I am not even half way through this book and dreaming of traveling to/living in Italy. Michael Tucker puts you right there, experiencing every step he and Jill take. A devoted fan of L.A. Law in its heyday, I can hear him speaking his words. Thank you, so far, for a wonderful journey with you in Umbria. I don't want the book to end!

Michael Tucker paints a vivid word picture of an exploration of Italy through food. Spending so much time seeing the world through his eyes... Well, I don't plan to invite him over to my house any time soon and I don't want to talk philosophy or politics with him. But food; man-o-man can he talk about food! Reading this book I tasted the dishes, I met and grew to love the neighbors, and it's convinced me that tasting my way across Italy should be at the top of my "Bucket List".

I so enjoyed this book. It was great fun to tag along on their adventures in renting, buying, renovating their dream home in Italy. Their love of friends, neighbors and food/wine was like being there at one of there ex-pats parties.
How wonderful that they were able to experience this being employed here and there. Sounds like a great life and they aren't wasting it. Good for them and fun for the reader.

As someone who lived in Italy for three years, I can relate to much of what was written in this lovely memoir. You haven't lived until you have experienced both heavenly food, glorious wine and unforgettable nights of passion with the woman you love. Thanks to all the responsibilities we take on, life can get stressful and complicated, but when you get a chance to indulge in pleasure (as Michael did) you have to take it. If anything, read this book to remind yourself of your own dreams and how it is still possible to make them happen.

I absolutely loved this book and didn't want it to end. Each time I sat down and read more it left me longing for the food and wine of Umbria that I even ordered black truffles from Italy online. I wish I could buy the recipes of every pasta and meat dish they enjoyed in this book.

After reading several books about peoples experiences of Italy in their many guises, I was interested to see what Tucker would deliver..I was very disappointed with this book, the narration was bland, his descriptions of 'living' in Italy boring. Anyone interested in reading stories of Italy would get much better value for their money by buying the books by the Tuscan author Dario Castagno, also available on Amazon.

I felt like I was there with them through the highs and lows and certainly the tastes of Tuscany. I laughed often and sighed with the description of the food, cooking, and the people. I was ready to move to Italy by the end of the book. And I really need that oven.

Although jealousy was my predominant emotion, this was a wonderful book about all things Italian, love and commitment to life. I recommend it highly.

Service was exceptional. I received the book within 3 days instead of the 10 day expected delivery date. Thank you.

Michael Tucker is a TV star from LA Law who, with his wife, Jill Eikenberry (also from LA Law) purchased a home in Italy. This is about their home and settling into life in Umbria.

Mr Tucker has a style that is light and friendly. He obviously loves his new life in Italy and shares that with the reader. He is the kind of person you want to know: intelligent, funny and generous. There is no real conflict here. This is not a fish out of water story, but rather a fish moving from one school to another.

Like him I dream of a home in the country in Europe. I hope he writes again. I'll certainly purchase his next book. He feeds by spirit, hopes and dreams.

Living in a foreign language really stole my heart! And I have never seen
LA Law. Been to Italy once and Michael really nailed it! Mixed with a lot
of their personal life, it was delightfully laugh-outloud funny. I could taste every bite. I wish them the very best and can't wait for his next book.

I spent 2 weeks in Umbria last summer and I am still jonesing for the food and wine.

Tucker did a great a job capturing the spirit of this beautiful region. Magical hill towns - Assisi, Gubbio, Montefalco, Norcia; Spoleto and Bevagna - a bit less travelled than neighboring Tuscany.
[...]

I'd give this one 3 stars, but only because I'm torn so much on this book. On one hand, I want to know if I can come be a guest at this rustico because it sounds fabulous and the town of Umbria sounds gorgeous and just *sigh*. On the other, the author's voice sometimes annoyed me, it was very much "look at me, look at me". But that's the whole point of writing a memoir right? On the other (err, third) hand, I wanted to see if this couple would adopt me. They seem to be so cute, so right for each other, so loving and fun.

The writing was fantastic, I could pretty much taste everything he described (what diet?). You can tell the author is completely in love with the area, the food, the culture. I just felt like something was missing from the story, I'm not even sure what it was... still this is well worth a read, pick it up and try not to gain 10 pounds while reading through it - I dare ya ;)

What a fun (and funny) book this turned out to be. Brash, outrageous and a delightful view of expat life in this little Umbrian community, as well as the Tuckers' surrounding life journey. Although I'm a sucker for Italian memoirs, some of which have endured as favorite books, I resisted this one because I just couldn't believe an actor would also turn out to be a good enough writer to satisfy me. Well, he did, and charmingly so. The mood of the book is light and upbeat and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the experience of buying the aged Rustico and enlarging it wasn't dwelt upon in the customary nerve wrenching detail. Not that I haven't enjoyed some memoirs of that type, but this was a refreshing change.

I appreciated and enjoyed the realism that one may find it more comfortable to hook up with other expats, at least at first, and would anguish over time learning another language well enough to interact easily with locals. That is certainly the boat I'd be in. Of course the life style that allows for continually flying back and forth and buying the place at all is out of reach for most of us, but still it's presented in a down-to-earth manner that makes it fun to read about and imagine vicariously though the author's self-effacing style.

