A Year in the World

Actually it was five years, but who's counting? These essays are Mayes's account of the many, mostly Mediterranean, countries in which she and her husband have immersed themselves. From flamenco dancing in Seville to boating in Turkey to strolling the dusty streets of Morocco, she, aided by Cassandra Campbell's excellent reading, makes you feel right there. Meals are served orally with savory sensuality, the pace ensures that you won't miss a word, and the few negative experiences (tawdry rental houses, crowds at popular Greek sites) are described with a slightly arch tone. Foreign phrases, whether Turkish, French, or Greek, pose no problem. You get the sense that Mayes would be a wonderful traveling companion, so come along. J.B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine


Frances Mayes endeavors to make the listener feel as much at home around the world as she made them feel in Tuscany with her first bestseller, UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN. She transports the listener to houses and apartments in Morocco, England, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Portugal, with some side trips to other parts of her adopted Italy and a cruise to Greece. The trips were taken over a five-year span and include the details expected of Mayes--history, shopping, scenery, and, most importantly, food. However, Mayes's monotone reading lacks the enthusiasm one would expect and shines only when describing the people in her life. Still, the abridgment is well done, making her occasional detailed ramblings about history or descriptions much more bearable. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

Starred review from September 15, 2006
Using their villa in Tuscany as a home base, Mayes ("Under the Tuscan Sun") and her husband travel to Spain, Portugal, France, and the British Isles and then on to the Mediterranean, where they experience Greece, Turkey, and North Africa. She shares her observations about the history, architecture, art, and customs of each locale, excelling at describing the cuisine of each country, province, city, and town and creating mouth-watering impressions. The author is such an enthusiastic and passionate traveler that she inspires listeners to start planning their own trips, but the finest feature is her own narrative style, which is melodious and enchanting. This is truly a travel journal of the observations, encounters, and many meals Mayes and her husband experienced over five years. Cassandra Campbell's mellifluous voice is suited to the pronunciation of occasional foreign words or phrases and provides a soothing delivery for Mayes's commentary. For anyone interested in armchair travel; highly recommended for all public libraries." -Gloria Maxwell, Penn Valley Community Coll., Kansas City, MO"

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.