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Under the Tuscan Sun

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Under the Tuscan Sun

By: Frances Mayes
Narrated by: Frances Mayes
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About this listen

Number-one New York Times best seller

The beloved memoir of self-discovery set against the spectacular Tuscan countryside that inspired the major motion picture starring Diane Lane - now in a 20th-anniversary edition featuring a new afterword

“This beautifully written memoir about taking chances, living in Italy, loving a house and, always, the pleasures of food, would make a perfect gift for a loved one. But it’s so delicious, read it first yourself.” (USA Today)

For more Frances Mayes, including a tour of her now iconic Cortona home, Bramasole, watch PBS’ Dream of Italy: Tuscan Sun Special!

More than 20 years ago, Frances Mayes - widely published poet, gourmet cook, and travel writer - introduced readers to a wondrous new world when she bought and restored an abandoned Tuscan villa called Bramasole. Under the Tuscan Sun inspired generations to embark on their own journeys - whether that be flying to a foreign country in search of themselves, savoring one of the book’s dozens of delicious seasonal recipes, or simply being transported by Mayes’ signature evocative, sensory language. Now with a new afterword from Frances Mayes, the 20th-anniversary edition of Under the Tuscan Sun revisits the book’s most popular characters.

©1998 Frances Mayes (P)1998 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell, A Division of Random House Inc.
Classics Europe Travel Writing & Commentary Women
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Critic reviews

"An intense celebration of what [Mayes] calls 'the voluptuousness of Italian life'...appealing and very vivid." ( The New York Times Book Review)
"Irresistible...a sensuous book for a sensuous countryside." ( Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

What listeners say about Under the Tuscan Sun

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Accent

I got this book as it was recommended for being in the same vein as A Year In Provence.

I wish I had read as opposed to listened to this book, I think I would have enjoyed it more, I found it hard to put my self in Tuscany while listening to a southern American drawl. (No offence to anyone with this accent!)

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

narration

Enjoyed this book, but the southern American accent and tones of the narrator were a little grating.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

not fair

I loved it, it was fresh enjoyable, and if you know wine country you can almost taste the atmosphere, nearly listend to the book in one go on a Sunday. I totally disagree with the other person, whom did not give the book a chance.

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Narration is just awful

I bought the book because I love the Italian countryside and spend summers there so I wanted to listen this book while dreaming about living there too. Unfortunately the narration is just horrible, it sounds like someone talking with nasal voice and southern accent, it’s completely monotonic, the sentences all fall flat. It ruins the entire book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Under the Tuscan Sun

This book is one of my favourites. I love the way Frances Mayes writes. She has very lyrical, poetic way with words. So I was quite excited of adding this book to my Audio list.

I lasted less than one paragraph. Believe me I really really tried to like it. The reason I disliked it so much was her voice, it really grates. Her heavy southern American drawl really grates. It is not the sort of voice that goes with such a well wrtten book.

A real shame.

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9 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Didn’t manage to complete book

Struggled with narrators voice unfortunately. Persevered until chapter eight but could not connect with them and the Italian storyline

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

under the tuscan sky a feel good book

If you love Italy and the Italians, the description of wonderful food and a great way of life, you will love this book. It is a wonderful feel good book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

annoying

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A different narrator with a more pleasing accent would have helped. Allowing the author to narrate totally ruined this book for me. I had previously read this book and was looking forward to listening but found the accent style of the narrator extremely irritating.

What didn’t you like about Frances Mayes’s performance?

As above. Totally ruined this book for me and only therefore listened to a few chapters.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

In written form it is very enjoyable. In this audio format it is horrendous as a result of narrators style and accent.

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5 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

A bit dull testimony of Americans' move to Tuscany

A bit dull testimony of Americans' move to Tuscany... Frankly a huge disappointment. I thought there would be some more to the story then record of what it took them to move to Tuscany.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Really badly narrated

Really painful listening. It was like watching some bad at acting spoil a play. I don't mind her accent but she murders the writing. I know the author reads her own book which makes it all the more astonishing that it's so badly read. I got about 30 minutes in and gave up.

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