Whatcha Readin': Under the Tuscan Sun

As the summer winds down and the last days of August swelter on, it’s nice to escape the heat with a glass of wine and a book that whisks you away to a faraway place. Perhaps you would enjoy a temporary escape to a beautiful but crumbling, old villa in Italy. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes takes the reader on a richly worded journey full of beauty and discovery, food and love. Because the author is a food writer, she also peppers her memoir with several of her own recipes that she developed through her gardening and cooking experiences. If you have seen the film version of the novel, do not dismiss this book as a lighthearted romantic comedy; the real story has much more sustenance than the Hollywood version. With her vivid descriptions of her life in the Tuscan countryside, Mayes reminds us to slow down and enjoy the simple, everyday pleasures that are available no matter where you are on the map. Review by Carrie Budzinski.