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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
This book is unlike any other that I have read so far, in that it’s almost like reading a strangers diary. I loved the detail and it really set the perfect scene of Tuscany and all its wonders. It includes recipes and general pieces of knowledge about the Italian region, all of which are very interesting! If you aren’t into slow descriptive books then this isn’t for you, however, it made a nice change and a truly lovely Summer read.
An absolutely marvellous evocation of Tuscany and her time spent restoring a villa and observing life in the village. I ended up having to stop reading this to go out and get some wine - it was absolutely necessary to complement the beauteous descriptions of the wine, food, and people of Tuscany.
This was a terrible read. I just couldn't finish it; heck I couldn't even get halfway through it. This basically is a story on how to make home improvements to a house in Tuscany in a painfully detailed way. For once, the movie is nothing like the book and is far better. I am giving this book away to bookmooch and I hope I never have to think of this book ever again. If you are in the least bit curious, there are 500 books I can recommend to you over this one, please do not read this book at any cost. You will come to regret it for it is the most painful read in a very long time for me and I am someone who likes to finish books and for me to not finish it, it is very telling. So pour yourself a glass of wine, watch the movie, but do not read this book!
I’ve always loved the movie that is based verrry loosely on this book. The book is a delightful read and yet sometimes the author seems to be trying a bit hard to write poetically. There are also some cringey moments regarding a total lack of awareness of privilege and asserted superiority/willful ignorance to surroundings and others. Another time, I guess? Overall, love reading about Tuscany and a version of life in Italy.
I had to stop, this was the most boring book I've ever tried to read.
If you have read the first few chapters, you've basically read the whole book.
There is a lot of olive oil in Italy... apparently everybody drizzles it on everything they eat. I know this because all Mayes does is eat food dripping with olive oil.
I love Italy, so I watched the movie on a friend's recommendation. The movie wasn't very good, so I assumed it was just a bad interpretation of the book. I discovered the movie was actually better than the book (but that really isn't saying much.)
I realize this isn't a structured novel. I am not someone who believes a book needs a well structured story-line to be good. I do think that if your book is not structured it should at least be interesting or educational.
So in summation, Italy is beautiful and the food is wonderful (and drizzled with olive oil.)
repeat, repeat, repeat...
There is a lot of olive oil in Italy... apparently everybody drizzles it on everything they eat. I know this because all Mayes does is eat food dripping with olive oil.
I love Italy, so I watched the movie on a friend's recommendation. The movie wasn't very good, so I assumed it was just a bad interpretation of the book. I discovered the movie was actually better than the book (but that really isn't saying much.)
I realize this isn't a structured novel. I am not someone who believes a book needs a well structured story-line to be good. I do think that if your book is not structured it should at least be interesting or educational.
So in summation, Italy is beautiful and the food is wonderful (and drizzled with olive oil.)
repeat, repeat, repeat...
I actually found this book boring and quit. I was reading it in Italy and we had seen the movie. This book was so different and tedious so I stopped reading it.
I read this after I watched the movie. I liked the visuals in the movie so much I had to read it. I loved the "starting over" feel it had. A new adventure. Besides, I really love the "do-something-for-a-year-and-then-write-a-book-about-it books.
I really wanted to like this book. I wanted this to be a delightful summer book that I could read on my little apartment balcony every summer. It wasn't to be.
Perhaps the book isn't holding up well over time.
I'm practically 40 years old, entering ye olde middle age, and I can't relate with her on any level, especially when she muses about the cook and gardener employed by her family as a child. And with so many friends and loved ones struggling to make ends meet, it's weird to read about a state college professor with all of that savings available to buy a house overseas, pay to have it restored, pay to have the lands maintained while they're gone and pay to fly there and back a few times a year. Wow, 1990s...I didn't know we had it so good.
And with the rise of HGTV and DIY blogs, I'm used to reading about people doing home improvements on their own. But Frances & Ed had many laborers helping them out and a lot of the heavy work seemed to be done while they were back in San Francisco.
My edition had a last chapter that detailed what happened in Cortona since this book was published and it does seem that Frances eventually assimilated with her neighbors much better than she did at first.
Perhaps the book isn't holding up well over time.
I'm practically 40 years old, entering ye olde middle age, and I can't relate with her on any level, especially when she muses about the cook and gardener employed by her family as a child. And with so many friends and loved ones struggling to make ends meet, it's weird to read about a state college professor with all of that savings available to buy a house overseas, pay to have it restored, pay to have the lands maintained while they're gone and pay to fly there and back a few times a year. Wow, 1990s...I didn't know we had it so good.
And with the rise of HGTV and DIY blogs, I'm used to reading about people doing home improvements on their own. But Frances & Ed had many laborers helping them out and a lot of the heavy work seemed to be done while they were back in San Francisco.
My edition had a last chapter that detailed what happened in Cortona since this book was published and it does seem that Frances eventually assimilated with her neighbors much better than she did at first.