Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop

Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop

Under the Tuscan Sun meets Diary of a Bookseller in this charming memoir by an Italian poet recounting her experience opening a bookshop in a village in Tuscany.

Alba Donati was used to her hectic life working as a book publicist in Italy—a life that made her happy and allowed her to meet prominent international authors—but she was ready to make a change. One day she decided to return to Lucignana, the small village in the Tuscan hills where she was born. There she opened a tiny but enchanting bookshop in a lovely little cottage on a hill, surrounded by gardens filled with roses and peonies.

Alba’s lifelong love of literature shines on every page of this unique and uplifting book. Formatted as diary entries with delightful lists of the books sold at the shop each day, this inspirational story celebrates reading as well as book lovers and booksellers, the unsung heroes of the literary world.

“Eccentric and charming.”

— Mail on Sunday

Review by 1000 Libraries

Alba Donati’s Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop is a delightful and heartwarming memoir that invites readers into the enchanting world of her small, independent bookstore nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany. With a poetic prose and a deep love for literature, Donati paints a vivid picture of her life running the bookshop, sharing her passion for books with customers, and rediscovering the beauty and tranquility of her hometown.

Structured as a series of diary entries, one of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing through the descriptions of the Tuscan landscape and Donati’s love for the region’s culture and history. Whether you’re a book lover, a fan of Italian culture, or simply looking for a comforting and uplifting read, Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop is sure to delight.

"For immediate transportation to Italy without having to check in your baggage, Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop is alive with kindness and inspiration and will double your to-be-read list. Pure bliss."

"Alba Donati's Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop is not only a work of significant beauty, it's inspiring. It's inspiring about the continuing life of books, and about the ways in which our lives can change and our dreams can come true, if only we insist on believing in changes and dreams."

"Charming tale of an Italian book publicist and poet who “launched a [successful] crowdfunding campaign on Facebook to open a bookshop in a tiny village in the mountains. Readers beware: will cause the irresistible desire to open a small bookstore.”

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