Customer Reviews

Tuscan Holiday

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Single mom Elizabeth Caldwell is proud of her daughter Marina who just graduated from college. However, she is concerned that her offspring is marrying Boston Brahmin Jotham Grandin for all the wrong reasons. Turning into a pop psychiatrist Elizabeth believes Marina is submissive to her fiancé on everything; and marrying him not out of love or even friendship, but more a reaction to avoid the victim mistake her mom made over two decades ago. As a graduation present, she buys two tickets to Italy. Marina thinks it is for her and her fiancé, but Elizabeth awkwardly corrects her that this TUSCAN HOLIDAY is for mom and daughter.

Elizabeth knows she is not a role model having been unable to fully commit to her lover Rob after thirteen years together, but hopes to reconnect with her daughter and prays Marina finds some passion. In Italy, Elizabeth is ready to give up as Marina behaves like the condemned walking the last mile to their execution. Suddenly the air seems fresher and livelier when Marina meets Luca who brings a zest for life that has both women reconsidering their relationships back home.

This is an entertaining look at relationships especially between a mom and a daughter. The lead pair rotates perspective so that the audience sees the same event at times almost entirely different as the two female Caldwells bring personal lenses to the mix. Fans will enjoy this fine family drama.

Harriet Klausner

I think this is best described as a coming of age story for both young women and their daughters. It's about two women, a mother and daughter, who don't see eye to eye especially in their relationship with each other. The mother, Elizabeth, seems as if she just wants to get to know her daughter, create a relationship with her. A kind of ideal relationship like in the movies or on tv ; one where the two are comfortable linking arms with each other.

However, the daughter, Marina, doesn't seem comfortable being close to her mother at all. She'd rather hang out with her friends, or fiancé. Marina is like one of those in the moment young women.

So Marina just graduates from college and lands a job as an accountant at the beginning of fall. So as a graduation present her mother gives her two tickets to Italy. Marina assumes the tickets are for her and her fiancé, Jotham, however, the tickets are for a mother -daughter trip.

Reluctantly, Marina goes with her mother go and the dynamics of their relationship unfold. The reader learns that Marina and Elizabeth were abandoned by Marina's father even before Marina was born. Elizabeth had tried several times to contact him but he refused to see them and even threatened with a restraining order. We find that Marina's relationship with Jotham is less than perfect with Jotham being overbearing and kind of a brat.

Through the trip you find both ladies learning to live in the moment. Marina makes decisions without Jotham. Elizabeth makes time to think through her past and realizes what she's been missing all these years. And the two form a better relationship, the "linking arm" kind of love Elizabeth has been hoping for.

The book makes you want to take a trip at which you have time to find yourself. I don't think it necessarily has to be in Tuscany. But it does cause you to appreciate what you have. I think it may have made Marina seem a little self centered, and Elizabeth more of the martyr. But it did make some good points in the dynamics of a mother daughter relationship. After reading this, I have definitely become more cautious about the eye rolling, and have decided to make a conscience effort to "listen" to what my mother has to say.

I very much enjoyed this tale about a mother and daughter on holiday in Florence. It's a good study of a complex relationship. Character growth is well portrayed. While I have a hard time believing that Marina would find such an incredible man so easily, it brings out the fantasy we all harbor! The mother was charming and wise. It was nice to revisit Florence through their eyes. The book was well-formatted for the Kindle.

Another fun read from HC. As always she gets her reader interested in relationships
and puts them in a great location. Here we have a single Mom and her daughter, Marina. Mom is nervous that Marina has picked her fiance for all the wrong reasons. Well! Who hasn't had a Mom that worries about her daughter's decisions. And how nice to be taken around Florence while issues are faced, romance shows up and a mother and daughter cement their relationship with love and respect. The reader roots for them and cheers the
both of them on, and Holly does not disappoint. RD"

I read this in a day because the writing was excellent and the story relevant. With two grown daughters of my own, I could understand all that Elizabeth was feeling. At the same time, I was interested in Marina's viewpoint. This book is thought provoking and applicable to real life.

The value of the book? About what I paid $0. It has some interesting storylines to follow, a "Romance" book in nature. Light reading with some good features. Not everything is a happy Hollywood ending. This could have made a good short story.

It does make you wonder when the daughter Marina will wake-up from her Stepford Wife type of life. Marina, recent college graduate, is about to start life as an adult. She has life all planned including marrying her only boyfriend ever, Jotham, in one year's time. Her single mother Elizabeth has saved for two years to give as a surprise graduation gift, a trip for mother and daughter to Florence. Elizabeth hopes to bond more closely before Marina's new and busy life makes it too difficult. Interestingly, the characters do become quite intriguingly contemplative at times.

Florence is a lovely backdrop but is not really important, but it is beautifully conveyed.

An annoyance is that before each of the 60+ chapters, there is a silly blurb usually between a faux advice columnist and a less than intelligent reader.

For those looking for a tour of Tuscany, buy a guide book.

This is fully and completely a story about Mothers and Daughters and the unique relationship between the two. It's about love and life and the unpredictability of the two. It's about regret and hope. It's about family.

For me, this has been a perfect read. I can read some and put it down...but want to go back to it as soon as I can to read more. I don't want the book to end, but as with all stories, I know it will.

I want to read more by Ms. Chamberlin. If this book is an indication of her style, I'm sure I'll enjoy other books too. I recommend this book to people who just enjoy reading for the pleasure of reading. If you're searching for an art/history lesson, this is not the book for you.

I've read this book some months ago and I don't remember all the details but some of the other people resumed it in detail. What I remember and stayed with me was that it is a very well written story with true characters and a very interesting storyline. It's a story about mothers and daughters, coming of age and human relationships. Maybe you have to be a mother or a daughter or both to enjoy it and this is why some of the critics weren't good. I don't know but I enjoyed it and I recommend it.

A sweet story about a mother and daughter who vacation together in Florence, Italy. They both have plans and expectations for their future, and circumstances on the vacation cause them to re-evaluate those plans.

I really, really wanted to see what would happen to each of these women, so the story kept me engaged.

Introducing each chapter is a little unrelated tidbit (usually a 'letter' from a reader of an advice column and then a response from 'Answer Lady.') These intros were very funny at first, but then got tiresome and I found myself skipping them.

This writer did a good job creating memorable characters.

I loved this book. The irony of the humor! This is a wonderful and truthful book about a relationship between a mother and daughter. A coming of age for both of them. Loved it!