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Todo in Tuscany: The Dog at the Villa
nan
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2012
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210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 14, 2018
This was a truly heartwarming book, which had me in tears in some parts. If you love dogs and/or Tuscany, this book may be for you. I love dogs and we will be visiting Italy (as well as Tuscany) in a few months. Sorry for the overkill, but I will be reading lots of Italy-themed books before we go. My entire family laughs at my travel-themed books before trips. I think it's funny also.
Here are pictures of Todo – what a sweet story.
Here are pictures of Todo – what a sweet story.
May 20, 2015
I got this book for a bedtime read. My bedtime reads are usually pretty tacky. They are mostly a mush of easy-read saccharine. This one was different, and a pleasant surprise.
It’s meant to be a book about Todo, a dog that Louise Badger and Lawrence Kershaw inherited when they moved to a house in Tuscany, but really it’s a book about Louise and Lawrence, and their adventures in Italy.
They are such a lovely couple. I want to go to dances with them - ‘Sagra di Zuppa di Frantoiana’ or Sagra di Funghi Porcini’ (the name depending on the food being served at these wonderful outdoor music and dance nights). I want to help them learn Italian, to cope with Italian red tape and bureaucracy, and most of all I wanted to help them get rid of the bird hunters on the edge of their property. I want to go walking through the olive trees with them, and visit some of the fine restaurants they frequent ( always making great friends with the people who work there. They are those kind of people). I loved their fondness for their animals too – not only Todo, but also their three cats. Their friendliness and largesse warm every page.
I think the book was well written. Certainly I found it hard to put down. Instead of being a sleeping pill (the intended role of most of my bedtime books), this one kept me up much too late. It’s an easy read with fabulous people and lots of endearing animal references. Bliss :-)
It’s meant to be a book about Todo, a dog that Louise Badger and Lawrence Kershaw inherited when they moved to a house in Tuscany, but really it’s a book about Louise and Lawrence, and their adventures in Italy.
They are such a lovely couple. I want to go to dances with them - ‘Sagra di Zuppa di Frantoiana’ or Sagra di Funghi Porcini’ (the name depending on the food being served at these wonderful outdoor music and dance nights). I want to help them learn Italian, to cope with Italian red tape and bureaucracy, and most of all I wanted to help them get rid of the bird hunters on the edge of their property. I want to go walking through the olive trees with them, and visit some of the fine restaurants they frequent ( always making great friends with the people who work there. They are those kind of people). I loved their fondness for their animals too – not only Todo, but also their three cats. Their friendliness and largesse warm every page.
I think the book was well written. Certainly I found it hard to put down. Instead of being a sleeping pill (the intended role of most of my bedtime books), this one kept me up much too late. It’s an easy read with fabulous people and lots of endearing animal references. Bliss :-)
July 24, 2012
Todo in Tuscany: The Dog at the Villa by Louise Badger and Lawrence Kershaw is Under the Tuscan Sun meets Marley & Me, and if you love Italy, dogs, or both, this book is a must-read.
While house-searching in Italy, Badger and Kershaw first came across a villa in Lucca that otherwise wouldn’t have sparked their fancy but for the charming little pooch who wouldn’t leave their side as they toured the grounds. Todo’s mistress, an American named Carol, had passed away two years previously, but Todo wasn’t going anywhere.
And, as it turned out, neither were Badger and Kershaw, so completely charmed by Todo that they put in a bid immediately. As the couple started bridging their busy lives between England and Italy, they quickly discovered the challenges of refurbishing of a Tuscan villa from getting Internet service to fighting the glue that had been holding wallpaper snug for decades.
But it’s the relationship between the house’s new owners and a darling dog, uncannily aware of his surroundings and the emotions of those around him at all times, that makes this book truly special and not to be missed.
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartwarming tales, especially those set in Italy.
While house-searching in Italy, Badger and Kershaw first came across a villa in Lucca that otherwise wouldn’t have sparked their fancy but for the charming little pooch who wouldn’t leave their side as they toured the grounds. Todo’s mistress, an American named Carol, had passed away two years previously, but Todo wasn’t going anywhere.
And, as it turned out, neither were Badger and Kershaw, so completely charmed by Todo that they put in a bid immediately. As the couple started bridging their busy lives between England and Italy, they quickly discovered the challenges of refurbishing of a Tuscan villa from getting Internet service to fighting the glue that had been holding wallpaper snug for decades.
