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Paul Stuart #1
My Italian Bulldozer
The best-selling author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series returns with an irresistible new novel about one man's adventures in the Italian countryside.
Paul Stuart, a renowned food writer, finds himself at loose ends after his longtime girlfriend leaves him for her personal trainer. To cheer him up, Paul's editor, Gloria, encourages him to finish his latest cookbook on-site in Tuscany, hoping that a change of scenery (plus the occasional truffled pasta and glass of red wine) will offer a cure for both heartache and writer's block. But upon Paul's arrival, things don't quite go as planned. A mishap with his rental-car reservation leaves him stranded, until a newfound friend leads him to an intriguing alternative: a bulldozer.
With little choice in the matter, Paul accepts the offer, and as he journeys (well, slowly trundles) into the idyllic hillside town of Montalcino, he discovers that the bulldozer may be the least of the surprises that await him. What follows is a delightful romp through the lush sights and flavors of the Tuscan countryside, as Paul encounters a rich cast of characters, including a young American woman who awakens in him something unexpected.
A feast for the senses and a poignant meditation on the complexity of human relationships, My Italian Bulldozer is a charming and intensely satisfying love story for anyone who has ever dreamed of a fresh start.
Paul Stuart, a renowned food writer, finds himself at loose ends after his longtime girlfriend leaves him for her personal trainer. To cheer him up, Paul's editor, Gloria, encourages him to finish his latest cookbook on-site in Tuscany, hoping that a change of scenery (plus the occasional truffled pasta and glass of red wine) will offer a cure for both heartache and writer's block. But upon Paul's arrival, things don't quite go as planned. A mishap with his rental-car reservation leaves him stranded, until a newfound friend leads him to an intriguing alternative: a bulldozer.
With little choice in the matter, Paul accepts the offer, and as he journeys (well, slowly trundles) into the idyllic hillside town of Montalcino, he discovers that the bulldozer may be the least of the surprises that await him. What follows is a delightful romp through the lush sights and flavors of the Tuscan countryside, as Paul encounters a rich cast of characters, including a young American woman who awakens in him something unexpected.
A feast for the senses and a poignant meditation on the complexity of human relationships, My Italian Bulldozer is a charming and intensely satisfying love story for anyone who has ever dreamed of a fresh start.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2017
1371 people are currently reading
6176 people want to read
About the author
Alexander McCall Smith
668 books12.7k followersAlexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,784 reviews
April 2, 2017
I think I can safely describe Alexander McCall Smith's books as reliable "palate cleansers". This is the second book of his I read recently, and it did the trick. This one is a standalone and not part of one of McCall Smith's many series. Paul is a Scottish writer of food and wine. He heads off to Tuscany to finish off his latest book, while trying to get over a recent break up. My Italian Bulldozer is not action packed, but McCall Smith reliably delivers interesting characters, humour and a humane view of life. I find McCall Smith walks skilfully on the right side of a fine line between charming and saccharine. This book had the added bonus of being set in Italy, leaving me with a craving for good wine and authentic Italian food, and a touch of wanderlust. It was a good way to spend a quiet Saturday afternoon. And I will try to remember to turn to McCall Smith in the future when in need of something more gentle to read. But I must admit that I couldn't read his books back to back. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
September 21, 2021
Paul, a Scotsman who writes popular books about food and wine, is down in the dumps. His long-time girlfriend Becky has left him for her personal trainer, and Paul is brooding about the betrayal - and falling behind on his new manuscript.
To get Paul back on track his editor, Gloria, convinces Paul to go to Italy to finish his book. Gloria makes all the arrangements and Paul is soon flying to Pisa, where he'll pick up a rental car and drive to Montalcino - a hill town in Tuscany.
As things turn out Paul's hire car isn't available and he ends up renting a bulldozer. Of course a man meandering along country roads on a bulldozer is quite unique, and Paul is soon having novel experiences and making new acquaintances.
Before long Paul is settled into his Tuscan hotel and - between drinking coffee in cafés, dining in fine restaurants, roaming around town, and chatting with Montalcino natives - makes good progress on his book.
As part of his research, Paul visits a winemaker called Tonio, who sadly explains that he can't market his 'Rosso di Montalcino' as famous 'Brunello' wine because he's just outside the production zone. Tonio also tells Paul about his famous ancestors (a claim pooh-poohed by the townsfolk) and serves a country lunch of Tuscan bean soup, pasta laced with garlic, and wild boar.
Tuscan bean soup
On his way home from the winery Paul assists a pretty American art historian named Anna, whose car is in a ditch.
