Pinch Me

<b>For fans of Stanley Tucci and Frances Mayes Barbara Boyle's story of leaving her California home to restore an old stone farmhouse in Italy's Piedmont--only to fall in love with the food and people of her enchanting new town--will delight and inspire. </b> <p/>An updated twist on the classic <i>Under the Tuscan Sun</i> this is the deeply personal story of how fiftysomething Barbara Boyle leaves her busy and familiar life behind in San Francisco and begins taking apart a 300-year-old stone barn to build a new home--a new life--in the largely undiscovered region of Piedmont Italy. <p/>Filled with discoveries and pleasures of the stunning places and food she encounters <i>Pinch Me </i>also details Barbara's frustrations in adjusting to a new culture as well as the startling heartbreak of being faced with a breast cancer diagnosis. But even in the midst of this crisis she and her husband create a home out of the stone ruin they had found forming deep friendships in their little town and unlocking a new level of joy in life. She shares intimate moments joyous and bittersweet as a new wife stepmom and a member of a community--and of course she shares a few recipes reflecting the gastronomical excellence of the region. <p/>A touching memoir filled with food friendships and scenes of Italy <i>Pinch Me </i>is ultimately a celebration of love of learning to see the world as well as oneself through a different window and of the powerful joy that comes from building a dream.