Under the Tuscan Sun

Rating:
Summary: Very Nice!
Review: The author, a professor at San Francisco State University, loves Tuscany, Italy. She often spent summers there. One summer, at the spur of the moment, she decides to buy a second home there. She describes the Tuscan people, land, culture and food like only one would who has an extreme love of the area. Her book was so popular, that Hollywood could not resist in turning it into a major motion picture starring Diane Lane. Frances Mayle's recipes in the book are easy to follow and delicious! Some of the recipes included in this novel are Hazelnut Gelato, Folded Peach Tart with Marscapone, Cherries Steeped in Red Wine and Basil & Lemon Chicken!


Rating:
Summary: A Book of Dreams
Review: Under the Tuscan Sun is a book about following your dreams. Frances Mayes does an incredible job of describing each situation to the fullest; each page throws you into the book with minute details that put you right alongside the main character. At the end, when the main character is encountering all of the old churches, the story-line becomes slightly confusing, but the rest of the book is as clear as her "natural well water".
The book starts with a woman buying a house in Italy. You travel along with her as she deals with renovating an old Tuscan farmhouse, adapting to the natural Italian lifestyle, and repeatedly having to leave her new beloved way of life. Each meal that is cooked, every olive tree that is picked, all of the people she meets, and every path she travels makes you dream of escaping to a foreign country and unearthing your own story of Under the Tuscan Sun. This book can easily be anyone's dream- whether your dream is of discovering life in an old forgotten town or finally realizing where your home is at, anyone who reads this book will realize that dreams are worth discovering.


Rating:
Summary: Bella Tuscany
Review: Frances Mayes and her husband Ed bought an old, long abandoned villa in Tuscany and during leaves of absence from their respective universties in San Francisco, began the long, long process of renovating it and the surrounding terraces of grape vines and olive trees. This lady writes in such a lyrical fashion (without being artsy, fartsy)that she conjures up, for me, not only the pictures of the house and land, but the colours and smell of the jasmin and roses, the luscious aromas of cooking the local dishes and the wonderful tastes of the local wines. A word of warning, don't read this book in bed at night or the urge to rush down to the kitchen for a snack at midnight will be almost irresistable! Even if I never visit Tuscany, she has made me feel that, in reading her book, I've stepped into a brilliant, colourful 3D picture, where all of these things have happened in virtual reality. For all who hanker for a holiday in Italy, this is the book for you!

Rating:
Summary: Repetitive and Dull
Review: I was excited to read this book after all of the rave reviews it received. Unfortunately, I had problems finishing it and began forcing myself to read it thinking it would get better. It didn't. It was very repetitive and often described the same thing over and over. At times the author comes across as an arrogant know-it-all. As though she is the only educated and cultured American who does travel the right way. She sends out the message that she is the greatest cook who ever lived, that it turns you off to the food that shes describing.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely, lovely Tuscany
Review: Even if you never plan to visit Tuscany, it is worthwhile to saturate yourself in Tuscan sunshine, inhale the aromas of Italian meals and feel the heartbeat of the countryside by reading this book. Mayes' words are so evocative that the scenes she describes transport you from your armchair to Tuscany immediately.
I put off reading this for quite a while thinking it must surely be overhyped. I'm glad I got past that and allowed myself the pleasure of seeing Tuscany through Frances Mayes' eyes.
I think some of the negative reviews on Amazon carry overtones of jealousy. Sure we would all love to have the funds to have a second home in a scenic spot on the planet. Wouldn't we enjoy having the summer off to indulge ourselves playing lord of the manor? I sure would, but reading her book gave me the chance to experience it vicariously and I thank her for that.

Rating:
Summary: Audio version comment
Review: I, like many other readers, was put off by the author's flippancy at spending money. The book was full of complaining about the costs of extreme renovations and their inconviences. I was also quite irritated when the author insinuates those that try to get a crash course in Europe, i.e. those who CAN'T afford an Italian farm house and the ability to spend 3-4 months away from there domestic jobs, are inferior to people like herself. Additionally, I found her writing to be rather unstructured. Perhaps, I would have enjoyed this more if it had been written by a poor, struggling graduate student sleeping in hostels and taking odd jobs. If you'd like a book with a similar concept (foreigner moves to another country to fix up rustic farmhouse), I would recommend "A Year in Provence" by Peter Mayle.