How Blue is my Valley: the real Provence

by Jean Gill

Humorous travel book about moving to France from IPPY, Royal Dragonfly and Global Ebook Award Winner Jean Gill.'Laugh out loud... such a vivid picture of the fields of lavender, sunflowers and olive trees that you could almost be there with her.' Living France MagazineThe true scents of Provence? Lavender, thyme and septic tank.Discover the real Provence in good company.There are hundreds of interesting things you can do in a bath but washing dishes is not one of them, nor what writer Jean Gill had in mind when she swopped her Welsh Valley for a French one.Keen to move out of the elephant's stomach, that stew of grey mists called weather in Wales, she offered her swimming certificate to a bemused Provençal estate agent and bought a house with good stars and its own spring-water. Or rather, as it turns out, a neighbour's spring-water that is the only supply to the kitchen, which, according to the nice men from the Water Board, is emptying its dirty water directly and illegally onto the main road... and there's worse...But how can you resist a village called Dieulefit, `God created it', the village 'where everyone belongs'

Genres: Memoir, France, Travel, Humor, Biography, Audiobook

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 20, 2008

About the author

Jean Gill is a Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with two scruffy dogs, a beehive named 'Endeavour', a Nikon D750 and a man. For many years, she taught English in Wales and was the first woman to be a secondary headteacher in Carmarthenshire. She is mother or stepmother to five children so life was hectic.

Publications are varied, including prize-winning poetry and novels, military history, translated books on dog training, and a cookery book on goat cheese. With Scottish parents, an English birthplace and French residence, she can usually support the winning team on most sporting occasions.

Sign up for Jean's newsletter at www.jeangill.com for updates and a free book. If you review one of Jean's books you can add a dog to Jean's Readers Dogs Hall of Fame on her website. Contact Jean at jean.gill@wanadoo.fr with comments or questions. She loves to hear from readers.

Reviews

[Lonny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unreadable. It reads like she collected a bunch of thoughts from scraps of paper and decided it was a book.

[Karen Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘How Blue is my Valley’ should have a sub-title: ‘And how Green and Soggy was the one I left behind.’
This book, Jean Gill’s honest, witty and charming account of how she, her man and a menagerie of pets left their rainy Welsh Valley and moved to the sunshine and lavender-scented countryside in Provence is delightful. I couldn’t stop smiling as she compared the well-disciplined flocks of French goats with the thuggish little bovids she encountered back in Wales. Jean picks up on every nuance of her new life and culture: from rural Provence’s fascination with the local fire-fighters, to the French habit of regarding each new species they encounter with a view to which wine should accompany it at the dinner table. No wonder the plumber merely shrugged when she asked him in faltering French to connect her house to ‘mains alcohol’ instead of ‘mains water.’ Her description of their struggles with the language, the local wildlife and the occasional bureaucrat are incisive, funny and well-written. It is a must-read for anyone who loves Provence or is contemplating the same move.

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too jumbled

The title states, "the real Provence", yet why did everything discuss Wales? The part about Provence, the resistance, etc. was very interesting. Wales, not so much. Why doesn't the author talk about the real Wales in one book and the real Provence in another? I skimmed the last 40% of the book and only read the parts about Provence.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reread this. I didn’t find it humorous or interesting. Way too much about plumbing & septic.

[Jena Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a look again at the cover of this book. Isn’t it a lovely, standout display? It drew me in and called to me to read this book. The title is similar to a popular Welsh book and film from 70 years ago, so I wondered if there would be a connection to Wales. Yes, there is. And the cover shows field of lavender, so I wondered if there would be a link to Provence, France. Yes, again.

Author Jean Gill writes about her move from Wales to Dieulefit, France. The town name means “God made it”, and it is located in southeastern France about an hour from the Alps.

As the author tells us, “This is a good place to live and a good place to grow old.”

Ms. Gill is a writer who can create a lovely phrase. This is how she describes a rainy day, “We listen to the orchestral performance on the house instruments, the clay tiled roof, the metal shutters, gutters and drainpipes.” She also writes with humor and insight.

However, she does not always write in a way that is easy to follow. I would describe this book as a series of vignettes. A vignette is “a brief story or a small image that fades into the background without a definite border.” I would say that this is what happens in this book, one beautiful written image gives way to another without any border or structure to hold it together.

I enjoyed reading about the town’s famous goat cheese, and olive oil and the market days and fete days. It was fun to hear about the language difficulties and the visit from a baby. I liked the descriptions of the author’s gardens –the 100-year old wisteria, the sunflowers, daffodils and the nearby fields of lavender. She described the birds with care, “goldfinches, swifts, house martins. Long legged egrets that look like teachers on hall duty.”

