Rating: 
Summary: badly written sentimental trash
Review: "Real Life" eh?I bought this as a spare-time-filler for a recent trip to Tuscany (I go
there about 5 times a year to visit friends) and admittedly did not have
great expectations of something written by an australian interior
designer... Ms Dusi's websites (plugged at the back of the book and worked into the
plotin a very obvious way) make it clear that this book is just one big
advertfor her business in Montalcino. It's full of sentimentalised portraits of her 'friends' in the tuscan hill
town (always referred to by her as a "village" - more charming dontcha
know)and despite her frequent protestations about how she just wants to
"to telltheir story" she's just living off them. It's the usual parade of lovable-eccentrics-with-tough-backgrounds that
seemto infest almost every example of the moving-to-live-abroad genre. Eg.
everyone shops at tiny charming shops, run by engaging eccentric characters
- in fact most Montalcinese use the big Co-Op supermarket. As I say, it's a general fault with the genre, but what makes this an
insurmountable problem in Vanilla Beans and Brodo is the sheer awfulness of
the writing. Ms Dusi simply cannot write passable Lyrical Descriptions of
the Countryside, nor Historical Romance, nor Scenes of Dramatic Tension -
which is a shame as she regularly attempts them in this book. There is one episode where she pounces on some innocent american tourists
who are wandering about and decides that they are not Experiencing
Montalcino fully. Off they go through every lane and alleyway of the place
until they meet one of her friends who is looking out over the valley.
Therethey are regaled with his version of the period when the Sienese
Republicwas transferred to Montalcino after the fall of Siena. Ms Dusi
goes to townand we get page after page after page of the *most* dreadful
sub-Catherine Cooksonbilge about Mothers, Poverty, War and Heroism. It's
toe-curling. It doesn't help that every time anyone does or says anything even slightly
unexpected (or even, in some cases, quite obvious) Ms Dusi informs us that
"my brain reeled" or "my head whirled" - living in a state of perpetual
surprised astonishment may be exciting for her, but it makes for rather
boring reading for us. I found this to be a deeply dispiriting, incompetent and somewhat dishonest
book and I'd advise people to leave it on the shelf. If you want quality
writing about living amongst real italians try Tim Park's books ...
Rating: 
Summary: Vanilla Beans and Brodo
Review: Having bought this book on a whim because it seemed to have something to do with Italy, I became utterly absorbed in it by the end of the first chapter.The book tells of a year in the life of an Italian hilltop village.By the end of the year the reader knows of many of the colourful characters who live in the town today, as well as the cultural traditions and festivals which are celebrated much as they were several centuries ago.The competitiveness between the four quarters of the town in the archery and the football competitions is riveting, but the most delightful part of the book for me was the descriptions of the food, and the pleasure with which the Montalcinese people prepare their food which really gave me the most pleasure.An unexpectedly wonderful read, and one which I would recommend to anyone who loves Italy, travelling, food, or all three.
Rating:
Summary: More Italian Dreams
Review: I am totally in love with everything Italian and with the Italian joy of life. I am planning to take a one-way trip when I retire and hopefully land permanently in some marvelous location such as Montalcino. This book makes us aware not only of the wonders available to us when we visit Italy but to how much we miss by not being prepared for our visits.
VB&B is a fascinating book about a region and a primer on how to learn to adapt and enjoy another culture than our own. We so seldom slow down and learn in depth about a place before moving on to something else - this book will teach you how to absorb the atmosphere which most people miss. When you have finished "Vanilla Beans and Brodo", go on to another great book about learning to live in Italy: "Extra Virgin".
Rating:
Summary: Compelling story, real life history & travel guide in one
Review: I bought VB & B to read whilst on holiday in another part of Tuscany. Having been gripped by what I was reading I made my party of 7 travel to Montalcino for the day to experience it for themselves. Isabella made me want to be a part of the village & to meet the characters who are the mainstays of the book. It is a combination of the day to day adventures of the many friends that Isabella & her husband have made since moving to Montalcino, a history of the village itself and a handbook for anyone who wants to explore Montalcino. The book takes you through the different seasons in a year of village life, and includes wonderfully evocative descriptions of some of the annual events that take place. These are so well written that you actually feel as if you are experiencing them for yourself along with the author, and in fact that is exactly what my family hope to do as we intend to travel to Montalcino again. I highly recommend this book as not only is it one of the best books I have read in a long time, but it made me feel such a part of Montalcino that I have now taken up honorary membership of one of the quarters of the village.
