Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy Summary and Reviews

Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy
by Frances Mayes

Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy
List Price: $15.00
Our Price: $2.15
You Save: $12.85 (86%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Frances Mayes
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2000-04-04
ISBN: 076790284X
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Broadway

Book Reviews of Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy

Book Review: pretentious but occasionally thought-provoking
Summary: 3 Stars

Overall, I found the book to be pretentious in its sensual praise of Tuscany. As we get chapters on Sicily, the Veneto and Umbria the title is also somewhat misleading. And, as one reviewer commented why not "Bella Toscana"? Life would be the way Mayes describes it if we all had as many almighty American bucks in our bank accounts for the renovations, garden modifications, meals out, handbags, shoes and clothes. The reality is quite different if you live in Italy 365 days a year. The bank balance is much lower, your priorities change and it's sometimes impossible to find much that's positive about the place. Having said that, I would readily agree that life in Tuscany or anywhere in Italy is saner than America so perhaps Mayes has good reasons for raving. This reviewer lives in Italy but not by choice and I must say that Mayes, to her credit, manages to open the reader's eyes more to what tends to feel ordinary or commonplace. I attended worship in a medieval parish church this morning and contemplated part of a fresco wondering whether it could be incorporated into my ongoing house renovations.

Travel Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Come fly with me...
Suite Francaise ImageSuite Francaise
by Irene Nemirovsky
Vintage; Published: 2007-04-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.47
Price in other shops: $14.95
Very Valentine: A Novel ImageVery Valentine: A Novel
by Adriana Trigiani
Harper; Published: 2009-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.40
Price in other shops: $25.99
The Boy In the Striped Pajamas (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Random House Movie Tie-In Books) ImageThe Boy In the Striped Pajamas (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Random House Movie Tie-In Books)
by John Boyne
David Fickling Books; Published: 2008-10-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.40
Price in other shops: $8.99
A Fine Balance (Oprah's Book Club) ImageA Fine Balance (Oprah's Book Club)
by Rohinton Mistry
Vintage; Published: 2001-11-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.47
Price in other shops: $15.95
A Thousand Splendid Suns ImageA Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseini
Riverhead Trade; Published: 2008-11-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.85
Price in other shops: $16.00
The Kite Runner Illustrated Edition ImageThe Kite Runner Illustrated Edition
by Khaled Hosseini
Riverhead Hardcover; Published: 2007-10-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.80
Price in other shops: $29.95
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel ImageSnow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
by Lisa See
Random House Trade Paperbacks; Published: 2009-05-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.89
Price in other shops: $17.00
Playing for Pizza ImagePlaying for Pizza
by John Grisham
Dell; Published: 2008-07-22; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.44
Price in other shops: $7.99
Greek Expectations: The Adventures of Fearless Fran in the Land of the Gods ImageGreek Expectations: The Adventures of Fearless Fran in the Land of the Gods
by Frances Mayes
AuthorHouse; Published: 2008-11-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.93
Price in other shops: $15.49
A Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller ImageA Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller
by Frances Mayes
Broadway; Published: 2007-03-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops: $15.00
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
A Thousand Days in Venice (Ballantine Reader's Circle) ImageA Thousand Days in Venice (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
by Marlena de Blasi
Ballantine Books; Published: 2003-06-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.51
Price in other shops: $14.00
The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany ImageThe Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany
by James Bentley, Hugh Palmer
Thames & Hudson; Published: 1997-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.59
Price in other shops: $40.00
Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy ImageUnder the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy
Broadway Books; Published: 1997; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.80
A Year in Provence ImageA Year in Provence
by Peter Mayle
Vintage; Published: 1991-06-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.84
Price in other shops: $13.00
A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure ImageA Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure
by Marlena de Blasi
Ballantine Books; Published: 2005-09-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.64
Price in other shops: $14.95
Bringing Tuscany Home: Sensuous Style From the Heart of Italy ImageBringing Tuscany Home: Sensuous Style From the Heart of Italy
by Frances Mayes, Edward Mayes
Broadway; Published: 2004-10-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.15
Price in other shops: $29.95
Under the Tuscan Sun (Widescreen Edition) ImageUnder the Tuscan Sun (Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2004-02-03; DVD
Best price: $4.81
Price in other shops: $14.99
A Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller ImageA Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller
by Frances Mayes
Broadway; Published: 2007-03-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops: $15.00
In Tuscany ImageIn Tuscany
by Frances Mayes
Broadway; Published: 2000-10-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.90
Price in other shops: $35.00
Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy ImageUnder the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy
by Frances Mayes
Broadway; Published: 2003-08-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.63
Price in other shops: $15.00