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: Disappointed
Summary: 2 Stars
I expected more "mature" writing. While there were some nice passages describing the landscape and the general ambiance of the area, the writing often felt juvenile and sophomoric when describing his impressions of people and their adventures. He leaves the impression of a smart aleck who gets his kicks from mocking people. It's not only Americans whom he mocks, but also those from Florence and Pisa as well. The juvenile delinquent that he admits he was when he was a teenager still shines through in his writing. I have no doubt that he respects his country, but his lack of respect for people would make me think twice about hiring him as a tourguide. Book Review: Travels with Dario
Summary: 5 Stars
I too am a tour guide and enjoyed every page of Dario's story. He tells a good yarn and it doesnt unravel at the end.
For those of you planning a trip to Bella Italia tuck "Too Much Tuscan Sun" in your bag for much need laughs at the end of a long, hot day.
Book Review: does he even like Americans?
Summary: 2 Stars
Given his 10-plus years of guiding Americans on small, personalized tours of Chianti, it sure seems like Signor Castagno can't stand us. I'm sorry - there are three groups he did enjoy. One joined him in moral superiority regarding capital punishment, one toured with him multiple times each year, and one couple named their child after him.
So, if you'd like to cringe and feel embarrassed and then angry (after rebuking his clients for characterizing Italians based on encountering only a few, he does the same to Americans), this is a great book. If you'd like to enjoy tales of an expat's experiences in the Mediterranean region, try Peter Mayle.
Book Review: This is a great book - I did love it
Summary: 5 Stars
I haven't read any of Frances Mayes' books, but my native Italian wife has, and she liked those well-enough that we have visited Cortona. I picked up this book because I thought the title was funny and I enjoy reading books like Beppe Severgnini's "Ciao America", another book written by an Italian about those crazy Americans.
Dario Castagno's book is not nearly as caustic as I had been lead to believe by the jacket blurb, as well as some of the previous Amazon reviews, and the title itself. It wasn't until I reached his chapter explaining the process behind the Palio that I really began to appreciate "Too Much Tuscan Sun" for what it is: a book written for Americans by a native Sienese.
There are a few entertaining anecdotes throughout the book about some of the weird American tourists he has met, but the funny stories he tells about American tourists say as much about him as they do about any of his clients.
A certain percentage of his clients appear to be people looking for a broad introduction to Italy who really ought to be just following the latest edition of Frommer's Italy (which is a guidebook I still use and rely on) rather than hiring a local guide to show them the more obscure sites that mean something to him personally.
I have been to a number of the tourist sites that Dario mentions as frequent stops on his tours, and I think that may help my appreciation of this book. For example, I would never dream of taking an elderly person to see Monte Oliveto Maggiore, because there is a long walk downhill to the monastery from the parking lot. Yet Dario tells the tale of trying to bring a busload of 20 elderly American tourists with predictably disastrous results.
He also doesn't seem to understand that if two couples are calling him every 30 minutes with questions the night before a tour and leaving him waiting in the hotel lobby in the morning it's probably because one or both of those couples are engaged in hand-to-hand combat in the privacy of their hotel rooms, trying to decide how they are going to spend the remaining days of their relaxing Italian sojourn.
I myself have been escorted by Italians to see recently excavated Etruscan ruins, and while Etruscan ruins may be especially thought-provoking to an Italian, I can understand why an American tourist might not find them quite so fascinating.
I have also, personally consumed a lot of Diet Coke in Italy, and I found the number of times this American habit is mentioned to be hilarious (I think it has something to do with the fact that Americans, like me, are accustomed to drinking more liquid throughout the day, and we are trying NOT to gain TOO much weight when we are in Italy).
But the main value of this book is the way it tries to communicate to Americans what an Italian really loves about his country, and what he finds particularly interesting about American culture. I greatly appreciate his chapter on capital punishment, which I had previously recognized as probably the most bizarre aspect of American life, from the point-of-view of an Italian.
Book Review: Dario's Tuscany
Summary: 4 Stars
Look, the fact is that the majority of Americans, when they think about Tuscany, see it as a prestigious place filled with great food, views, and shopping - and a place which they can use to impress friends and relatives with stories of being in Tuscany. Now, I will freely admit: Tuscany does have great food and views. And shopping if you're into that. But when Dario says "Too much Tuscan Sun", he's saying "too much hype, let me show you the real Tuscany."
I travel to Italy every year to visit friends and family. I'm proud to be an American. However, I will not deny that every year I encounter Americans who do not behave at their best when they are guests in another country. When in Rome, do as the Romans. Here in the States, we demand conformity of our foreign guests and we are incredulous if they exhibit the slightest "un-American" behavior.
After being entranced by Tuscany on two occasions, I read Mayes' book and watched the American cultural view of Tuscany crescendo. I was extremely off-put by the hype, and consequently have chosen, for the past 10 years, to avoid a Tuscany filled with loud, demanding tourists.
I had loved the magical Tuscany that Dario shows you - deserted white stone roads, fabulous trattorie, ruined castles, churches, villas where it is delicious to imagine them in their hey-day, hills that grow into mountains with villages tucked neatly within, vineyards, active farms and olive groves.
I'm actually considering going back, having fallen for Tuscany once again.