Annie Hawes

I just finished the second of Annie Hawes' books on her adventures in Italy, Ripe for the Picking (copyright 2003). I read her first book, Extra Virgin, years ago early on in my obsessive foray into travel narratives. It was laugh-out-loud hilarious. I loved the book, the characters, the region- everything about it. This second book is slightly more mature, with the same delightful sense of humor. It is out of print, but I was able to find it through Amazon. Now I am anxious to acquire her next two books so I can continue to share in her experiences in the Italian countryside. Wonderful!

My Life in France

I am about two thirds of the way through My Life in France by Julia Child.

Before starting the book, my knowledge of Julia Child was limited to the occasional pause on PBS during one of her cooking shows to listen to her very unique voice. And the commonly referred to tendency she had for using alcohol in the cooking process (whether this is true or not I can't say).

The book is excellent. It is well written and interesting, with enough humor and personal details to balance the cooking portions perfectly. I am not inclined towards cooking myself but I find it is a subject that appeals to me in print.

So far she's taken us through living in Paris and Marseilles. Now they are based in Germany and she's hard at work on writing her first cookbook. I didn't expect, but have enjoyed, her opinions on American politics or her war experiences. It's amazing how different life was just a half century ago.

One thing is for sure, I would love to be eating along side her as she feasts on all the French cuisine.

My Travel Shelf

Inspired by Rev. Dr. Mom, here's my shelf of travel narratives (although I don't think that's the best label for the genre, as most of the writers are not travelling but living in a foreign country). This collection gets prime shelf location.

Italy

A Tuscan Childhood by Kinta Beevor
Too Much Tuscan Sun by Dario Castagno
A Thousand Days in Venice,
A Thousand Days in Tuscany,
The Lady in the Palazzo by Marlena de Blasi
The Reluctant Tuscan by Phil Doran
As The Romans Do by Alan Epstein
An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser
Italian Days by Barbara Grizzuti Harrison
Extra Virgin,
Ripe for the Picking,
Journey to the South by Annie Hawes
The Hills of Tuscany by Ferenc Mate
Under The Tuscan Sun,
Bella Tuscany,
In Tuscany by Frances Mayes
Italian Neighbors by Tim Parks
A House in Sicily by Daphne Phelps
The Tuscan Year by Elizabeth Romer
A Summer in Tuscany by Sandra J. Swanson
On Persephone's Island by Mary Taylor Simenti
Escape to Tuscany - Fodor's 2nd Edition

France

At Home in France by Ann Barry
My Life in France by Julia Child
A Castle in the Backyard by Betsy Draine & Michael Hinden
The Olive Farm,
The Olive Season,
The Illustrated Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater
French Spirits by Jeffrey Greene
On Rue Tatin by Susan Herrmann Loomis
The Magic of Provence,
Love in Provence by Yvone Lenard
A Year in Provence,
Toujours Provence,
Encore Provence by Peter Mayle
A Farmhouse in Provence by Mary Roblee Henry
From Here, You Can't See Paris by Michael S. Sanders
Instructions for Visitors by Helen Stevenson
Almost French by Sarah Turnbull

UK/Greece

My Love Affair With England by Susan Allen Toth
The Summer of My Greek Taverna by Tom Stone