Paul and Anna have interesting, intellectual conversations and share a lovely meal, and Paul is smitten..... though Anna seems to be spoken for.
Paul is starting to get his ex-girlfriend Becky out of his system when she sends a message saying she's coming to visit. Hearing about this, Paul's editor hurries to Tuscany as well - fearing Becky might distract the writer from his work. So Paul is soon dealing with a bevy of women, to the amusement of the villagers - who didn't think the 'English' were so colorful.
In the course of the story the author describes the beautiful Tuscan countryside as well as Italian wines.....and foods such as fagioli con salciccia (beans with sausage), pecorino nero (cheese made from the milk of black sheep), papa al pomodoro (a garlicky tomato dish served with stale bread), and a picnic of salami and olives.
Tuscany
Fagioli con salciccia
Pecorino nero
Papa al Pomodoro
Salami and olives
By the end of the tale Paul has finished his book, made new friends, and helped the vintner Tonio. He's also in love, and picturing a cruise down Venice's Grand Canal on a working barge.....complete with crane.
The book is a pleasant read but seems more like a travelogue than a novel. Still, I enjoyed the story and the quirky characters. Fans of Alexander McCall Smith would probably like the book.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
June 4, 2017
I usually five star this author's books without hesitation but this one slightly missed its mark for me. I guess I am not as interested in Italy as I am in Botswana or Scotland. Or maybe Paul was not quite as good a character as Precious, Isabel or Bertie.
Whatever the reason I did not love this book to bits. Nevertheless I still enjoyed it very much indeed aided by a great narrator who was able to work his way around Scottish, Italian and even Boston accents with aplomb.
As usual Alexander McCall Smith meandered his way around, philosophising and debating social issues in his educated way. I would like to know even half of what he knows about art and literature and culture in general.
If you are looking for an involved story or seeking excitement and adventure do not pick up this book. But if you want a charming way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon then this will do very nicely indeed.
Whatever the reason I did not love this book to bits. Nevertheless I still enjoyed it very much indeed aided by a great narrator who was able to work his way around Scottish, Italian and even Boston accents with aplomb.
As usual Alexander McCall Smith meandered his way around, philosophising and debating social issues in his educated way. I would like to know even half of what he knows about art and literature and culture in general.
If you are looking for an involved story or seeking excitement and adventure do not pick up this book. But if you want a charming way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon then this will do very nicely indeed.
April 10, 2017
My Italian Bulldozer is the fourth stand-alone novel by popular British author, Alexander McCall Smith. After food writer Paul Stuart’s girlfriend of four years leaves him for her personal trainer, his editor, Gloria suggests he do some on-the-ground research into his next (somewhat overdue) book. Three weeks in Tuscany, in the small hill town of Montalcino should surely help him restart his life. But a mix-up at the airport’s car rental office initially lands him, alarmingly, in some trouble, but eventually sees him driving a bulldozer to his alpine albergo.
So begins another delightful tale by the master of the gentle philosophical story. The plot has more than a few surprises; the characters are charming and quirky; their dialogue often carries pearls of wisdom. McCall Smith has his characters musing on a myriad of topics: the importance of really listening; how history shapes populations; biological determinism; futurism; love and heartbreak.
Examples of this: “…misery was nothing to do with objective good fortune. Misery was like bad weather; it was just there, and no number of optimistic comments could make the weather better” and “Fictional deaths can make us cry real tears” (to which many readers can attest) and “If you know you do something well, then it doesn’t matter what others think”.
“Love of what you do is unmistakeable in the care with which you do it, whether it is seen in the way in which an artist applies the final touch of paint to his canvas, a master carpenter sands the last touch of roughness from the surface of the wood, or a woman making pasta kneads the compliant dough, draws it out, coaxes it to the right consistency”
“Italian hill towns are hill towns with conviction; in other places human habitation may cling to the skirts of a hill, may climb up the lower slopes while leaving the top untouched. Here the Tuscan landscape was dominated by villages and towns that had long ago chosen to occupy the most commanding available positions”
“…the equivalent of the mementoes that in the past lovers kept, preserved and cherished – folded love letters, locks of hair, dried flowers pressed between the pages of an album, love token of every sort. There were no flowers any more, just the telegraphese of electronic mail, the faded leaves of the virtual world”
Readers will find themselves smiling, chucking and grinning inanely throughout this book. while the ultimate ending may be no surprise, the path taken is a pleasant literary journey, which Paul sums up neatly: “Sometimes the things that are most important to you are right under your nose and you just don’t notice them. Then the scales fall from your eyes when you are away from home, in a small hill town in Tuscany, for example, where unusual and extraordinary things happen. And then you realise how rich life is, and how precious”. Wonderful, as always.
