Ripe for the Picking

Italian Adventure #2

by Annie Hawes

During the course of Annie Hawes' new book, local culinary superstar, Ciccio, gradually takes over as Annie's constant companion. How irresistible is a man who first demonstrates his affection and esteem by inviting her into his vineyard to help him mix up cow manure, which she spends the afternoon slapping onto an old pizza oven to improve its insulation, before driving her at terrifying speed to a Herbie Hancock concert? But even with Ciccio's help, the everyday life of Ligurian folk never seems to lose its surreal edge for Annie. How long does she have to stay at Diano San Pietro before it all becomes normal run-of-the-mill stuff and ceases to amaze her? Will she ever manage to go native?

Genres: Travel, Italy, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Food, Autobiography

374 pages

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tintin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a nice story - preferable to Peter Mayle's Year in Provence - and a pleasant read. It totally restored my love of reading, after having to read bloody awful things for various book circles. This is what a book should be: A Good Read.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed "catching up" with Annie since reading Extra Virgin about a decade ago. Didn't realize she had written more until recently. She lovingly pokes fun at the local people but in a sweet, not insulting, way. He writing is fresh yet imaginative.

[Ceridwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. I've liked all Annie Hawes' books, to be fair. She's a wonderful writer.

Firstly, it's just very interesting. Two sisters are working abroad for the summer and (almost accidentally) buy a remote farmhouse in Italy, with its own olive trees and whatnot. And the books chronicle how they get on, what they learn, and the characters they meet. As a reader, you not only end up desperately wanting her life, and falling in love with the characters, but you learn all these fascinating things about the language and culture. I now know things about how olive oil is made, for example, I don't think I'd ever considered before. Bound to be useful at some point...

There's a great balance between evocative descriptive language, and keeping pace with events and actions. It was funny, smart, and honest, and I liked the way lots of different stories were spliced together over a different time period, so you kept coming back to something you'd been told before and having an "aha!" moment.

Highly recommend this, and the entire series.

[Aanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book...it gave me exactly what I wanted- lovable characters,essence of new culture,description of lifestyle of people,their nature...I felt lik i've had a wonderful travel to liguria...I love travel,knowing culture of different places,books,food,unpretentious people..n dis is all combined into one.. Book reminded me of "Almost French" n "My dateless diary-An American journey" as Annie describes the ligurian lifestyle from a stranger's eyes in a realistic,subtly funny,non-judgmental way like d formers described parisian n american lifestyle...it made me think abt importance of farming for ur own supplies..portrayal of hardworking rural people was brought out so well...(especially Salvatore)

[Anjuli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and have lost count of the number of times I've read it - it is part 2 in the true life Italian adventure of Annie Hawes and has the growing romance with Ciccio, meeting the future in-laws, trips to Rome with a family member, and woodworm/ tarli/ handsome bees/ beetles a-plenty!
If ever I'm feeling the need to sink into a world of vino d'uva, love oil and lets face it - sheer envy (I WANT TO LIVE IN ITALY!!!!!) then this is the book I'll pick up (usually straight after Extra Virgin (Annie's first book) but this time Extra Virgin is out on loan to a friend :))
Lots of laugh out loud moments and just bliss - a perfect book for a train journey/ chilling in the garden post work/ or anytime.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect example of the travel / expatriate memoir genre. Unlike Carol Drinkwater (another "life in the Italian olive groves" author), Hawes certainly isn't pretentious or lacking in humour. Am now immediately reading again in order to read sections aloud to my husband. I particularly liked the story about the restaurant notices.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to the author's earlier memoir, Extra Virgin, this continues the story of her life in Liguria. The entrance of a local love interest adds an engaging twist to events. It was a long & detailed tale with plenty of local food love & entertaining neighbors & relatives to keep things lively.

[Rachel]

Good fun. Makes me want to move to Italy.

[Susan Fehr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as much fun as Extra Virgin, this is still interesting for finding out what happens to Annie. And some of the best loved neighbours from Extra Virgin.

