I lived in Italy for over five years so I thought the Italy part was just awful. The writing (her perspective?) was really flaky and shallow. This book seems contrived, and that probably does relate to the fact that she was given a book advance. I'm only half way through the India section, and I've been trying to read this book for about a month and half, which really frustrates me because I'm being guilted into reading this vice reading all the other books I'd rather be reading!