Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life

Francis Mayes does it again with her latest book, "Every Day in Tuscany - Seasons of an Italian Life". She enthralls us with her personal and intimate account of living in the town of Cortona, Italy in her beloved house Bramasole! The book coincides with the 20th anniversary of her move to Cortona, Italy with her partner Ed. The two previous books that have chronicled her life there are, "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Bella Tuscany". Both books do not have to be read beforehand but should you choose to do so, you won't be disappointed. It was comforting to find that, "Every Day in Tuscany" follows in Ms. Mayes great tradition of writing in a personal way as if her readers are people who are kindred spirits, as I am sure many are. Her style of writing is so smooth that, you may find yourself curled up in a chair longer than you planned because you can easily get lost in this book. The book is written through the seasons that Frances and Ed spend in Cortona, as well as their travels all over Italy and side trips of Frances'memory of her childhood in Georgia . The book opens with their arrival in Winter from North Carolina and begins the re-acquaintance with her beloved villa,her friends, neighbors and the Cortona piazza which holds a special place in her heart. They now have a new (but really old) second home Fonte which they found while out hiking, purchased and renovated it. There are lots of good times at Fonte to read about as well as funny stories of wild boars, who are the natural owners. There is always something to either learn, giggle at or ponder in these books. This book ends in the Fall when Frances and Ed return to the N.Carolina. For all the seasons that follow their arrival, Mayes takes you on a journey of every sensory stimulus that you can imagine. Whether it's food, art, religion, music, making bread,pasta, jarring tomatoes, the night sky, architecture, gardens, children, authors, poets, friendships, Italy's artist, etc....a cornucopia of topics she covers because she is truly a woman who loves not only Italy but life and lives hers to the fullest. It will not surprise any reader when they learn that she was once a teacher. Throughout the book, she does educate her readers on topics that will be interesting as well as thought provoking. But overall life in Tuscany is the jewel in the crown. She makes Italy sound so promising and full of the deliciousness of life that I'm sure more than one of her readers packed their bags and moved there because of reading her books! But if you cannot move to Italy or even visit Italy then just crack open, "Every Day in Tuscany - Seasons of an Italian Life" and let this book take you there. A warning: Lot's of fabulous Italian food will be described and eaten in this book. Many bottles of wine will be opened as well. But there are recipes included for many dishes and names of the wines listed (although I do not know if they are exported) so, readers will be able to experience a little of It

Frances Mayes, author of a series of books on her life in Tuscany, has penned another volume in the series. The newest, "Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life," is a charming account of her present-day life in Tuscany and her travels through Italy. Mayes' home in Tuscany, Bramasole, was an abandoned thirteenth-century farmhouse in the mountains near Cortona that she renovated. She chronicles the seasons she and her husband spend in Italy, early spring through summer, ending with her return to her home in the U.S. in the late fall. In this book, she and her husband branch out to explore Umbria and the Marche. She is on a quest for works of art by Luca Signorelli and his teacher, Piero della Francesca. Along the way, she meets the residents of the regions and manages to eat her way through the menus she encounters. One of the delights repeated in this book is a series of recipes from the areas she visits. They sound so good that you are torn whether to continue read to read the book, or put it on the kitchen counter and cook the latest recipe she offers. Whichever you decide to do, you will enjoy the fruits of this latest volume in Mayes' saga of Tuscany and its environs. It is a delight and a welcome diversion from the harsh realitites of life today.

