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At Least You're in Tuscany: A Somewhat Disastrous Quest for the Sweet Life
At Least You’re in Tuscany: A Somewhat Diastrous Quest for the Sweet Life is Jennifer Criswell’s memoir about her first year in Montepulciano during which her dream of expat life meets the reality of everyday challenges and results in sometimes funny, often frustrating, always lesson-filled situations.
Jennifer Criswell’s move from New York City to Tuscany was not supposed to go like this. She had envisioned lazy mornings sipping espresso while penning a best-selling novel and jovial Sunday group dinners, just like in the movies and books about expatriate life in Italy. But then she met the reality: no work, constant struggles with Italian bureaucracy to claim citizenship through her ancestors, and, perhaps worst of all, becoming the talk of the town after her torrid affair with a local fruit vendor.
At Least You’re in Tuscany is the intimate, honest, and often hilarious tale of Jennifer’s first year in Montepulciano. During that time, her internal optimist was forced to work overtime, reminding her that if she were going to be homeless, lonely, and broke, at least she would be all those things—in Tuscany. Jennifer’s mantra, along with a healthy dose of enthusiasm, her willingness to embrace Italian culture, and lessons gleaned from small-town bumblings, help her not only build a new, rewarding life in Italy but also find herself along the way.
Jennifer Criswell’s move from New York City to Tuscany was not supposed to go like this. She had envisioned lazy mornings sipping espresso while penning a best-selling novel and jovial Sunday group dinners, just like in the movies and books about expatriate life in Italy. But then she met the reality: no work, constant struggles with Italian bureaucracy to claim citizenship through her ancestors, and, perhaps worst of all, becoming the talk of the town after her torrid affair with a local fruit vendor.
At Least You’re in Tuscany is the intimate, honest, and often hilarious tale of Jennifer’s first year in Montepulciano. During that time, her internal optimist was forced to work overtime, reminding her that if she were going to be homeless, lonely, and broke, at least she would be all those things—in Tuscany. Jennifer’s mantra, along with a healthy dose of enthusiasm, her willingness to embrace Italian culture, and lessons gleaned from small-town bumblings, help her not only build a new, rewarding life in Italy but also find herself along the way.
220 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2012
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552 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
October 31, 2013
What do you do when you want to make your dream your address, like Marcel Proust; you idolize Italian men; you imagine life on earth should be about all things Italian, and you have “Che palle!” or “Porca miseria!" or “Stronza!” down pat? And what if your mom periodically, okay at least twice a day, yelled "Vaffanculo" at your brother? Yeah, right, you declare your life as a lawyer in New York obsolete; you move to Tuscany - Montepulciano, to be exact - the lock stock and dog way. It is the place you were destined to be, right?
Right. And then reality strikes. Warm-blooded Italian men and hot-headed Italian mamas become part of morning coffees and late afternoon hang-outs on a stoop. Talks about food overshadow overworked burocracy, money running out and job-opportunities denied due to the Italian's principles and a stilted use of the language. Life gets tough, winters get more snow than the north pole and still no job, no money. Destiny is suddenly defined by resilience and hope. Optimism and depression become bed mates, while the town ensures that every passionate step will go through the gossip mill.
" I saw myself through the eyes of my closest friends who kept telling me how brave and how adventurous I was. Yes! Look at me! La Regina dell’ Avventura! The Queen of Adventure! But as I learned quickly enough, living a dream is very different from having a dream—and I was about to meet a whole different me along the way."
Jennifer Criswell wrote an online journal of her day to day experiences settling in and applying for citizenship in Italy. It is still a delightful blog to follow. This book was born from it.
Russel Crowe's movie "A Good Year" had the same enchanting effect on me. It was about an arrogant, narcissistic Brit inheriting a wine farm in France and is forced to get to know the local population on their terms. It is due to this movie that I wanted to read this book. What a better way is there to experience a country than to read a book like this which is much more than a tourist trap, and much nearer to the core than a travel journal. This is the real deal. I looked up the town, Montepulciano, on the internet, but to be honest, I was so not impressed. The expiry date stamped all over it, is just as ancient as the town's history. Dull, dreary and dated. And those hills! Who wants to live in a place where there is no flat street of any kind in sight? But Jennifer brings the town and its people so colorfully to life, I am now more curious than ever! And of course I am going to try all those recipes. Her honesty makes the experience so much more than just a memoir.
Nope, I do not want to live there, ever. But I would love to visit and see how she is doing now. She did sell us the idea of bright red poppies scattered everywhere on an otherwise color-devoided landscape. Actually, she introduced all the colors of the rainbow to us through the culture, people, gardens, language and her emotional landscape.
Montepulciano it is then. Anyone interested in joining the trip? But do yourself a favor and read this book first. This is a light-read, but an entertaining one.
Right. And then reality strikes. Warm-blooded Italian men and hot-headed Italian mamas become part of morning coffees and late afternoon hang-outs on a stoop. Talks about food overshadow overworked burocracy, money running out and job-opportunities denied due to the Italian's principles and a stilted use of the language. Life gets tough, winters get more snow than the north pole and still no job, no money. Destiny is suddenly defined by resilience and hope. Optimism and depression become bed mates, while the town ensures that every passionate step will go through the gossip mill.
" I saw myself through the eyes of my closest friends who kept telling me how brave and how adventurous I was. Yes! Look at me! La Regina dell’ Avventura! The Queen of Adventure! But as I learned quickly enough, living a dream is very different from having a dream—and I was about to meet a whole different me along the way."
Jennifer Criswell wrote an online journal of her day to day experiences settling in and applying for citizenship in Italy. It is still a delightful blog to follow. This book was born from it.
