Too Much Tuscan Sun: Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide (Insiders' Guides) by Dario Castagno, Robert Rodi Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Too Much Tuscan Sun: Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide (Insiders' Guides)
Book Review: from the heart
Summary: 4 Stars
This book, in terms of writing quality, is what you would expect from a first-time author's self-published book (actually it's much better than one would expect). But nonetheless it's the perfect antidote to the irritating Frances Mayes, as intended!
I have the (somewhat) good fortune to actually live in Tuscany, and I found Dario's stories refreshing and hilarious. Despite living here, I find it hard to connect with the locals, who are usually friendly and courteous but not really "open" in the American sense. After reading several books by Americans about *their* experiences, I was happy to finally read something from the other side of the looking-glass written in the open, free-wheeling style that (I think) Italians use with each other conversationally (most writing in Italian seems to me very formal and almost intentionally opaque..).
If you can't have a good laugh at your own expense, then this book isn't for you. I don't know what the people who were "offended" were expecting.. it probably came too close to home for them!
Yes, the book isn't perfect. The author devotes a lot to his pet obsession with the "Palio" of Siena, so your level of interest in that event may affect your appreciation of his efforts.
I think it's odd, too, that people have reacted negatively to the level of self-promotion in the book. I didn't find it overweening, and, again, considering the book is self-published, one could have imagined worse. If you really want to retch, check out Frances Mayes' "Solleone" sheets at only $530/set!! Americans used to commodifying everything for themselves shouldn't feel uncomfortable about one of the locals riding the "Tuscan" bandwagon. At least Castagno is promoting something real, something he obviously loves dearly and wants to make accessible.
Could it have been better? Yes, but until another Italian writes a better one, I will continue to recommend this to my friends wanting to visit Italy.
Book Review: TOO MUCH TUSCAN SUN
Summary: 1 Stars
As a dual citizen of USA and Italy--I am going to have to agree with Valerie that this book is snotty and actually offensive to all tourists who may travel to Italy. We live part-time in Italy. I have at this point in my life lived on both sides of this book--as a tourist in the beginning and now as a citizen of this wonderful country. I was initially attracted to this book because I did not like Frances Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun". First of all, this book is boring. If you are looking for a book that details step by step the Chianti Region, obtain this information in a tour book. In addition, after reading comment after comment of Dario's feelings toward "the hand that feeds him" I hope that he doesn't think this book is going to increase his business. Save your money and time in reading this book, if you read it, you may think Italy and its people aren't as gracious and welcoming as they really are.
Book Review: What a great read!
Summary: 5 Stars
Having recently spent 5 days in Tuscany, I have lots of wonderful memories. When I read Castagno's book, the sights and sounds from those days came rushing back. I enjoyed the way the book was set up with alternating chapters. One set of chapters progressed through the year from January to December describing clients and experiences. The other set of chapters described the author's path from a youth growing up in Tuscany to a man earning his living by sharing his love of the area with tourists. The anecdotes he shares are a nice mixture of humor and poignancy. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has visited or plans to visit Tuscany.Book Review: Snotty, snide and hateful
Summary: 1 Stars
I was looking forward to this book with the high hopes that it might be the equal of "Extra Virgin" or Peter Mayle's Provencal tales.
Instead, Mr. Castagno lines up a procession of exaggerated examples of the protoypical "ugly Americans" abroad. Oh, yes, there's at least one American he liked and didn't make fun of (much). Overall, though, he prefers to paint the vast majority of Americans abroad as uncultured, ignorant buffoons.
I can't imagine any American ever being willing to hire Mr. Castagno as a guide again, not after reading the apparent level of contempt in which he appears to hold us. And I'll certainly not waste my time or money reading or buying anything else he authors.
Book Review: A real Chianti native shares his world....
Summary: 4 Stars
As someone who married (another American) in Firenze (Florence) and has toured Tuscany many times - Dario Castagno has done a lovely job of looking at a year in the life of a Tuscan tour guide.
His descriptions of his tourists are very amusing and, sorry to tell the previous (very up-tight) reviewers, ACCURATE! As an American who lives and works overseas - the Americans that Dario describes - the 'normal' ones, the 'ghosts', the "culture vultures' and the 'babs' (oh! the "babs", I laughed until I cried!) are incredibly spot on. And these categories of American tourists are EVERYWHERE - not just in Italy!
More importantly, Castagno does a wonderful job of weaving the descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and activity during the course of a year. He skillfully expresses the joys and riches of the Tuscan foods and drinks. (And any tourist who spends two weeks in Tuscany drinking diet coke should have stayed at home) He also gives the reader one of the best primers on the Palio that I have ever read (and Robert Rodi's little window into Dario's Palio world in the penultimate chapter is sweet!).
This is a book primarily for the Americans in Dario's 'normal' category - who don't take themselves too seriously, who have been to Tuscany and enjoyed its food, wines, art, history, and gorgeous countrysides, and who have met some of those other (embarrassingly "American") Americans - all over the world and can appreciate Dario's amusement and sometime (warranted) frustrations.
A wonderful book, I have already recommended it to everyone I know who has been to Tuscany or who is going. I wonder if Dario now has way more business than he could possibly handle or need!!