As the Romans Do: An American Family's Italian Odyssey

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Summary: As the Romans Do
Review: A change from the usual Provence and Tuscany stories, this book tells us about life in a European city. I found it interesting , enjoyable and funny! A good read !

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Summary: As The Romans Do
Review: Alan Epstein takes you in his book on a wonderful and enchanting journey to The Eternal City of Rome. I can relate to Alan and his family. I was in Rome in 1999 and fell deeply in love with this wonderful city and the infatuation hasnt left me ever since.This book is one of the finest about Rome. Alan takes you into the heart of what daily ecnounters are like in Rome. Among the people, the beautiful style of the women of Rome, how the bambini are cherished in Rome, and most of all the wonderful food of this magnificant country. Beware once you read As The Romans Do you will be quickly taken and find yourself rather quickly booking yourself a round way ticket to Rome. Great job Alan! This is for sure my favorite book on my favorite place of Rome. A great tribute to the Eternal City!

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Summary: Drivel!
Review: Clearly this author had two goals in mind: 1) to take advantage of the Americans-living-in-Europe publishing trend, a la Frances Mayes, and 2) to brag endlessly! I tired of reading about the author's expensive apartment and furniture, his Mercedes and his impressive friends after a few chapters and gave up on this. Too bad the author doesn't have the skill to write what the cover promised: an entertaining tale of a family living in Rome! Also too bad Amazon only put the 5 star reviews on the first screen -- I could have saved some money if I'd read all the reviews shown here!

Rating:
Summary: Drivel!
Review: Clearly this author had two goals in mind: 1) to take advantage of the Americans-living-in-Europe publishing trend, a la Frances Mayes, and 2) to brag endlessly! I tired of reading about the author's expensive apartment and furniture, his Mercedes and his impressive friends after a few chapters and gave up on this. Too bad the author doesn't have the skill to write what the cover promised: an entertaining tale of a family living in Rome! Also too bad Amazon only put the 5 star reviews on the first screen -- I could have saved some money if I'd read all the reviews shown here!

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Summary: My favorite book about Italy
Review: Epstein let me vicariously experience the wonder of being an expatriate in Rome. His enthusiasm for his subject, his willingness to be honest (and even intimate with) his reader, and his near-childlike joy at his own wonderful good luck all helped the book succeed for me. I read it before I went to Rome for the first time, and the trip was richer for it.

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Summary: My favorite book about Italy
Review: Epstein let me vicariously experience the wonder of being an expatriate in Rome. His enthusiasm for his subject, his willingness to be honest (and even intimate with) his reader, and his near-childlike joy at his own wonderful good luck all helped the book succeed for me. I read it before I went to Rome for the first time, and the trip was richer for it.

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Summary: Seduction: Roman Style
Review: For those who have experienced the seduction of Rome and then dreamed and acted upon building a lasting relationship, Alan Epstein speaks for us. His words paint a beautiful, yet honest, picture of the Eternal City, its charming and challenging inhabitants, and its diverse and lively neighborhoods. He has obviously fallen in love with a place and its people, and he describes the joy of food (like waiting in line for the best bread at a specific bakery), wine, conversation and sharing one's life with those who know what really matters in life. Italians love children, and Mr. Epstein recognizes this in a reverent way, while building his own family bonds in his new home. On my recent trip, I followed his Sunday morning jogging route and now understand why it is almost like finding religion. His deep respect for the rich history of Rome is felt throughout the book. For today's traveler, and especially for those who love Rome beyond reason, this is the book for you! Sorridete! La vita e bella!

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Summary: An outstanding insight into the eternal city
Review: From cover to cover, I was gripped by this enchanting account of Alan Epstein's life in Rome. I have no idea why many of the other reviewers are so bitter and sarcastic, but put it down to jealousy. So what if Alan and Diane had a little $ to spare to furnish their apartment beautifully? They earned it, didn't they? I say "Good for them!" The book read to me like a novel. Having spent some time in Rome myself, I can relate to virtually everything Alan has written...the classic beauty of the women (and men) and their ability to make even jeans and a T-shirt look chic, the remarkable "culture" of food, the simplicities and complexities of everyday life. I particularly enjoyed the writing style and found this book far less egotistical that the rash of Provence and Tuscany books out there. (If you want ego...read Mayle.) Thanks Alan and Diane. I hope there are more "Rome" books in the works!

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Summary: Great overview for curious travelers!
Review: I actually got 2 great reads out of this book...before and after my semester in Rome. It's has chapters on lots of important aspects to life in Rome as seen through the eyes of an American. And although he paints a lively and beautiful picture of Rome and her people he doesn't fail to include the reality of things...the inefficiency, some of the challenges of everyday life in Rome, etc. I especially enjoyed it because it is snippets of all sorts of topics so that the reader never becomes too bored with one area of Roman life. He isn't pretentious and he really seems to want to inform his readers about Rome, interspersing his writing with Italian words that really are much more beautiful than their English counterparts. It's a great read for before AND after a trip. The first read found me curious to experience life in Rome myself and the second read found me chuckling to myself about the truth of his observations. Great for anyone who wants to reminisce about their time in bella Roma!

Rating:
Summary: Great overview for curious travelers!
Review: I actually got 2 great reads out of this book...before and after my semester in Rome. It's has chapters on lots of important aspects to life in Rome as seen through the eyes of an American. And although he paints a lively and beautiful picture of Rome and her people he doesn't fail to include the reality of things...the inefficiency, some of the challenges of everyday life in Rome, etc. I especially enjoyed it because it is snippets of all sorts of topics so that the reader never becomes too bored with one area of Roman life. He isn't pretentious and he really seems to want to inform his readers about Rome, interspersing his writing with Italian words that really are much more beautiful than their English counterparts. It's a great read for before AND after a trip. The first read found me curious to experience life in Rome myself and the second read found me chuckling to myself about the truth of his observations. Great for anyone who wants to reminisce about their time in bella Roma!