Rating: 
Summary: A richly textured remembrance of a home and a land
Review: A Castle In The Backyard: The Dream Of A House In France is a wonderful memoir of Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden (both of whom are Professors of English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison), who found their summer dream home to be a little stone house in the shadow of a great French castle. A Castle In The Backyard is highly recommended reading as a richly textured remembrance of a home and a land steeped in centuries of tradition and lore, as well as the eclectic and diverse variety of the people who embody its spirit.
Rating:
Summary: a delightful read
Review: after watching the late news, I pick up A Castle in The Backyard as my reward after a long day. It's my escape hatch into the loveliest part of France! In my mind, I can experience life in a small French village with Michael and Betsy, visit the surrounding areas, gaze at the quietly meandering river, eat delicious meals, visit prehistoric caves and make new friends. Only after treating myself to a few chapters each night, can I go to bed happily and peacefully, just knowing that such a place exists. Whatever will I do when I finish this wonderful book? I suppose I'll just have to travel to the Dordogne myself!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent armchair travel
Review: For many people, the opportunity to travel the world is one of the great pleasures of life. You are able to experience different cultures, sample gastronomic delights, and see how others live. The ultimate adventure is to actually purchase a house in another country and live there part of the year. Most of us who regard a trip to Pewaukee or Door County as an exotic vacation will never experience this firsthand. We must content ourselves with books in the armchair travel genre. Authors such as Frances Mayes and Peter Mayle have enchanted readers for years with their adventures abroad. Recently two married local authors have released a book that stands with the very best of these travel books.Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden are professors of English at UW-Madison. In 1985 they purchased a small house in the Perigord region of France. Every year since they have used it as their summer home. The end result of this is their excellent book, A Castle in the Backyard: The Dream of a House in France. It is filled with delightful stories of the village of Castelnaud, of fixing up their house, of eating the local delicacies, and of the charming inhabitants of the village. Essentially everything that is good about a travel memoir is in this book. There is great humor to be found here as well as perceptive thoughts about France and the French people. If you a traveler yourself or a fan of great travel literature, you owe it to yourself to read A Castle in the Backyard.
Rating:
Summary: A Spectacular Getaway in the form of a Book!
Review: I read this book piece by piece on my commute to and from work. I read quite of few of the "escapist" books, especially the ones where one escapes to the south of France. This one was particulary enjoyable and engrossing. I constantly found myself complaining that my commute was too short. You really feel like you're there with them. The only bad aspect to the book is the fact that it makes me want to do the very same thing as them even more, and my means to do it hasn't improved! An absolute pleasure to read!
Rating:
Summary: A Spectacular Getaway in the form of a Book!
Review: I read this book piece by piece on my commute to and from work. I read quite of few of the "escapist" books, especially the ones where one escapes to the south of France. This one was particulary enjoyable and engrossing. I constantly found myself complaining that my commute was too short. You really feel like you're there with them. The only bad aspect to the book is the fact that it makes me want to do the very same thing as them even more, and my means to do it hasn't improved! An absolute pleasure to read!
Rating:
Summary: A True Delight
Review: I savored every word, as if a delicious meal. I didn't want it to end. A very sweet and visual read. The village and villagers came to life in front of my eyes. I can't imagine a summer trip to France without a stop in Castelnaud, and a meal with Betsy and Michael. Two Thumbs up from me.
Rating:
Summary: A True Delight
Review: I savored every word, as if a delicious meal. I didn't want it to end. A very sweet and visual read. The village and villagers came to life in front of my eyes. I can't imagine a summer trip to France without a stop in Castelnaud, and a meal with Betsy and Michael. Two Thumbs up from me.
Rating:
Summary: A Spectacular Getaway in the form of a Book!
Review: This couple did not choose to live near glamourous Riviera, but this was a very good adventure anyway. It is well written and I would read it again!
Rating:
Summary: A delight.
Review: This book is lovely. It is charming and entertaining. I would recommend it even if you don't intend to buy a house in France. The relationships that Betsy and Michael established and their adventures are just plain enjoyable. I recommend it highly!
Rating:
Summary: A delight.
Review: This book is lovely. It is charming and entertaining. I would recommend it even if you don't intend to buy a house in France. The relationships that Betsy and Michael established and their adventures are just plain enjoyable. I recommend it highly!
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