So begins another delightful tale by the master of the gentle philosophical story. The plot has more than a few surprises; the characters are charming and quirky; their dialogue often carries pearls of wisdom. McCall Smith has his characters musing on a myriad of topics: the importance of really listening; how history shapes populations; biological determinism; futurism; love and heartbreak.
Examples of this: “…misery was nothing to do with objective good fortune. Misery was like bad weather; it was just there, and no number of optimistic comments could make the weather better” and “Fictional deaths can make us cry real tears” (to which many readers can attest) and “If you know you do something well, then it doesn’t matter what others think”.
“Love of what you do is unmistakeable in the care with which you do it, whether it is seen in the way in which an artist applies the final touch of paint to his canvas, a master carpenter sands the last touch of roughness from the surface of the wood, or a woman making pasta kneads the compliant dough, draws it out, coaxes it to the right consistency”
“Italian hill towns are hill towns with conviction; in other places human habitation may cling to the skirts of a hill, may climb up the lower slopes while leaving the top untouched. Here the Tuscan landscape was dominated by villages and towns that had long ago chosen to occupy the most commanding available positions”
“…the equivalent of the mementoes that in the past lovers kept, preserved and cherished – folded love letters, locks of hair, dried flowers pressed between the pages of an album, love token of every sort. There were no flowers any more, just the telegraphese of electronic mail, the faded leaves of the virtual world”
Readers will find themselves smiling, chucking and grinning inanely throughout this book. while the ultimate ending may be no surprise, the path taken is a pleasant literary journey, which Paul sums up neatly: “Sometimes the things that are most important to you are right under your nose and you just don’t notice them. Then the scales fall from your eyes when you are away from home, in a small hill town in Tuscany, for example, where unusual and extraordinary things happen. And then you realise how rich life is, and how precious”. Wonderful, as always.
May 10, 2017
My Italian Bulldozer was predictable, shallow, and uninteresting. It was not compelling in any form. What a bunch of fluff! I felt like a junior high student had written it. The best thing about it: it was short.
I guess I should say "spoiler alert" now for this next part.
The whole trope with the bulldozer was silly and really seemed to serve no purpose. Then the relationship with Gloria, his editor, was, as I said, so predictable. A few miscellaneous characters were thrown in to try and build suspense until the main character realizes that Gloria is THE ONE. All the characters were shallow. The suspense part didn’t work, unfortunately.
I’m not sure why the Italian criminal was thrown in, since nothing ever materialized with him.
The philosophical musings of the main character didn’t add anything to the story. They seemed like unrelated tangents that just bored me.
I’ve never read any of the earlier books by this author, but now I can say that I won’t be reading any of them.
I guess I should say "spoiler alert" now for this next part.
The whole trope with the bulldozer was silly and really seemed to serve no purpose. Then the relationship with Gloria, his editor, was, as I said, so predictable. A few miscellaneous characters were thrown in to try and build suspense until the main character realizes that Gloria is THE ONE. All the characters were shallow. The suspense part didn’t work, unfortunately.
I’m not sure why the Italian criminal was thrown in, since nothing ever materialized with him.
The philosophical musings of the main character didn’t add anything to the story. They seemed like unrelated tangents that just bored me.
I’ve never read any of the earlier books by this author, but now I can say that I won’t be reading any of them.
July 4, 2018
I can't help but think that this book was basically just a good excuse to spend a couple months in Italy doing "research," and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. #lifegoals
March 1, 2020
If you are seeking a rollicking story, get away now — in something faster than a bulldozer.
This gentle story reminds me of a slow Italian lunch where delicious courses keep coming, but not at great speed. Each one is delectable, and we wash it down with first-class wine.
That's apt, considering the main character in this book is a Scottish food and wine writer who is forced to drive a bulldozer across beautiful Tuscany. It might have even been the feel the author intended.
I've seen reviews that criticise this book because the premise is absurd. I need to own up. It's that streak of absurdity that drew me to this book.
But the quirkiness stops with the bulldozer. What we are left with is charm, humour, and an insight into sections of the human condition.
Alexander McCall Smith skilfully pulls us into scenes so we imagine we're right there — always the mark of an accomplished writer.
He doesn't bludgeon us. With some things, he lets us join the dots, and make our own conclusions. He lets us be surprised by what delight arrives on our plate next!
This gentle story reminds me of a slow Italian lunch where delicious courses keep coming, but not at great speed. Each one is delectable, and we wash it down with first-class wine.
