Frances Mayes
discovered a rundown villa, Branasole in the Tuscan town of Cortona
and fell in love with the house and the area. Purchasing a house in a
foreign country can be difficult. Buying one that is is need of
significant repair is a challenge.
Although nervous
about her purchase, Frances went ahead with it and grew to love the
house and the area. I enjoyed the discussion of how she found workmen
to make the house livable and return it to something like it’s
former glory. It wasn’t easy or cheap, but it was rewarding.
The prose is
lyrical. I love the descriptions of Tuscany. It made me want to
visit, if not to buy a house, at least to stay for an extended
period. The descriptions of the food and wine make you want to go the
kitchen and try some of the dishes. Fresh produce is available in
quantity and learning to cook the special dishes of the area sounds
intriguing.
This book is not
just about renovating a house and falling in love with an area. It’s
also the story of how Frances recovered from a mid-life divorce and how facing the challenges helped her grow. I
recommend this book
if you enjoy the Italian countryside and food.
I received this book
from Blogging for Books for this review.
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