But I wasn’t keen about the stories of their septic tank, or house renovations that were hard to follow. I also would have appreciated reading more about why the author and her husband moved, more about each of their personalities and more solid descriptions of the house and town. This would have centered me in the swirl of stories.

There were many pleasant tales in this book. Overall, I gave it a blue bookworm, because I think that Americans will have some trouble keeping up with the British words and references, and style of writing. If you are British, then this well may be a gold bookworm story for you.

I want to thank Author Gill for sharing her memories about moving to a new land. I believe the author has also written a book about French cheese, which sounds appealing. The author ends her book with this enticement, “Anyone who reviews one of my books can have his/her dog featured in the Hall of Fame on my website.”

[Alison Cubitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean and John had already upped sticks and moved to another country with a second language, serving their apprenticeship in rural Wales for twenty-five years, until they were rewarded with a place in the community. So why, you might ask, would they want to do it all over again?
‘My restlessness for the right place to be me was a longer homecoming but it has led us both here, to the village of Dieulefit in Drôme Provençale,’ which perfectly sums up the why of such a major upheaval.

Jean’s efforts at becoming part of their new community involve some language stumbles along the way, where she observes ‘my French exists in a parallel universe to the one where real French people speak real French.’ You’ll be glad to know her efforts pay off—proficient enough to find out why one of her disgruntled tradespeople has got fed up with the south and is flouncing off back to the north. The same tradie warns Jean that, according to the locals, ‘that the English are all ros-bifs.’ Undaunted, Jean reckons she can live with that. After all, she went through something similar, back in Wales and she’s not afraid of ‘starting again the process that turns outsider to friend.’

Written with wit and charm, How Blue is my Valley, The Real Provence, is a book with a stunning cover that beautifully describes the timeless landscape, the flora and the wild animals that roam their rural idyll. But even here, the impact of modern life can be felt, as their lovely valley is commutable to the heart of France’s nuclear industry. And the true scents of Provence? I’ll leave that to you to find out in this honest account of moving to a new life abroad to the village where ‘Nul n’est étranger’, ‘no-one is a stranger.

[Ronald Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Jean Gill’s “How Blue is my Valley” I felt as though I’d just had a panoramic and refreshing conversation with an entertaining companion. You can’t have a conversation with a book? Of course you can! – All you have to do is nod enthusiastically so as to encourage the author.

With her wealth of experience, enquiring mind, broad knowledge and deep curiosity, Jean Gill never loses your attention as she ricochets between facets of an older life in Wales and a newer one in France. Both exploits demanded concentrated effort, a capacity the author has in abundance.

Jean Gill’s engaging style offers a welcome hiatus from chronological narrative, explicit description and detailed inventories. She can segue within a sentence and pirouette on a phrase. She talks to her reader with the same engaging unpredictability as a kaleidoscope reveals new delights, never telling always revealing – not much but enough. Sometimes she just gives you just the vaguest hint so that when you capture the image you glow with satisfaction at your own acumen.

I felt flattered as she made me work for my enjoyment. Willingly, I accompanied her on an unpredictable series of brief intellectual carnival rides including the helter-skelter and the roller-coaster.

[Barbara Williford · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m being VERY generous with this rating. I am struggling to give this book even a one star. I have absolutely NO IDEA what this book is about. It certainly is not a funny book about moving from one country to another. Just in chapter one, the authors tells about her septic system, paths around the city, lizards in walls, newspapers, language barriers, truffles, her new house and clause in contract and just dribbles on and on with no connection in topics. It’s like a bad tennis match. She is either brain storming or has a bad case of ADHD. There is no cohesion and absolutely no humor. And she just jumps right in the deep end without giving any insight who the narrator is, where’s she coming from, a little background Information to connect. I have no idea what I just listened to and that was just Chapter one. Where can I get my money back cause this is definitely a DNF!

[Paul Trembling · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes a certain amount of courage to leave behind a place where you've built a life and move to a different country to start again from scratch. It perhaps takes even more courage, plus a fair bit of honesty, to write about it and share the experience with everybody.

Fortunately, these seem to be qualities that Jean Gill has in abundance - along with a great sense of humour, some down to earth wisdom accumulated the hard way, and a lot of enthusiasm for life. All this comes out as she shares the ups and downs of moving to Provence and getting to grips with life there - whilst also harking back to her previous life as a school teacher in Wales and even before.

