Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia |
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Chris Stewart
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Pages: 256 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0953522709
Pub: Sort of Books
Pub date: 1999-06-03
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2260
Editorial Review:
All Provenced out? Then head further south, to the breathtaking mountainous climes of Andalucia. Just don't be squeamish about driving over lemons. Chris Stewart, skilled sheep-shearer and sometime Genesis drummer, took one look at the Alpujarrás, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and decided that's where he wanted to be. This is the story of his adventures coming to terms with the terrain, the lifestyle and, of course, the locals, who possess all the rugged, homespun charm you'd expect. Stewart soon discovers all the hidden foibles of his bargain purchase, and spends the following year (rendered here in detail) installing the little luxuries of life like, say, water.
However, just when you're worrying that all this might degenerate into a rose-tinted Englishman-finds-nature idyll, Chris's wife enters the fray. Nonsense-free, straight-talking and relentlessly unsentimental, Ada should be a required resource for all travel writers. Ada gets bored with the fake machismo of pig-killing, Ada sees through the selfless "help" of the natives, Ada calls a peasant a peasant. With her on board, Stewart has the perfect counterbalance to his declared optimism, and Driving over Lemons becomes a loving but clear-sighted encomium, economically and wittily written, to a wonderful part of the world. --Alan Stewart
Reader Reviews:
Warning: This book is dangerous! (0/0 people found this helpful)
This book is so well written and witty, describing an idylic life in Spain that I am sure many will be tempted to follow in Chris's and my own footsteps. I have been through the same story as this family, having lived in Spain for the past sixteen years, longer than Chris. I speak fluent Castellano, the same as him. My warning about his book is unless you can speak Spanish perfectly, you will never enjoy half the experiences described. If you are willing to learn the language, then "Driving Over Lemmons" is so good and an inspiration. If you are inspired and are up for it then Spain is still a good choice. My advice is read the book, learn to speak Spanish, enjoy and do the same. Wonderful read and a wonderful country. I am writting this review on the PC powered by my faithfull Honda generator as I don't have electricity in the "campo"!
Bad sheep and a running river . . . (1/1 people found this helpful)
The odd title of this book refers to the citrus road hazards encountered by the author, Chris Stewart, on his inaugural house-hunting trip in Andalucía, where he is TOLD which house to buy (they do things differently in the mountains).
Slowly settling into Pedro Romero's run-down farm (with Pedro who takes his time leaving!), this well written book tells the tale of his eventful first few years in the Alpujarrás. With his loyal wife Ana by his side, Stewart recounts all their experiences of errant sheep, dodgy farmers, flooded rivers, dried up rivers, and the sights and sounds of his new home with passion and warmth.
As time passes, the house takes shape, friendships are made, particularly with his neighbour Domingo who latterly finds love, new animals and a baby daughter populate the farm and the family enjoy the simple life most of us can only dream about....or watch on our 40" plasma TV (HD ready)
A good read, not too heavy, but honest and often humorous; I enjoyed this very much.
PS Don't buy this if you're a Genesis fan hoping for an insight into the early days of the band. Chris Stewart only drummed on the first single. Don't mention Phil Collins ! :o)
Fantastico (1/1 people found this helpful)
Almost every ex-pat of European nations here in Spain has read this enchanting book and recommends it to all their friends. The characters exist, the lifestyle still exists. For those who have never experienced old-world Spanish life here is your chance. And for those of us here in Spain, we know these people, they are our Spanish neighbours who always keep us on our toes!!
Andalucian escapism ... (0/0 people found this helpful)
Good book for the holidays - especially if you're going to the part of Spain that the book is based in - similar in style to Carol Drinkwater's the Olive Farm, but a little more realistic and less "bordering-on-the-fanciful".
Both books will make you want to move out of England.
A little .... (0/4 people found this helpful)
An average story about an average guy doing what is now an average thing written in an average style with average narrative, average description, average warmth, average humour, average drama - it left me, well, feeling a little average
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Countries & Regions -> Europe -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Travel Writing
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)