But it’s the relationship between the house’s new owners and a darling dog, uncannily aware of his surroundings and the emotions of those around him at all times, that makes this book truly special and not to be missed.
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartwarming tales, especially those set in Italy.
November 18, 2019
This book is about my dream basically. The authors bought villa in Italy and started a life there. What could be better? A dog living in that villa!
I won't talk about character development or things like that here, because it's not fictional. It's a story of ups and downs of creating a life in Italy when you are a foreigner and do not even speak fluent Italian. I even saw a comment in which this book was described as "Under the Tuscan sun" but with the dog. Can't deny or agree, because I haven't read that book yet. But this book touched my heart.
Italian dream part was very interesting. Especially it was interesting to read about towns and places which I visited just few months ago! It was very nostalgic at the same time.
The authors can really keep you interested even in the daily life routine. Plus that British humor!
But the Todo part was bittersweet as every dog story. I am a dog lover and I have almost identical dog, so it was extremely touching for me to read the ending. Every dog is the best for their owner, but Todo was a special dog in more ways than usual. He had an extraordinary life, lost his human and was on his own for 2 years (which is a long period of time for a dog), but in the end he had an amazing life and wonderful new owners. They made his last years special and fought for his life very hard. He got his happy ending after all.
I suggest this reading for people, who love both dogs and Italy.
I won't talk about character development or things like that here, because it's not fictional. It's a story of ups and downs of creating a life in Italy when you are a foreigner and do not even speak fluent Italian. I even saw a comment in which this book was described as "Under the Tuscan sun" but with the dog. Can't deny or agree, because I haven't read that book yet. But this book touched my heart.
Italian dream part was very interesting. Especially it was interesting to read about towns and places which I visited just few months ago! It was very nostalgic at the same time.
The authors can really keep you interested even in the daily life routine. Plus that British humor!
But the Todo part was bittersweet as every dog story. I am a dog lover and I have almost identical dog, so it was extremely touching for me to read the ending. Every dog is the best for their owner, but Todo was a special dog in more ways than usual. He had an extraordinary life, lost his human and was on his own for 2 years (which is a long period of time for a dog), but in the end he had an amazing life and wonderful new owners. They made his last years special and fought for his life very hard. He got his happy ending after all.
I suggest this reading for people, who love both dogs and Italy.
July 18, 2012
I loved this book - being a dog lover who hasn't had the right lifestyle for a dog for the last twenty years I really empathised with Louise and Lawrence's decision to buy the first villa that they saw in Tuscany because it came with a devoted dog, who wouldn't leave the home he had shared with his beloved owner. It is a very British book because falling in love with our animals is something that we do but this trait was the very thing that opened their neighbours homes and hearts to the newcomers - and anyone who has moved into a new community will know how difficult this can be to do.
It has all the gusto for living - and challenges of getting things done - of Peter Mayle's Provence - with added delightful dog!
It has all the gusto for living - and challenges of getting things done - of Peter Mayle's Provence - with added delightful dog!
December 29, 2018
A very beautiful and totally engaging story all underlined and centred around Todo. This describes the instantaneous love we can experience with a special dog (all dogs are of course special) and whatever place is special to us. It was a bit of an afterthought at the library but what a wonderful afterthought it was. Excellent writing beautifully expressed. My thanks to the talented author. One to always remember.
October 14, 2016
A very moving story about English people buying a villa that comes with a dog. Part of the story is their discovery about the past of the dog, the house and the previous owners, part about the restoration of the house, and lots about themselves and their friends - all interesting characters.
August 16, 2018
Loved it . Delightful tale of a couple who bought a villa partly because the fell in love with the dog who came with it.Then all the coincidences that came together because of this they were fated to buy this villa and live there.delightful read.
August 26, 2019
“Under the Tuscan Sun” with an abandoned dog. But the dog adds a lot of character to this story of a fixer-upper villa outside of Lucca. Really enjoyed it.
February 16, 2024
lovely story
If you love dogs and books about people moving to the Italian countryside you will enjoy this genuine and heartfelt tale
If you love dogs and books about people moving to the Italian countryside you will enjoy this genuine and heartfelt tale
August 26, 2013
A gentle, absorbing read about a couple who buy a villa that comes with a dog!!!! How brilliant! I was so engrossed i this that when i finished reading it on a bus trip upto Scotland i silently shed a tear when the inevitable happened. A cracking read if you love dogs!
June 11, 2013
What a wonderful story that I am really glad I read.
December 26, 2014
I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews