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)

BAD NARRATION

I was truly excited to hear this book!
I’m from the south, and and a frequenter of audible, and I can tell you this was a TERRIBLE choice to have the author narrate the book. A lot of times it works out- however, she has a southern accent that even I find grating, and she is literally just READING rather than FEELING anything. Reminded me of being in a 5th grade classroom reading aloud.
She should do herself a favor and have someone else narrate this!!!!

Mayes voice is not "listen" friendly

Would you consider the audio edition of Under the Tuscan Sun to be better than the print version?

no

What did you like best about this story?

food descriptions were romantic and full of life

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

Mayes voice was not "listen"friendly...I had listened to an audio recording of this book years ago and fully enjoyed the performance. I purchased this version without listening to a clip of the audio. Surprised when I listened to find another person narrating.

Wonderful descriptions of Tuscany- not the best choice of reader.

It is best to listen in small bites- a chapter or two at a time, because of the monotone southern accent of the reader.

Her reading is nauseating

I’ve read this book twice and have actually stood in front of this home in Italy. I was so excited to have it read to me until I heard it. She reads entirely too fast and while she is an amazing writer her skills at reading a book are sorely lacking. I want my Audible credit back for this book. I cannot bear to listen to it.

Kind of boring

The story was very hard to listen to. The accent was very fake sounding and mixed with trying to say Italian words was rough. The story wasn’t a story. Seemed more like a history lesson mixed with renovations. Wouldn’t read or listen to again

Italy from an Ex-Pat's view

UtTS is not a typical novel, but provides such detailed descriptions of Italy, you feel as if you're there. There is no plot, no "point" or climax. Simply a story about a woman's connection to the land, her new home and her experience of the culture of Italy. The author's voice is wonderful to listen to, and so the experience is almost surreal as you listen. Great "Listen" but some friends in my bookclub never finished it in the book format! (ie. not a great "read"?!) I loved listening on an evening walk around the neighborhood. Great escape from day to day life for 20 minutes at a time!

Love the book - not the reader

Sadly the reader just didn’t work for me. There isn’t much else I can say about it - bought the book and read it. Good book!

Sadly disappointed

This is a horrible thing to say...

I watched the movie and had an image of Frances Mayes in my head. I loved the movie, I fantasized that it could be my life, I had a romanticized view of her. Then I started to listen to the book and her voice totally ruined it. I imagined a soft, non-accented voice and the voice talking to me was completely not that voice.

Like I said, it's a horrible thing to say, but I decided to buy the paper version of the book and just read it instead

The Movie was much better

I enjoyed the story in this movie and hoped the book would have additional enjoyable adventures. Unfortunately I found the opposite. The story seemed disconnected and didn't flow as well as the movie. I guess this is the down fall of seeing the movie first.

In any case the most problematic concern was the narrator's voice. Ms. Mayes should have opted for someone else to narrate. Ms. Mayes' soft southern drawl didn't seem natural and was very distracting.

I had to give up on this one, it was too painful to listen to.

Might Have Been Good, but . . .

The narrator's voice was so inappropriate
For this story! Yikes! It might have been a good story if I could have got past thaT SILLY Southern accent.