Rating: 
Summary: Not quite the longed for sequel.
Review: Sequels often don't hold up to the standards of the original, and this one is no exception. It's still a very pleasant travel journal about Italy, but it has no cohesive central story line. The first volume was held together by the restoration and discovery themes; this one has only some new discoveries. In fact, it has too many reveries about her childhood in Georgia for my taste. So if you enjoyed the last one and crave some more Italian life and escapism, it's here, but not altogether satisfying or exciting.
Rating: 
Summary: Peter Mayle ripoff without the sense of humor!
Review: I have read only 92 pages of this book and I'm not sure if I can finish it. I haven't read the first book, but it has to be better than this. My impression is that Mayes is trying to imitate the success of Peter Mayles's hilarious books about restoring a house in the French countryside, but she doesn't have the wit to do so.I can hardly believe this woman is a university professor with the trite writing. Some of her meanderings on the Veneto, religion, and plants are positively painful. The cover photograpy is beautiful, but it's downhill from there. And I really don't need to hear about Ed's sexy back.
Rating: 
Summary: Best books on Tuscany
Review: This book ans Mayes' other book "Under the Tuscan Sun" are excellent introductions to life in Tuscany. Fun reading.Nantucket, Mass
Rating:
Summary: A TRULY HORRID BOOK!
Review: How snobbish can someone be? Mayes spends a good part of the book whinning. She whines about her repairing the house (the one in Italy and the one in San Fransco), she whines about the gardeners, the septic cleaners,her house guests, and even the Grandfather who paid for her education. It is a good thing that she is so rich or else she would never make in the real world. And what is with the odd, out of place story about how she didn't recognize her ex-husband she hadn't seen in the past 2 years. Weird!
Rating: 
Summary: Expanding horizons for Frances Mayes...
Review: In "Bella Tuscany" Frances Mayes finally begins to notice there is more to Italy than Bramasole. Her expeditions to the South of the boot as well as to the Venetian area are very interesting. I just wish we didn't have to be informed of EVERY meal & menu she participated in! However, the strengths of expanded horizons also proves to be a detriment as the reader discovers when Ms. Mayes feels obligated to also recount her life back in the States, the hassles, stresses, etc. Do we really need to know about her oh-so-traumatic house hunting problems in overpriced San Francisco? All I kept thinking was "Boy, she must have made alot of money on her first book to afford all this!" Luckily since I had gotten the books from the library I did not feel suckered as well! The title of this book is "Bella Tuscany:the Sweet Life in Italy". When the prose follows the title, it is usually interesting and enjoyable, if a little pretentious. When it digresses (& oh does it ever!) it is just a waste of paper & ink. Too bad Frances Mayes can't buy a sense of humor about herself along with all her antique linen & wine. She really could use one!
Rating:
Summary: Sun-Drenched and Gorgeous
Review: I am an Italian and I've never lived anywhere else. I don't understand what people find so offensive about this book! Ms. Mayes captures the sights and sounds the textures and tastes of Italy perfectly. She's welcome to bring one of her famous lemon pies to MY villa anytime! Way to go, Frances!
Rating:
Summary: I'd rather have a root canal than read another Mayes book!
Review: Ms Mayes doesn't have a clue about what it's like to be Italian. I found her books to be an innacurate description of the life and culture of my ancestry. Her style of writing is trite and patronizing. I found it totally offensive. I could not finish the book.
Rating:
Summary: ANY OF US ITALIANS LEFT IN TUSCANY?
Review: Snobbish book. Yet I have to say at times Frances Mayes displays a touching vulnerability. I'm Italian-American, and I wonder if others who are Italian or of Italian descent feel as sad as I do that so much of the rich beautiful terrain of Italy is being more and more dominated by rich expatriates, the kind who hobnob with Ms. Mayes and from whom she learns, and in turn, perpetuates, inaccuracies on Italy's history, geographical differences, physiological composition. Isn't there a publisher who can find a prosperous Italian-American who rebuilds a farmhouse in Italy? Now, THAT would be a refreshing read.
Rating:
Summary: It takes me back to Italy
Review: Francis Mayes has done it again. While reading the book I was transported back to Italy. Having lived in Pisa for 2 years, I appreciate everything she endured and experienced. Since reading both books, I feel I know the in's and out's of Bramasole. Next year I would love to visit Cortona again and see the house in its natural setting. A wonderful book to compliment "Under the Tuscan Sun". Wonderful reading, I could'nt put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: delisioso
Review: Having spent a week in Cortona prior to reading both books I was able to see the clay color hues of the hills of Cortona again,taste the fresh "al dente"vegetables found there like fried baby purple artichokes,long dark wild asparagus, and ounce again climb the steep rocky narrow streets praying that no cars would come thru and get angry at you for taking all the space. I love the simplicity of the Italian life which still finds pleasure in one plump fruit,one crisp vegetable or an aromatic flower,regardless of what others may think of such.We live in a world of excesses,of complicated gourmet dishes with so many ingredients that at the end we have lost the flavor of the main ingredient!I guess you have to be a romantic from the South to like and enjoy the smell of old houses,old vines,old jars and to gladly go thru the pain of renovation finding the end result so rewarding. I only wish I could sit with Frances and enjoy more stories that did not get to the book , watch the olive trees grow and sip red dry ValdeQiana wine under the Tuscan Sun.
| 
