Frances Brassington

Advantages: Very easy to read, good examples
Disadvantages: heavy!!

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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Good read
Disadvantages:

...“Under the Tuscan Sun” by Frances Mayes is one of the most enchanting books I have ever read. It is all about Frances and her husband in their quest to set up a second home in Tuscany. Faced with the inevitable laid-back attitude of Italian builders and having sunk all their money into this house, it is makes for quite an amusing read. Despite their troubles the Mayes come out top and we get the pleasure of almost reading Frances’ diary of that time. Throughout the book are scattered little local recipes which makes it even more of a pleasure.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages:
Disadvantages: not as good as the other two

...This is the middle of Sebastian Faulks three interlinked books about France and the turmoil of the First World War. For me, it was the least interesting although it is more of a traditional story than Birdsong. This is the story of a young girl working at a hotel between the wars in France. The pain of a country almost destroyed is portrayed in the individual characters and where it could be overplayed, it isn't. It also has that slightly painfull air of a book about French people, written by an Englishman.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful