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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
I read this book when it first came out and recently read it again. I really liked it both times. The descriptions of Italy and the food were great. Makes me want to buy a home there and restore it.
This memoir is about a middle aged American woman who buys a centuries-old house in Tuscany.
This was so very Italian and I really loved the first half of the book - I was really interested in the renovation of the house. I got a bit bored about half way thru when it moved on to other things but overall I did enjoy it and and can totally relate to her dream of living in Italy and renovating the beautiful house.
I need to go to Italy.
This was so very Italian and I really loved the first half of the book - I was really interested in the renovation of the house. I got a bit bored about half way thru when it moved on to other things but overall I did enjoy it and and can totally relate to her dream of living in Italy and renovating the beautiful house.
I need to go to Italy.
I know my expectations for this book were lowered by the movie and mass hype around it. After reading it, I see the broad appeal - this book paints a wonderfully dreamy picture of purchasing a villa in Italy and renovating it yourself while slowly succumbing to the culture, food, and sense of community in the country. However, I think what makes this book so lovely is the writing. Mayes’ experience feels genuine, and she captures the small moments of her transition with a graceful poetic eloquence. I didn’t mind the randomness or rambling of it at times; her writing let her get away with it.
I normally think travel books work best when recounting a journey and tend to be less effective when detailing more static sections. This book is almost the opposite - the first half, particularly the renovation of Bramasole was interesting and portrayed interesting Italian characters and situations. When Frances and husband went touring round Tuscany, the book lost a lot of its sparkle and the places and situations seemed quite superficial.
The inclusion of a couple of chapters of recipes seemed very out of place to me. Also the second half seemed to lose some of the sparkle and interest of the first half. I had lost interest by the last chapter summing things up and skipped sections of this.
Overall, not a bad book and a pleasant and unchallenging read.
The inclusion of a couple of chapters of recipes seemed very out of place to me. Also the second half seemed to lose some of the sparkle and interest of the first half. I had lost interest by the last chapter summing things up and skipped sections of this.
Overall, not a bad book and a pleasant and unchallenging read.
Finally, after reading tons of books in between, I have finished this book. The reason I think it took me so long? I wanted to savour every bit of Italy I could. Next step? More books and perhaps a trip...
This was a lovely tribute to all things Tuscan: the people, the houses, the house restoration men, the gardens, olive trees, grapes and wines, the piazza, the passeggiata, etc. Got a little weird those few times she focused on martyred women saints.
lighthearted
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
So far this is quite different from the movie, which I LOVED. Despite the differences, I also LOVED this book. I feel like I just visited Tuscany!
If you’re expecting it to be like the film you’ll be disappointed. A lot was changed but a lot was kept as well.
Her writing I thought was exquisite although the story wasn’t Hollywood blockbuster all the time I thought the way she wrote it was beautiful and captured what this part of the world does so well.
Her writing I thought was exquisite although the story wasn’t Hollywood blockbuster all the time I thought the way she wrote it was beautiful and captured what this part of the world does so well.