Russel Crowe's movie "A Good Year" had the same enchanting effect on me. It was about an arrogant, narcissistic Brit inheriting a wine farm in France and is forced to get to know the local population on their terms. It is due to this movie that I wanted to read this book. What a better way is there to experience a country than to read a book like this which is much more than a tourist trap, and much nearer to the core than a travel journal. This is the real deal. I looked up the town, Montepulciano, on the internet, but to be honest, I was so not impressed. The expiry date stamped all over it, is just as ancient as the town's history. Dull, dreary and dated. And those hills! Who wants to live in a place where there is no flat street of any kind in sight? But Jennifer brings the town and its people so colorfully to life, I am now more curious than ever! And of course I am going to try all those recipes. Her honesty makes the experience so much more than just a memoir.
Nope, I do not want to live there, ever. But I would love to visit and see how she is doing now. She did sell us the idea of bright red poppies scattered everywhere on an otherwise color-devoided landscape. Actually, she introduced all the colors of the rainbow to us through the culture, people, gardens, language and her emotional landscape.
Montepulciano it is then. Anyone interested in joining the trip? But do yourself a favor and read this book first. This is a light-read, but an entertaining one.
September 6, 2014
After throwing down "Under the Tuscan Sun" in utter annoyance, I went in search of an account of an English speaker living Italy that wouldn't bore and annoy me. "At Least You're in Tuscany" was what I was looking for. The author has a great knack for making you care about everyday struggles, and was endearingly self-deprecating, but not overly so. It was the kind of book that made me laugh out loud, and occasionally interrupt my husband to read him a quote. It's just a really fun read.
February 25, 2013
If you've ever dreamed of of packing it all in and moving to a hill town in Tuscany, take it from me: Jennifer Criswell has been there, done that and has written a fabulous book about it! You'll love following Jennifer and her sweetest of sweet dogs Cinder through the winding streets of Montepulciano as they encounter real life Tuscan-style at every turn. She brings the characters to life with charm and aplomb. Jennifer didn't make this move with a loaded bank account or monstrous job offer waiting for her. She waded through all kinds of unchartered territory to find a way to build a life in Tuscany. She recounts a story that's reality-based and solid, and at moments, you just want to give her a hug for being so brave. I am an expat, and the thought that she did this move on her own is, trust me, hugely brave. Brava, Ms. Criswell. I know we'll be hearing more about your adventures and I personally can't wait.
February 27, 2013
What a wonderful book of perseverance! I likely would have left Tuscany after a couple of months in the conditions Criswell endured.
This book also helped to fuel my travel bug. Tuscany is gorgeous, as is most of Italy, and I can't wait to return one day.
This book also helped to fuel my travel bug. Tuscany is gorgeous, as is most of Italy, and I can't wait to return one day.
October 28, 2012
Being an expat myself, I know that the dream of living in a foreign country can often differ pretty significantly from the reality. However, I've never come across a book that captures the trials and tribulations of moving to a new culture with quite the same level of laughing honesty of 'At Least You're In Tuscany'.
Criswell's dream of sipping espresso on an Italian balcony while writing best selling novels, overlooking rolling Tuscan hills, is brought crashing down to earth through a series of hilarious (and occasionally heartbreaking) experiences as real life intervenes. No one tells you that you may well have to wait forever to get citizenship; that you will be required to increasingly ration tinned food as a direct result of the aforementioned citizenship wait (because no one will give you a job); that doing laundry in Europe can sometimes mean risking your life; and that the allure of living in a idyllic Italian town wears off quickly when it turns out the whole town is talking about you.
Criswell recounts her tales of triumph and woe with a brutal honesty that is often hilarious - I laughed out loud on a number of occasions. She is such an endearing heroine because she tries so desperately to look on the bright side of an increasingly demoralising series of events, and it is her optimism that eventually brings her out on the other side. I cheered for her as she defiantly faced even the worst experiences with an upbeat 'well, at least you're in Tuscany'.
Yes, hitting rock bottom in Tuscany is indeed that bit better than hitting rock bottom anywhere else, and that's why I found Jennifer's story so entertaining. Even after a series of events that would have made any normal person pack their bags and get back on a plane in defeat, Criswell's Tuscan dream never dies. She adapts the dream to realities of life, makes it her own and, to her credit, is still living it.
Criswell's dream of sipping espresso on an Italian balcony while writing best selling novels, overlooking rolling Tuscan hills, is brought crashing down to earth through a series of hilarious (and occasionally heartbreaking) experiences as real life intervenes. No one tells you that you may well have to wait forever to get citizenship; that you will be required to increasingly ration tinned food as a direct result of the aforementioned citizenship wait (because no one will give you a job); that doing laundry in Europe can sometimes mean risking your life; and that the allure of living in a idyllic Italian town wears off quickly when it turns out the whole town is talking about you.
Criswell recounts her tales of triumph and woe with a brutal honesty that is often hilarious - I laughed out loud on a number of occasions. She is such an endearing heroine because she tries so desperately to look on the bright side of an increasingly demoralising series of events, and it is her optimism that eventually brings her out on the other side. I cheered for her as she defiantly faced even the worst experiences with an upbeat 'well, at least you're in Tuscany'.
Yes, hitting rock bottom in Tuscany is indeed that bit better than hitting rock bottom anywhere else, and that's why I found Jennifer's story so entertaining. Even after a series of events that would have made any normal person pack their bags and get back on a plane in defeat, Criswell's Tuscan dream never dies. She adapts the dream to realities of life, makes it her own and, to her credit, is still living it.
May 31, 2013
Enjoy my review on the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-ni...
It starts:
In Jennifer Criswell's At Least You're In Tuscany: A Somewhat Disastrous Quest for the Sweet Life, she describes her first year as an expat in the small town of Montepulciano. Her mantra when things go wrong is "At least you're in Tuscany, at least you're in Tuscany." There are many "Lucy Ricardo" moments from her antics while joining the annual Sangiovese grape harvest in Tuscany, to hanging her laundry in the winter outside and her day turning into an episode called "The Day the Laundry Froze." Leaving her former life as a lawyer in America, she chose to be a writer to deal with the distance between the dream in her brain and the reality of small town life.
