Rating: 
Summary: Witty, loving, and occasionally exceedingly funny
Review: Like most people, when I decided I wanted to read about Italy, I began with Under the Tuscan Sun. While a good book, it bugged me to a certain extent - perhaps because of the slight odor of elitism that was contained within the pages. Mate, on the other hand, invites his readers with him on a more intimate, personal journey. His wife is not reduced to some distant other person who happens to be with him, but is a partner. We get as much of an impression of their life together as we do their life in Italy. I enjoy this book immensely, and it gets reread quite often, especially when I'm feeling all too American.
Rating:
Summary: Witty, loving, and occasionally exceedingly funny
Review: Like most people, when I decided I wanted to read about Italy, I began with Under the Tuscan Sun. While a good book, it bugged me to a certain extent - perhaps because of the slight odor of elitism that was contained within the pages. Mate, on the other hand, invites his readers with him on a more intimate, personal journey. His wife is not reduced to some distant other person who happens to be with him, but is a partner. We get as much of an impression of their life together as we do their life in Italy. I enjoy this book immensely, and it gets reread quite often, especially when I'm feeling all too American.
Rating: 
Summary: A charming memoir, I laughted and I wept
Review: Mate is a delightful writer,giving the reader a real sence of Tuscany and it's warm and wonderful people. Last May I was in Montepulciano and we walked to the small village of Monticchiello, where as Mate say "in the finest Italian tradition, instead of giving directions..." we were lead to the house of a shop owner who's shop was closed. That brought tears to my eyes. It was wonderful to re-walk the street and plaza of Montepulciano and better yet to experience life there through the eyes and hearts of people who are open to wonderful new experiences and people.
Rating:
Summary: The Hills of Tuscany: A New Life in an Old Land
Review: Mate's book about his adventures in buying a home in Tuscany is wonderful reading. He makes the experience very personal to the reader...made me want to go find him to help me buy a home in Italy. The food and the neighbors were all things I would like to experience myself. I could taste the fresh olive oil, I could envision the sight of the truffle-sniffing dog finding the pig. Hilarious, yet some moments were very poignant. I did not want the book to end.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun!!
Review: Mate's book about his adventures in buying a home in Tuscany is wonderful reading. He makes the experience very personal to the reader...made me want to go find him to help me buy a home in Italy. The food and the neighbors were all things I would like to experience myself. I could taste the fresh olive oil, I could envision the sight of the truffle-sniffing dog finding the pig. Hilarious, yet some moments were very poignant. I did not want the book to end.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fantastic!
Review: Okay, I'm on a roll here. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes, On Rue Tatin by Susan Loomis, At Home in France by Ann Berry, and now The Hills of Tuscany by Ferenc Mate, and I recommend all. This one's a bit weird though in that it goes on for just over 100 pages leaving me cold and feeling like it's missing something (lacks heart somehow), and like possibly the author just wrote it for the cash. The recounted dialogue also seems stilted. It's meant to be witty but somehow doesn't ring true. Then Ferenc and Candace find their dream house (yes, it takes over 100 pages to get there!) and somehow the tone begins to change. As the chapters pass from this point and the Mates interact with their Italian neighbors it becomes much warmer, more full of heart, and actually a good read I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. It's now left me with the impression that the author wrote it over the years and his skills as a writre improved with time, yet he didn't go back and clean up the earlier chapters which are strangely dry and lackluster. The chapter about the neighbors killing a pig was also interesting to read just how prosciutto was made, etc. Great meals, wine-making, domestic settling in, the clever and timeless ways peasants do things (all lost to us Americans and we're so much the poorer for it), etc., it's all here, just like all the books in this genre, but thankfully it lacks the tone of feeling superior to the locals that some have. Get through those first 100 or so pages and stick with it. It's a pleasant read after that. Now I'm off to read Mate's new book (2000) called A Reasonable Life: Toward a Simpler, Secure, More Humane Existence, as that's EXACTLY the place I'm at in my life at 42 after leaving the New York City rat race for a simpler existence (the rats were winning) after seemingly going into an office 10 years ago, sitting down at a computer, and realizing ten years had gone by, lost forever, and I'm no better for it really, and it's not the life I want or the way I want to live, so now I'm back home in California, putting in my own kitchen garden (potager), etc., and MUCH more fulfilled at the end of each day. The American "efficient" way of doing everything (houses and shopping centers like ugly barracks, food in plastic from a grocery that lacks flavor and aroma, etc.) is robbing us all blind of a rich life, and I for one want off the treadmill to success and to go back to the older and richer ways, hence my interest in these types of books now, and my appreciation for what Mr. Mate has written here.
