First of all it should be made clear that this book is about privileged expats living in Italy, it is not about life in Italy at all. Mayes does write with a lovely lyrical style, it is very poetic; strained at times, a bit forced and trite in places, but overall the writing is very pleasing to read. Mayes cleverly evokes delightful scenes and is particularly expert at bringing incredible meals wafting off the pages.

I talked about this book with my brother and he mentioned that he found Mayes too smug. I think he is right, she is smug, but oddly enough I didn't mind that at all. If I ever fulfil my dream to own a house in Italy (Umbria not Tuscany!) I think I will allow myself to be a little smug too.


An entertaining Italophile's view of Italy   November 24, 2000
 2 out of 8 found this review helpful

From my upstairs window, on a clear day, I can see Cortona across the corner of Lake Trasimeno, and almost, Frances Mayes' house. Like her, we came to Italy, bought an abandoned farmhouse and restored it. We were both sitting down about the same time to write about our experiences. That is about the end of the similarities. Mrs Mayes is a summer migratory bird; we are permanent residents. She is a poetess, I am a reporter. She seems to have come to Italy to prove that the notion of the romantic pastoral idyll amidst kindly peasant faces is still viable. I came to find out what makes Italians tick. It was to be a challenge to try to understand what the great Italian journalist Luigi Barzini once called "...the absurd discrepancy between the quantity and dazzling array of the inhabitants' achievements through many centuries, and the mediocre quality of their national history." And there was to be much to enjoy in the process. There are always two countries - the stereotype one the tourist comes to enjoy, and the one its inhabitants inhabit. Mrs Mayes has written an entrancing account of her experiences in the former. In my book, VILLA FORTUNA - An Italian Interlude ...1864366044... I have tried to understand what it is like for the Italians to live in Italy. Both of us are right. They are just two sides of the same coin.


An Italophile's enchanting sentimental view of Italy   November 19, 2000
 4 out of 11 found this review helpful

From my upstairs window, on a clear day, I can see Cortona across the corner of Lake Trasimeno, and almost, Frances Mayes' house. Like her, we came to Italy, bought an abandoned farmhouse and restored it. We were both sitting down around the same time to write about our experiences. That is about the end of the similarities. Mrs Mayes is a summer migratory bird; we are permanent residents. She is a poetess, I am a reporter. She seems to have come to Italy to prove that the notion of the romantic pastoral idyll amidst kindly peasant faces is still viable. I came to find out what makes Italians tick. It was to be a challenge to try to understand what the great Italian journalist Luigi Barzini once called "...the absurd discrepancy between the quantity and dazzling array of the inhabitants' achievements through many centuries, and the mediocre quality of their national history." And there was to be much to enjoy in the process. There are always two countries - the stereotype one the tourist comes to enjoy, and the one its inhabitants inhabit. Mrs Mayes has written an entrancing account of her experiences in the former. In my book, VILLA FORTUNA - An Italian Interlude, I have tried to understand what it is like for the Italians to live in Italy. Both of us are right. They are just two sides of the same coin.






Nice but a little pretentious!   August 3, 2000
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

This book does indeed conjour up nice scenes etc and is certainly worth reading but she leads a charmed life, this lady, and is a mite pretentious about it


A must-read book.   June 10, 2000
 0 out of 4 found this review helpful

I haven't actually read Under the Tuscan Sun; I am here to see if I can find a copy (obviously I have!) I actually had to study an extract from the book for a GCSE English Language exam; the extract was titled "Camucia Market." From just two pages of writing, I immediately knew I wanted to read Under the Tuscan Sun; if one extract can make me want to read the book, then it must be an amazing book to read.