Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes is a memoir of Mayes' adventure in buying an Italian villa. This was my book club's pick for this month, and it's not something I'd usually read, so I'm grateful for the venture outside of my norm. However, it wasn't my favorite. A large part of that's because it's dated. She's talking about the years between 1990-95 which is now 20 years ago. Times have changed. With the prevalence of internet and cell phones, I can't imagine that getting a house and living in a house in Italy hasn't changed. Her descriptions of the calmness of Italy is infectious, however. I could feel myself relaxing, imagining the smell of lemons and picking herbs in a bright sunlit garden. It made me a little homesick for summer -- especially since I read this in two "snow days" that I had off from work. I was cold and I wanted sun. Mayes is fantastic at describing the way sun feels. She spends a lo...