This was a lighter read featuring large pockets of conversation.
The setting is a group of mainly New Zealanders, on a bus tour of Italy visiting the renown art galleries and churches. The narrator is Jennifer Dew, who is travelling with her husband Benny. A more irritating couple, I can't imagine. Jennifer tries to lead the conversations at dinner on to more serious topics for stimulating conversation, but her idea and mine of what is appropriate differs widely. She also attempts to get to know her follow travellers by sitting with someone different each day on the bus and then proceeds to quiz them until they reveal something interesting. Her belief being that everyone has experienced some tragedy or other in their lives. I'm not sure whether the author intended satire but it has the effect of putting this reader off ever going on a bus tour. ( )