Rating: 
Summary: The Olive Farm
Review: Both humorous and sad at the same time, Carol Drinkwater invites us into her life for a year. This is not this typical all is well Provence story. There is love, laughter and loss. Well worth a read.
Rating: 
Summary: An experience to be envious of
Review: Carol Drinkwater is a British actress. She is in a relationship with Michel, a French television producer. Together they decide to buy a neglected olive farm in the south of France. The book revolves around their eventful purchase of the farm and their even more eventful attempts to change the farm into a place where they can live. The book provides some insight into the lifestyle of the French, especially the rural communities. The characters they meet during these eventful times add much colour to the already fascinating tale - from the old lady from whom they buy the farm to the variety of workers and contractors that help them to fix the place.Carol refers only where necessary to her and Michel's more glamorous entertainment careers, which I appreciated as I have bought the book for the story around the farm. I was easily drawn into the story by her writing and enjoyed their successes with them and stressed through the downturns with them. Her description of the countryside and their rather romantic excursion to the islands off the coast, south of Cannes, add to the enjoyment of the book. The struggle to retain the farm and the typical human interactions between the various characters maintain a tension that holds throughout the book and it actually pulls the reader through it. I thought it was well written and well edited. Actually, similar to other reviewers, I would not mind a follow-up to learn how their lives and the farm developed further! I read the book because of the olive element in it and the fact that I am jealous of people doing things that I want to do but am too scared to do! I am comfortable that I got value for my money and was inspired by the book, although I have still not bought my olive farm! People who enjoy biographies will not be disappointed by this book. Readers who read travel stories will also find it enjoyable. A few months ago, I have also read Extra Virgin by Annie Hawes, a similar story and also enjoyable. However, if I have to choose between the two, I will go for The Olive Farm.
Rating:
Summary: As warm as the Mediterranean sun.
Review: Carol Drinkwater, actress in my all-time favorite television show, "All Creatures Great and Small," takes us with her on a warm and wonderful journey to the south of France where we experienced first-hand with her the toils, traumas, tears, and triumphs of pursuing one's dream. In this case the initial dream was to make a go of a dilapidated olive farm near Cannes and Nice, and ultimately, it led us on a voyage with the author to find her (and vicariously our) heart's desire. The farm is just a stage -- it is the people, their warmth, caring, and interdependence, that make life worth living. The story is very interesting, with plenty of ups and downs, interesting people and experiences, writing that touches all our senses (I can almost smell those orange-scented breezes), genuinely moving events and realizations, lots of heart and humor, and very importantly, excellent writing. Her descriptions are very clear, the story keeps moving forward at an interesting pace, and there were a number of passages that I re-read several times to fully appreciate her excellent use of language. (Peter Mayle could take some lessons here.) I regretted having to finish the book and stepping back out of Ms. Drinkwater's world, and I hope we will have a sequel to sink our minds and hearts into. It's enough to make me (almost) forgive the actress/author for relinquishing her role in the final episodes of "All Creatures.." I highly recommend this book, I thank the author for inviting us into her world, and I look forward to OF2.
Rating:
Summary: On the Fence
Review: Hours after listening to the last installment of Drinkwater's The Olive Farm on unabridged audio cassette, I vacillate between liking and disliking this offering. The narrative, although an interesting recount of actress Carol Drinkwater's purchase of and initial rennovations on a run-down olive farm in the South of France, lacks the sparkling energy of Peter Mayle's 'A Year in Provence'. Instead, Drinkwater's tale mingles oh-so-sweet recollections that tiresomely wax on the poetic with bald reenactments of her lowest emotional moments--moments that transform her dream of a working farm producing rich and succulent olive oil into nothing more than a meaningless childish fantasy. The result never quite gels to produce an even story---instead the reader wants to either fast-forward through the author's awkward poetry to get to an action sequence, or fast forward through the melancholy action to reach an enjoyable idyll in the Midi sun. Unfortunately, the idylls in the sun are few and far between--Drinkwater only sparks with life when she writes about the numerous dogs that stray onto her newly-acquired property.
One gets the sense, that this book started out as a series of essays rather than a fully planned out book--the ending was rushed and I would have thought that as the book began with the idea of working towards and owning the farm, an appropriate ending would have been the actual purchase of the property outright after all the trials and tribulations both Drinkwater and her husband labored through. Instead, a murky resolution of the author's feelings about her father's death and the troubles regarding a television production seem to overshadow the book's original theme and premise.
