Under the Tuscan Sun

By: Frances Mayes

Narrated by: Frances Mayes

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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)

Hard to follow

The reader made it really difficult to follow. I couldn’t get passed chapter 9. The end.

Not like the movie at all

I wasn’t expecting it to be exactly like the movie, but I thought it would be at least similar. They were a few similar scenes but in general this is a completely new story. The Narrators southern drawl was distracting, and didn’t add to the story ambience.

Love the story

I wish they would have chosen a different the narrator for such a dreamy story. It was read in a very lifeless way, without inflection.

Good story, worse reader

I could not get passed how terrible this story was read. I would recommend actually reading this book rather than try to listen to a monotone voice with Southern accent.

You liked the movie, the book is nothing like it.

The book is a diary more than anything. It does make you want to go out and cook Italian and visit the small towns if Tuscany, if you can get through the irritating voice of the author.

I wish Frances had chosen a different narrator :(

I absolutely LOVE the story but good-grief, I can NOT listen to her voice. I really wish I’d listened to the sample prior to purchasing this. Such a disappointment...and I’m being generous with 2 stars.
Unfortunately just because you have a beautiful way with words on paper doesn’t mean you have the most beautiful voice.
I’ll stick to actually reading this book..

Abridged

Enjoyable book. Evoked time I spent in a villa in Tuscany. But why was the book abridged? I feel cheated.

Disappointing

Under the Tuscan Sun is one of my favorite movies. The audiobook was disappointing. I think the screenwriter for the film worked miracles. I am from the south and love a good southern drawl, but the performance of this book is annoying. I have never heard anyone from the south pronounce things so poorly.

Easy to tune out.

The underlying story is entertaining. it is hidden underneath layers of overly intellectual folderol and poetic waxing which makes it hard to follow at times does she really think like that I'd be exhausted. wal these are her words that she is reading my initial impression was that her reading was too fast although I thought she settled in or I became more accustomed to her voice. I felt that between the ramblings and The Voice it was hard to stay focused on the story and I often caught myself daydreaming while listening to the story.

so boring

So boring. This is the story of woman's meandering thoughts of her time in Italy, eating Italian food and restoring a disaster of a house. That is it. Just an accounting of her day to day life. No soul searching revelations, no affirmations. No real interaction with people. If you really want to be bored listen to her read the book, and butcher all the italian names. listening to her say baa-zil, instead of bay-zil was cringe worthy. The movie was so much better Disappointing.