That's apt, considering the main character in this book is a Scottish food and wine writer who is forced to drive a bulldozer across beautiful Tuscany. It might have even been the feel the author intended.
I've seen reviews that criticise this book because the premise is absurd. I need to own up. It's that streak of absurdity that drew me to this book.
But the quirkiness stops with the bulldozer. What we are left with is charm, humour, and an insight into sections of the human condition.
Alexander McCall Smith skilfully pulls us into scenes so we imagine we're right there — always the mark of an accomplished writer.
He doesn't bludgeon us. With some things, he lets us join the dots, and make our own conclusions. He lets us be surprised by what delight arrives on our plate next!
April 12, 2017
A nice book to read while lounging in the sun, in your lawn chair, on the freshly cut grass. It's not earth shattering, but pleasant enough.
June 22, 2017
Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies Detective" Series is charming and wonderfully written. Unfortunately, his other books are not. This book is stupid. I tried very hard to read it and got half way and just gave up. I didn't care about any of the characters. There was no charm as there is in "Detective" the writing and plotting is choppy. Like the Wiener Dog series it's a waste of time.
There are too many good books out there. Skip this one. So, he's driving a bulldozer in Italy. That's the silliest plot device. Quite frankly, driving a bulldozer in the lovely Italian countryside is quite boorish. Not someone I want to know.
Skip this one.
There are too many good books out there. Skip this one. So, he's driving a bulldozer in Italy. That's the silliest plot device. Quite frankly, driving a bulldozer in the lovely Italian countryside is quite boorish. Not someone I want to know.
Skip this one.
April 22, 2017
2.5 stars, this was ok.
February 25, 2017
I never would have thought of touring Italy on a bulldozer but that's exactly what Paul, a food author, does when it's the only rental vehicle available. He discovers it's not as bad as it seems. Other vehicles don't bother you, you get a wonderful view and you slow down. It turns out to be a great way to travel. Paul is in Tuscany to finish his book and repair his life after a bad relationship break up. He meets quirky characters that Alexander McCall Smith writes so well, gets involved in a wine boundary dispute and eats mouth watering food.
Smith writes books that make you feel good and this one is no exception. I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading this caper and hope he writes a series with this character. After all, Paul was going to set his next book in Venice. I just hope he's not driving a bulldozer. This is a really fun book that will raise your spirits. I recommend it.
Smith writes books that make you feel good and this one is no exception. I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading this caper and hope he writes a series with this character. After all, Paul was going to set his next book in Venice. I just hope he's not driving a bulldozer. This is a really fun book that will raise your spirits. I recommend it.
September 13, 2019
Another lovely series from the puckish pen of Alexander McCall Smith. This time featuring a Scottish "food writer" in Tuscany.
September 18, 2022
Book on CD performed by Sir Timothy Ackroyd
After food writer Paul Stuart’s girlfriend leaves him for her personal trainer, his editor, Gloria, suggests that he go to Tuscany for an extended stay to research and write his new book about the food and wine of the region. All is arranged, but a snafu at the rental car agency results in his having to take a bulldozer. Things could be worse; though he’s not sure how. Great food, plenty of vino, and your own bulldozer – sounds like a recipe for success! Thus begins this delightful adventure romance in the Tuscan hills.
Smith is fast becoming my go-to author whenever I feel the need for a gentle humorous break from the realities of life. I love his No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, and have become a fan of his gentle style of writing. Like most of his novels, this one is full of the drama of everyday life. Not much happens, but somehow major life decisions get made. Along the way are scenes of heartache, humor, friendship, and romance.
Life is somehow better when it does NOT go according to plan. A totally satisfying novel that is just pure enjoyment.
Timothy Ackroyd does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. He has good pacing and I loved the way he voiced the Italians! I could practically see his arms waving about for emphasis.
After food writer Paul Stuart’s girlfriend leaves him for her personal trainer, his editor, Gloria, suggests that he go to Tuscany for an extended stay to research and write his new book about the food and wine of the region. All is arranged, but a snafu at the rental car agency results in his having to take a bulldozer. Things could be worse; though he’s not sure how. Great food, plenty of vino, and your own bulldozer – sounds like a recipe for success! Thus begins this delightful adventure romance in the Tuscan hills.
Smith is fast becoming my go-to author whenever I feel the need for a gentle humorous break from the realities of life. I love his No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, and have become a fan of his gentle style of writing. Like most of his novels, this one is full of the drama of everyday life. Not much happens, but somehow major life decisions get made. Along the way are scenes of heartache, humor, friendship, and romance.
