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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
This book made me miss Italy so bad it hurts. Beautifully descriptive of the place and people.
I expected more and found the last chapters very boring.
Read because we are traveling to Cortona. Plus this book was on my tbr. The food and experiences she describes are wonderful and I enjoyed the setting of a “not so long ago but wow how things are different” 1990s vs today.
I find the author to be aloof, and self righteous (it would not pass muster to be printed today) but also I appreciate that she obviously can afford her tastes and is not shy about that being just so. No defensiveness or reservation, she obviously has the means.
And some parts are just soooo slow. The chapter about a Christmas in Cortona with her daughter is lovely, as are several others. But some chapters about a house project and how inconvenient it is… I’m not sure I would have read it all without the finish line of visiting the area myself.
I find the author to be aloof, and self righteous (it would not pass muster to be printed today) but also I appreciate that she obviously can afford her tastes and is not shy about that being just so. No defensiveness or reservation, she obviously has the means.
And some parts are just soooo slow. The chapter about a Christmas in Cortona with her daughter is lovely, as are several others. But some chapters about a house project and how inconvenient it is… I’m not sure I would have read it all without the finish line of visiting the area myself.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
If this were a little shorter this most likely would been bumped up to a 5 star review. As it was I adored hearing (I listened to the audio - it was great!) about all the hard work, money, and experiences thrown into a centuries old house in the Italian country side. It made me want to visit Italy even more. The food, the language, the sights, the sounds, the way of living. I was swept right in. Granted not many except the very wealthy could recreate Frances Mayes experience. Undertaking a whole house flip - overseas - would be very costly. Especially when you only live in the house during Christmas and in the summer. In places it was a bit drawn out - but overall it was pretty solid.
Ahhh. What a pleasant read. I had such a desire to join Mayes in her gorgeous old home in such beautiful countryside, and to eat those wonderful fresh foods that she is able to buy and cook. Transporting! Unfortunately, the movie version made it a standard "broken-hearted woman goes to exotic locale and finds herself and has great sex with hot men, etc." It was fun, granted. But not the book at all!
Slow in the best possible way. Comfortable and warm and made me very hungry