"I wanted a life in which I didn't have to battle with attorneys who delighted in being antagonistic just for the hell of it. I wanted a life in which I didn't make people cry when I took their depositions," Criswell said. The career change made her wonder about others in her life: "Will they think I'm a failure?" She decides to make herself happy by moving to another continent but it is not an easy path. At one point she says: "Soon they would have to rename the corso 'La Via delle Lacrime Americane,' the Street of American Tears."
Criswell recounts, "I learned quickly enough, living a dream is very different from having a dream -- and I was about to meet a whole different me along the way." While many issues are unfinished upon her arrival such as her ability to work in Italy, she moves and continues in her quest for dual Italian/American citizenship.
Read the whole review: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-ni...
It starts:
In Jennifer Criswell's At Least You're In Tuscany: A Somewhat Disastrous Quest for the Sweet Life, she describes her first year as an expat in the small town of Montepulciano. Her mantra when things go wrong is "At least you're in Tuscany, at least you're in Tuscany." There are many "Lucy Ricardo" moments from her antics while joining the annual Sangiovese grape harvest in Tuscany, to hanging her laundry in the winter outside and her day turning into an episode called "The Day the Laundry Froze." Leaving her former life as a lawyer in America, she chose to be a writer to deal with the distance between the dream in her brain and the reality of small town life.
"I wanted a life in which I didn't have to battle with attorneys who delighted in being antagonistic just for the hell of it. I wanted a life in which I didn't make people cry when I took their depositions," Criswell said. The career change made her wonder about others in her life: "Will they think I'm a failure?" She decides to make herself happy by moving to another continent but it is not an easy path. At one point she says: "Soon they would have to rename the corso 'La Via delle Lacrime Americane,' the Street of American Tears."
Criswell recounts, "I learned quickly enough, living a dream is very different from having a dream -- and I was about to meet a whole different me along the way." While many issues are unfinished upon her arrival such as her ability to work in Italy, she moves and continues in her quest for dual Italian/American citizenship.
Read the whole review: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-ni...
April 22, 2014
Many of us have dreamed of moving to a foreign country to live the good life. Few of us do. But Jennifer Criswell took one step after another and made it happen. I loved the honesty and humor about the many difficulties along the way and the romance, the courage and strength it took. This is a perfect book for anyone who has ever thought of moving to a new country or who wants to take on a new challenge no matter how difficult. Ms Criswell shows us that little steps one after another eventually lead to fulfilling our dreams and although these little steps can be very difficult and even painful they are worth the persistence necessary to stay on the path. At Least You're in Tuscany introduces the reader not only to Tuscany but also to Ms Criswell who I grew to admire. As I move through the challenges I face I will think of her amazing journey.
December 20, 2015
This is going to become one of my favorite books! Jennifer is living my dream right down to living in my favorite Tuscan town!
Well written and easy to read, this book quickly takes you on a wonderful (and sometimes bumpy) trip through the first year of the author's new life in Italy. You will enjoy this book!
Well written and easy to read, this book quickly takes you on a wonderful (and sometimes bumpy) trip through the first year of the author's new life in Italy. You will enjoy this book!
February 11, 2013
We all dream of escaping our lives and Jennifer actually did it. A light hearted look inside the story of chucking it all and going for broke to follow your dream.
July 6, 2013
This is such an enjoyable non-fiction book about a woman, Jennifer Criswell, who decides to move from the United states to Tuscany, Italy. Although there is much in the story about Tuscany, there is more about how the author adjusts to a new location so far from home.
This is a honest story. Jennifer Criswell writes about her personal struggles to rebuild her personal world overseas. To me, the most difficult part of the journey is her lack of funds. She planned to work, but getting a job was like finding a nail in a haystack. Finally, Ms. Criswell had to skype her parents to ask for a loan. Not easy because her father didn't mince words about thinking she had done things a little bit backwards. Then, her paper work to get a job seemed to take forever to come together.
I've often read and enjoyed books about people who move overseas to live and restore a chalet, cottage, etc. It was new to me to read about a woman's personal journey with problems like gossiping neighbors, emotionally distant people and spending the holidays, Christmas, far from Rockefeller center.
While I cried and worried along with Jennifer Criswell, I also had the chance to enjoy Thursdays at the marketplace, the taste of asparagus, tomatoes and grapes and a glass of wine. In At Least, I Live in Tuscany, I felt the pain of a romance with a married Italian. I also enjoyed the family she met with many children. She wasn't ready to accept the idea of babysitting but did enjoy visits with the family.
Overall, the Italian autobiography taught me gratefulness and strength of spirit. When she faces the lowest period her words are, "at least, I'm not homeless in Tuscany." Perhaps, Cinder, her dog, helped her carry the burdens of learning a new language and dealing with a cold home and a grumpy landlord. Along the way Cinder ages. Perhaps watching his master struggles in a strange place were more than he could bare. Still, along the way Cinder showed patience and grace. Thinking about it even Cinder taught me the beauty of learning how to live. jennifercriswell
May 13, 2013
As a young woman, Criswell took an extended trip to Italy and knew she had found her true home. Years and several more visits later, she finally leaves New York and moves to Montepulciano, Tuscany, with her dog Cinder. Despite careful preparation, she hits roadblocks from the start - a rude landlady, social isolation, difficulty speaking Italian, and most of all, serious financial trouble because she can't work. Her Sicilian ancestry entitles her to Italian citizenship, but of course, what was presented as an easy process takes much longer than anticipated. In the meantime, no one will hire her under the table. Much of this memoir is simply about looking for work in a small town, but Criswell makes it interesting. On the non-work front, she's dismayed to be dumped by old friends in the area, but eventually finds new ones in unexpected places - and has a fling with a charming, classically Italian produce vendor. :) I also loved the stories of the grape and olive harvests she participates in, although I totally believe her that the work is less romantic than it sounds.
