Customer Reviews

It Takes Two: A Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

IF YOU LOVE BUENOS AIRES, TANGO, SEX, OR ALL THREE, you'd better not pick up this book until you have a weekend free or you'll find yourself calling in sick so you can finish it. Even as the story races along, you want to stop to enjoy Chen's portrait of the old city and its tango milongas, the little streets full of antique shops and accordion players.... I loved this book. It's like a holiday in Buenos Aires -- with all the romance you could hope for.

Fracesca, a fifty year old Italian beauty is married to an American (but European educated)banker, George. Living in New York, with grown up children, George and Francesca's marriage is disintegrating, their sex life non-existent. Francesca fills the void with work as a travel writer. Her latest assignment takes her to Buenos Aires to write about plastic surgery and the tango. In BA she falls in love with the city and is increasingly drawn to the erotic dance movements of the tango. She is befriended by two young tango dancers, Luis who is gay and Analia a young beauty and talented dancer. As Luis and Analia fall in love, and Luis struggles with his sexuality, Francesca is drawn into a passionate affair with Roberto,a very handsome plastic surgeon who is a doctor to the rich.

It was the exotic setting of Buenos Aires and the tango that drew me to this novel, and the beauty of the city and the dance are portrayed well (thus the one star). All else in this novel is pure trash. The dialogue is cliched. The plot (what there is of it) is poorly handled with Francesca endlessly reviewing her failed marriage and her guilt over her relationship with Roberto. Similiarly Luis enlessly obsesses over Analia and his sexuality. The novel quickly becomes repetitive and boring, and then downright irritating. Given the other reviews of this novel I can only wonder if the other reviewers are friends of the author. The book jacket says this is Patriza Chen's first novel. May it be her last.

This book has it all..tango, hot men, even hotter sex, and great food! I startd reading it on Wednesday evening and I was done by Sunday night - I did take Saterday night off to attend a milonga, I had to satisfy my own addiction to tango ;). It Takes Two accurately describes the alchemical properties of tango, as your body becomes more supple and easy, tango can transform your body, your life, your mind... the heroine Franchesca experiences this as she learns to dance tango during her trip to BA.
The writing is lyrical and easy to read. I wish the author had included the recipes for all the delicious italian dishes mentioned, they sounded so good, I am inspired to make them myself...perhaps in the sequel?

Unreadable. Ridiculous.I bought this book because I am a fan of the Argentine Tango. Basically a very very bad romance novel (for 50 yr. olds, who have the brains of 13 yr. olds)combined with a "I'm so hip" travel book for Buenos Aires. Ugh. Do yourself a favor, and just buy a travel book.

who does not melt for a book that brings all the raw sex appeal of a foreign country, lover, and dancing. the perfect fix for anyone who is feeling restless and fearless. loved it, loved it, loved it!

Reading this I felt so inspired by Francesca... It makes me want to fly to Argentina at once to seek out my own adventure! A must read.

This was a really fun read. The immersion into BA is complete and I now, more than ever, want to visit Argentina! "It Takes Two" is a good reminder that you can always find a way to revive your life.

Only gave this book one star so I wouldn't feel guilty about the time wasted reading it.
Hoped it would give me some insights into the world of Argentine Tango, of which I'm a fan. The book was a big disappointment. There is no character development and no engaging plot. If you are satisfied with gratuitous sex and banal references to "gourment" food then go ahead and waste your money. If you want some really satisfying views of Tango, Argentina, and dance culture then I suggest "Hold Me Tight & Tango Me Home", the memoir by Maria Finn. Now that's a five star read.

The best part of the book was the description of the city of Buenos Aires. the story however was not very interesting. It is a fairytale for middle aged woman.