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Bringing Tuscany Home (Abridged): Sensuous Style From the Heart of Italy Audiobook
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(3.07) - 204 listener ratings
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I always imagine each of the signoras who lived in this house—where she shelled peas, rocked the grandchild, placed a vase of the pink roses. Now I would like to take one of these women back to my house in California to show her how Bramasole traveled to America and took root, how the doors there are open to the breeze from San Pablo bay and to the distant view of Mount Tamalpais, how the table has expanded and the garden has burgeoned…
The “bard of Tuscany” (New York Times) now offers a lavishly illustrated book for everyone who dreams of integrating the Tuscan lifestyle—from home decoration and cooking, to eating and drinking, to gardening, socializing, and celebrating—into their own lives.
When Frances Mayes fell in love with Tuscany and Bramasole, millions of readers basked in the experience through her three bestselling memoirs. Now Frances and her husband, In Tuscany coauthor Edward, share the essence of Tuscan life as they have lived it, with specific ideas and inspiration for readers stateside to bring the beauty and spirit of Tuscany into their own home decor, meals, gardens, entertaining and, most important, outlook on life. In her inimitable warm and evocative tone, Frances helps readers develop an eye for authentic Tuscan style, with advice on how to:
• Choose a Tuscan color palette for the home, from earthy apricot tones to invigorating shades of antique blue.
• Personalize a room with fanciful door frames, unique painted furniture, and fresco murals.
• Cultivate a Tuscan garden, adding fountains, vine-covered pergolas, and terra-cotta urns among the herbs and flowers
• Select the best Italian vino. (Frances describes lunches at regional vineyards and imparts tips for pairing food and wine.)
• Create an atmosphere of irresistible, anytime hospitality—a casa aperta (open home).
• Make primo finds at local antiques markets. (And to help truly bring Tuscany home, shipping advice and market days for several Tuscan towns are included.)
• Set an imaginative Tuscan table using majolica and vintage linens.
• Enjoy the abundant flavors and easy simplicity of the Tuscan kitchen, with details on everything from olive oil and vino santo to pici and gnocchi, plus special homegrown menus and recipes.
• Make the most of a trip to Tuscany, visiting Frances’s favorite hill towns, restaurants, small museums, and other soothing places.
With more than 100 photos by acclaimed photographer Steven Rothfeld (including several of the Mayes’s California home and its Tuscan accents), twenty-five all-new recipes, and lists of resources for travelers and shoppers, Bringing Tuscany Home is a treasure trove of practical advice and memorable images.
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"this book was not what it seemed. Since I had found it in the decorating section of the library, I had thought it would be a book which defined this style more than anything else. Instead it was a book with the theme" stop and smell the roses". Something we all need to be reminded of. "
— Carmen (4 out of 5 stars)
Bringing Tuscany Home Listener Reviews
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" Makes me want to go back to Italy even more. Frances Mayes really brings Italy to life with all of her books. "
— Jc, 11/19/2013 -
" I loved this book. Frances Mayes does an excellent job of describing, and incorporating the ideas that I have embodied for my life & existence on this plane.... savor this one is all I can say.... "
— Janell, 11/16/2013 -
" beautiful book loved it! "
— Deanna, 11/14/2013 -
" Enjoyed the book mostly for the photography and the glimpse of the people I've come to know in her memoirs. Especially love the recipes for roasted tomatoes and plum tart, and grateful for the handy closing "little guide" to the artisans of Tuscany. "
— Susan, 5/18/2013 -
" What a treat! After reading three of her memoirs I was ready to read more with a bonus of seeing lots of pictures. I like her poetic prose. "
— Pat, 4/15/2013 -
" Okay -- had a small Tuscany fix by rereading In Tuscany and this one! "
— Dottie, 4/15/2013 -
" When I read Frances Mayes books, I feel like I am with her in Tuscany. I have been to Tuscany and it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Her books just have so much nostalga of my time there. "
— Julie, 4/3/2013 -
