I said this book was okay mainly for the honesty and for the excitement about the art and vistas in Italy. But really for me this book was a big whine - wah, wah, wah - so you take your 80+ mother to Ialy and expect you are traveling with your daughter. Get real. That's where an honesty that I would never write about comes in - exposing yourself and your lack of insight to the world.I cannot believe the mother allowed this to go to print!I actually had to Google and search to find out if this was fiction - but it is apparently all true!Anyway, not the greatest portrayal of elderly people and their needs.I still plan to read two more Jane Christmas books - and I am expecting better! This was thoroughly disappointing and overwhelmingly annoying. The author should have titled the book "That time I dragged my elderly, incontinent, ataxic mother around Italy and bitched at her for being elderly, incontinent, and ataxic."What was presented as a mother-daughter bonding story, turned out to be an immature, selfish rant by the author. She slams Italy up one side and down the other (rude people, bad food, long lines, etc.) and is so ignorant/intolerant of her mother's infirmities, it was almost abusive. I mean, there were so many snide remarks about the walker it was ridiculous.The thing that irked me the most was how the author never took any responsibility for the outcome of the trip itself. It was her bright idea to take her mother on this trip and yet she did minimal if any research as to the accessibility of their various destinations for her mother. Ultimately, I felt sorry for the mother. She spent more time in the car or in the hotel than actually out enjoying the sights.I hung on to the end in hopes of a 'reconciliation' between mother and daughter - a mutual understanding and appreciation of one another after the shared experience of Italy... that didn't happen.Give it a miss.
What do You think about Reisen Mit Mama (2009)?
I usually really enjoy Jane Christmas' books but I found her to be cranky and miserable in this one.
—kim
This book is making me laugh outloud and is a funny travel book about Italy.
—miks
Funny,enjoyable, made you think of your own mother....
—Simi
