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Summary: The Sweet Life in Italy
Review: After reading Under The Tuscan Sun several times I was so happy when this book came, more wonderful Italian living from Frances Mayes' pen. And I was not disappointed. As I did with the first book I have also read this one several times.Together with her husband, Frances Mayes have bought and restored an old Italian country house. The first book was mostly about the restoration, in this one we meet the couple living long summer months and also other parts of the year in Tuscany. They also travel to other places of Italy, and all the time we meet the country using Frances Mayes' eyes and writing hand as glasses. Mayes has a deep love for Italy, and she shares her love with us in a way that we can never be untouched. I remember last year driving southward in Italy, through Tuscany on my way to Rome (for my first time) it was like visiting a country I already knew. I had read so much about it in Mayes' books, and know I will read the books again and again. I'm always waiting for more books from Mayes' pen, and it was a pleasure to find an article in Traditional Home by Bramasole, Frances Mayes Italian home this month. Britt Arnhild Lindland
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Summary: a good follow-up book
Review: Just as good as the first book, this time the author focuses more on daily living in Tuscany, rather than the restoration of the house. I love the descriptions of her garden and her fascination with making it a lovely place. If you enjoyed the first book, you'll love this one too.
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Summary: Exquisite!
Review: Mayes is a treat. I loved this book as much as her previous Italy book; can't understand the attacks herein, but it doesn't matter. I love all of the Italian references. The imagery is so powerful that it almost felt as though I were in Italy. It enriched my reading experience by teaching me the finer parts of Mediterranean culture -- and Mayes has done the same in a unique and memorable way. This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to anyone without an ax slung over their shoulder.
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Summary: a diamond with some flaws
Review: OK--Many of the customers who wrote previous reviews about Bella Tuscany have some valid complaints. It is several chapters too long and we do get tired of Mayes' whining. We have little pity for her trying to restore two houses at once and we don't need to hear about every meal and shopping excursion. It certainly does not surpass her first effort, "Under the Tuscan Sun." Still, as someone who has never been to Tuscany (or Italy for that matter), many of the descriptions in "Bella Tuscany" are little treasures. Who wouldn't want to live where you can go to one local farm for ricotta, another for pecorino romano and a third for wine? Or where Roman and Etruscan ruins are to be found in so many unsuspecting places? Or where fabulous meals can be made with only the simple ingredients you grow in your garden? Or where every small local church has a major work or art or two? I do have two recommendations that would have made this book more enjoyable; a map of Tuscany and Italy would have been helpful in identifying the many places Mayes visited. Also, I would have enjoyed more photographs other than those on the dust jacket. Maybe the few "teaser" pictures are to whet our appetite for her 3rd book, "In Tuscany." In any case, while this book has some character flaws, I think potential readers need to try to overlook these and to dig deeper for the jewel within.
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Summary: BELLA TUSCANY:THE SWEET LIFE IN ITALY
Review: SHE WRITES A GREAT BOOK ABOUT ITALY.
HAVING BEEN THERE I FEEL I AM GOING BACK AGAIN.
GREAT.
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Summary: Fresh voice is corrupted in Bella Tuscany
Review: The magic of Tuscany fades with this novel, where Mayes looses her objective and foreign voice, and trades it in for a more settled and self-centered opinion. Understanding that it is the journal of the love of a house and a country, i finished the book. Yet, i couldn't help but feel, that this novel was more of a documentary of her lame trials: juggling a great career with finding the "right" home in California, dealing with her personal relationship, and getting tired of friends wanting visit her in Tuscany (who could blame them!). Rather than be the continuing saga of a great house in an amazing region, with some of the strongest cultural roots on the planet, Bella Tuscany folds itself into the day in-day out of a privedge and educated woman. The first novel was fresh and new, maybe because Tuscany wasn't as "discovered" by the time the second one hit the shelves. All in all, I simply feel that Mayes' voice of discovery has abandonded her, with Bella Tuscany.
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Summary: Bella Tuscany
Review: The Mother of the Tuscany books! The second in her series, about her home in Tuscany, not as good as the first but very good.
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Summary: Tuscauy Calender
Review: the one you show is for 2001,, we are now at the end of 2002 and going into 2003 do you think you can update the site?
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Summary: Second course
Review: This book is like a second course in a sumptuous dinner. Frances and Ed have now cpmpleted most of the major alterations to their villa in Tuscany and are now able to spend more time touring the rest of the region, sampling the local wines and cuisine, enjoying the magnificent architecture and generally continuing their love affair with Italy.
This book definitely inspires the reader to visit this wonderful sounding region of Italy and to be able to feel part of such a warm, rich culture.
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Summary: A must read if you love Italy
Review: This is a great book! It actually take you to a portal of Italy. Well written of Italian culture, Frances Mayes capture the bella of Italy. I love this book very much, I visited Italy before and I miss it so much. When I read this book, I feel that I am there again. I love the detail of it, I actually love when she talked about food, the market and the italian word with english beside it. I learned from the book.
If you love Italy, this is a must read.
One thing I agree with the other reader that if there's pictures and map included would make this book a plus. I really wants to see the pictures she mentioned and the map for my quick reference. I love the part she talked about mushroom and market with fresh food.
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