It's unusual for me to care so little about the main people in a book - but frankly I wouldn't have cared if the roof had fallen in on her!

It would be a long way down my list of recommendations. And it is very rare that I put a 'don't buy' review up -this I think is my first!


Pretentious and patronising   August 1, 2001
 13 out of 19 found this review helpful

... I found Frances Mayes account of 'her' renovation of a farmhouse in Italy to be quite extraordinarily self-centred. She forms one of a long line of people from other countries who move to the 'rustic' south of Europe, patronise the locals, and extol the simple life to their visiting foreign friends whilst having an almost immediate tantrum when things don't happen as quickly as they are used to in their rat-race existence at home. Unfortunately, the descriptions of Tuscany make it sound lovely, but it will not be improved by hordes of people like the author. If self indulgent intensly-experienced slush is your style, then you may enjoy this book, otherwise, don't bother.


Rich Bitch Abroad   July 9, 2001
 9 out of 15 found this review helpful

That could be the alternative title for this book! Although I found the book very enjoyable for the first 100 or so pages, enjoying the descriptions of the beautiful Tuscan countryside, and the process of restoring a long-deserted farmhouse, I suddenly started to get rather fed up with the endlessly cloying tone that the author takes. Everything is just so INTENSE - the descriptions of endless indulgent meals (do they always eat white peaches in Tuscany!!), and of rich, well-dressed friends dropping by for yet another orgy of self-congratulation is just a bit too much. I had just read "Driving over Lemons" before reading this book, and enjoyed the ability of the author to poke fun at himself - something which is singularly missing from this book. However, you may still enjoy it if read in a hammock on a sunny afternoon under the shade of a tree whilst a bird sings.... oops, she's rubbing off on me now!


Under the Tuscan Sun is heartwarming!   March 25, 2001
 11 out of 15 found this review helpful

From Associate Reviewer Carolyn's full review: About a poet, gourmet cook, college professor & travel writer who fell in love with Italy & bought a home that dramatically changed her life.

With her partner Frances Mayes found a wondrous new world as they restored Bramasole (meaning to yearn for the sun), an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside.

Mayes goes back 26 centuries in her wanderings throughout Italy. Occasionally she loses her feeling of wonder & becomes pedagogic. She mentions a ballet troupe from Russia that she watched "thump around for two hours." I doubt Russia ever had a ballet troupe that thumped around anywhere.

I read the big print copy & turned many pages wishing there were maps & pictures. I hope they were included in the original edition. I kept my atlas close by. I now carry textured pictures of Italy in my mind & on my taste-buds. Good reading!