Life is somehow better when it does NOT go according to plan. A totally satisfying novel that is just pure enjoyment.
Timothy Ackroyd does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. He has good pacing and I loved the way he voiced the Italians! I could practically see his arms waving about for emphasis.
June 12, 2017
While I love Alexander McCall Smith, this book was a little hard to get going. Until the bulldozer entered the picture. Considering his Mma Romatswe series, this wasn't too far from the theme.
January 16, 2022
My Italian Bulldozer is the fourth stand-alone novel by popular British author, Alexander McCall Smith. The audio version is narrated by Sir Timothy Ackroyd. After food writer Paul Stuart’s girlfriend of four years leaves him for her personal trainer, his editor, Gloria suggests he do some on-the-ground research into his next (somewhat overdue) book. Three weeks in Tuscany, in the small hill town of Montalcino should surely help him restart his life. But a mix-up at the airport’s car rental office initially lands him, alarmingly, in some trouble, but eventually sees him driving a bulldozer to his alpine albergo.
So begins another delightful tale by the master of the gentle philosophical story. The plot has more than a few surprises; the characters are charming and quirky; their dialogue often carries pearls of wisdom. McCall Smith has his characters musing on a myriad of topics: the importance of really listening; how history shapes populations; biological determinism; futurism; love and heartbreak.
Examples of this: “…misery was nothing to do with objective good fortune. Misery was like bad weather; it was just there, and no number of optimistic comments could make the weather better” and “Fictional deaths can make us cry real tears” (to which many readers can attest) and “If you know you do something well, then it doesn’t matter what others think”.
“Love of what you do is unmistakeable in the care with which you do it, whether it is seen in the way in which an artist applies the final touch of paint to his canvas, a master carpenter sands the last touch of roughness from the surface of the wood, or a woman making pasta kneads the compliant dough, draws it out, coaxes it to the right consistency”
“Italian hill towns are hill towns with conviction; in other places human habitation may cling to the skirts of a hill, may climb up the lower slopes while leaving the top untouched. Here the Tuscan landscape was dominated by villages and towns that had long ago chosen to occupy the most commanding available positions”
“…the equivalent of the mementoes that in the past lovers kept, preserved and cherished – folded love letters, locks of hair, dried flowers pressed between the pages of an album, love token of every sort. There were no flowers any more, just the telegraphese of electronic mail, the faded leaves of the virtual world”
Readers will find themselves smiling, chucking and grinning inanely throughout this book. while the ultimate ending may be no surprise, the path taken is a pleasant literary journey, which Paul sums up neatly: “Sometimes the things that are most important to you are right under your nose and you just don’t notice them. Then the scales fall from your eyes when you are away from home, in a small hill town in Tuscany, for example, where unusual and extraordinary things happen. And then you realise how rich life is, and how precious”. Wonderful, as always.
So begins another delightful tale by the master of the gentle philosophical story. The plot has more than a few surprises; the characters are charming and quirky; their dialogue often carries pearls of wisdom. McCall Smith has his characters musing on a myriad of topics: the importance of really listening; how history shapes populations; biological determinism; futurism; love and heartbreak.
Examples of this: “…misery was nothing to do with objective good fortune. Misery was like bad weather; it was just there, and no number of optimistic comments could make the weather better” and “Fictional deaths can make us cry real tears” (to which many readers can attest) and “If you know you do something well, then it doesn’t matter what others think”.
“Love of what you do is unmistakeable in the care with which you do it, whether it is seen in the way in which an artist applies the final touch of paint to his canvas, a master carpenter sands the last touch of roughness from the surface of the wood, or a woman making pasta kneads the compliant dough, draws it out, coaxes it to the right consistency”
“Italian hill towns are hill towns with conviction; in other places human habitation may cling to the skirts of a hill, may climb up the lower slopes while leaving the top untouched. Here the Tuscan landscape was dominated by villages and towns that had long ago chosen to occupy the most commanding available positions”
“…the equivalent of the mementoes that in the past lovers kept, preserved and cherished – folded love letters, locks of hair, dried flowers pressed between the pages of an album, love token of every sort. There were no flowers any more, just the telegraphese of electronic mail, the faded leaves of the virtual world”
Readers will find themselves smiling, chucking and grinning inanely throughout this book. while the ultimate ending may be no surprise, the path taken is a pleasant literary journey, which Paul sums up neatly: “Sometimes the things that are most important to you are right under your nose and you just don’t notice them. Then the scales fall from your eyes when you are away from home, in a small hill town in Tuscany, for example, where unusual and extraordinary things happen. And then you realise how rich life is, and how precious”. Wonderful, as always.
