Title: A self-absorbed treatise
Product review: I read this book at the urging of my daughter, hoping to learn something about the Tuscan area, people and culture. What a mistake! This was the longest bit of ego-centered writing I have ever had the misforture to read. Ms Mayes is so determined to impress readers with her intelligence and cosmopolitan attitude that she fails to to give us any really interesting or useful information about the region (other than the recipes). Her character description is so poor that I learned more about the tmporary Polish workers she hired than I did about her husband/partner (I don't know if they are married or not). He comes across as a lackey, doing odd jobs for her. On another subject, she attempts to give a scholarly review of the religious history and practices of the region but what comes across is her total lack of understanding of the Catholic faith.My advice: buy a good travel book if you plan to visit Italy, and leave this book for the dust bin where it belongs.
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