" So I must say that although this book was not exactly what I'd hoped it would be, or it would tell me - I do love all things Tuscany, Italy - so yeah 4 stars! .. and as a special surprise - recipes in the back! I are happy (terrible grammar intentional)! "
— Ceecee, 12/24/2012 -
" Mayes obviously has no regrets about the fixer-upper she bought in Tuscany a decade or so ago. However, the title is misleading, as the book actually does little to show how to bring the atmosphere of Tuscany home to anywhere other than...well, Tuscany. Pretty pictures, though. "
— Dawn, 12/17/2012 -
" An nice companion to her "Tuscany" series of books. "
— Serge, 11/3/2012 -
" Says house and home on the library label but is a wandering travelogue with a few pictures of gardens and hardly any furniture or carvings or homes or anything of the sort. More recipes than anything else actually. I was hoping to see what italian home stuff was in the market, but oh well. "
— Alyssa, 9/27/2012 -
" Beautiful book with yummy recipes. "
— Gretta, 9/9/2012 -
" This is not much of a decorating book, but I was certainly not disappointed. It allowed me a little escape to Tuscany. The photos were beautiful and I can't wait to try out Ed's recipes! "
— Jessica, 8/7/2012 -
" Completely worthless. It is basically just a list of vendors, which I could have found on the Internet, with some pictures added for coffee table appeal. This is just a shameless attempt by Mayes to wring even more money from her Tuscany books' fans. "
— Julie, 7/8/2012 -
" so far...nice pictures. "
— Marilyn, 6/13/2012 -
" I find her taste too bland and boring. "
— Avis, 10/8/2011 -
" Wonderful and interesting and humorous and inspiring. "
— Kimberly, 10/3/2011 -
" Wonderful photos and info. "
— Brenda, 9/17/2011 -
" Short chapters describing the author's life in Tuscany and she is able to bring that life to her California home. "
— Melanie, 8/24/2011 -
" this book was not what it seemed. Since I had found it in the decorating section of the library, I had thought it would be a book which defined this style more than anything else. Instead it was a book with the theme" stop and smell the roses". Something we all need to be reminded of. "
— Carmen, 7/10/2011 -
" Enjoyed the book mostly for the photography and the glimpse of the people I've come to know in her memoirs. Especially love the recipes for roasted tomatoes and plum tart, and grateful for the handy closing "little guide" to the artisans of Tuscany. "
— Susan, 4/7/2011 -
" I loved this book. Frances Mayes does an excellent job of describing, and incorporating the ideas that I have embodied for my life & existence on this plane.... savor this one is all I can say.... <br/> "
— Janell, 9/2/2010 -
" Makes me want to go back to Italy even more. Frances Mayes really brings Italy to life with all of her books. "
— Jc, 3/4/2010 -
" Says house and home on the library label but is a wandering travelogue with a few pictures of gardens and hardly any furniture or carvings or homes or anything of the sort. More recipes than anything else actually. I was hoping to see what italian home stuff was in the market, but oh well. "
— Alyssa, 10/6/2009 -
" What's not to like? The prose of Frances Mayes, Italy, beautiful old buildings, food, gorgeous pictures, etc... <br/>I always want more. Krisette and I are going to get more. "
— Stacy, 9/7/2009 -
" I find her taste too bland and boring. "
— HRT, 2/14/2009 -
" Completely worthless. It is basically just a list of vendors, which I could have found on the Internet, with some pictures added for coffee table appeal. This is just a shameless attempt by Mayes to wring even more money from her Tuscany books' fans. "
— Julie, 5/31/2008 -
" When I read Frances Mayes books, I feel like I am with her in Tuscany. I have been to Tuscany and it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Her books just have so much nostalga of my time there. "
— Julie, 2/4/2008 -
" Mayes obviously has no regrets about the fixer-upper she bought in Tuscany a decade or so ago. However, the title is misleading, as the book actually does little to show how to bring the atmosphere of Tuscany home to anywhere other than...well, Tuscany. Pretty pictures, though. "
— Dawn, 10/22/2007 -
" Okay -- had a small Tuscany fix by rereading In Tuscany and this one! "
— Dottie, 9/3/2007
About the Authors
Frances Mayes is the author of several fiction and nonfiction books, including the classic Under the Tuscan Sun, which was on the New York Times bestseller for more than two and a half years and was the basis for a major motion picture starring Diane Lane. Her writing has been translated into more than fifty languages.