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travelbooksandmovies 's review for:
Under the Tuscan Sun: 20th-Anniversary Edition
by Frances Mayes
I admit that since I first read Under the Tuscan Sun (approximately 20 years ago--yikes!), I’ve dreamed of following in Frances Mayes’s footsteps and dropping everything to purchase an old villa in Tuscany. Just like her, I imagine myself uncovering beautiful frescas under years of dirt, searching through the Italian countryside for the perfect furniture to complement and bring comfort to my home, and daily trips to the market to buy all of the beautiful fresh ingredients for my simple rustic dinner (paired with a gorgeous wine, of course).
But, then, I pretty quickly remember that I don’t have the money, time, or patience to do such things. (I’m also not particularly talented--or interested--in the DIY arena...probably important when attempting to restore an old villa.)
So, when I picked up the book again, I knew what I was getting myself into. I made sure there was red wine in my kitchen, fresh flowers on my balcony, and a list of Italian restaurants that delivered nearby before digging in again, so I wouldn’t get too jealous of her life. I knew I would be transported to the luscious fields, rolling hills, and old villas that dot the Tuscan countryside. I knew I would salivate at her descriptions of fresh pasta, rich cheeses, and complex wines. I knew there would be discussions of sealants, scrubbing, paint selections and a lot of hard work.
I also knew there wasn’t much more to the book than that. The book is a description of the time Frances Mayes and her partner bought a villa in Tuscany, the efforts they made to restore it and turn it into a home, and everything they learned about Italy along the way. (Spoiler: the book is pretty much nothing like the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, though I love that, too.)
If you, too, dream of a simpler life in Tuscany, cozy up with a glass of Chianti and this book.
One note: I did try the audiobook version for this second read and I just couldn’t do it. Although I normally love it when authors read their own books, I’m afraid I couldn’t get over her slow Southern drawl and surprisingly awful Italian pronunciations. This is one you’ll want to hold in your hands anyway.
But, then, I pretty quickly remember that I don’t have the money, time, or patience to do such things. (I’m also not particularly talented--or interested--in the DIY arena...probably important when attempting to restore an old villa.)
So, when I picked up the book again, I knew what I was getting myself into. I made sure there was red wine in my kitchen, fresh flowers on my balcony, and a list of Italian restaurants that delivered nearby before digging in again, so I wouldn’t get too jealous of her life. I knew I would be transported to the luscious fields, rolling hills, and old villas that dot the Tuscan countryside. I knew I would salivate at her descriptions of fresh pasta, rich cheeses, and complex wines. I knew there would be discussions of sealants, scrubbing, paint selections and a lot of hard work.
I also knew there wasn’t much more to the book than that. The book is a description of the time Frances Mayes and her partner bought a villa in Tuscany, the efforts they made to restore it and turn it into a home, and everything they learned about Italy along the way. (Spoiler: the book is pretty much nothing like the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, though I love that, too.)
If you, too, dream of a simpler life in Tuscany, cozy up with a glass of Chianti and this book.
One note: I did try the audiobook version for this second read and I just couldn’t do it. Although I normally love it when authors read their own books, I’m afraid I couldn’t get over her slow Southern drawl and surprisingly awful Italian pronunciations. This is one you’ll want to hold in your hands anyway.