Rating:
Summary: Like Wine, Improves with Age
Review: Okay, I'm on a roll here. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes, On Rue Tatin by Susan Loomis, At Home in France by Ann Berry, and now The Hills of Tuscany by Ferenc Mate, and I recommend all. This one's a bit weird though in that it goes on for just over 100 pages leaving me cold and feeling like it's missing something (lacks heart somehow), and like possibly the author just wrote it for the cash. The recounted dialogue also seems stilted. It's meant to be witty but somehow doesn't ring true. Then Ferenc and Candace find their dream house (yes, it takes over 100 pages to get there!) and somehow the tone begins to change. As the chapters pass from this point and the Mates interact with their Italian neighbors it becomes much warmer, more full of heart, and actually a good read I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. It's now left me with the impression that the author wrote it over the years and his skills as a writre improved with time, yet he didn't go back and clean up the earlier chapters which are strangely dry and lackluster. The chapter about the neighbors killing a pig was also interesting to read just how prosciutto was made, etc. Great meals, wine-making, domestic settling in, the clever and timeless ways peasants do things (all lost to us Americans and we're so much the poorer for it), etc., it's all here, just like all the books in this genre, but thankfully it lacks the tone of feeling superior to the locals that some have. Get through those first 100 or so pages and stick with it. It's a pleasant read after that. Now I'm off to read Mate's new book (2000) called A Reasonable Life: Toward a Simpler, Secure, More Humane Existence, as that's EXACTLY the place I'm at in my life at 42 after leaving the New York City rat race for a simpler existence (the rats were winning) after seemingly going into an office 10 years ago, sitting down at a computer, and realizing ten years had gone by, lost forever, and I'm no better for it really, and it's not the life I want or the way I want to live, so now I'm back home in California, putting in my own kitchen garden (potager), etc., and MUCH more fulfilled at the end of each day. The American "efficient" way of doing everything (houses and shopping centers like ugly barracks, food in plastic from a grocery that lacks flavor and aroma, etc.) is robbing us all blind of a rich life, and I for one want off the treadmill to success and to go back to the older and richer ways, hence my interest in these types of books now, and my appreciation for what Mr. Mate has written here.
Rating:
Summary: A witty, passionate, rollicking adventure
Review: Once again I am being transported to the Tuscan countryside care of a writer's memoirs. Mate's writing is humorous, romantic and soul-searing. I have shared his dismays, his joys and his wonders at what makes up the life of a Tuscan "contadino".I have felt my senses reawaken to glory in love and life while absorbing this memoir. I have tasted the Tuscan life, the food, the wine and most of all - discovered its people. Ferenc Mate has drawn a vivd picture of how one can be assimilated into the Tuscan way of life simply by choosing to live there and accept its people and traditions. The people are the most wonderful discovery. Hard-working, honest, generous, happy, life-loving, emotional, tempestuous and good-natured. These are people who enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer - food, wine, love and laughter! This is also a magical mystery tour through the lives of two fascinating and very likeable people - Ferenc and Candace Mate. Thank you for this chance to share in your adventures and to join you on hilarious escapades. I have delighted in the gifts of your wit and passion for the romatic things in life. An absolute delight to read for anyone who loves Italy, travelling, adventure or just living life. Wonderful stuff - definitely a celebration of life!
Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing Book
Review: Strolling throug the local library I happened to come across this book, what a treasure! After reading the first few lines I could not put it down. Mate's command of the English language is astounding. At times I caught myself laughing aloud at his sarcastic humor even re-reading passages to laugh again. Mate and his wife Candace have done something that most of us would like to do, leave our jobs, homes, roots, and start up fresh someplace else in a totally different atmosphere. After reading <The Hills of Tuscany> I can't wait to go back to the library and read his other books. This book is a must read this suumer.
Rating: 
Summary: the hills left me a bit queasy...
Review: The hills of Tuscany is not a bad read if your attention span is a little short , it is like a mindless sit com,harmless and even enjoyable if there is nothing else on. You do not have to concentrate as there is a very thin plot and characters are the same as all the other Tuscan books you ever read ,you can pick it up and put it down and never loose the meandering tread. The syrupy description are a little too sickly and the author's effort at being self effacing doesnt really come across as being funny,its all too cutesy and chummy. The down fall of this book is the smugness of the couple and their attitude to their surrounding,its is trying to paint a Picasso by numbers and it shows. Their version of the hills leaves me sleepy ,Ferenc Mate should take a leaf out of books such as A Year in Provence which is a real Classic.
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