Book review! - A thousand days in Tuscany - Marlena de Blasi

[Iona]

Originally Posted by AlanT

"A thousand days in Tuscany"

Marlena de Blasi.

Anyone read it? Liked it? Believed it?

Any of the above/None of the above/All of the above?

Discuss.

A.

I started reading 'A thousand days in Venice' and got fed up with her. I had to stop shortly after her move there. As much as I envied her for that, nothing could make me read on. I found her writing style annoying and her reactions, etc, not witty at all. What a wasted chance of creating a fantastic story...

I like Annie Hawes. I also find her refreshing, funny and down-to-earth - attributes I missed with Ms de Blasi.

There are lots of copycat books of the type 'I've somehow ended up here and now all eyes on me!' Some are fine but many aren't worth bothering with...

Hoping to read that detective series set in Venice soon. Sounds intriguing!

[Stella]

Couldn't agree more about Annie Hawes - a worthy successor to Tim Parks' early contributions to the 'foreigner living in Italy' genre ('Italian Neighbours' and 'An Italian Education'). But sorry, I loathed Isabella Dusi and her fawning adulation of all things Italian and complete rejection of her own culture.
Having read Iris Origo's 'War in the Val D'Orcia' and 'Images and Shadows', I loved Caroline Moorhead's 'Iris Origo' - she covers all the interesting bits that Iris was too discreet to mention . . .
No connection with Italy at all - but 'The Memory of Running' by Ron McLarty and 'Year of Wonders' by Geraldine Brooks are wonderful.

[Violetta]

Originally Posted by Stella

Couldn't agree more about Annie Hawes - a worthy successor to Tim Parks' early contributions to the 'foreigner living in Italy' genre ('Italian Neighbours' and 'An Italian Education'). But sorry, I loathed Isabella Dusi and her fawning adulation of all things Italian and complete rejection of her own culture.
Having read Iris Origo's 'War in the Val D'Orcia' and 'Images and Shadows', I loved Caroline Moorhead's 'Iris Origo' - she covers all the interesting bits that Iris was too discreet to mention . . .

Oh, yes, War in the Val D'Orcia, Images & Shadows and Moorhead's biography all wonderful reads about a wonderful woman. We're very fond of her especially as our house actually looks out on to her estate at La Foce. If you haven't been, you must go. One of the most beautiful settings on earth and the gardens are a dream especially now and in June. I often wonder what it must have been like here during the War. Interesting to note that there's quite a large annual commemoration at a village v close to La Foce entitled "we should not forget them" celebrating the role played by the partisans. It gets a lot of publicity and I sometimes wonder what visiting German tourists must think.

Love Ferenc Mate (that was based near here, wonder if he's still there?). And Donna Leon's books are marvellous, she really manages to capture the authentic atmosphere of real Venice.

Am not keen on the woman writing about Montalcino for she's done a "Mayle" and been partially responsible for a turning an adorable little town in to a horrible tourist trap from May to September. Much prefer her books but suppose you could say the same for Frances Mayes over at Cortona. That USED to be a nice little town too. You know people in the States only want to visit to see her house? Point out that there's one of the finest works of art in the diocesan museum and their eyes glaze over. All they want is Bramisole.

[Angie and Robert]

Michael Dibdens Zen detective novels are excellent, sadly he died this year, but I believe the last one is about to be published, if I spent less time reading I might do more work around here!

[annec]

Loved all the Iris Origo books. She also wrote a fascinating book based on medieval papers discovered in a merchant's house in Prato. He kept every scrap of paper illustrating all aspects of his daily life and they were walled up for centuries. The book is called "The Merchant of Prato"

For an off-the-wall addition, I recommend "Cooking with Fernet Branca" by James Hamilton Paterson - review here:Review: Cooking With Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson | By genre | Guardian Unlimited Books

His particular comedic take may not to be to everyone's taste, but it tickled mine. And the recipes deserve comment in the Food section here for their revoltingness!

[Aretina]

[quote=Violetta: It gets a lot of publicity and I sometimes wonder what visiting German tourists must think.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, just a little off thread. We went to Montepulciano on Sunday but left pretty quickly vowing to return only when the season ended... the reason... a large coach load of middle aged Germans, one of whom thought it would be a good idea to yodel (? sp.) through the entire town.

I think it was only community pragmatism that prevented him being lynched.
I wanted to... and I didn't have any memories.

Aretina

[mungo]

Is this section just about books on Italy? Or can any book be reviewed here?

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje is very good. I read it in a cold climate and felt hot.

[Violetta]

Originally Posted by mungo

Is this section just about books on Italy? Or can any book be reviewed here?

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje is very good. I read it in a cold climate and felt hot.

Why not, fantastic book, one of the best Booker prize winners ever, possibly one of my all time personal favourites, and it merits a place here anyway surely as it's partly set in Italy. So long as you begin by acknowledging that the film is only very, very loosely based on the book, that's enjoyable too. Wonderful locations (Sant'Anna in Camprenna just up the road, for example) and some first rate performances. Hannah's face when Kip pulls the rope and she's yanked up to see the frescoes supposedly at Arezzo. Catherine telling stories in the desert. Magical. Don't think I have it on DVD otherwise I'd watch it tonight, drat.

Thankfully we don't live in Montepul itself but I have a friend who does (small apartment just off the Corso) and it drives her barmy in summer. I think I posted once before that she comes down to find Japanese tourists sitting on her front doorstep eating ice cream. It's like a human tidal wave of people flowing up and down the narrow street, late into the evening too. I won't go there this time of year and we agree to meet somewhere "civilised" like Cetona.

Re Montalcino, tried to get there a couple of weeks ago, needed some crockery and there's a fab kitchen shop. Arrived mid morning to find tourist policeman on edge of town not even allowing anyone else up the road. He directed us to a carpark that was a couple of kilometres away! Blow that, new plates can wait until October! V

[Noble]

Books by Marlena Di Blase. There are now 3 in paper back. Somehow, having bought the first 2 secondhand I wanted to read the third...we all have our weaknesses. They can be likened to Violet Creams!!! The books are entertaining but you must suspend belief.The third book at full price, 13.50 euros, is over the top. The author must hope to be the next Frances Mayes and do for Orvieto what has been done to Cortona. Don't trust the recipes and don't believe what you read, but fun, if you have nothing better to do and feel brain dead in February!

[Noble]

Sorry got my i's and e's confused Marlena de Blasi