What do you think?
Rate this book
The Little Lark Still Sings: A True Story of Love, Change & an Old Tuscan Farmhouse
The Little Lark Still Sings is a true story of a quest for Italy’s sweet life gone awry, then becoming better than the dream.
When Victoria and Larry, happily married for two decades, move to their favorite hilltown in Tuscany, what was a romantic adventure becomes an unexpected drama of perseverance and change. Every day new Italian adventures unfold: beauty, art, architecture, food, and history. But so do unexpected challenges of managing daily life in a foreign culture, surviving the chaos of construction, navigating narrow roads, longing for friends, stumbling with language, obeying rules they don’t understand or agree with — struggles that undermine Victoria’s confidence which, in turn, wear Larry’s patience thin.
Though they share a dream, they discover their personal goals are different. His are to study and write, hers are to create the perfect Italian home and make friends. He needs quiet time; she needs his help. From the joys and near disasters of renovating an ancient stone farmhouse to celebrating their first Italian dinner party, Victoria learns about Italy, herself, and their marriage. In The Little Lark Still Sings, she shares their humorous and character-stretching experiences with insight and wisdom — offering lessons that enchant, encourage, and uplift.
When Victoria and Larry, happily married for two decades, move to their favorite hilltown in Tuscany, what was a romantic adventure becomes an unexpected drama of perseverance and change. Every day new Italian adventures unfold: beauty, art, architecture, food, and history. But so do unexpected challenges of managing daily life in a foreign culture, surviving the chaos of construction, navigating narrow roads, longing for friends, stumbling with language, obeying rules they don’t understand or agree with — struggles that undermine Victoria’s confidence which, in turn, wear Larry’s patience thin.
Though they share a dream, they discover their personal goals are different. His are to study and write, hers are to create the perfect Italian home and make friends. He needs quiet time; she needs his help. From the joys and near disasters of renovating an ancient stone farmhouse to celebrating their first Italian dinner party, Victoria learns about Italy, herself, and their marriage. In The Little Lark Still Sings, she shares their humorous and character-stretching experiences with insight and wisdom — offering lessons that enchant, encourage, and uplift.
- GenresMemoir
513 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2021
18 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 31, 2023
My friend Lara gave me this book. It was written by her mother about her and her husband 's experience of retiring to Italy. It was fun to be reading and all of a sudden someone you know pops up in the story! The descriptions of the Italian food and scenery will make you want to book the next flight there! The reader is privy to her innermost thoughts as she renovates their Italian home and struggles through a marriage rough patch. In the end, the little Lark does still sing!
May 7, 2021
Wonderful book!
Throughout the book I was impressed with the detail and honesty of the experience. I felt like I had gone to Italy! But with the a guide that managed to notice and appreciate all the details in the life, food and environment and call them into great detail
The honesty in relating the first months of Victoria's and Larry's was humbling in how brave Victoria was in sharing her full experience - the good, the bad and the ugly - and what a truly special outlook she has on life in appreciating and honoring those around her
Throughout the book I was impressed with the detail and honesty of the experience. I felt like I had gone to Italy! But with the a guide that managed to notice and appreciate all the details in the life, food and environment and call them into great detail
The honesty in relating the first months of Victoria's and Larry's was humbling in how brave Victoria was in sharing her full experience - the good, the bad and the ugly - and what a truly special outlook she has on life in appreciating and honoring those around her
February 18, 2021
This is a very well written book.
It is long and goes into a lot of detail and stories of Victoria and Larry’s first months in their new home near Cortona. ( I think the book would be even better if some of the detail had been further truncated). However, the anecdotes and stories are interesting and funny and often very familiar to others who may have embarked on a similar adventure in a new country.
However, most of all I admire Victoria’s courage in revealing to her readers her vulnerability and lack of confidence when she first moved to Tuscany- her honesty makes it clear that the adventure was not all joy and fun, but often hard and frustrating. So many books on “moving to fulfil our dream” are not nearly as honest on this subject. Furthermore Victoria and Larry show great mutual trust and respect in sharing the personal difficulties they experienced in their first summer in their newly renovated house.
