Talking Location With …. Jim Loughran: SICILY
A novel of naivety set in TUSCANY
5th October 2026
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer, a novel of naivety set in Tuscany.
This is a great novel to breathe in Tuscany, it is full of colour, arid landscapes and wonderfully crafted scenes.
This is the story of a young American student who seizes the opportunity to be an archivist in Tuscany, in the home of the 92 year old Coco, the Baronessa, who lives with a cohort of pugs. The writing is amazing, the story glides sure-footedly through the late Summer into Autumn and indeed, in that sense, it does make for a “Great Summer Read“, which is the tagline that runs alongside the novel.
Giovedì – the moniker given to the young American by the Baronessa whilst he is in residence – is finding out who he is, and away from the quotidian, he can be who he wants to be, learning Italian, imbibing the culture and history that both leap from the pages. He is keen to get started on cataloguing the treasures that abound in the sumptuous, yet run-down dwelling, but visitors keep appearing, thwarting his efforts when his services are required elsewhere.
The story moves along gently and effortlessly, heavy with Summer indolence as the main character ponders this period in his life. There are many points of interest (discover more about the sex life of the eel, for example), right down to magical thinking that keeps everyone potentially safe, according to the Baronessa. There are cultural and artistic references and a plethora of informative topics to keep the reader entertained. The characters are often larger than life, and in that respect they might just teeter on the edge of being unbelievable, but the whole trajectory swallows any perceived flaws. Just enjoy your trip to Tuscany.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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