At Least You're In Tuscany doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of moving overseas, but affirms that for those who really want to make the move, it's worth it. It's a great resource for expats, a great read for anyone interested in travel and/or Italy, and a general encouragement that hard times eventually end!
At Least You're In Tuscany doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of moving overseas, but affirms that for those who really want to make the move, it's worth it. It's a great resource for expats, a great read for anyone interested in travel and/or Italy, and a general encouragement that hard times eventually end!
May 19, 2013
My husband and I met the author (after following her blog) in 2010, so I was somewhat familiar with her experience up until then...but the book goes into so much more wonderful detail than her blog. She can really write, and takes the reader on a fun, at times painful, beautiful journey into Tuscany and into her life. She strikes the perfect balance, revealing beautiful Tuscany without over-romanticizing the place with the cliches and tired stereotypes and imagery so worn out by authors of Italy memoirs. She writes in a way we can all relate, whether we've been anywhere in Europe or not. I enjoyed her humor, humble honesty and the intimate look at life in Italy that so many of us have wondered about. I found myself laughing out loud, pausing to imagine her view, and reflecting on her observations. If you've been to Italy, you'll nod in agreement at her insights, but still will find interesting stories that only those who've lived among the Italians can recount. This is a deeply personal book that is at once deep and delightful. Made me long to go back to Italy, and provided a wonderful substitute in the meantime. If you must choose only one book about the "leaving it all and moving to Italy" experience, this is the one to get. It stands out in so many ways. I hope there's a sequel!
June 12, 2015
I loved this book! I just spend two months in Tuscany and this book felt like a gift, capturing some of what I experienced there and offering a fun and honest portrayal of Criswell's Tuscan experiences. Criswell is a sharp, humorous, descriptive writer and I loved her approach to sharing her joys and sorrows of adjusting to life in Tuscany. She doesn't sugarcoat her experiences, instead she offers a nuanced narrative of the people, food, weather, and wine of Tuscany. You will laugh out loud and cheer Criswell on as she makes Tuscany her new home, and you will want to buy a ticket and go drink a glass of wine with her.
March 6, 2017
How many of us have thought about moving to Italy to live the dream. We've all seen Under the Tuscan Sun. This book tells the story of Jennifer Criswell's journey doing exactly that. And she certainly experienced her share of ups and downs, financial difficulty and frustration with bureaucracy. Sometimes you laugh at her adventures and other times you just want to cry out in frustration at her ordeals. I loved this book. I hope Ms. Criswell writes more about her journey in this beautiful country.
March 9, 2013
Tuscany, one of my favorite places to visit. Great fresh food. Scenic views that take your breath away. Winding roads to get lost on. And people who treat you like family. And then there's the wine. It's a great place. Jennifer Criswell chose to move to a small town in one of the hilltowns of Italy: Montepulciano. Her antics come across breezily and with feeling.
I will enjoy writing this one up for my blog. Brings back so many memories of our trip to Tuscany.
I will enjoy writing this one up for my blog. Brings back so many memories of our trip to Tuscany.
January 9, 2013
After meeting the author on a wine tour in Montepulciano, I knew I had to read her book. Maybe it's because I fell in love with the town she was writing about, but I found myself wishing the book was longer and wanting more details on her adventures. Lovely tale of the expected (and unexpected) of picking up and moving to Tuscany.
January 30, 2016
I'm a day dreamer and sometimes think about selling everything and moving someplace foreign. Reading this book has not deterred me so much as provided valuable insight. Living abroad isn't like traveling abroad. I enjoyed reading about every obstacle and every success she experienced in moving to Tuscany to become an Italian citizen.
April 2, 2013
I love travel memoirs in general, but I loved this read...as a matter of fact I'm packing my bags for Tuscany as I write this review!!
May 18, 2013
Loved this book. Perfect for any Italophile who wants to be transported to Italy.
January 8, 2018
Many of us dream of packing it all in and going to live in an Italian hilltop village but not many people actually do it. The books I've read to date about it usually evolve around older couples who aren't short of a few euro renovating, cooking and drinking their way through their new lives.
Jennifer however is different, a refreshing change from the other sea change books. Her story isn't glamorous - hauling frozen duvets off the clothesline in the middle of the night is far from glamorous - but she is very honest and often funny. The story shows the good and the bad about moving to the other side of the world short of cash and without a job. She does it well and explores some of the intricacies of being American in an Italian society.
I enjoyed her tales of interactions with the locals and the friendships she made. A well written, easy read.
Jennifer however is different, a refreshing change from the other sea change books. Her story isn't glamorous - hauling frozen duvets off the clothesline in the middle of the night is far from glamorous - but she is very honest and often funny. The story shows the good and the bad about moving to the other side of the world short of cash and without a job. She does it well and explores some of the intricacies of being American in an Italian society.
I enjoyed her tales of interactions with the locals and the friendships she made. A well written, easy read.
March 30, 2021
So many of us dream of life in Tuscany. Jennifer Criswell made her dream come true. This is the story of her (mis)adventures in lovely, rustic Montepulciano, not far from Cortona in the heart of Tuscany. Giving up her life as a lawyer in New York City, scrimping and saving, Jennifer makes a bold move thousands of miles from home with her aging beloved dog, Cinder. She encounters the real people of Tuscany and life is not quite as simple as she imagined, first and foremost is the language barrier; second her quest through Italian bureaucracy and her pursuit of residency.
I’d love to know more of how life continued for Jennifer. The story was real and full of hardship and reality, not glitz and glamour as so many of us feel about living in Italy as an expat.
I’d love to know more of how life continued for Jennifer. The story was real and full of hardship and reality, not glitz and glamour as so many of us feel about living in Italy as an expat.