Almost twenty years ago, the publication of Frances Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun" signaled the dawn of a new era in the perennial love affair between American travelers and all things Tuscan. This month, she continues her string of fascinating memoirs with "Every Day in Tuscany - Seasons of An Italian Life." I am one of those Americans who has fallen under the spell of Tuscany - Firenze, Siena, Chianti, the Ponte Vecchio, the three versions of Michelangelo's David that can be found within Florence, the Duoma, the Uffizi. I absorbed the sights, sounds and flavors of this book with great gusto. If, after reading Mayes' latest offering, you are not tempted to book a trip to Italy this summer, then I will be surprised. The structure of this latest memoir is set between the bookends of Mayes' arrival with her poet husband, Ed, in Cortona for their annual season in Tuscany at her beloved villa of Bramasole and their departure for their winter home in North Carolina. In her chronicling of the intervening months, she leads her readers down a leisurely path that introduces them to some of the colorful characters in town, her life-embracing neighbors, the kitchens of some of the best cooks in the world, and the vineyards and olive groves of the surrounding hillside towns. Another thread that weaves together her meandering narratives is her love for the paintings of Luca Signorelli. She and Ed visit many Tuscan towns to have another look at some of her favorite Signorelli paintings and frescoes. Spicing up the pages of each chapter are recipes that Mayes has gleaned from treasured Italian friends, and words and phrases from the colorful Italian language. Her use of these phrases is wonderfully instructive, rather than intrusive. She describes in loving detail some wonderful places I look forward to visiting - townsal like Urbino, Citta di Castello, Sansepolchro, Umbertide, Perugia. When she first made the investment in the crumbling Bramasole, Mayes was regrouping after a divorce. The town folks embraced her - but cautiously. Along the way, there have been occasional indications that she was still viewed as an outsider. But the anecdotes she shares in this latest memoir make it clear that as a byproduct of her investment in the community of Cortona - and in her serving an evangelist for the ethos and frame of mind that is Tuscany - the Tuscans have now embraced her wholeheartedly as a valued member of the community and family. She describes the subtle growth and evolution of her own mind set about Tuscany - its people, its foods, its wines, its history, its joys and challenges. This book is a total delight - like a warm and comforting taste of freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil. I encourage you to read it if you love Tuscany - or are open to being seduced by its multi-sensory beauty and charming homeliness. Enjoy. Abbondanza! Al

I am not a huge fan of memoirs, but loved Under the Tuscan Sun so much that I decided to read another book from Mayes. The first few chapters were a little slow, but after that I became thoroughly engrossed in the story. I have never been to Italy, but Mayes does such an excellent job of describing not only the details of the homes and landscapes, but also the traditions, activities and daily routines of life in Tuscany that I really felt like I was there with her. I really enjoyed how she interspersed Italian words into the text. She also included numerous recipes, which I look forward to trying. Mayes really captured the lifestyle there. It only increased my desire to visit the country. At the end of the book, when Mayes and her husband return to their home in the US for several months, I actually felt sad - as if I was leaving too. The book gives readers an escape from the stressful and hectic lives so common these days - even if it's just for a little while.

I love Frances Mayes' work. Having travelled to Italy and Tuscany several times, it does have a way of capturing one's soul. This book continues the joy of living life to the fullest from her earlier works including the famous "Under the Tuscan Sun" (which of course, they made into a weird, unfaithful movie, but with beautiful scenery and Diane Lane). My favorites are her picture books: "In Tuscany and Bringing Tuscany Home". I devoured the 300 pages in a couple of days. Treated as a personal, intimate friend she shares her Italian life and thoughts and walks you through her beloved home, Bramasole, once again. I would know it immediately if ever invited. Her style flows so easily; full of descriptive prose and interesting characters, some yummie and doable, fairly simple recipes, "one, two, three flavors, bold and fresh."- I plan to cook a chicken under a brick this weekend or some stuffed eggplants and wash it down with ice tea mixed with lemons, pineapple and mint. Or perhaps, a nice, but not too pricey, Italian wine. There is a certain affluence expressed in Ms. Mayes' writings. Few of us can afford 2nd homes in faraway lands to fix up and split our time in; however, the simple pleasures in life, such as enjoying people watching, as in a piazza or market, or having cultural exchanges over food, or just being out of our usual element, is what makes for a good read. Better yet, good travel. Go to Italy. It's affordable and a joy at any budget once you can get there. If you can't right now in this sour economy, read this book. Ciao!