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SJ's Reviews > Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy
Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy
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I didn't finish it. And, frankly, that's not like me at all. The book is well reviewed, and well written. And yet, somehow, I just really didn't like it. The author can truly write, and the topics were of great interest to me, but I felt the entire time like she was untouchable. She was encased in her own experience and at no point did I feel welcomed or able to understand her. Her life path never really found a commonality with my own, nor did she make me love her. In the end, I did myself the favor of forgiving myself for not liking it and set it aside. It just wasn't for me.
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Under the Tuscan Sun.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
November 1, 2007
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Finished Reading
November 22, 2007
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Leftbanker
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rated it 1 star
Oct 24, 2008 10:39PM
Maybe you didn't like it because the book is pretty awful. I can't believe how popular it has been. I don't think that she has one clever insight into Italian life; she is just a casual tourist with no real desire to get to know what life is like in Italy.
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I felt the exact same way - one of the rare instances where the movie was so much better than the book.
I felt the same way too. I almost felt guilty for not liking it. I love all things Italian, I love old houses and I love food. I just could not connect with her for some reason. At least I'm not alone!
If you're looking for a work of settlement non-fiction/travel memoir that will not disappoint, I recommend A PLACE IN MY COUNTRY by Ian Walthew. A hidden classic.
Thanks, Paul! You may be biased as the publisher, obviously. But I'll still check it out.
I love reading the reviews of other readers. I also struggled to be engaged by this book.
I did finish it, purely to do so.
I'm so glad I am not alone in the way I felt about this book. I really wanted to love it as I love reading about Italy, but there were very few parts that I could really feel myself there.
phew ...yup totally ruined with her narration
I felt the same about this book. I just could not enjoy reading it , as nothing she narrated fitted in.
Thanks for this review!! I was about to add this to my TBR list but think I'll pass 😊
I actually liked the book, but I can understand where you're coming from. Mayes definitely keeps her emotional distance from the reader, and she lived an insular life in Italy, not really engaging with the townspeople. I'm hoping there'll be more insight into the local culture in the sequel.
I feel the same way. You nailed it. If it had a little more personal narrative I would have liked it so much more.
I have tried multiple times to finish this book. I finally made it almost half way through and just had to put it down. I feel as though I am supposed to enjoy it more than I did because of the writing style. But, like you I could not connect.
Try The Little Lark Still Sings...It’s set in the same town but the author is so honest and vulnerable about her experience.
I felt the same. She writes beautifully but she is clearly a very privileged woman. In the end I guess I was expecting her to be more like her character in the movie. Disappointing.
This is exactly how I feel right now. I’m not even half way there and I don’t want to finish it.
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