Rating: 
Summary: What a great read!
Review: I bought VB&B soon after it was released in Australia just before Xmas '01 and only just finished reading it now in Nov. '02.What a big mistake!!In that time I was lucky enough to spend nearly 3 months in Italy.Oh,how I wish I would have read Isabella's book by the time I got to Montalcino in June.We did spend several hours there.Nowhere near long enough.....and it was during siesta as well!What we saw of Montalcino barely scratched the surface. How do you think I felt reading VB&B?It has felt like I've been transported into Isabella & Luigi's life in this hilltop town.I feel like part of the family.She has written such a strong account of their Tuscan experience that I feel as if I've been there to share it all with them.Not only is it beautifully written but also wonderfully illustrated.Can't wait to return to Italy and to meet the "family " in Montalcino!
Rating:
Summary: What a great read!
Review: I bought VB&B soon after it was released in Australia just before Xmas '01 and only just finished reading it now in Nov. '02.What a big mistake!!In that time I was lucky enough to spend nearly 3 months in Italy.Oh,how I wish I would have read Isabella's book by the time I got to Montalcino in June.We did spend several hours there.Nowhere near long enough.....and it was during siesta as well!What we saw of Montalcino barely scratched the surface. How do you think I felt reading VB&B?It has felt like I've been transported into Isabella & Luigi's life in this hilltop town.I feel like part of the family.She has written such a strong account of their Tuscan experience that I feel as if I've been there to share it all with them.Not only is it beautifully written but also wonderfully illustrated.Can't wait to return to Italy and to meet the "family " in Montalcino!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent portayal of small Italian village
Review: I have lived in Italy for the past six years and have read many books on Italian life. This is one of the best as it truly shows how Italians really live, think, and gives such a wonderful description of the historical and political aspects of a hill-top village that I was even tempted to immediately begin reading it again to be sure I did not miss anything. I recently visited Montalcino and came across this book for the first time. I do think a different title would have put it on the best seller's list as it is much better than "Under the Tuscan Sun" or others I have read. Well written in the descriptions of people and places. We are recommending it to our book club! This is a must read before visiting any hill town in Tuscany - but especially beautiful Montalcino. After reading this book, I cannot wait to return.
Rating:
Summary: The spirit of Italy.
Review: I have recently read Vanilla Beans and Brodo and as a regular visitor to Italy over the past 55years and being a lover of all things Italian I find that the author has captured so completely the character of, and the atmosphere of a typical village that each time I picked up the book I have immediately been transported into Montalcino to become involved with their lives and to identify with their problems and to be almost able to taste Il Brunello.
I have yet to read a book which has given me a more accurate insight of the character of the cittadini and contadini of the Tuscan countryside
Rating:
Summary: Vanilla Beans and Brodo
Review: If this is real life in the hills of Tuscany then this woman is dead from the neck up. Boring boring Boring. I tried, beleive me I tried to read this book. The writing is stilted to say the least. It's all romans and history, told in an even more boring manner than any history book I've ever read (and I've read some as a history major) There is a brief initial sortie into what an amazing super-business woman she was before and a hint at romanitic, free spirited youth, but forget it it's so short-lived in terms of pages. The rest of it, it's terrible. Don't buy this book. There are much better books out there, eg. The Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater, Peter Mayle's books and even Frances Mayes but don't buy this book unless to give to someone really tedious and, well boring.
Rating:
Summary: Vanilla Beans and Brodo
Review: If this is real life in the hills of Tuscany then this woman is dead from the neck up. Boring boring Boring. I tried, beleive me I tried to read this book. The writing is stilted to say the least. It's all romans and history, told in an even more boring manner than any history book I've ever read (and I've read some as a history major) There is a brief initial sortie into what an amazing super-business woman she was before and a hint at romanitic, free spirited youth, but forget it it's so short-lived in terms of pages. The rest of it, it's terrible. Don't buy this book. There are much better books out there, eg. The Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater, Peter Mayle's books and even Frances Mayes but don't buy this book unless to give to someone really tedious and, well boring.
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