Comments (28)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 28 items
Dec 14, 2023NADINE KEELS rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Overall, did I enjoy this novel? Yup. I'm not sure that I completely got it, though. I believe I'd call it literary humor. Not side-splitting for me or anything, but I did chuckle a few times. I saw that the publisher subcategorizes the…
Dec 11, 2022wyenotgo rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
The protagonist here would appear to be a caricature of Alexander McCall Smith himself, namely a writer living in Scotland who sets out to marinate in some local color that is relevant to the book he’s working on — in this case concerning…
Aug 03, 2022si64530 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a sweet, whimsical book, almost like a crisp and bubbly glass of Vinho Verde in the summertime. If you need cheering up or a reminder that those unexpected turns in life can be the ones you remember most, then read this gentle…
Jan 31, 2022AlteredStaite rated this title 1.5 out of 5 stars
Not my cup of tea. I tossed it half way. I was expecting much more having read the Ladies Detective series but what a disappointment. Perhaps had I been a wine & food & Tuscany & masters degree junkie, I would have loved it but it was…
Jan 23, 2021drvining rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Disappointing, formulaic, and slow moving. Central character seems alternately familiar and unfamiliar with how things work, despite having lived in Italy before. The bulldozer was rather insignificant as was his story. I'm off this…
Sep 08, 20192303tes rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Like a lightweight red. Little reminders of Italy. Weak ending for me.
Jun 04, 2019Nan4Kev3 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
A little too slow for my taste. Whilst some parts were quite engaging, this novel failed to 'draw me in'. Maybe because having read quite a few novels based in Italy, I expected this one to be just as entertaining and make me feel…
Oct 26, 2018readingbetween rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Delightful! The bulldozer was what caught my attention and kept me smiling. It's a light comedy of errors, with characters that are caricatures of themselves--plus a beautiful Italian countryside.
Aug 07, 2018cknightkc rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Author Alexander McCall Smith’s signature writing style is much like the passeggiata, the Italian custom of the evening stroll. MY ITALIAN BULLDOZER is a standalone novel and, as the story S-L-O-W-L-Y meanders, McCall Smith inserts his…
May 08, 2018JessicaGma rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A nice light fluffy tale of Paul who escapes to Italy to write his current food book. Lots of romance and a bulldozer. It's a definite beach read.
Apr 23, 2018ralwal rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
A funny, lovely book. Brought back very fond memories of time spent in Montalcino and a glass of Barolo.
Apr 09, 20181_Great_Book rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Just when you think McCall Smith has ventured into every possible culture, he does it again and goes off on a new tangent. This was delightful!
Mar 12, 2018bluehydrangea rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Uneven but enjoyable enough, especially when Paul described driving his bulldozer through the Italian countryside. I was puzzled by the characters and their behaviour, though: at some point it stopped making sense.
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Mar 06, 2018d10786694p rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A pleasurable read, makes you think about relationships. Didn't end how I expected it to. Well worth reading.
Jan 10, 201814Shylit rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book was so wonderful. Within the first few pages I thought I new exactly how it would end. Throughout the book I was surprised and excited with each turn of the story. Normally I am angry with an ending, whether it be too sappy or…
Nov 08, 2017photogrrlkp rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
This book left me underwhelmed. I'm partly to blame for my lack of enthusiasm, I checked it out not realizing it was a novel; I assumed it was a memoir about someone renovating a house in Italy. But I read it anyway, thinking that it…
Oct 17, 2017ontherideau rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A fun read, Italy by bulldozer with silly romantic subplots.
Sep 17, 2017darladoodles rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
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…
Jul 14, 2017exie3 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Amazingly pretttty , pretttty good.
Jul 01, 2017Margush rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Love this author - however, I ended up reading this book...as a fairy tale. There is no depth in this book, you won't learn anything and you won't remember most of its characters but it's an easy and entertaining read. Some relationships…
Jun 29, 2017SFBookAddict rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
The book's title and jacket cover synopsis were irresistible. How could I not read a book about a jilted Scotsman winding up driving a bulldozer to Montalcino, where the exquisite Brunello di Montalcino wine is made? What I enjoyed about…
Jun 11, 20173Dogs2015 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This was a fun book that made me feel like I was in Italy! The characters were believable and were easy to relate to while making me want to travel to Italy.
Jun 09, 2017Rubicat rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Another feel good, happy ending, charming story by Alexander McCall Smith - A lovely little story about love lost, love attempted, love found. With a couple of helpings of absurdities added for spice. Really cute and a VERY quick read.
May 31, 2017tjdickey rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Which Alexander McCall Smith do you love? You will find him here, from the sharp commentator on human quirks and foibles, to the gentle philosopher of life’s serendipities, to the wry observer who sees the all-too-human patterns of our…
May 27, 2017brangwinn rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Delightful. McCall Smith can always add a smile to my day as I read his latest book. Imagine going to Italy, finding the car that you had rented is not available, and being forced to use a bulldozer as your vehicle. As always, McCall makes…