August 6, 2018
When writer Paul Stewart heads to the idyllic Italian town of Montalcino to finish his already late book, it seems like the perfect escape from stressful city life. Upon landing however, things quickly take a turn for the worse when he discovers his hired car is nowhere to be found. It looks like Paul is stuck at the airport. That is, until an enterprising stranger offers him an unexpected alternative. While there may be no cars available there is something else on offer a bulldozer. With little choice in the matter, Paul accepts and so begins a series of laugh out loud adventures moving, quite literally, through the Tuscan countryside in the wake of Paul and his Italian Bulldozer.
Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world's most prolific and most popular authors. My Italian Bulldozer is a story that is characteristic of McCall Smith's gift for imagining the unexpected circumstance, this stand alone novel is based on a hugely popular short story. It is a warmly comic holiday read, guaranteed to put smiles on faces.
I can just imagine so well what the character would like and the places that the characters went to because Alexandra McCall Smith has a gift of describing details so well making any reader really enjoy every page.
March 17, 2017
I loved that book. McCall Smith had a way to write things elegantly and simply, which I enjoyed. And the book had me at "Italian". I could imagine the vistas, colors and smells, food and wine, people and culture. Just awesome!
December 23, 2019
The next time I am having a hard time finishing a book, I'm absolutely going to rent a bulldozer and a room at a nice B&B in Tuscany. What makes this story even better is the fact that THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO THE AUTHOR. His reservation was lost at a car rental place, so they gave him the last vehicle left: a bulldozer!
August 27, 2017
I got exactly what I wanted from the book, nothing more, nothing less. I knew what was going to happen from the first page, and enjoyed passing the time until the inevitable ending. And that's okay, right? It was just comfortable company for a few hours.
March 12, 2019
I think My Italian Bulldozer is an aimiable comedy. It’s not terribly funny, but it’s never boring either.
It revolves around a food writer who goes to Italy to get over his girlfriend leaving him for her personal trainer. Due to a series of unfortunate events he ends up having a bulldozer instead of car to drive around Italy.
Maybe that was the main idea that set this novel in motion, how would it be to drive, as a tourist, around Italy on a bulldozer. This results in comic situations, but never really laugh out loud funny ones.
A pleasant read, but I still like his Nr. 1 Lady’s Detective Agency series much better.
It revolves around a food writer who goes to Italy to get over his girlfriend leaving him for her personal trainer. Due to a series of unfortunate events he ends up having a bulldozer instead of car to drive around Italy.
Maybe that was the main idea that set this novel in motion, how would it be to drive, as a tourist, around Italy on a bulldozer. This results in comic situations, but never really laugh out loud funny ones.
A pleasant read, but I still like his Nr. 1 Lady’s Detective Agency series much better.
July 20, 2018
Utterly charming! I'm grateful to my bookclub for suggesting this as a summer read - because at least I can go for summer walks and imagine myself in Tuscany.
I imagine if you're not used to McCall Smith you will feel disappointed - the book does not take the expected route and its charm comes from the meandering, the slowing down and basking in the writing - the discussions on art, on food, on love, on landscape.
Definitely a book to own. I look forward to future summer evenings where I will sip the lovely prose along with a glass of Brunello.
I imagine if you're not used to McCall Smith you will feel disappointed - the book does not take the expected route and its charm comes from the meandering, the slowing down and basking in the writing - the discussions on art, on food, on love, on landscape.
Definitely a book to own. I look forward to future summer evenings where I will sip the lovely prose along with a glass of Brunello.
June 25, 2018
Light and enjoyable, I laughed out loud at Paul’s misfortunes with the car rental company. It reminded me of when I tried to convince an implacable French guard on the TGV to Bordeaux that our train tickets purchased in Australia were not forgeries. I have to admit they did look like Monopoly ‘Go to Jail’ cards. He did relent ... eventually ... perhaps it was our pale faces and bloodshot eyes after a 27 hour flight. Surely no one could fake that? Mon Dieu!
August 26, 2016
Paul heads to Tuscany to complete work on a food and wine book. He also finds that he has a number of relationship issues to resolve. This was a pleasant enough book with nice characters and a fabulous setting. A (very) light read with some entertaining moments.
February 25, 2024
Travel, food, wine, romance, Italy, amusing events and characters can all be found in this book. The bulldozer makes its entrance early and continues to play its part in the action covering the travel, writing a book and lively characters.
