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Every Day in Tuscany
Summary
In this sequel to her New York Times best sellers Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany, the celebrated "bard of Tuscany" (New York Times) lyrically chronicles her continuing, two decades-long love affair with Tuscany's people, art, cuisine, and lifestyle.
Frances Mayes offers her listeners a deeply personal memoir of her present-day life in Tuscany, encompassing both the changes she has experienced since Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany appeared, and sensuous, evocative reflections on the timeless beauty and vivid pleasures of Italian life.
Among the themes Mayes explores are how her experience of Tuscany dramatically expanded when she renovated and became a part-time resident of a 13th-century house with a stone roof in the mountains above Cortona, how life in the mountains introduced her to a "wilder" side of Tuscany - and with it a lively engagement with Tuscany's mountain people. Throughout, she reveals the concrete joys of life in her adopted hill town, with particular attention tolife in the piazza, the art of Luca Signorelli (Renaissance painter from Cortona), and the pastoral pleasures of feasting from her garden. Moving always toward a deeper engagement, Mayes writes of Tuscan icons that have become for her storehouses of memory, of crucible moments from which bigger ideas emerged, and of the writing life she has enjoyed in the room where Under the Tuscan Sun began.
With more on the pleasures of life at Bramasole, the delights and challenges of living in Italy day-to-day and favorite recipes, Every Day in Tuscany is a passionate and inviting account of the richness and complexity of Italian life.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic reviews
"If the parade of art, food, elemental landscape and abiding camaraderie gives the reader a case of eye-ache and envy, the author can only be admired for having worked hard to earn the life and for celebrating it with such genuine relish. Mayes the sensualist in full bloom." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Mayes is generous with her thoughts, and her evocative writing simply oozes charm and warmth. In these times, this quick read is a thoroughly enjoyable way to visit Italy without once considering the heartbreaking dollar-to-euro conversion rate." (Booklist)
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What members say
Average customer ratings
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mrs S J Edwards
- 27-07-15
Not a story, just daily observations.
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
No one!
What could Frances Mayes have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Kept it as personal observations or made a fiction piece from it.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Frances Mayes?
Diane Lane
What character would you cut from Every Day in Tuscany?
Wouldn't cut - would have to add
Any additional comments?
I absolutely loved the book Under the Tuscan Sun, but it should have been left there. Also, Frances Mayes does not have a voice for audio books - dry and grating.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
- Ron Brown
- 23-03-10
Travelers Guide
If you are planning a trip to Italy you may fnind this book helpful. If you are looking for another wonderful Frances Mayes story about her life in Tuscany, this may dissapoint. She talks about her friends and the wonderful food and wine, but the chapters are only losely tied together.
I am having trouble getting the pdf dowload file from Audible. It would be fun to have the recipies to try.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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- Kitz
- 13-04-12
Informative on Italian Art and Cooking, but.......
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
If I had been interested in Italian cooking and/or someone's personal opinion of Italian art I would have loved this book. I'm sure I did learn something from this, but I had hoped for a good story set in Italy. This book is written like a diary or a day to day account of events with no plot. I believe Frances Mayes is a very intelligent woman with lots of energy and a lust for life, but her narration is almost unbearable. Her voice is unpleasant and her pronunciation of Italian words is irritating. She seems bored and disconnected when reading the book. It was hard to keep listening.
Would you ever listen to anything by Frances Mayes again?
Probably not.
Would you be willing to try another one of Frances Mayes’s performances?
No
Could you see Every Day in Tuscany being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
No! Well, maybe a TV cooking show.
Any additional comments?
I really wanted to like the book because I am going to Italy soon, but it was so hard to finish listening to it.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
- J. Montgomery
- 25-05-19
Not the normal
I usually enjoy her stories, this one put me to sleep while driving. Couldn't finish it (and I was a fine art major.)
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michelle
- 08-12-17
Not so pleasant narration
Would you try another book from Frances Mayes and/or Frances Mayes?
I love Frances Mayes books, however after this book on audible I decided not to hold back on downloading another book narrated by Frances Mayes.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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- P. M. Lipker
- 31-10-17
pleasant
It was enjoyable to be drawnito Mrs. Mayes life I Italy. She does bring it to life with her passion for the place and people.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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- erin hanson
- 03-07-17
Everyday in Tuscany
I love every one of Frances Mayes' books. When one comes out, I read it right away. She writes and I am transported to Italy. However, in this Audio book, she should have hired a professional to read her words. Her voice is rigid and flat with no variation in tone. In my opinion, her voice detracts from the whole experience. I knew she was from the South, so that is not it.
Italy is a country of passion and emotion, and there is none of that passion, excitement, and humor in her reading. I'm just so disappointed. I should have read the book.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- carl
- 02-02-14
very disappointed
What did you like best about Every Day in Tuscany? What did you like least?
I have read the book and enjoyed it and was looking forward to listening to it at leisure. However after a couple of chapters I had to give up. How somebody who had spent considerable time in italy during the past 20 years could have such terrible pronunciation is beyoud me. It became irritating.
Would you be willing to try another book from Frances Mayes? Why or why not?
Yes, provided no Italian was involved.
Would you be willing to try another one of Frances Mayes’s performances?
Possibly.
If this book were a movie would you go see it?
Yes.
Any additional comments?
Must be more careful in the future. Even if it is a good storey the narrator can kill it.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- J Richards
- 20-01-12
Wishing for a different life
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, if you have ever dreamed of exploring Tuscany...
Would you recommend Every Day in Tuscany to your friends? Why or why not?
Yes, I would recommend this book -- if you have ever read the book
Which scene was your favorite?
My favorite scenes were the ones with her Grandson -- maybe becuase I believe that this life is still possible for us when we have Grandchildren. American children's eating habits in comparison to Italian children gave me food for thought. I loved the enthusiasm of their grandson in his desire to cook
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I listen to books driving back and forth from work -- 2 hours everyday. I don't think I would have wanted to listen to it in one sitting -- but it wasn't until I finished the book that I realized I could access the PDF that she referred to throughout the book. I am thrilled that I have 43 pages of recipes that were mentioned in the book. I have been inspired to cook and make homemade pasta and sauces that I have never attempted before. Thank you Frances!
Any additional comments?
Perfect read for the 30-50.... and older reader.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jenny
- 11-12-12
a little too relaxing a listen
Would you try another book from Frances Mayes and/or Frances Mayes?
I joined audible with a new job that has an hour commute - this book made me very sleepy. Also - there is supposed to be a pdf attachment with recipes that I did not get. Perhaps audible cannot attach pdf's?
If this book were a movie would you go see it?
I don't think so.