Vanilla Beans and Brodo

Traditionally, foreign writers describing a country adopt the outsider's point of view and focus on the more quaint and amusing aspects of the locals' lives. This is particularly true of Italy, where the more exotic side of the country is maximised and the lives of people treated as being less important. Not so in Isabella Dusi's fascinating Vanilla Beans and Brodo which takes the radical (and fascinating) approach of dealing with the day-to-day lives of those who live in the beautiful Tuscan Hills. In fact, the book is subtitled Real Life in the Hills of Tuscany, and the author (who sold all she owned to travel halfway around the world and settle in the exquisite mountain eyrie of Montalcino) makes the descriptions of the seasons and countryside as evocative as one could wish, but her real subject is the people. Finding it initially difficult to be accepted into this close-knit wine community, she gradually wins their respect and friendship.

The experiences of the author in the village--as different from English life as could be imagined--are totally absorbing. But this is no mere pleasant pictorial--Isabella Dusi conjures genuine drama as summer approaches and wild storms threaten to destroy the grape harvest. We are given, en route, the bloody history of this medieval village, but what stays with the reader is the incident-packed lives of the inhabitants: a million miles away from most people's placid image of life in this most beautiful part of the world. If you want to live another life for a few hours, here's your chance. --Barry Forshaw

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Trivial - Rated
I really found this book self-absorbed and trivial and therefore incredibly annoying. If you know anything at all about beautiful, interesting Tuscany it adds nothing further to your experience or understanding, and if you don't know the place then it gives you nothing either. It's not well-written and the writer makes inexcusable and elementary errors of Italian. Of all the many "ex-pat living the simple life in the Mediterranean" books on the market this is not one that I can say has anything at all to recommend it. I would give it 0 stars if I could.

Gushing in Tuscany - Rated
Have you ever read a gushing magazine article and come away feeling slightly guilty about the waste of time, and rather nauseated by the material itself, yet unable to put it down? That is more or less the sensation I had after reading this book.

The book is written - very badly - in breathless prose. The author tells us all we ever wanted to know about the wine-producing village of Montalcino but manages to make it appear commonplace. She only hints at the differences between the townsfolk and the wine-producers, and does not mention at all the difficult reality of living in Tuscany.

There is so much that is glossed over in this book: politics, religion etc. The author seems a perpetual tourist not wishing to give offence to anyone. It would be interesting to see how she would deal with the current scandal over the authenticity of some of the wine sold under the Brunello label.

Finally, do not think this is a relation of Frances Mayes' classic. It does not come anywhere close. Read Mayes or Ferenc Mate instead if you want to find out about living in Tuscany.

Disappointing - Rated
I was expecting a wonderful emotive story, albeit more factual than a lot of travel writings on Tuscany. However, what I got was a travelogue with an in-depth history of the area, which had to be ploughed through before you could actually lose yourself in the story, and even then there was loads more 'history' to cope with. I was quite disappointed with this book. Having read the Marlene Blasi books, 1000 Days in Venice and 1000 Days in Tuscany, which I simploy could not put down, this was a very poor effort indeed.

Too much for one village ... - Rated
There's only so much interest to be extracted from one village, and at 442 pages this book is just too much.

I started reading the book whilst in Tuscany. I loved Tuscany, but I needed to dig deep to finish this book.

"A thousand days in Tuscany" by Marlena de Blasi was much more pleasing.

Italia in realita/Italy in real life - Rated
This is different from many other life in the sun stories in that this is far less about the author, very much the real story of Montalcino. The detail is fascinating and the author manages to convey a very real sense of place.
I am lucky enough to be living in Italy myself though a little further south. We can see Mount Amiata from the other side, so not that far away. She paints a vivid portrait of life in Montalcino; so much of it was familiar, compared to some of my own experiences.
My only query is in that she refers to Montalcino as a village? With 2,000 residents it sounds much more like a small town to me.
I now plan to try and visit Montalcino one day as would love to do `The Garden Walk'
Will certainly be keeping this book with my collection of Italian guidebooks, as sure I shall be referring to it again. I also plan to read the sequel Bel Vino soon for another reminder of why I enjoy living here. As if I need one!