May 23, 2014
**my disclaimer: a complimentary, electronic version of this book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley, but all thoughts/opinions are my own**
***further disclaimer: I’m obsessed with all things Italian, but I have tried to not let that influence my opinion***
I requested this book originally because the cover art was beautiful and the book was about Tuscany. Once I started reading it, and realized it was an actual memoir, I became a little hesitant because there are so many books out there about expats living in Tuscany that the subject matter had become a bit cliché. Or so I thought.
I appreciated that Jennifer Criswell’s book didn’t seek to elevate her experience into some sort of extreme life-changing, life-affirming experience that it wasn’t. Too often that angle is overdone. While the author does experience some obstacles, she seems to find her way through them, learning from them as she goes & often times seeing the humor in them, but doesn’t seem to turn them into something more than what they were. I admired that. That's not to say that she didn't change, or grow...most certainly she did. It just wasn't exaggerated.
I also appreciated that she wanted to accept Tuscany on its terms, rather than trying to get it to conform to hers. While she was a bit surprised at some of the differences she found between living in NYC and living in Tuscany, she only notes the differences, and then moves on. She begins to realize that she has friendships, they just aren’t the same as the ones she had in NYC, and that’s okay. I appreciated that as well. So often it is easy to go somewhere and think that our way is the right way, but the truth is, it isn’t. It might be a valid way, but it’s not the only way.
Finally, I appreciated her determination. There were several times I expected to move into the next chapter and find her flying home in defeat. Instead, she continued to work through her difficulties, using the resources that are available to her. That is all that anyone can do, and it’s what we should all do when trying to make a dream become a reality. Often times, it's easy to look at people who have accomplished a dream, and not see the work it took to get there. So I enjoyed hearing all about her trials and triumphs along the way.
I enjoyed watching her relationships with people grow, and seeing how, as people began to understand her, they began to try and help her. Friends gifted her food for Christmas the year money was tight, and people increasingly sought to help her find employment and become “official”. It reveals a universal truth: you want to help those you care about.
I have spent some time in the hills of Tuscany, and really enjoyed the descriptions and observations that Jennifer shares with her readers. Many of them were similar to observations I had made, and some of them were new, but it really gave a nice flavor of authenticity to the book, and helped us to understand the people and places in her new life.
Often times, when reading memoirs, I expect to find some earth-shattering revelation at the end of the book. But in this case, I was content not to. It would have felt forced. Instead, I was happy to find that she had succeeded in her goals through perseverance and sacrifice, finding new friends and collecting interesting stories along the way.
The biggest reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because there was a point about 3/4 of the way through where the story got a bit slow. But in the end, it was worth reading, especially for those who enjoy travel memoirs, or living vicariously through others.
***further disclaimer: I’m obsessed with all things Italian, but I have tried to not let that influence my opinion***
I requested this book originally because the cover art was beautiful and the book was about Tuscany. Once I started reading it, and realized it was an actual memoir, I became a little hesitant because there are so many books out there about expats living in Tuscany that the subject matter had become a bit cliché. Or so I thought.
I appreciated that Jennifer Criswell’s book didn’t seek to elevate her experience into some sort of extreme life-changing, life-affirming experience that it wasn’t. Too often that angle is overdone. While the author does experience some obstacles, she seems to find her way through them, learning from them as she goes & often times seeing the humor in them, but doesn’t seem to turn them into something more than what they were. I admired that. That's not to say that she didn't change, or grow...most certainly she did. It just wasn't exaggerated.
I also appreciated that she wanted to accept Tuscany on its terms, rather than trying to get it to conform to hers. While she was a bit surprised at some of the differences she found between living in NYC and living in Tuscany, she only notes the differences, and then moves on. She begins to realize that she has friendships, they just aren’t the same as the ones she had in NYC, and that’s okay. I appreciated that as well. So often it is easy to go somewhere and think that our way is the right way, but the truth is, it isn’t. It might be a valid way, but it’s not the only way.
Finally, I appreciated her determination. There were several times I expected to move into the next chapter and find her flying home in defeat. Instead, she continued to work through her difficulties, using the resources that are available to her. That is all that anyone can do, and it’s what we should all do when trying to make a dream become a reality. Often times, it's easy to look at people who have accomplished a dream, and not see the work it took to get there. So I enjoyed hearing all about her trials and triumphs along the way.
I enjoyed watching her relationships with people grow, and seeing how, as people began to understand her, they began to try and help her. Friends gifted her food for Christmas the year money was tight, and people increasingly sought to help her find employment and become “official”. It reveals a universal truth: you want to help those you care about.
I have spent some time in the hills of Tuscany, and really enjoyed the descriptions and observations that Jennifer shares with her readers. Many of them were similar to observations I had made, and some of them were new, but it really gave a nice flavor of authenticity to the book, and helped us to understand the people and places in her new life.
Often times, when reading memoirs, I expect to find some earth-shattering revelation at the end of the book. But in this case, I was content not to. It would have felt forced. Instead, I was happy to find that she had succeeded in her goals through perseverance and sacrifice, finding new friends and collecting interesting stories along the way.
The biggest reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because there was a point about 3/4 of the way through where the story got a bit slow. But in the end, it was worth reading, especially for those who enjoy travel memoirs, or living vicariously through others.
July 17, 2016
I am always attracted to stories of this nature – what would it be like to transplant your life to some exotic destination, such as Tuscany in this case? So when Criswell wrote, “not just picking up roots but planting them in the right spot”, I thought this was a good sign. Not to be.
Would you quit your job, pack your bags, and move to another country – alone - where you knew no one close, hardly spoke the language, understood even less, and where your paperwork entitling you to work was not well down the path of completion? Well, you might. I certainly wouldn't. But that's exactly what Jennifer Criswell did. So this tale of wonderful escapism and wanting to “live in a place where even the birds took time to enjoy the small pleasures of everyday life” very quickly deteriorated into that hilarious episode of “I Love Lucy” Criswell made reference to – “sadly for me my episode didn’t include hiking up my skirt and stomping grapes. Nor was it only half an hour. Or particularly funny.” Her modified mantra of “at least you’re in Tuscany” downgraded to “at least the day is crap in Tuscany” and “at least you have no friends and can’t speak the language in Tuscany.”