I agree with Larry’s comments included towards the end where he says that sharing these experiences of their struggles may help others in their struggles.
I highly recommend this book.
It is long and goes into a lot of detail and stories of Victoria and Larry’s first months in their new home near Cortona. ( I think the book would be even better if some of the detail had been further truncated). However, the anecdotes and stories are interesting and funny and often very familiar to others who may have embarked on a similar adventure in a new country.
However, most of all I admire Victoria’s courage in revealing to her readers her vulnerability and lack of confidence when she first moved to Tuscany- her honesty makes it clear that the adventure was not all joy and fun, but often hard and frustrating. So many books on “moving to fulfil our dream” are not nearly as honest on this subject. Furthermore Victoria and Larry show great mutual trust and respect in sharing the personal difficulties they experienced in their first summer in their newly renovated house.
I agree with Larry’s comments included towards the end where he says that sharing these experiences of their struggles may help others in their struggles.
I highly recommend this book.
September 5, 2021
While I loved visiting Italy, I could not stand this couple one bit. She whined about everything and he was a control freak jerk. If they weren't fighting they were going out to eat or shopping. Chapter after chapter, the same thing over and over.
Each day started the same - "Woke up and put on my black silk robe (always all three words, never just robe); made a cappuccino; argued with Larry; felt disconnected from him; got in the car and was terrified driving; went to the market and bought (tomatoes, beans, porchetta); went to a restaurant for dinner, etc."
Bottom line - I just couldn't relate to any of their travails. And I won't even go into the errors such as garbage shoot instead of garbage chute.
Each day started the same - "Woke up and put on my black silk robe (always all three words, never just robe); made a cappuccino; argued with Larry; felt disconnected from him; got in the car and was terrified driving; went to the market and bought (tomatoes, beans, porchetta); went to a restaurant for dinner, etc."
Bottom line - I just couldn't relate to any of their travails. And I won't even go into the errors such as garbage shoot instead of garbage chute.
March 31, 2021
I stumbled upon this book when looking for a good read set in Italy. Victoria Smith’s recollection of her first year settling in to her new life with her husband in Cortona is brilliant. The perfect escape for all of us that are yearning for an adventure! Victoria gives us:
-a realistic look at what it is like to move to a foreign country
-a peek at how a long term relationship survives and grows during stressful times
-a roadmap of how to step back and analysis marital problems and figure out how to resolve them
Until we can all get back to traveling....thank goodness for authors like Victoria Smith that magically bring our favorite countries, cities and towns to life!
-a realistic look at what it is like to move to a foreign country
-a peek at how a long term relationship survives and grows during stressful times
-a roadmap of how to step back and analysis marital problems and figure out how to resolve them
Until we can all get back to traveling....thank goodness for authors like Victoria Smith that magically bring our favorite countries, cities and towns to life!
February 26, 2021
An engaging account of Victoria and Larry Smith’s first year navigating life abroad! The Smiths did what many of us dream of doing, bought a home in a romantic hillside Tuscan town. The honesty and vulnerability that Victoria shares about her first year in Cortona will feel familiar and refreshing for anyone who has stepped out of their comfort zone. I really enjoyed Victoria’s writing style. She has the ability to express feelings we all have about our marriages, our hopes and dreams as well as our expectations vs reality.
May 27, 2021
A perfect summer read complete with an escape to Italy, cooking inspirations and a marriage that is real.
August 7, 2021
Just like being in Italy with them!
February 18, 2021
This is a very well written book.
It is long and goes into a lot of detail and stories of Victoria and Larry’s first months in their new home near Cortona. ( I think the book would be even better if some of the detail had been further truncated). However, the anecdotes and stories are interesting and funny and often very familiar to others who may have embarked on a similar adventure in a new country.
However, most of all I admire Victoria’s courage in revealing to her readers her vulnerability and lack of confidence when she first moved to Tuscany- her honesty makes it clear that the adventure was not all joy and fun, but often hard and frustrating. So many books on “moving to fulfil our dream” are not nearly as honest on this subject. Furthermore Victoria and Larry show great mutual trust and respect in sharing the personal difficulties they experienced in their first summer in their newly renovated house.