I didn't expect to like this book so much, but I did and it will go on my list of favorite Italian memoirs. The included pictures added to the comfortable `letter from a friend' feel of the book. Bravo!

I've enjoyed most of the books by Peter Mayle but most of the travel nonfiction I've read just doesn't match up to him. But, I must admit that Michael tucker rises to the occasion. While reading I was able to feel his love for a place, a culture, and a way of life (and that is without even going into his love for Jill Eikenberry). He demonstrates those aspects of Mayle's nonfiction and fiction that are most appealing to me - the European appreciation of the life around the table. some people refer to this type of person as a "foodie" and it may be so but I think there is much more to it than that. It really is more about really being with the people you are with. It is about taking the time to enjoy the meal, the conversation, and the company. This book delievered so much more than I expected.

When I first stumbled across this book at the bookstore, I looked at the cover and rolled my eyes. "Oh brother....another book by a has-been celebrity trying to keep his name alive....puh-lease!" But something compelled me to pick it up and scan through it. I was captivated by the opening lines. So much so that I bought it and brought it home. I must admit that I couldn't put it down. Michael Tucker's descriptive phrases about the countryside, the food, the local residents, the rustico all helped to transport the reader to the Umbrian countryside. Their encounters with the local residents as well as the ex-pat community are interesting as well as entertaining. I especially enjoyed their adventures at the language school trying to improve their Italian. No, this is not grand literature and the one or two political comments were probably not necessarily appropriate...but this is HIS book of HIS experiences and does not detract from the overall story. This is an enjoyable, light-read about one family's adventure and should be taken in that context. For anyone who enjoys experiencing foreign cultures close-up, you will enjoy this story.

I picture Michael and Jill happily esconced in their renovated farm building in Umbria. Tucker has a whimsical sense of humor and great observational skills -- and it doesn't hurt that he's a foodie. The reader sits at their table, visits local restaurants, tours Umbria and lives through home renovation (and MAJOR lifestyle changes), along with friends and Umbrian natives. A delight.

This is a fun book to read and made me laugh out loud at times. Tucker is a good, observant writer. However, he chose not to expose himself to a deeper cultural experience, as Mayle and Mayes have done. He left too many tasks to an apparently crude, bossy New York ex-pat, who presented him with a house, a dedicated architect, a husband who "can do/fix anything" and a group of ex-pat friends who gather around his pizza oven (also operated by the husband). She basically managed Tucker's Italian life. This is a shame, because Tucker has potential to be a more serious writer. The subtly supportive relationship with his wife is is touchingly and thoughtfully narrated. The pull between professional life in New York and idle life in an olive grove could be fodder for a really interesting book from him - if his Italian life still exists and has evolved from the honeymoon phase.

I was enjoying the book, although "Extra Vigin" by Annie Hawes is far better - of for no other reason than her adventure is much more aligned with the lives and possibilities of real people - until Mr. Tucker started pontificating about politics and talking about how he declined to fly an American flag when his construction was complete because he was "ashamed" of his country. A pox on you, Mr. Tucker. I don't buy light reading to be lectured on politics by actors and other lightweights who think their acting ability conveys political wisdom. And thankfully, I got this book at the library and didn't pay for it. I won't be reading anything else you write, either.

As an Italophile I found this book an easy read with great descriptions
of the food and people of Umbria. I felt part of the story and want to go
and visit the exact area where Michael Tucker bought his Rustico.
Grat book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and my only criticsm is that it had to end. I wanted more. My husband and I have been lucky enough to visit Tuscany and Umbria and have often dreamed of buying a home there in need of repair. Michael's descriptions of his day to day life, making friends with the locals and other Americans brought you into his life. You want to sit around a table with them enjoying the food they have cooked or sitting with their friends in a local cafe or wandering the beautiful countryside. It gives you a glimpse into what it would be like to live there although without the visits from their movie industry friends. Write more books, Michael.

i couldnt wait to throw this book in the ashcan-so self serving, really boring--if you love italy for its substance dont waste your time on this book. i recently bought a house there so i read everything i can (hundreds of books on life in italy)and i can say that with all the good stuff out there, eliminate this one. unless of course you love hollywood types.

I have not yet been fortunate to physically travel to Italy but I can say with certainty that while reading Mr. Tucker's book, I made an intellectual journey to Italy. What a read! I felt as if I was seeing, smelling, touching, tasting every bit that Italy has to offer through the words of Mr. Tucker. Thank you, Mr. Tucker, for taking me along with you. I hope that in the near future my family and I will have the privilege of experiencing this wonderful country.

This is a fun escape into a new venture. The author takes the reader along to the new life he and his wife are experiencing as they share the beauty and excitement of living among the Italian olive groves and fig trees with a few sips of wine and great pasta! Learning the language as they live it is as delightful as it is challenging.

Michael Tucker is a great story teller and this story will make you want to pack your bag. As with most TV actors you feel you know Tucker and his wife Jill Eikenberry (LA Law). The story of finding and remodeling an italian farm house is every traveler's dream. Tucker's description of the house, the village, and becoming part of the community is engaging. The only problem is the story ends too soon!