[Sanna ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pidin kirjasta ja tarinasta.
Toisesta journaalista lukemani kommentia: "Hetkeäkään en nimittäin usko, että tuleva miniä paljastaisi appiehdokkaansa suurena salaisuutena säilyttämän viinintekoreseptin. Persikanoksa, pah."
voisin kommentoida, että eihän Annie mitään paljastanut vaan vertaisi paljastusta "tyyliin persikanoksa" tai jotain sinne päin. Eli minusta hän mainitsi vaan esimerkin, ei varsinaisesti paljastanut mitään salaisuutta.

[Janie O · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read! I love her humor and found that I never got tired of it. On the contrary, I looked forward to the next sentence after something off the wall happened to see what witty remark would highlight it. I especially appreciated a look into relationships - between family member, neighbors, etc. in that part of Italy.

[Deevena Jemima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the book. It was a fun read. Annie Hawes is an English lady who finds herself buying a house Italy. In the book, she narrates how she manages to survive in that area with its many little quirks, her neighbors, both nosy and caring, her relationship with the restaurant owner, then becoming a part of their family...

[Konrad Plechowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, but surely not as much as the first one.. The only reason I can think of why this one has better rating is that only people who rated first one 4 or 5 will get to read the second one ;). It's ok, but not as charming and funny as the first one.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this during a phase of reading travel books. I think when I was living in London. I enjoyed it.

[Mari Moisio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luin suomeksi, nimellä Kypsä poimittavaksi. Jatko-osa kirjalle Extra Virgin. Leppoisa tarina italialaiseen kulttuuriin solahtamisesta jatkuu. Pidin.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book so much more enjoyable than her first. It was easier to read and follow.
I am glad I didn't give up on this author.

[Sue Heaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read. I love her style and her wonderful immersion in another culture. Funny, touching, fascinating.

[Jammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sequel, equally as engaging.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Annie is a great writer. Couldn’t put it down

[Tarja Karvonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading these two books by Annie Hawes, I want to move to Italian countryside right away 😄

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read of the author’s life in Liguria, with her new partner Ciccio and his family. Very escapist. Can be a bit long winded though, lovely read nevertheless.

[Skumppa2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todella hyvä hömppäkirja Italian kaukokaipuuseen. Kirja toi lämpöä ja valoa pimeneviin syysiltoihin. 😊

[Kirsty Darbyshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Extra Virgin a few years back and enjoyed it so when I spotted this on the library shelf I picked it up for holiday reading. Story of everyday life in Liguria from a British point of view. Mostly about trying to get the house reroofed, which makes it sound terribly boring, but it's jam packed with little details that bring the whole neighbourhood to life.

Non fiction and fiction at the same time really (this Observer article shows that she doesn't exactly tell it like it is (not a bad thing)). I liked it and would like to read more books like it.

[Noora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erittäin hauska ja viihdyttävä kirja, jota lukee mielellään. Teksti on mukavan huumorintajuista ja ironistakin paikoitellen, sekä tuntuu luonnolliselta ja luontevalta. Pakkolukemista kaikille, jotka pitävät niistä kirjoista, joissa ihminen hankkii kakkosasunnon ulkomailta ja lopulta menettävät sydämensä maalle ja sen ihmisille. Onneksi tästä on vielä kolmas osa jäljellä.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sequel to Extra Virgin which I haven't read yet. It is a memoir of the author's life in rural Italy when she moves there from England. I enjoyed the humor and the picture of the simple life of a different culture. It is not exciting, but enjoyable reading.

[Caroline Turnock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The continuing adventures of Annie Hawes in Liguria.....laughed out loud in some places.....a really good book on life in Italy - the way she describes her daily experiences and the people she comes across makes you feel like you are there with her...you can just taste the Bruschetta!!!

[Agnieszka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple true story about life in rural Italy. Could've been boring (what do I care about Miss Hawes' olive trees or falling in roof?), yet it's written so beautifully that it deserves 4 starts - more than any other book I've recently read.

[Lyndle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous, entertaining autobiographical recollection of getting to know a family and culture. Refreshingly lacking in the “I say, aren’t these natives foreign” tone of many of this genre. Recommended.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book following Annie Hawes life in Italy as she moves there permanently, even better than the first.