I agree with Larry’s comments included towards the end where he says that sharing these experiences of their struggles may help others in their struggles.
I highly recommend this book.
It is long and goes into a lot of detail and stories of Victoria and Larry’s first months in their new home near Cortona. ( I think the book would be even better if some of the detail had been further truncated). However, the anecdotes and stories are interesting and funny and often very familiar to others who may have embarked on a similar adventure in a new country.
However, most of all I admire Victoria’s courage in revealing to her readers her vulnerability and lack of confidence when she first moved to Tuscany- her honesty makes it clear that the adventure was not all joy and fun, but often hard and frustrating. So many books on “moving to fulfil our dream” are not nearly as honest on this subject. Furthermore Victoria and Larry show great mutual trust and respect in sharing the personal difficulties they experienced in their first summer in their newly renovated house.
I agree with Larry’s comments included towards the end where he says that sharing these experiences of their struggles may help others in their struggles.
I highly recommend this book.
May 16, 2022
I wanted to shake them both
This is not just another expat home renovation story, Victoria explores deeper emotional dramas than the typical misunderstanding of language and culture.
Her husband annoyed me, but so did she, as I read the book, Victoria is 4 years my senior, but I had to recalibrate that the book is set in 2006- so she is really 20 years older, and our definitions of independent are undoubtedly different because of that. Still I couldn’t imagine not knowing how to drive a standard. Such a little thing but sooo American. I appreciated the wrap up at the end, but I would have liked a smidgen more description of materials and construction and a little less of the same old argument (s), although I get that that is how arguments go…
This is not just another expat home renovation story, Victoria explores deeper emotional dramas than the typical misunderstanding of language and culture.
Her husband annoyed me, but so did she, as I read the book, Victoria is 4 years my senior, but I had to recalibrate that the book is set in 2006- so she is really 20 years older, and our definitions of independent are undoubtedly different because of that. Still I couldn’t imagine not knowing how to drive a standard. Such a little thing but sooo American. I appreciated the wrap up at the end, but I would have liked a smidgen more description of materials and construction and a little less of the same old argument (s), although I get that that is how arguments go…
September 27, 2021
Learning to grow
As an armchair traveler, I certainly enjoyed this book full of frustrations, friendships, family and joy when something went well. The food descriptions and recipes were mouth watering, the restaurants were described so well! I know I will never travel to a foreign country physically but if I can find more books as wonderful as this, I will continue my trip around the world!
As an armchair traveler, I certainly enjoyed this book full of frustrations, friendships, family and joy when something went well. The food descriptions and recipes were mouth watering, the restaurants were described so well! I know I will never travel to a foreign country physically but if I can find more books as wonderful as this, I will continue my trip around the world!
April 21, 2025
Wonderful story about travel and transformation
With impeccable detail, the author shares the challenges she and her husband face when they leave Chicago for Italy to renovate a Tuscan farmhouse. The move brings them new friends, the joys and frustrations of experiencing a different culture from their own and a closer look at their marriage. This reader has visited Tuscany and Smith’s book has me longing to return!
With impeccable detail, the author shares the challenges she and her husband face when they leave Chicago for Italy to renovate a Tuscan farmhouse. The move brings them new friends, the joys and frustrations of experiencing a different culture from their own and a closer look at their marriage. This reader has visited Tuscany and Smith’s book has me longing to return!
March 4, 2022
I loved a lot of things about this book but what I didn’t like was the authors constant rambling about her feelings between her husband and herself. She refers to her ‘upset’as if it’s a thing not a feeling. What I did love however was the great descriptions of the town they live in Cortana, and the culture. Also the vividness of many of the characters was appealing to me.
June 20, 2021
I was so excited when I started this book. However, the author’s honesty quickly transitioned into whining and over dramatization. I wanted to love it, but the continued bickering between the spouses was overwritten.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews