Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
211th out of 339 books
—
205 voters
A Valley in Italy
Of all the romantic obsessions in novelist Lisa St Aubin de Teran's life, the search for a castle occupied her the longest--until she saw the magnificent Villa Orsola deep in the Umbrian hills. Only after eagerly signing the ownership papers did she and her husband, painter Robbie Duff-Scott, discover they were the owners of a vast ruin lacking windowpanes, parts of the ro...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
January 5th 2000
by Harper Perennial
(first published 1994)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
303)
I am a huge fan of Italian culture. I found this book in our bookshelf, where it was most likely left after our recent family trip to Italy. The entirety of my reading experience was spent rolling my eyes at the author, her style, and her family. I found it incredibly irritating how the author constantly referred to her daughter as "the child Isuelt" and the live-in nannies as "the Beauties". I am a stickler for wording, and that drove me nuts. The town itself and its inhabitants were endearing-...more
Throughly enjoyed this story. The author describes a life that is interesting, entertaining and just a bit frustrating. Her family is living in Venice. They decide to buy a summer home to escape the crowds. So they buy an old palazzo in Umbria. And what a renovation project it is! I loved reading about the people in the village. They were such characters!I especially fell in love with the man who took the family under his wing and made sure that they were safe and that they fitted into the commu...more
It was recommended by snailbones. It's set in Umbria, part of the old papal states. It's a completely different take on the remodeling stories. The scenes of village life seemed very authentic. The author had a different approach to remodeling too - she stayed through the whole thing so readers got more details about the actual hardships. I enjoyed it
What a charming companion to have while trying to get work done on a collapsing castle. I loved her voice and her dry humor. I've lent my copy to so many, I finally lost possession of it. A wonderful, sunny story about a crazy desire to rehabilitate an estate in Italy.
A fascinating look at how some families operate. I enjoyed reading about the nonchalant way they embarked upon this home but I found the views of the local Italians rather patronizing. A good airplane book though.
Ok, so everyone knows my penchant for reading books about people who fix up houses. I am obsessed, and well, when it's a house in Italy, hold me back, people! This book is about a British family living in Venice who move to Umbria and buy a huge wreck of a villa. They emply townspeople to fix it up and slowly work their way into the fabric of the village of Orsola. It's amazing to me what people will put up with to live in a place they love and I'm so inspired by stories like this one. I also wo...more
view 2 comments
i found the author and her family to be irritating and endearing at the same time. not a huge fan of her writing style but it is still an enjoyable read that leaves you scratching your head.
Easy, light fare, but enjoyable descriptions of country living in Umbria, humorous portraits of village life and sensitive cultural observations.
I liked the descriptions of Italy and the locals but her family is very strange.
Fun and well written. The description of the first night in the villa, with scents from the mountains coming in the open windows was especially memorable.
Beautifully discriptive.
This is probably the most pretentious, irritating book I have ever encountered. The author's "style" is coy and over the top, and her portrayal of Italians is condescending and patronizing. It was hard to believe anything but the bare bones of this story.
1 like · like · see review
THE most ubsurd book of it's kind. I laughed hard from both amusement and complete shock at how this family functions. Fun, fun, exasperating fun.
the author has lived a very unconventional life which makes for an intriquing read.
If you liked under the Tuscan Sun, you'll find this book fun. Colorful charachters.
Sep 17, 2008
Robin
is currently reading it
Beautiful descriptive narratives - I can see it all in my minds eye.
May 21, 2013
Debbie Arneson
is currently reading it
Apr 02, 2013
Steven Brubaker
marked it as to-read
Apr 01, 2013
Fonda
marked it as to-read
Mar 22, 2013
Kathryn Holub
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Lisa St. Aubin de Terán was born Lisa Rynveld in South London. She attended the James Allen's Girls' School. She married a Venezuelan landowner, Jaime Terán in 1971, at the age of 17, and became a farmer of sugar cane, avocados, pears, and sheep from 1972-1978.
Her second husband was the Scottish poet and novelist George MacBeth. After the marriage failed, she married painter Robbie Duff Scott and...more
More about Lisa St Aubin de Terán...
Her second husband was the Scottish poet and novelist George MacBeth. After the marriage failed, she married painter Robbie Duff Scott and...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