Hhmmmmm….o-k-a-y.
I've loved traveling in Italy and feel Criswell certainly captured many realistic attributes of not only the countryside and culture but also life in a small village. Her long struggle to find work made the book seem to drag on, and I kept reading while feeling increasingly disconnected from her. At first, I thought she was twenty-something, because her decisions seemed like so at times, and therefore I was sympathetic and relating to that, especially her arrival in Tuscany before she even got the final papers for a work permit. But when I discovered she was turning forty, it felt like quite an immature and foolhardy thing to do, to travel all that way without really considering everything necessary to make such an enormous life change.
There were funny moments that had you giggling such as “escaping death by toilet on the first night in Italy” and her frozen duvet cover on the clothesline. Ultimately, however, I found myself wishing to get a more positive spin on her overall life lesson – “I learned quickly enough living a dream is very different from having a dream – I was about to meet a whole different me along the way.”
Let’s hope that she likes her new self.
Would you quit your job, pack your bags, and move to another country – alone - where you knew no one close, hardly spoke the language, understood even less, and where your paperwork entitling you to work was not well down the path of completion? Well, you might. I certainly wouldn't. But that's exactly what Jennifer Criswell did. So this tale of wonderful escapism and wanting to “live in a place where even the birds took time to enjoy the small pleasures of everyday life” very quickly deteriorated into that hilarious episode of “I Love Lucy” Criswell made reference to – “sadly for me my episode didn’t include hiking up my skirt and stomping grapes. Nor was it only half an hour. Or particularly funny.” Her modified mantra of “at least you’re in Tuscany” downgraded to “at least the day is crap in Tuscany” and “at least you have no friends and can’t speak the language in Tuscany.”
Hhmmmmm….o-k-a-y.
I've loved traveling in Italy and feel Criswell certainly captured many realistic attributes of not only the countryside and culture but also life in a small village. Her long struggle to find work made the book seem to drag on, and I kept reading while feeling increasingly disconnected from her. At first, I thought she was twenty-something, because her decisions seemed like so at times, and therefore I was sympathetic and relating to that, especially her arrival in Tuscany before she even got the final papers for a work permit. But when I discovered she was turning forty, it felt like quite an immature and foolhardy thing to do, to travel all that way without really considering everything necessary to make such an enormous life change.
There were funny moments that had you giggling such as “escaping death by toilet on the first night in Italy” and her frozen duvet cover on the clothesline. Ultimately, however, I found myself wishing to get a more positive spin on her overall life lesson – “I learned quickly enough living a dream is very different from having a dream – I was about to meet a whole different me along the way.”
Let’s hope that she likes her new self.
July 24, 2013
I enjoyed this and really want to give it 5 stars, but I feel like something is missing.
The writing is nicely done, the account of her move to Italy was great - she tackles equally the up and downsides to her decision to move. I truly expected, as I'm sure others at the time might have, that she'd end up back in NY by the end of the book. I applaud her stubbornness to stick with the dream.
I also felt like her explanations of the culture were well done. Instead of a William Sonoma spread with friends drinking wine under olive trees garnished with twinkle-lights and living la dolce vita, she's candid about the setbacks and learning curve of living in the culture vs. visiting & romanticizing it.
What is a bummer about memoirs, though, is that they lack the informality of a blog. They're sometimes careful. She's candid - quite candid, actually - but I still felt like something was just a bit off - like the raw honesty was there lurking, but not allowed to really come forward. When she "got distracted" during the cooking lessons, or shot down an old guy asking for "English Lessons," we got a taste of her humor and I wish we'd had a bit more of it.
Some pictures would have been great, as well. Her writing was picturesque enough and wasn't lacking in description, I just wanted them. It's a travel/culture memoir. Lots of pictures would have been wonderful.
And also, a bottle of olive oil and the wine she kept talking about. Please. Samples in every book! ;)
Edited to add: resource on where to find and/or order the wine as well as the olive oil might be a good addition to the book.
I was kind of confused there was discontent about Alberto not helping her more. Why was he obligated to do so? Or was it just mistaken expectations set via crush?
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I was sad to read in her blog that Cinder has since passed away, but impressed she made it to 15 years. From the pictures (in the blog) she was a beautiful dog, and the life in Tuscany seems a lovely way to spend a canine retirement.
The writing is nicely done, the account of her move to Italy was great - she tackles equally the up and downsides to her decision to move. I truly expected, as I'm sure others at the time might have, that she'd end up back in NY by the end of the book. I applaud her stubbornness to stick with the dream.
I also felt like her explanations of the culture were well done. Instead of a William Sonoma spread with friends drinking wine under olive trees garnished with twinkle-lights and living la dolce vita, she's candid about the setbacks and learning curve of living in the culture vs. visiting & romanticizing it.
What is a bummer about memoirs, though, is that they lack the informality of a blog. They're sometimes careful. She's candid - quite candid, actually - but I still felt like something was just a bit off - like the raw honesty was there lurking, but not allowed to really come forward. When she "got distracted" during the cooking lessons, or shot down an old guy asking for "English Lessons," we got a taste of her humor and I wish we'd had a bit more of it.
Some pictures would have been great, as well. Her writing was picturesque enough and wasn't lacking in description, I just wanted them. It's a travel/culture memoir. Lots of pictures would have been wonderful.
And also, a bottle of olive oil and the wine she kept talking about. Please. Samples in every book! ;)
Edited to add: resource on where to find and/or order the wine as well as the olive oil might be a good addition to the book.
I was kind of confused there was discontent about Alberto not helping her more. Why was he obligated to do so? Or was it just mistaken expectations set via crush?
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I was sad to read in her blog that Cinder has since passed away, but impressed she made it to 15 years. From the pictures (in the blog) she was a beautiful dog, and the life in Tuscany seems a lovely way to spend a canine retirement.
April 16, 2013
For some reason, it is an American obsession to visit Italy – live in Italy. It is the topic of several best selling books. Is it the food? The simplicity of life? The history? What draws us in. Through this book, we can live our own dream of visiting Italy vicariously through Jennifer as she gives up her life as a New York lawyer and moves to a rural area in Tuscany. It’s the stuff that books are made of!
I must admit, that the title made me think that it was going to be a semi-humorous and mad-capped adventure with Jennifer meeting up with hilarious situations at every turn. Or I thought perhaps a light-hearted look at the cultural differences between America and Italy and what happens when one decides to immerse themselves in it.
Instead, it was a more strait-forward telling of Criswell’s first year in Italy. It was certainly an adventure, but not a lot of humor in it. While I wouldn’t call it disastrous (more challenging), she does a good job of laying out what it takes to make the leap – and that even thinking you are prepared for the leap into the Italian lifestyle doesn’t mean you are ready. It’s baptism by fire made ever more real by language and cultural barriers. Oh and then there is the loneliness…assimilation does not happen overnight. Jennifer is a trooper though and despite some immigration issues that keep her from holding a job, she embraces what she can of the sweet life and keeps pushing forward to make her dreams come true.
The story has a few dramatic moments, but mostly is a personal story of the author’s trials along the way. I loved her descriptions of her small town, her comparisons to American life and her determination to continue on her quest. I recommend it for those who think they want to move to Italy and lovers of travel memoirs.
Note: I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
I must admit, that the title made me think that it was going to be a semi-humorous and mad-capped adventure with Jennifer meeting up with hilarious situations at every turn. Or I thought perhaps a light-hearted look at the cultural differences between America and Italy and what happens when one decides to immerse themselves in it.
Instead, it was a more strait-forward telling of Criswell’s first year in Italy. It was certainly an adventure, but not a lot of humor in it. While I wouldn’t call it disastrous (more challenging), she does a good job of laying out what it takes to make the leap – and that even thinking you are prepared for the leap into the Italian lifestyle doesn’t mean you are ready. It’s baptism by fire made ever more real by language and cultural barriers. Oh and then there is the loneliness…assimilation does not happen overnight. Jennifer is a trooper though and despite some immigration issues that keep her from holding a job, she embraces what she can of the sweet life and keeps pushing forward to make her dreams come true.
The story has a few dramatic moments, but mostly is a personal story of the author’s trials along the way. I loved her descriptions of her small town, her comparisons to American life and her determination to continue on her quest. I recommend it for those who think they want to move to Italy and lovers of travel memoirs.
Note: I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 15, 2014
Why Read: I’m a fan of travelogues. Enough said. If you know me, you know my tastes in books are extremely wide ranging but at the end of the day: travelogues will always be some of my favorites. Also.. Netgalley.
Review: Every once in a while, a book comes along and makes me smile without smiling, and look at myself. I didn’t think it would be this one. In fact, as the book started, I expected the opposite. I had just returned from Italy, and was not maybe in the right mood to read a travelogue about a place I was returning wrong. Thankfully, I was wrong.
There’s nothing better than an authentic book. Not only the literary fictions and Fitzgeralds of the bunch, but the ones where you hear the voice of the author and understand them as a person, and not as a storyteller. This book does that.
Jennifer, or Jenny as she calls herself in the book, is one of those crazy travelers who does what we all dream of. She moves to Europe, in the Tuscany region to be precise. What follows is a not-so-glamorous account of what can go wrong (and right!) when you risk it all. I found it was full of smiles, happiness and also some horrors.
But it really reminded me that if you want to make something work, it’s all up to you. Jenny had help, of course, from her family, friend support group and new acquaintances in Italy. At the end of the day though: it was all her. I couldn’t imagine a better heroine to face the terrors of mold, frozen bedsheets and the hair-pulling stresses of finding a job.
And I certainly will be looking for a job before I move outside of the country!
Review: Every once in a while, a book comes along and makes me smile without smiling, and look at myself. I didn’t think it would be this one. In fact, as the book started, I expected the opposite. I had just returned from Italy, and was not maybe in the right mood to read a travelogue about a place I was returning wrong. Thankfully, I was wrong.
There’s nothing better than an authentic book. Not only the literary fictions and Fitzgeralds of the bunch, but the ones where you hear the voice of the author and understand them as a person, and not as a storyteller. This book does that.
Jennifer, or Jenny as she calls herself in the book, is one of those crazy travelers who does what we all dream of. She moves to Europe, in the Tuscany region to be precise. What follows is a not-so-glamorous account of what can go wrong (and right!) when you risk it all. I found it was full of smiles, happiness and also some horrors.
But it really reminded me that if you want to make something work, it’s all up to you. Jenny had help, of course, from her family, friend support group and new acquaintances in Italy. At the end of the day though: it was all her. I couldn’t imagine a better heroine to face the terrors of mold, frozen bedsheets and the hair-pulling stresses of finding a job.
And I certainly will be looking for a job before I move outside of the country!
August 9, 2014
My husband and I have both read Jennifer's book after meeting her on a recent trip to Tuscany. We were lucky enough to have a tour at the Poliziano Winery and Jennifer was our guide. We were a group of 6, from the states, celebrating my husband's birthday. We hit it off immediately with Jennifer, and ended up buying 3 copies of her book and having dinner with her in Montepulciano. I could go on about the delightful evening and restaurant, but I will save this for another time.
