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Somewhere South of Tuscany
Somewhere South of Tuscany is a feet-on-the-ground account of living and cooking in Italy, in the spectacular Italian countryside. After only one brief visit, Diana Armstrong, a cookbook author and food and travel writer, buys an ancient stone house right in the middle of the historic center of a village sandwiched between Tuscany and Umbria.
Somewhere South of Tuscany is fun and witty! Of course, with Diana's culinary background, food is never very far from the surface. Diana, her husband and her family are as much concerned with their meals as they are with fixing their house.
Restoring a 400 year old house in the backwoods of Italy makes for a fertile breeding ground for disasters, scrapes and a few discoveries too. (Everyone considering buying and renovating a home in Italy should ready her book!) Her culinary adventures in this Umbrian region are never very far from center stage. Diana, ever the passionate cook, provides deliciously simple recipes for all the food she mentions in the book. She gives every American cook the tools to transport themselves and their guests right into this green heart of rural Italy.
Somewhere South of Tuscany is fun and witty! Of course, with Diana's culinary background, food is never very far from the surface. Diana, her husband and her family are as much concerned with their meals as they are with fixing their house.
Restoring a 400 year old house in the backwoods of Italy makes for a fertile breeding ground for disasters, scrapes and a few discoveries too. (Everyone considering buying and renovating a home in Italy should ready her book!) Her culinary adventures in this Umbrian region are never very far from center stage. Diana, ever the passionate cook, provides deliciously simple recipes for all the food she mentions in the book. She gives every American cook the tools to transport themselves and their guests right into this green heart of rural Italy.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2011
132 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 5, 2021
"Somewhere South of Tuscany," is the account of Diana Armstrong buying a house and fixing it up in Tuscany. I have read several books lately, written by people who have moved to Italy and I admit I enjoy living vicariously through these accounts.
This book didn't really have an ending and maybe lacked a story line somewhat, yet what she did share was interesting enough that it didn't bother me. She shared very simple facts about the challenges and the rewards in buying an old home and fixing it up. One thing I would have liked in her description would have been a better picture of the results of the changes she made in the house. Like I said the book kind of lacked a story line and follow through on a couple things but she was able to tell her stories well enough to keep me reading none the less.
This book didn't really have an ending and maybe lacked a story line somewhat, yet what she did share was interesting enough that it didn't bother me. She shared very simple facts about the challenges and the rewards in buying an old home and fixing it up. One thing I would have liked in her description would have been a better picture of the results of the changes she made in the house. Like I said the book kind of lacked a story line and follow through on a couple things but she was able to tell her stories well enough to keep me reading none the less.
September 27, 2019
Book
I had problems with following along. So many different names in Italian. I had to go back and re-read some sections, but yet the book wasn't to bad. A lot of history. As far as all the recipes, I wasn't interested in them. Just wanted a good book to enjoy where people move to different parts of the world and their life there. This had a little of both giving the history of things and their lives of living there.
I had problems with following along. So many different names in Italian. I had to go back and re-read some sections, but yet the book wasn't to bad. A lot of history. As far as all the recipes, I wasn't interested in them. Just wanted a good book to enjoy where people move to different parts of the world and their life there. This had a little of both giving the history of things and their lives of living there.
April 3, 2020
Interesting tale with great recipes. Story lacks luster
I enjoyed this book for its description of Italy and very much appreciate the inclusion of recipes. The narrative itself is just ok. There were so many storylines that I wish she would have elaborated on but suddenly switched the subject. Too many times the reader is left hanging asking, “Is that all you’re going to tell me?” It was a good book but one I would recommend more for the recipes rather than a narrative.
I enjoyed this book for its description of Italy and very much appreciate the inclusion of recipes. The narrative itself is just ok. There were so many storylines that I wish she would have elaborated on but suddenly switched the subject. Too many times the reader is left hanging asking, “Is that all you’re going to tell me?” It was a good book but one I would recommend more for the recipes rather than a narrative.
October 2, 2020
Charming
I enjoyed this story of a lady relocating to a small Italian village from Colorado. She concentrates more on the local characters than most books in this genre. That helped to make me feel like I was there. Some really recipe too!
I enjoyed this story of a lady relocating to a small Italian village from Colorado. She concentrates more on the local characters than most books in this genre. That helped to make me feel like I was there. Some really recipe too!
July 26, 2018
3.5 stars.
October 8, 2021
Disappointing
I have read so many wonderful memoirs (Italy, France, Spain,etc.) Unfortunately this was not one of the better ones. 😕
I have read so many wonderful memoirs (Italy, France, Spain,etc.) Unfortunately this was not one of the better ones. 😕
February 21, 2023
Quaint
Charming descriptions of life in a small and quaint Italian village. The recipes are a nice add on but the writing itself is mediocre.
Charming descriptions of life in a small and quaint Italian village. The recipes are a nice add on but the writing itself is mediocre.
February 25, 2023
Lacking
No humour. No character development. No struggles etc etc. Essentially a dull expensive diary of a privileged woman bulked out with recipes.
No humour. No character development. No struggles etc etc. Essentially a dull expensive diary of a privileged woman bulked out with recipes.
February 29, 2024
I loved this book. I gave it 4 stars only because I wanted more.
August 24, 2015
This book gets 5 stars because it is well written but it about my favorite topic--Italy. The story is about an American couple who buy and begin to renovate a house in Lubriano. It will put you in mind of Frances Mayes' books if you have read her. The process of buying and renovating is not without some humor.
The author struggles to learn Italian, cook Italian and discover the magic of Italian living. The locals love her (mostly) for simply trying. That is true in my own experience.
This was fun to read; it was light and entertaining.
Highly recommended if you love Italy and all things Italian.
The author struggles to learn Italian, cook Italian and discover the magic of Italian living. The locals love her (mostly) for simply trying. That is true in my own experience.
This was fun to read; it was light and entertaining.
Highly recommended if you love Italy and all things Italian.
August 11, 2011
Another charming book on moving to Italy and cooking and restoring an old house. They follow a pattern but I love reading them.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews