|
There have been so many books by expats singing the praises of their new "homes" abroad --- the unhurried pace of Provence, the frenetic excitement of Paris, the burgeoning passion of Rome --- that we are often tempted to turn up our noses at these latter-day explorers. We roll our eyes at their quaint anecdotes, charming discoveries, life-altering realizations. We are NOT impressed. We've seen this all before. In short, we are jaded.
The "been there, done that" mentality is certainly one to eschew for UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN. This is a gem of a book if there ever was one --- part Money Pit, part every Fellini film you've ever watched, part Bob Vila and his trusty sidekick Norm, part Marcella Hazan cookbook and part insider's vacation guide. Here Mayes explores every nook and cranny of Italian life, custom and soul.
Frances Mayes discovers Tuscany the hard way --- by falling in love. The object of her affections happens to be an abandoned villa --- making the loving all the harder. When there is no heat, weeds are growing out of every crack and corner, and the all-important well dries out --- how can you continue to love unconditionally? Even a doting mother might consider jumping ship. Not Mayes, who even in the face of the worst of it, rolls up her sleeves and keeps going.
Reading UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN makes you feel like you you have shared a slice of that devoted life --- toiled in the fields with the author, been aghast at the work ahead of you and delighted at its beatific outcome.
Mayes's imagery is beyond engaging --- the vision of the fig and olive trees shading their noontime repast is splendid. The golden Tuscan sun beams out from every page. The stars twinkle brighter than they ever have before. The food is succulent --- each bite an epiphany.
This book is for lovers of Italy, for lovers of food, for lovers of life. Opening it will have you smelling the wildflowers and tasting the blackberries that grow abundantly in the garden. Reading UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN made me giddy -- made me want to rush out and book a ticket and buy a villa and toil in its fields in the hot sun with the breeze cooling my forehead. At every page, I felt tempted to jot down notes, fold down pages, underline text. Reading this book made me feel like a privileged insider --- a non-tourist.
Tuscany casts a spell on Mayes and through this beautiful memoir, she shares the enchantment with each of us. This a trip to the heart of Italy and finally into our own hearts.
--- Reviewed by Niloufar Motamed
 Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.
Click here to get the audiobook from Audible.com.
© Copyright 1996-2010, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
