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" Great travel book! She really writes it so that you feel as if you are right there with her experiencing everything she is. At times I got a bit bored but I think it was just her style of writing sometimes. Overall great book for any traveler! "
- Alison, 2/20/2014
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" I skipped around this book and read the parts I was interested in. "
- Kristine, 2/13/2014
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" Europe is still beckoning me to pay her a visit. I have this deep-seated yearning to walk the streets of Sevilla, take a gondola ride on the canals of Venezia, look down on the city of Athens from the Acropolis, read a book under an olive tree in an orchard in Toscana, and of course see if I can find Peter Mayle's farm in Provence. Frances just makes my toes itch to abandon all, throw a backpack over my shoulder, grab my beloved's hand and set off on the grand European tour. I wish I had her spunk and adventurousness. "
- Hendie, 2/4/2014
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" I really like some parts of Mayes, but others I am less interested in. For example, she often gives historical information that I don't care about as much as, say, what she had for lunch. "
- Morgan, 2/4/2014
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" Pretty disappointing after reading "Eat, Pray, Love" actually. Interesting description of the places the couple went, but I had a very hard time relating to them. It is by a professor and her professor husband, and though I live in that world, I felt like it was written in a way to emphasize how wealthy the couple was. The descriptions were a bit dry, and the book dragged a bit. However, my inherent interest in the subject made me finish it. This couple did a very structured journey, which was both touristy and not touristy (structured and pre-planned, but searching for local secrets and "authentic" experiences). I just felt myself longing to feel something besides a little put off by the ostentatiousness of their vacation. "
- Beetletheknee, 1/15/2014
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" I wanted to like this book and there were parts that I really did. However, her arrogance really came out too much for me in this book. Still, it is a journey I would like to take. "
- Jana, 1/14/2014
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" I really liked this starting out, but I was less impressed when I finished. At her best, Mayes has a lovely gift for the sensual evocation of places, but at her worst, she's snobbish, insincere, and pretentious. By the end of the book, I was tired of her disdain for tourists (what does she think she is, anyway?) and her overly precious dialogues with her husband. "
- Margaret, 1/1/2014
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" If I could give this writer more than five stars, she would always get ten. Beautifully written and felt very deeply. "
- Heather, 12/29/2013
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" Frances Mayes travels the way I would love to. "
- Smeshee, 12/20/2013
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" I am officially putting one aside. The writing is beautiful but I think the bottom line is I prefer to read travel literature either in prep for a visit or as follow-up. I just don't feel the connection to the places - moving on! "
- Kim, 12/19/2013
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" Like poetry via the written Word. I spent all last summer traveling in my head as I savored this book! "
- Gieselle, 11/12/2013
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" This book was disappointing. Frances Mayes came across quite negatively, at least to me. She seemed to preach about the best way to travel (her own) and criticize "provincials" (anyone with a different approach). On the other hand, I appreciated her culinary tips. "
- Jennifer, 6/24/2013
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" Had been working on this slowly but gave up, which is a cardinal sin in my world. The gardens get a little tedious, but a good description of the places she visits, to at least create interest in doing further research. I do get tired of *her* though. "
- Kari, 5/13/2013
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" I liked parts of this book but overall it was too rambling. I skipped chunks of it, paragraphs or pages of each chapter. "
- S., 3/8/2013
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" boring, elitist, dense. yet gorgeously written, jealousy-inducing. couldn't finish it. "
- Clare, 12/3/2012
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" Fun read. I love Frances Mayes! "
- Becky, 11/21/2012
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" Interesting. I like that it gives me a perspective to all these different places I want to go, however it is rather disjointed because of that. The writing is excellent, but there is not a consistent story through out, as with Under a Tuscan Sun which I adored. "
- Linda, 6/25/2012
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" I really thought I would like this book. But frankly, it was annoying. I love to travel, but this travel as existentialism comes across as pretentious. Plus, it is a bit hard to follow where she is going, why she is going there and why we should care. "
- Camille, 3/5/2012
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" Unable to finish - I just couldn't get into the repetitive relaxed nature of this book. "
- Jeni, 1/19/2012
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" This book is amazing! Made me feel as if I've just traveled around the world. "
- Betsy, 6/23/2011
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" I just couldn't read this book. I was bored by the tone of a wealthy person going everywhere and doing anything that she wants without regard to the cost. I couldn't relate at all. "
- Kathy, 5/23/2011
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" I barely made it through the first chapter, only because it was Spain. It's was bunch of randam notes, or details about her life that were irrelevant. Horrible.
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- New_worlds, 5/22/2011
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" It is a very descriptive book and at times it can be difficult to read because there are so many details. However, if you are ones of those people that likes to experience things vicariously, Mayes does a wonderful job in this book.
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- Brooke, 4/30/2011
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" Liked this book, didn't love it. Having been many of the same places probably helped. Also I also love renting places to stay so you mix more into the culture and shy away from group tours. Hey, maybe I could write a book and then buy a house in Italy!
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- Kay, 3/23/2011
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" It wasn't a terrible book, I just couldn't get into it. I read about 200 pages and finally decided to give up.
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- Rachel, 1/29/2011
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" LOVED this book! I can't wait to raed more of Frances Mayes.
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- Noel, 1/18/2011
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" Made me want to visit Greece even more!
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- Kelly, 1/9/2011
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" Boring! How could anyone make traveling to Europe seem like such a snooze? I couldn't finish it.
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- Beth, 10/29/2010
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