An optimist in Andalucia - Christ Stewart, retired drummer (at age 17) of group Genesis, was reconverted into a sheep shearer and travel writer. This is his account of how he found a remote farm in the Alpujarras, south of Granada, without access road, water supply and electricity - bought it on the spur of the moment and settled down among the lemon trees with his wife and baby daughter.

International bookray, going to:

- sgscarcliff (California, USA)
- arugh48187 (Minnesota, USA)
- caretta (Alabama, USA)
- raquelsita (Wisconsin, USA)
- janaqq (Texas, USA) (to be confirmed)
- florafloraflora (Washington D.C.)
- apapsa (Greece)
- hathyia (Malaysia)
- DianeO (Derbyshire, UK)
- NZgoddess (New Zealand) to keep or release <---reached its destination!

Release planned for Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at envoyé par la poste in Lausanne, Vaud Switzerland.

international bookray, sent to USA

I just received and will read and send on its way as quick as I can

This book arrived in Minnesota safe and sound. I have a few bookrays in front of it, but I am a fast reader and will get to it soon. Thanks for sharing.

This book took me a while to get into; about halfway I think. It is comparable to "Under the Tuscan Sun", relatively good, but nothing to write home about. Maybe I am just spoiled by being a Bryson fan. The book did have some redeeming qualities and a few laugh out loud bits.

Released on Tuesday, June 01, 2004 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in Apple Valley, Minnesota Controlled Releases.

On its way to Alabama...

This book arrived yesterday - thanks to arugh48187 for sending it on and to silentmiaouw for starting this ray.

I agree with arugh48187 - this book took me a little while to get into. I enjoyed it more once the author and his wife had their farm to themselves. And I always love stories about sheep - the picture at the start of "Herbs and Husbandry" was my favorite! :-)

I'm sending this book on to raquelsita in California. Enjoy!

Just got this in the mail today. I will try to start reading it soon and send it on. Thanks silentmiaouw!

To my surprise, I actually really enjoyed this book. I was afraid I wouldn't because of all the references to Under The Tuscan Sun in other reviews. I tried to read Under The Tuscan Sun before and just could not get through it. Something was different about this book for me. It didn't really drag on and I didn't feel like he wasn't going anywhere with the story. I enjoyed reading about the farm and his adventures. I especially enjoyed that part about Chloe coming into the world. I laughed at how they both were amazed at how much they could love her. "Without much enthusiasm I rose and pulled back the sheet. There was that hideous purple head with thin strands of hair clagged to the top....Surely you couldn't love such a thing...or could you?"

I certainly couldn't live their life on the farm, in the middle of nowhere, but I admire them for doing it.

This will be sent to florafloraflora on Monday. Janaqq has asked to be skipped.

This book has arrived. I suspect it's been here for a while but I just now found it: my apologies. I will read it soon (in fact it looks like the perfect book to take on vacation to Vermont, where I'm going tomorrow) and then I'll send it along.

I loved loved loved this book. I have a serious and long-standing place-crush on Andalucia, and long ago I fantasized about owning a sheep farm, so this book was a treat. The narrator is the rare travel writer I didn't want to slap. Instead of whining about every little hardship or gloating or acting all hipper-than-thou, Chris Stewart makes his problems entertaining, and he is humble and self-deprecating enough that the reader can enjoy his triumphs along with him. There were lots of funny stories in here, but I think my favorite was the one about hacking up and burying the meat following the puritanical Juliette de Bairacli-Levy's directions. I've spent my share of time complying with preachy alternative-health regimes, so I could identify. My only complaint is that the book wasn't longer.

I've PM'ed apapsa for her address and will pass the book along when I hear from her.

It just came today. I'm starting right away as there's no other ring or ray here at the moment.
Thank you florafloraflora and silentmiaouw!

I'm not very excited after reading this book... It wasn't very funny (like arugh48187, I'm a Bill Bryson fan...) and the whole idea of going to live in such a place and dealing with all those problems is quite beyond me... Call me a perfectionist if you will, but I could never start a life like that without being sure that I had planned everything from the beginning... Here's an extract that left me aghast (the sheep had invaded the entire farm, eating everything they could get their... jaws on):
"I fear they're going to turn the place into a desert," said Ana gloomily.
"Maybe that would be better that the jungle it would be without them."
"I think I prefer the jungle with its flowers and greenery."
"Yes, you're right... but I'm sure we'll find a way of dealing with them," I said, stretching lazily on my favourite corner of the terrace. "You can't get everything right first try, can you?"

Now, that was a big lesson for me...

I'm sending the book to Diane0, as silentmiaouw asked me.

Received today from apapsa - thanks! Have recently read "Toujours Provence" and this looks to be pretty similar. Hoping to start it this week.

Sorry for the delay. I decided it would be ideal holiday reading and it has therefore been all the way to Tobago and back!
I enjoyed this book - his easy-going style had me giggling aloud on several occasions.
Sending PM to NZgoddess.
Thanks for sharing!

Arrived in my mailbox today - Many Thanks :-)

omg - i had no idea i had had this on my tbr pile for so long

*hangs head in shame*

well ive read it & whats more i enjoyed it :)

ive actually done a stint of self-sufficiency/ownerbuilding/food growing etc so its the sort of adventure i really enjoy reading about .. and El Valero sounds so beautiful with its citrus blossoms, peaches, rivers & the wonderful charcters described in the book ..

many thanks for the opportunity to read it ..

release planned in nelson later this week ..