Recommended only to those who cannot read enough about the south of France, especially those who enjoy the 'Under the Tuscan Sun' genre of travel literature.
Rating:
Summary: On the Fence
Review: Hours after listening to the last installment of Drinkwater's The Olive Farm on unabridged audio cassette, I vacillate between liking and disliking this offering. The narrative, although an interesting recount of actress Carol Drinkwater's purchase of and initial rennovations on a run-down olive farm in the South of France, lacks the sparkling energy of Peter Mayle's 'A Year in Provence'. Instead, Drinkwater's tale mingles oh-so-sweet recollections that tiresomely wax on the poetic with bald reenactments of her lowest emotional moments--moments that transform her dream of a working farm producing rich and succulent olive oil into nothing more than a meaningless childish fantasy. The result never quite gels to produce an even story---instead the reader wants to either fast-forward through the author's awkward poetry to get to an action sequence, or fast forward through the melancholy action to reach an enjoyable idyll in the Midi sun. Unfortunately, the idylls in the sun are few and far between--Drinkwater only sparks with life when she writes about the numerous dogs that stray onto her newly-acquired property.
One gets the sense, that this book started out as a series of essays rather than a fully planned out book--the ending was rushed and I would have thought that as the book began with the idea of working towards and owning the farm, an appropriate ending would have been the actual purchase of the property outright after all the trials and tribulations both Drinkwater and her husband labored through. Instead, a murky resolution of the author's feelings about her father's death and the troubles regarding a television production seem to overshadow the book's original theme and premise.
Recommended only to those who cannot read enough about the south of France, especially those who enjoy the 'Under the Tuscan Sun' genre of travel literature.
Rating: 
Summary: C'est magnifique!
Review: I have just finished reading The Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater and it was nothing less
than fabulous. I found it to be honest, sincere, humorous and incredibly moving. After
reading Ms. Drinkwater's work, I feel as though I know her. I want to visit her and Michel
and help work on their farm, drink wine with them and explore the south of France. It is
as if one were actually there and privy to all their joys, successes, failures and secrets. It
has been a very long time since I have read a book that I wanted more of. I was actually sorry
to have finished it. Bravo Ms. Drinkwater! Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: C'est magnifique!
Review: I have just finished reading The Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater and it was nothing less
than fabulous. I found it to be honest, sincere, humorous and incredibly moving. After
reading Ms. Drinkwater's work, I feel as though I know her. I want to visit her and Michel
and help work on their farm, drink wine with them and explore the south of France. It is
as if one were actually there and privy to all their joys, successes, failures and secrets. It
has been a very long time since I have read a book that I wanted more of. I was actually sorry
to have finished it. Bravo Ms. Drinkwater! Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Life and Love and Property in the South of France
Review: I liked this book a lot. But a poor title, which does not reflect the scope of the story. I wish the author had been a bit more specific. For example: Date of the story? Did she ever marry Michel and why/why not? All told, it is a lovely memoir -- not of a couple either retired or wealthy enough who go to live out a dream -- but two working people, artistes (as their neighbors notice!), who sacrifice to have this old ruin and its surrounding lands all the while trying to accommodate his children, her parents and their respective careers. I enjoyed it a lot more than Mayles, who always seems so pretentious.
Rating:
Summary: Evocative! Inspiring!
Review: I loved this book! Ms. Drinkwater has done what so many of us dream of doing. She found a house in the South of France, and along with her husband, fought to buy it, fix it, breathe life into it. I felt transported to her wonderful farm and cheered her on. I didn't want it to end and hope she writes more about her olive farm.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I very much enjoyed Carol Drinkwater's honest, colorful story. She has excellent descriptive abilities; I could "see" the farm, the towns, and the people. She herself seems to be a kind, generous person who genuinely enjoys both life and other peoples' idiosyncrasies. She didn't hide the emotional turmoil she felt at times, but she also shared her moments of joy. I have read Peter Mayle's Provence books and enjoyed them too, especially for his descriptions of the people and the place, but by the end of this story, felt I knew Carol personally. I would definitely recommend it - Thanks Carol! give us more!
|
