Sonja’s Pick
December, 2023
Women in Sunlight
Frances Mayes
Crown Publishing, April, 2018
Perhaps I chose this book because we met Frances and her husband Edward on our recent trip to Italy, Cortona to be exact. She was an absolutely charming lady who approached us with a genuine smile on her face; her husband following. Many of you know her book and movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”. Mayes will be making a movie of this novel soon as well, so perhaps that is #2 why I chose to read and report.
The plot: Three 60-year-old women, two widowed, one sort of divorced, meet while attending a sales pitch for a retirement village. None feel they are at this crossroad of their life, but family and society has suggested it as the place to be with lots of options. Their friendship grows quickly, and they decide they do not want to sit and watch but rather grab life by the coattails and fly! Tuscany for a year!
Frances told us she likes to write about friendships and people in situations with choices given to them that they should investigate to make life sweeter. And that this book does.
It’s a beacon of hope in what seems like a dismal end. A new beginning for all. The narrator is a younger 44 who, with her architect husband, moved to San Rocco some time ago. She owns a villa and now these three ladies come to join the neighborhood in a villa left empty due to the passing of owners. The women become a vital presence in the small town, hosting dinner parties, visiting local shops, lunching at cafes. Their friendship is almost too good to be true, but nice to see. Simple but real, they enjoy each new discovery whether an architectural archway, new pasta recipe, or the surrounding scenery.
There is money available to buy things to spruce up the villa, take trips to Venice and Florence, and follow a previous passion. Each of them reach out in their own way. There is always a little bit of sex on the couch or the back seat of a car. Dream on, we are allowed. Does it go on and on too often, yes, but I smiled every time I turned the pages. Hopefully you will enjoy as much as I did.