplicity of style fits story well
Review: At first Renato's Luck seems too simplistic - the plot, the characters, and even the theme. But the simplicity is what makes the novel work. Renato Tizzani lives in the small Tuscan town of Sant'Angelo D'Asso where he is the waterworks man. He, as well as the entire village, is worried about the future of the area since a dam is to be built that will flood their beloved village. Renato's concerns are even deeper - he says he has "lost the taste of things." He has a dream of a hand floating above water. On one finger is a ring with a red stone. Convinced this represents the Pope,he concocts a grand scheme - to go to Rome to see the Pope and carry in his pocket a sheet of paper with names of friends. His plan? - when he touches the Pope with one hand, he will touch his hip pocket with the other and bless all at once. The idea becomes known by the entire village and no one wants to be left out. Through his pilgrimage, Renato learns about himself - and life's challenges. Although set in beautiful Tuscany, the novel's sense of place isn't developed as much as one would hope. People choose their sausages at the "bottega" and take strolls on the "corso," but the ambiance of the area just doesn't shine through enough. All in all, though, there is potential in Shapiro's writing and we will probably see more of his works in the future.

Rating:
Summary: simplicity of style fits story well
Review: At first Renato's Luck seems too simplistic - the plot, the characters, and even the theme. But the simplicity is what makes the novel work. Renato Tizzani lives in the small Tuscan town of Sant'Angelo D'Asso where he is the waterworks man. He, as well as the entire village, is worried about the future of the area since a dam is to be built that will flood their beloved village. Renato's concerns are even deeper - he says he has "lost the taste of things." He has a dream of a hand floating above water. On one finger is a ring with a red stone. Convinced this represents the Pope,he concocts a grand scheme - to go to Rome to see the Pope and carry in his pocket a sheet of paper with names of friends. His plan? - when he touches the Pope with one hand, he will touch his hip pocket with the other and bless all at once. The idea becomes known by the entire village and no one wants to be left out. Through his pilgrimage, Renato learns about himself - and life's challenges. Although set in beautiful Tuscany, the novel's sense of place isn't developed as much as one would hope. People choose their sausages at the "bottega" and take strolls on the "corso," but the ambiance of the area just doesn't shine through enough. All in all, though, there is potential in Shapiro's writing and we will probably see more of his works in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Bella, bella Signore Shapiro
Review: Beautiful, beautiful Mr. Shapiro. Having spent two weeks in the Tuscany region this summer Renato's Luck quickly brought me back to the quiet, easy pace of the small towns in the region. Many of the towns/cities mentioned in the book we had actually been to. I think anybody wanting to go, or have been, to Tuscany would enjoy this story. In many, many ways his life is truly lucky.

Rating:
Summary: Bella, bella Signore Shapiro
Review: Beautiful, beautiful Mr. Shapiro. Having spent two weeks in the Tuscany region this summer Renato's Luck quickly brought me back to the quiet, easy pace of the small towns in the region. Many of the towns/cities mentioned in the book we had actually been to. I think anybody wanting to go, or have been, to Tuscany would enjoy this story. In many, many ways his life is truly lucky.

Rating:
Summary: because no hope is left me, Ballatetta, of return to tuscany
Review: Cavalcanti did it, dante did it, pound did it... now shapiro did it: sing me a song of love. love for a country and its people. the mind dazzling intensity of days spent in little tuscan villages lives in every word you have picked, jeff. how can one but love your book? remember the power of local saints which stayed alive over centuries? remember the wine you drank near the fountain in that piazza you couldn't possibly find again? remember nights out with friends singing and the moon shining down on you, the wind in your hair? have you tasted the spice of life renato and shapiro tell us about? then this book is going to be your favourite reading. it will bring to you feelings that remained true over centuries. the unique insight to tuscan life shapiro offers us is pure joy to read. if you are looking forward to returning to tuscany someday, don't wait any longer. it's all right here in this book.

Rating:
Summary: What a storia!
Review: Having returned from a few months in Italy, I have wanted to stay in touch with all the "life" that Italia offers ... this book is a wonderful way to recapture the experience. The way Shapiro builds his characters and their dilemma, he really wraps the reader into Sant'Angelo. Che bello ... bravo Shapiro!

Rating:
Summary: What a storia!
Review: Having returned from a few months in Italy, I have wanted to stay in touch with all the "life" that Italia offers ... this book is a wonderful way to recapture the experience. The way Shapiro builds his characters and their dilemma, he really wraps the reader into Sant'Angelo. Che bello ... bravo Shapiro!

Rating:
Summary: Simply Charming!
Review: I absolutely loved this book - happened upon it by mistake, wasn't too sure about the plot - but turned out to absolutely love it and adore the characters - especially Renato! A nice, simple read that leaves you feeling happy and invigorated!