I read "At Least You're in Tuscany" and could relate to her story because we had spent a week in Tuscany and a couple days in Montepuciano. Her writing style is descriptive, humorous, and truthful. I could picture the town and people, and had fun connecting her journey. She describes her daily routines, and you laugh and cry out loud with her heartfelt situations. The title says it perfectly as she comes across the frustrations of picking up your life and moving to a foreign country. This is a perfect read if you are traveling to Italy, and especially if you plan to visit Tuscany. My husband will rarely read a book, but made a point to start Jennifer's book. He finished it, and was equally entertained with her stories. We both wanted more.....Jennifer mentioned she would hope to write another book on cooking in Italy. Since we had dinner with her, and ate at one of her favorite neighborhood places we can hardly wait for a second book from her. We wish her success and know that you will enjoy her book!
Thanks again Jennifer for spending time with us, your friends from Utah.
I read "At Least You're in Tuscany" and could relate to her story because we had spent a week in Tuscany and a couple days in Montepuciano. Her writing style is descriptive, humorous, and truthful. I could picture the town and people, and had fun connecting her journey. She describes her daily routines, and you laugh and cry out loud with her heartfelt situations. The title says it perfectly as she comes across the frustrations of picking up your life and moving to a foreign country. This is a perfect read if you are traveling to Italy, and especially if you plan to visit Tuscany. My husband will rarely read a book, but made a point to start Jennifer's book. He finished it, and was equally entertained with her stories. We both wanted more.....Jennifer mentioned she would hope to write another book on cooking in Italy. Since we had dinner with her, and ate at one of her favorite neighborhood places we can hardly wait for a second book from her. We wish her success and know that you will enjoy her book!
Thanks again Jennifer for spending time with us, your friends from Utah.
June 24, 2013
Jennifer's experience works as a good reminder that the life of an expat isn't always an easy one. And that that which is good comes at a price.
Ever since she first traveled to Tuscany, Jennifer felt herself drawn to the people and the place. She knew she had found her "soul country" and was prepared to give up her safe life as a US lawyer to move to Tuscany and become a writer.
So far this sounds a lot like "Under the Tuscan Sun", right? But apart from the initial premise, the two books have little else in common. Where "Under the Tuscan Sun" focuses primarily on the Tuscan country side and Italian food, the main focus of "At Least You're In Tuscany" is definitely the more immediate experiences and difficulties related to being an expat -- finding a job, making friends, becoming familiar with the language, being comfortable in a new setting. No matter how much you love visiting a place, moving there 'for good' is always a culture shock, and Jennifer manages to describe this culture shock in a very relateable fashion, without succumbing to self-pity.
A fascinating book that made me realize that as much as I'd love to visit Tuscany, I don't think I could ever move there... but then I already have found my soul country elsewhere :)
Ever since she first traveled to Tuscany, Jennifer felt herself drawn to the people and the place. She knew she had found her "soul country" and was prepared to give up her safe life as a US lawyer to move to Tuscany and become a writer.
So far this sounds a lot like "Under the Tuscan Sun", right? But apart from the initial premise, the two books have little else in common. Where "Under the Tuscan Sun" focuses primarily on the Tuscan country side and Italian food, the main focus of "At Least You're In Tuscany" is definitely the more immediate experiences and difficulties related to being an expat -- finding a job, making friends, becoming familiar with the language, being comfortable in a new setting. No matter how much you love visiting a place, moving there 'for good' is always a culture shock, and Jennifer manages to describe this culture shock in a very relateable fashion, without succumbing to self-pity.
A fascinating book that made me realize that as much as I'd love to visit Tuscany, I don't think I could ever move there... but then I already have found my soul country elsewhere :)
November 22, 2014
This was such an enjoyable book and easy to read. I felt like I was sitting with a girlfriend chatting over a bottle of Pinot Grigio and hearing about her recent move to Italy.
Anyone who visits Italy probably has at the very least a fleeting thought of packing up and moving there. This is a story of someone who did just that-packed up and set down roots in a foreign country. But instead of the oh so overdone fairy tale of a young woman who moves to Italy, renovates a Tuscan villa, falls in love and lives happily ever after, this book is a realistic account of what it takes to pack up and move to somewhere where you don't know anyone or even speak the language. How do you learn the language? What do you do for work when your funds get crucially low? How do you navigate the long and convoluted process of gaining citizenship? We don't think about the day to day when we're daydreaming! This book, however, finds complete entertainment in the minutiae of daily life.
I found this book to be very well written and not overdone in any way. It was peppered with just enough italian words, the stories didn't seem over embellished, and character development was well done. I enjoyed it very much and I'm looking forward to the sequel or at least another book by this adventurous author.
Anyone who visits Italy probably has at the very least a fleeting thought of packing up and moving there. This is a story of someone who did just that-packed up and set down roots in a foreign country. But instead of the oh so overdone fairy tale of a young woman who moves to Italy, renovates a Tuscan villa, falls in love and lives happily ever after, this book is a realistic account of what it takes to pack up and move to somewhere where you don't know anyone or even speak the language. How do you learn the language? What do you do for work when your funds get crucially low? How do you navigate the long and convoluted process of gaining citizenship? We don't think about the day to day when we're daydreaming! This book, however, finds complete entertainment in the minutiae of daily life.
I found this book to be very well written and not overdone in any way. It was peppered with just enough italian words, the stories didn't seem over embellished, and character development was well done. I enjoyed it very much and I'm looking forward to the sequel or at least another book by this adventurous author.
July 30, 2013
This book is absolutely perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to drop everything, move out of the city, and start a brand new life in a dream-like location. Jenny has described perfectly the ups and downs of making this dream a reality. While reading her book, I was faced with many emotions: at times I was so envious of her courage and her new lifestyle...going to the local bar for an espresso and brioche, the view of the Tuscan hills from her window; and then I would immediately become empathetic as she dealt with the language barrier, the hardships of gaining citizenship and employment, and frozen laundry. However, this story is told in such an endearing and humorous way that at many times I was "that person" laughing out loud while reading on the subway and at the gym. This book is also perfect for any one who has traveled to Tuscany during the tourist season and wants an inside scoop of what it's like to live there all year round. Thanks Jenny for letting us readers into your life, embarrassing moments and all!!
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