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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
A super enjoyable journey through an American woman's restoration of a house in Tuscany. The author's descriptions put you right there, and make you yearn for simple times, beautiful gardens, delicious fresh whole foods, and adventures in a different land.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
This book was totally not what I was expecting, by which I mean, it was nothing at all like the movie. It has no storyline whatsoever, but is just a series of descriptions of the house in Tuscany, the renovations, the yard work, the food, the town, their guests, their travels in the region of Tuscany and Umbria, and some history of the Etruscans. Personally, I like that kind of thing (particularly the house and food parts) but I still would have preferred a bit more of a story to tie it all together. All that stuff in the movie about her husband dumping her and jumping off a tour bus and buying the house and renovating it by herself - apparently all made up!
I have to admit that i am a bit biased in my review of this book. My husband bought it for me during our honeymoon in Tuscany and every line just resonates with me and reminds me of our amazing time in Italy. This book carries such positive energy and is filled with genuine stories and beautiful descriptions that even if you have never been to this region in Italy you will definitely fall in love with it and start dreaming of starting a new life there. Absolutely loved every second of it!
There are a lot of negative reviews about this book simply because the readers could not relate to the problems of someone renovating a house in a foreign country. But I think it's really about travelling and learning new things, about living a new life, rebirth. Some parts seem a repetition of the previous conflicts, but over all, I liked the experience. I didn't mind the endless descriptions of tombs and plants and food. Reading the book renewed my longing to take rambling walks in nature and to eat, eat eat!