Scan barcode
lisamonti99's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
timothycwon's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
rovwade's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
justincaysi's review
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
nuthatch's review
3.0
I loved [b:Under the Tuscan Sun|480479|Under the Tuscan Sun|Frances Mayes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320524083s/480479.jpg|940760] but I can't say the same about this novel. Of course, the descriptions of the food and the beautiful Tuscan countryside made me want to move to Italy (I hope to visit next year). There was just too much of everything in this book. The women were too talented, the men were too handsome, the food too incredible. There was too much description of everything. I was disappointed that two of the three older women quickly found lovers. I really wanted the women to be free spirits without that complication.
cmcclure9's review
3.0
I love getting to travel to Italy in Mayes books. The descriptions of the architecture, landscape, and food make you want to immediately get on a plane. I wasn't a huge fan of the structure of this book though.
schray32's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
I’m ready for a trip to Italy now... I love the details about food, art, and books. A story about friendship and unexpected choices in life.
I’m ready for a trip to Italy now... I love the details about food, art, and books. A story about friendship and unexpected choices in life.
kristineneeley's review against another edition
5.0
"I've been writing all along this year about quest, about questions of arrival and departure, about creative explosions in later life--my tapestry of abundant life and friendship. Now at the end I see I have been writing about the force unleashed on your life when you become a mother."
This book will most definitely not be everyone's cup of tea. In fact, at times, it is like the cioccolata calda (hot chocolate) discovered by one of the characters - Susan, I think it is - at the recommendation of a local cafe owner in San Rocco; thick enough for your spoon to stand straight up and rich enough to ask you to pay attention. To notice. To slow down. To marvel.
It was undoubtedly, however, my kind of cup. Poetry and prose in one, [a:Frances Mayes|4826|Frances Mayes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1267654734p2/4826.jpg]' [b:Women in Sunlight|35734062|Women in Sunlight|Frances Mayes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519289599s/35734062.jpg|57239986] is filled to the brim with the lives of women - at first one, then four, and even five if you count the ever-present Margaret the narrator - Kit - is writing about. Add the daughters, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter that accessorize the story and you've got quite the span. The story, however, centers around these four American women who form a sudden and unexpected friendship in the face of change -- their ages ranging from mid-40s to 70. It is rare to read fiction about women later in their lives with such strength, courage, and curiosity, all of which give me hope for the future -- my future. I found myself in bits in pieces of each character, maybe Susan least of all -- but still, I appreciated her -- and that's my favorite kind of story; one that informs my own living.
As an Italophile and a resident of the American South, there's also nothing I didn't love about Mayes' descriptions of place, food, language, culture -- she runs the gamut because she knows it personally. It's like reading a dream I've both experienced in some version, and still can't wait to fully experience one day, myself.
I truly savored this book from start to finish. And it ambled, at times, requiring an attention I wasn't always able to give it. I found myself longing for my own Tuscan terrace upon which to sit, taking in the views and this story with a glass of Prosecco in hand. It also made me want to dig out my hard drive containing photos from my first (and hopefully not my last) trip to Italy, just before becoming a mother myself, and finally get them edited and hung up on some walls around here -- among other things.
Like Julia, I think I'll take the leap.
This book will most definitely not be everyone's cup of tea. In fact, at times, it is like the cioccolata calda (hot chocolate) discovered by one of the characters - Susan, I think it is - at the recommendation of a local cafe owner in San Rocco; thick enough for your spoon to stand straight up and rich enough to ask you to pay attention. To notice. To slow down. To marvel.
It was undoubtedly, however, my kind of cup. Poetry and prose in one, [a:Frances Mayes|4826|Frances Mayes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1267654734p2/4826.jpg]' [b:Women in Sunlight|35734062|Women in Sunlight|Frances Mayes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519289599s/35734062.jpg|57239986] is filled to the brim with the lives of women - at first one, then four, and even five if you count the ever-present Margaret the narrator - Kit - is writing about. Add the daughters, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter that accessorize the story and you've got quite the span. The story, however, centers around these four American women who form a sudden and unexpected friendship in the face of change -- their ages ranging from mid-40s to 70. It is rare to read fiction about women later in their lives with such strength, courage, and curiosity, all of which give me hope for the future -- my future. I found myself in bits in pieces of each character, maybe Susan least of all -- but still, I appreciated her -- and that's my favorite kind of story; one that informs my own living.
As an Italophile and a resident of the American South, there's also nothing I didn't love about Mayes' descriptions of place, food, language, culture -- she runs the gamut because she knows it personally. It's like reading a dream I've both experienced in some version, and still can't wait to fully experience one day, myself.
I truly savored this book from start to finish. And it ambled, at times, requiring an attention I wasn't always able to give it. I found myself longing for my own Tuscan terrace upon which to sit, taking in the views and this story with a glass of Prosecco in hand. It also made me want to dig out my hard drive containing photos from my first (and hopefully not my last) trip to Italy, just before becoming a mother myself, and finally get them edited and hung up on some walls around here -- among other things.
Like Julia, I think I'll take the leap.
justplainbeth's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
falana's review against another edition
3.0
I really admire her writing but I just didn’t connect with it.