Frances Mayes is well-known for her many books on Tuscany, particularly "Under the Tuscan Sun," (which was eventually made into a movie.)
A lush, evocative, perceptive writer in any event, she outdoes herself with "Under Magnolia," a memoir of growing up in the deep South. Sometimes you can go home again, even though you remember every detail of the racist, dysfunctional, eccentric, but somehow still loving and supportive family that you grew up in. We learn about her parents, her grandmother, various neighbors and other relatives, but the most moving portrayal to my mind is her close relationship with their black servant, Willie Bell, who guided her through some difficult times, took care of her, and whom she eventually lost touch with, to her continuing distress.
Mayes now divides her time between Tuscany and Hillsborough, NC, and she compares the two frequently in "Under Magnolia", noting similarities and differences of thought. She also notes that the South has improved dramatically in several respects (particularly racial relations.)
Highly recommended meditation on home and what that means.
I obtained a free copy of this book in return for a review, from Blogging For Books. The image above links to the book's Amazon page.
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