Library Loan
Library Loan
June 20, 2017
Predictable, uncomplicated, but fun, quick read. Not terribly original story about yet another famous writer, this one a food and wine writer, who goes to Tuscany to explore and work on a book (yeah, sure he finishes a whole book in 3 weeks while sitting in a cafe, meeting locals and riding around on a tractor) after his girlfriend leaves him. His editor sends him to Italy to urge some work out of him while maybe mending his broken heart. Ok... sure...all that's going to happen in 3 weeks...
And, of course, he just happens to speak fluent Italian.
Although set in one of my favorite locations in the world, the book still manages to fail in any worthy description of these villages, and worse, there's almost no description or content about food. To be fair, the author does explain a little bit about what makes a Brunello a Brunello, but for a book about a wine & food writer he doesn't really indulge the reader all that much in those discussions or descriptions.
But the thing that really bothered me was that I figured this bulldozer was going to get him into many a potential hysterical situation. But the bulldozer only helps one stranded driver early on in the story and then remains parked for the remainder of the book! Of course, we come to learn later that some locals have been helping themselves to the bulldozer at night. But this is only hinted at and never explained (for instance, how did they get the keys to start it? Did they hot wire a bulldozer? C'mon...). This could have been a much funnier aspect of the book. On the writer's last day, he does use the bulldozer to help out a friend, but other than that, the bulldozer remains a background character.
But if you're looking for a quick little read to relax and chuckle a bit, this could be for you...as long as you don't ask yourself too many questions.
And, of course, he just happens to speak fluent Italian.
Although set in one of my favorite locations in the world, the book still manages to fail in any worthy description of these villages, and worse, there's almost no description or content about food. To be fair, the author does explain a little bit about what makes a Brunello a Brunello, but for a book about a wine & food writer he doesn't really indulge the reader all that much in those discussions or descriptions.
But the thing that really bothered me was that I figured this bulldozer was going to get him into many a potential hysterical situation. But the bulldozer only helps one stranded driver early on in the story and then remains parked for the remainder of the book! Of course, we come to learn later that some locals have been helping themselves to the bulldozer at night. But this is only hinted at and never explained (for instance, how did they get the keys to start it? Did they hot wire a bulldozer? C'mon...). This could have been a much funnier aspect of the book. On the writer's last day, he does use the bulldozer to help out a friend, but other than that, the bulldozer remains a background character.
But if you're looking for a quick little read to relax and chuckle a bit, this could be for you...as long as you don't ask yourself too many questions.
March 15, 2021
1.5 stars
I just found it very dull. I probably wouldn't have finished it if it wouldn't have been a bookclub pick.
I expected a humorous tale of a man's adventures driving a bulldozer through Italy. I mean, it's a silly premise - what else could you expect?
Instead, after an uneventful drive from A to B, the bulldozer barely features anymore, other than characters mentioning how unusual it is to rent a bulldozer.
The plot is basically: culinary writer goes on research/writing trip to Italy and ends up driving a bulldozer to his accommodation. He interacts with locals in the hotel and cafe, meets another tourist/writer and after 2 hrs convinces himself he is in love, gets an unexpected visit from his ex and then his (female) editor, goes out to restaurants and finally, in the last bit, uses the bulldozer to help a local.
That's it. There was no substance to it, no humor, nothing that interested me.
The beginning had a pleasant atmosphere, and overall it's made me want to go to a small Italian town to write a book, so I'll round it up to 2 stars, but wouldn't really recommend this.
I just found it very dull. I probably wouldn't have finished it if it wouldn't have been a bookclub pick.
I expected a humorous tale of a man's adventures driving a bulldozer through Italy. I mean, it's a silly premise - what else could you expect?
Instead, after an uneventful drive from A to B, the bulldozer barely features anymore, other than characters mentioning how unusual it is to rent a bulldozer.
The plot is basically: culinary writer goes on research/writing trip to Italy and ends up driving a bulldozer to his accommodation. He interacts with locals in the hotel and cafe, meets another tourist/writer and after 2 hrs convinces himself he is in love, gets an unexpected visit from his ex and then his (female) editor, goes out to restaurants and finally, in the last bit, uses the bulldozer to help a local.
That's it. There was no substance to it, no humor, nothing that interested me.
The beginning had a pleasant atmosphere, and overall it's made me want to go to a small Italian town to write a book, so I'll round it up to 2 stars, but wouldn't really recommend this.
