The Italian Lover    by Robert Hellenga Order:  USA  Can Little, Brown & Co., 2007 (2007) Hardcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Margot Harrington, in her role as book restorer, discovered a long lost and priceless manuscript in a convent in Florence, Italy. Her memoir (The Sixteen Pleasures) of the restoration and eventual sale of this manuscript is at long last (after twenty-five years) being made into a movie. Margot makes her home now in Florence and continues with her work. She has become a master at the art of restoration. The title of her memoir has been changed for the movie to The Italian Lover. Margaret is disillusioned, thinking that her book is slated to be turned into an erotic film. The backdrop of The Italian Lover, Florence, is a city I would love to revisit. I fell in love with it at first sight. This book has revived my memories and allowed me to once again walk the streets, visit the museums, browse in the shops hanging over the Arno River and gaze upon the wonderful colors that seem to dominate the Italian sky. Thank you, Robert Hellenga. An extra bonus is a sneak look at the behind-the-scenes of movie making. One could almost become a part of the endeavor by reading about the technical aspects of producing a film, and also merge in as a member of the cast, so real is the dialogue and the petty happenings of people under great pressure. Love affairs seem to abound as a natural course of events. Margot is prone to her own affairs. At the moment, it is Woody, who rescued a dog that was being badly mistreated. I like the fact that neither Margot nor Woody is in the first blush of youth. Love can be found at any age. Witness my own. The Italian Lover is more than a love story. It is an insightful look at human nature at its very core. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews