You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Sumptuous food writing, meandering as a memoir. The Tuscan sun must've sapped Mayes' desire to construct a complete story.
It's funny, because I didn't think that Mayes was such a good writer. But, her topic is irresistible. What could be better than 350 pages of food, wine, old houses, and landscape? Even if out of those you only love eating and drinking, you'll love this book. And, though I was uncertain at first, I came to like the fact that she includes recipes - but I haven't tried any of them yet. I'd say it was well worth the 50 cents I spent on it last summer!
Ugh, this was just... boring. Overwritten, superfluous, meandering, and absolutely no discernible plot line. Abandoned halfway through bc it didn’t appear to have gone anywhere or be going anywhere. And also... house restoration books are incredibly boring when the author just pays people to do all the restoration. Wow, cool, you paid some polish dudes to sand your shutters. FASCINATING. Alternative title: Rich White Folks Use Privilege to Purchase Rundown House in Small Italian Town, Befriend Other Rich Writers in the Neighborhood, and Eat an Absurd Amount of Pasta.
This book is really more 3 1/2 stars. There were some parts I really liked and others that read like a travel guide. Nothing like the movie (didn't expect it would be) and the one recipe I made didn't come out the greatest, but I'll chalk that up to the extreme heat wave we were having and the fact that I made something I normally would not eat myself because it was the easiest (I brought it to my book club). But all in all, I enjoyed it and would read the follow-up.
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes has long been on my to read list. Unfortunately, though, I found it really challenging to stay engaged in this meandering memoir. Some paragraphs and phrases capture my attention because they capture a certain beauty. For the most part, though, the book reflects a stream of consciousness journal and travelogue, and I can only read so much of that.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/12/under-tuscan-sun.html
Reviewed for the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/12/under-tuscan-sun.html
Reviewed for the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
I didn't actually finish this book, I only got about halfway, but I'm giving myself full credit for reading it because ugh, that was annoying. I mean, the description is correct, it's a woman talking about renovating her house in Italy, but I thought there would be a little more to it than that.
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Having tried to read this book half a dozen times before, I was inspired by a recent viewing of the film (that has precious little do to with the book but that I enjoy anyway) to try again. This time, I fell into Mayes' rich descriptions and couldn't climb out, reading the book in one long sitting. Her descriptions of food make me hungry and inspire me to get out my cookbooks and search for new recipes.
Her writing is the kind that inspires me to write and intimidates me at the same time.
Her writing is the kind that inspires me to write and intimidates me at the same time.
This is the rare instance I liked the movie better. There were parts to the book I really loved, but there were more that drug on with too much detail. I rapidly skimmed many of the pages where the detail went on and on without reason. It took way too long to read this one to enjoy it much.
I really loved our bookclub "discussion" of this book. We enjoyed a wonderful outdoor meal full of delicious food and company. It was wonderful. The book was very peaceful. I never felt rushed reading it and enjoyed it over the course of two months.