September 18, 2017
This is my first time reading Alexander McCall Smith and found this standalone to be a rich tapestry of Italian countryside, food & wine and relationships. Oh, and there's a bulldozer. At one point I wondered if the bulldozer is actually a metaphor for something to do with Paul. Looking forward to discussing it in our book group this week.
I must give the author credit for his Italy countryside descriptions. They were vivid and reminded me of the book Pictures From Italy by Dickens. This book really made me want to visit Italy for the scenery and for the food!
I must give the author credit for his Italy countryside descriptions. They were vivid and reminded me of the book Pictures From Italy by Dickens. This book really made me want to visit Italy for the scenery and for the food!
October 14, 2016
I am not quite sure how McCall Smith pulls it off, but every time I finish one of his books I feel better about myself, the people around me, and life in general. Another uplifting, lovely story by a man who recognizes the way grace can be expressed in the simplest of actions between people. Utterly wonderful!
August 11, 2020
Wonderful.
May 26, 2016
I also want to drive a bulldozer through Italy!
Paul Stuart has started to make a name for himself as an author of books on the foods and wines of various regions. He’s just started his latest book on the Tuscany region, when his live-in girlfriend of four years, Becky, runs off with her personal trainer. This leaves him heartbroken and his editor, Gloria, suggests that instead of moping around Scotland hoping to find the inspiration to complete the book, he should take himself off to Tuscany to not only find more ideas on the meals and wines of the region, but also to get over Becky.
Paul reluctantly agrees and on arriving in Italy immediately becomes embroiled in an argument with the car rental representative, who has him arrested for stealing! Fortunately, he’s rescued by Professor Silvio Rossi, who he’d met and befriended on the plane. It’s thanks to Professor Rossi that he gets to meet the man who decides that as there are no other vehicles available to hire, Paul should hire………… a bulldozer!
And so, with this great big bumbling vehicle, Paul makes his way to Montalcino where he is to complete his latest book and mend his broken heart.
I’m a dedicated fan of Alexander McCall Smith. His books always manage to calm my stressful life, be they set in Botswana with Mma Ramotswe or random photographs, but I think this story has captured my number one spot, with its funny, eccentric tale of people just accepting that it’s normal to travel around on a bulldozer.
Some of the writing is so beautiful, I have to share it: “He decided there was a lot to be said for bulldozers. They were honest vehicles – honest in the sense that they did not purport to be anything other than what they were”. And possibly my favourite: “Love was a soufflé that could only too easily collapse and could rarely be revived”.
There is something magical about this book. Paul is a character who needs love and rescuing and Gloria’s gentle pushing to get him to Tuscany to write his book, opens his world to its beautiful countryside filled with people so accommodating to his needs.
But it’s not just the countryside and the people; it’s also the bulldozer. I’ll never look at a bulldozer again without thinking that I’d like to be driving it through the roads of Italy.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Paul Stuart has started to make a name for himself as an author of books on the foods and wines of various regions. He’s just started his latest book on the Tuscany region, when his live-in girlfriend of four years, Becky, runs off with her personal trainer. This leaves him heartbroken and his editor, Gloria, suggests that instead of moping around Scotland hoping to find the inspiration to complete the book, he should take himself off to Tuscany to not only find more ideas on the meals and wines of the region, but also to get over Becky.
Paul reluctantly agrees and on arriving in Italy immediately becomes embroiled in an argument with the car rental representative, who has him arrested for stealing! Fortunately, he’s rescued by Professor Silvio Rossi, who he’d met and befriended on the plane. It’s thanks to Professor Rossi that he gets to meet the man who decides that as there are no other vehicles available to hire, Paul should hire………… a bulldozer!
And so, with this great big bumbling vehicle, Paul makes his way to Montalcino where he is to complete his latest book and mend his broken heart.
I’m a dedicated fan of Alexander McCall Smith. His books always manage to calm my stressful life, be they set in Botswana with Mma Ramotswe or random photographs, but I think this story has captured my number one spot, with its funny, eccentric tale of people just accepting that it’s normal to travel around on a bulldozer.
Some of the writing is so beautiful, I have to share it: “He decided there was a lot to be said for bulldozers. They were honest vehicles – honest in the sense that they did not purport to be anything other than what they were”. And possibly my favourite: “Love was a soufflé that could only too easily collapse and could rarely be revived”.
There is something magical about this book. Paul is a character who needs love and rescuing and Gloria’s gentle pushing to get him to Tuscany to write his book, opens his world to its beautiful countryside filled with people so accommodating to his needs.
But it’s not just the countryside and the people; it’s also the bulldozer. I’ll never look at a bulldozer again without thinking that I’d like to be driving it through the roads of Italy.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
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