Living in a Foreign Language: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love in Italy (Paperback)
May 31, 2009 by Destination Guide
Filed under Travel Italy Guides
From Publishers Weekly
In this lighthearted memoir by television’s former L.A. Law star, Tucker delve graciously into the rich lifestyle, cuisine and local wine of central Italy when he and his wife, actress Jill Eikenberry, make an impromptu purchase of a 350-year-old stone cottage in the Umbrian countryside. The Tuckers break away from the Bay Area to acquaint themselves with the Rustico, their new second home. Despite speaking limited Italian, they quickly befriend their expatriate and Italian neighbors and with them set out to celebrate the regional cuisine found in local trattorias, tavernas and the aromatic kitchens of new acquaintances. Language gaffes and the occasional couple’s spat is to be expected, as the Tuckers begin to re-evaluate their lives. The simplicity and heartiness of Umbria begins to feel more like home for them, and little by little the Tuckers let go of their more career-ambitious lives in the U.S. Jill’s revitalization of her theater career in New York becomes as much of an accomplishment as her taking art classes with 16 non-English-speaking Italian housewives. Tucker simply appreciates his relationships forged with Gloria, the owner of the local orta-frutta shop and the town’s butchers. Guileless narrative intertwined with generous descriptions of Italian fare make Tucker’s food memoir and travelogue a satisfying look into the good life. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
–This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Booklist
Driving through Italy, television actors Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry and her young Korean^B assistant are seduced by the stately, relaxed pace of Italian life. Swapping their dream of a house in Provence for an Italian venue, they find a friend’s home for sale near Spoleto, and Tucker quickly seals a deal. The delights of Italian food awaken Tucker’s latent epicure. His determined compulsion to savor every edible raised on local farms ultimately obliges him to spend some serious hours at the local gym. Returning for a time to their California home, they want to share their love of Italian food by hosting a dinner party, but egocentric American friends can’t even gracefully accept this generous invitation, citing a catalog of dietary restrictions and food fears. Foodies will slaver and bristle with envy at the surfeit of pungently fresh truffles that appear at seemingly every meal. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
–This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Buy Living in a Foreign Language: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love in Italy (Paperback) at Amazon
I had to really think about buying this book. So many books by movie starts just do not keep my interest. With great reservations I added it to my order along with several other non-fiction books I thought would keep my interest going if this turned out to be a dud.
“WOW!!!!” I could not put this book down! It is finished and ready to be sent off to a local library as I type and am still trying to read through all of the other non-fiction books I ordered at the same time!
If you are an armchair traveler, foodie, like humor, or enjoy just a good love story, this book has all of those ingredients plus more.
Plus the writing is excellent – much better than this review!
While it has been said that living well is the best revenge, actor Michael Tucker might say living well is the only way to go. His delightful over-too-soon memoir of sojourns in Italy leads one to believe that he knows what the good life is and has made it his own.
Tucker, his actress wife Jill Eikenberry, and their good friend Caroline established a goal for themselves during a vacation in Italy – it was “to slow down our hearts and minds until they synched up with the circadian rhythm of the Italian countryside.”
What happened was they lost their hearts to a 350-year-old rustico sitting on a hillside in the Spoleto valley. For Tucker, an unabashed gourmet, gourmand and all around foodie, the clincher was the forno, an oven older than the rustico which once had been where all the village women baked their bread. Situated beside the house, it stood alone, was covered, and would accommodate a very large animal. The forno would be the place where friends gathered for good food, great wine, and stimulating conversation.
The story of how they bought the rustico, refurbished it, and accomplished all of this while trekking between New York and Mill Valley, California, is warm, touching and often hilarious. At heart it is a love story, the love shared by Tucker and his wife, and their mutual love for Italy. For them, it is a totally new state of heart and mind. As Tucker explains, it is a “philosophical country,” where one visits with friends at table discussing life’s important questions, such as, “what one is going to eat at one’s next meal, which will be coming up in a few hours.”
Delizioso!
– Gail Cooke
I’m going to miss this delightful book. I couldn’t put it down. It’s the wonderful tale of two love affairs; one with a region, the other one with a life partner! I found myself waking up in the middle of the nite every nite this week to read a bit more, but I didn’t hurry thru it, instead I savored every word and every luscious description of food/drink/friends and countryside. I cried when I first started reading it, as it made me long for the Umbria of our recent vacation. And of course i cried a, when i put the book down at the end too. All good tears. My only fear is that this book will turn too many people onto the currently unspoiled beauty and perfection of Umbria. Shhhhhh… Please keep it a secret! Michael Tucker’s writing is delicious–and I highly recommend LIVING IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE to anyone who loves Italy, food, family or friends!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than expected
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…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Waiting for Peter Mayle
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.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasantly surprised!
When I first stumbled across this book at the bookstore, I looked at the cover and rolled my eyes. “Oh brother….
5.0 out of 5 stars
charm and Humor in Umbria
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…
3.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining
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…
1.0 out of 5 stars
Please spare me
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…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Living in a Foreign Language
As an Italophile I found this book an easy read with great descriptions
of the food and people of Umbria.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book For Daydreamers!
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…
1.0 out of 5 stars
if you like hollywood types
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.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Living in a Foreign Language:A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love in Italy
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.