A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller

This book is amazing and sensual. It made me look at travel in a whole new way. Yes, she does spend a lot of time talking about food, but she is a cook so it is not surprising that this is a frequent topic. This book would be a great travel guide in addition to being a wonderful read.

I purchased this book on CD just before leaving on a very long and boring road trip from the Midwest to the West Coast. The CD transported me from freeway flanked by vast nothingness, to the cobblestone streets and cafes of Europe. Instead of "dining" on Lunchables and Diet Cokes, I was enjoying fine wines and decadent meals as I drove. I thoroughly got lost in A Year in the World, and, like all of Frances' other books (which I have read at least once), I thought it was fantastic.

Since Under The Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany are two of my favorite books, I purchased A Year In The World, expecting another masterpiece by this fine writer. Her curiousity, imagination, and attention to details other writers may miss, interest me, the ultimate armchair traveller. I have read the preceding reviews and agree wholeheartedly with them, so I will simply state my overall impression. This is a series of vacations taken by two writers who are serious lovers of art, food, wine, and gardening plus visiting ancient ruins, museums, and reading other books and poetry. It is a lengthy book with no pictures. I did learn a little more about Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy, Sicily, and Turkey than previously, as seen thru her eyes. A nice diversion was Scotland and England. The attention to detail is amazing. For instance, the various types of foods eaten by the locals and the preparation, as well types of flowers, trees, gardens, general scenery, in each vacation spot. Frances Mayes portrays herself as a restless free spirit, a dreamer, a thinker,an energetic individual who focuses on her wants. There is brief mention of her husband Ed who travels with her and of whom more could be written. I view him as a very patient man! There is some humor (I laughed aloud at her descriptions on a cruise ship). I enjoyed the glimpses into her private life and those of her friends. I felt there was a little too much sameness in several chapters. Perhaps this is because the countries are not really very far apart. Her descriptions are so vivid, I could feel the sun (often over 100 degrees) appreciate the colors of the sea and sky in that part of the world, and enjoy the flowers and gardens, especially in Scotland and England. Of the numerous foods mentioned, the tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and pasta sound best to me! It is in Italy tho, that Frances and Ed really seem to belong.They appear to love their 900 year old home they restored, and everything about Italy. The next to last chapter was my favorite, reminiscent of Under The Tuscan Sun. The last chapter, concerning future dreams about opening a cafe in Georgia sounds quite grand. Here in the northeast, we do have similar places, perhaps not enough of them tho. This is a nice book, to be read slowly; impossible to read in one sitting. Let your imagination take you thru the ancient ruins and learn a little more about Alexander and other voices from long ago; then come back to home, the best part of a vacation. Frances Mayes' writings about Tuscany are the best. I hope she writes about her next restoration instead of vacations, or at least, take a vacation in Alaska and give us her take!

What I loved so much about this book is the passionate imagery which Mayes incorporates into her writing. Hayes weaves a rich tapestry that entices the senses as she describes the sights, smells, textures, tastes and sounds of places few have visited, yet most dream of. I am also impressed that Hayes does not concentrate on the ordinary tourist attractions, but instead submerges herself in the local culture and, by doing so, grants her readers a depth of insight that fuels our own wanderlust. As an enthusiastic mental traveler who has physically visited only a few of Hayes' destinations, this book heightened my commitment to pack my bags as soon as possible for another magical adventure abroad. Ciao!