102 Rose Tinted Books

I can't remember the original thread, but it was about books, you Know, the sort that say I moved to Italy and.....

I will add a few more that I didn't notice on the last forum (before this latest change)

Alan Parker.............Seasons in Tuscany (a follow up is also in print)

Isabella Dusi............Vanilla beans & Brodo (as above)

Ferenc Mate............The hills of Tuscany

Frances Mayes..........Under the Tuscan sun & Bella Tuscany
(What book did they use for the film?)

And for when you want to take the specs off

Charles Richards.........The New Italians

I had read all the previous listings........and admit to being sad....

Happy reading.

Viola

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/10/2005 - 12:42

Interesting list, Viola. :)

I've always found Frances Mayes Under the Tuscan sun & Bella Tuscany to be horribly, horribly rose-tinted. I find that books liek this tend to present and image of Italy that exists only in the minds of...people who write books like this.

Glad to see Charles Richards there! Although it's not the kind of book i'd take on holiday with me, it does give you a far better picture on the whole than the kind of stuff Mayes gives. I really enjoyed tim Parks in that he is both entertaining and more of a realist. It seems to me that books on Italy are either wild, idealic fantasties or overy earnest. I suppose what really, really annoys me with Under the Tuscan Sun is how it goes for the 'isn't it quaint' approach. My wife is Sardnian and she though it hugely patronising.

Thanks for the list, I'll check out some of the others that I haven't read.

Don't worry you aren't the only sad one!

Russ

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/10/2005 - 14:34

yes, it is good to see that Frances Mayes is held in such low esteem! I haven't been able to manage a whole one without feeling queasy...
No mention of Annie Hawes books yet. 'Extra Virgin' and 'Ripe for the Picking' are fun, warm and informative. 'A Small Place in Italy' by Eric Newby is OK too, anyone whose house is called i castagni is OK with me (a serious chestnut junkie).
There really are so many sickly, rubbishy books about moving to the beautiful country - Italy obviously causes writers to fall in love and loose all sense! Poor Frances Mayes, she is just at the top of her genre! Despite that, I enjoyed the film!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/10/2005 - 17:40

I asked this in the old forum - does anyone have any recommendations of books about the English written by Italians?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/11/2005 - 08:45

Hi Annec

The only one that I know of is Beppe Servergnini's work. It goes by two titles (dependent upon where you buy it), either 'inglesi' or 'An Italian in Britain'.

I read it a few years ago and it was pretty funny stuff. Makes you think about a few things! Have a look at [url]www.beppesevergnini.com[/url]

Amazon probably says it better than me:

Synopsis
The author investigates the peculiarities of everything British, from the class system to the North/South divide. He looks at events like Ascot, Henley and Wimbledon, the British preoccupation with gossip, and football hooligans

Hope that helps! Anyone know any others?

Russ

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 03/12/2005 - 06:42

I was also going to suggest An Italian in Britain by Beppe Severgnini as it is the only one i have heard of!

Would be interested in further titles

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/16/2005 - 12:47

[QUOTE=annec]I asked this in the old forum - does anyone have any recommendations of books about the English written by Italians?[/QUOTE]

I see you are involved in restoration in Montefalcone Appenino. We are thinking about renovation in Montelparo. Do you have any words of advice? Did you get your project surveyed by a surveyor or did you use a structural engineer? How did you find your property?