A rich, warm, fascinating and funny slice of life, excellently well told.

[Julie Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first year of a new life in Provence

A lovely autobiography of an English-born Scotswoman from Wales, who moved to Provence, France with her husband, dogs and cat to start a new chapter in their lives. With humour and delightful descriptions, we live through the first year with Ms Gill as workmen tear apart and renovate her home, while she and her husband meanwhile explore their new surroundings, learn the language, the food, the cheese! and the exquisite scenery.
In reading, I felt like I was a guest in Ms Gill’s home, going along with her, exploring, tasting, smelling, savouring. A most enjoyable read and one I am pleased to recommend.

[Meg Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jean Gill's skilled use of language painted vivid descriptions of the French countryside as opposed to the Welsh countryside from which she hailed, a self-demolishing house she and her husband purchased in Provence, and their adventures with workmen claiming to make repairs. There were bits reminiscent of our own adventures with a fixer-upper. She created both laugh-out-loud bits, and snarky bits which at times were irritating. At the halfway point, I made myself finish the book...not sure why. Were it not for her descriptive language, a rating of 2 and in the second half, a 1 might have sufficed.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from the fact that this is about a work life in Wales and a retirement to France, it resonates well with moving from suburbs to a farm in rural Wisconsin. Or maybe Australia. Certainly the cultural differences and language learning and refining are quite specific and enjoyable to learn about in such a fun read, but learning to live rural does sound incredibly similar! Her sense of humor is contagious and delightful.
If, like me, you have no French nor Welsh and find the need to pronounce daunting, I highly recommend the audio performed by Jan Cramer who is fantastic!

[David Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining travelogue

The book tells the story of the writers move from South Wales to the south of France. The story is told with laugh aloud humour. Grateful to escape Welsh weather there is still some nostalgia for Wales where she was eventually adopted by her Welsh neighbours.
From Her good natured description of her French neighbours it seems as if she is having the same effect on them. Jean Gill has also had that affect on this reader. Her struggles with the languages both Welsh and French are also told with very funny examples. Overall a great read

[Mrs Vanessa Barber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a little too much flour and not enought doe for me

I'm a real lover of people taking themselves into new countries and cultures, i should know I've lived in many countries myself.
I found the book just way too elaborate a with little detailed substance for my personal liking.
But I feel anyone taking the time to publish such memoirs deserves at the very least an honest review.

Good look

Martin

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read this book because it is non- fiction, no plot and I would read it on my Kindle only when waiting, like in a dr. office. It is an entertaining read about a Brit moving to France. Some hilarious incidents offset the more mundane aspects of their move and adjustments. If you have ever lived in a country other than your native one, or want to, the author describes the pitfalls and joys of adjustments to cultural differences.

[Caffeinated Weka · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to get into this book as the topic looked really interesting but couldn't find a way in. The writing was a complete jumble of names, places and random events. I reread so many long-sentenced paragraphs trying to work out whether the action was happening in France or Wales and gave up after two chapters.

[Virna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm finding it so hard to believe so many people liked this book. is long and boring. There is no plot and there is no basis in reality for much of what happens in the book, is some convoluted talking and complain about places and random events, is all disjointed and a tad ridiculous and to end is disappointing, the narration was good I guess.

[Robyn Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won the audio version of How Blue Is my Valley and listened to it during sessions of d.i.y. This was my first introduction to the author. I found it enjoyably witty, visual and it eased my labours. The narrators voice was good on the ear too. I've read another book by this very clever writer and going to review that next.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely tale of moving to France. I really enjoyed her descriptions of weather and skies as well as that part of Provence. It is always a pleasure to see accounts of surviving the disasters of house repairs and tradesmen. I giggled over the unfortunate hiccups in using French - a case of been there, done that.

[Amy Armitage]

DNF.
I thought this was going to be a funny, laugh-out-loud comedy, but instead it was like reading a list of things that the author had done that she thought was funny. They probably were, with the context that she had of having lived through them. To me, without having this background knowledge of the situations, it was rather dull.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan of these kind of books and was thrilled with Jean Gill's take on life in Provence from an expat's point of view ! Liked her witty writing style and I'm happy she has many more books that I can delight in !

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish. I didn't have a problem with the parts about Wales like other folks. I just didn't find it interesting. The author wrote about cheese, mushrooms, olives with tips on who to buy things from but that's not why I'm reading this book and how would these vendors still be around?

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book. Mouthwatering in all the senses. Very funny too.
As I was reading it I realised that I was wearing my favourite earrings which I’d bought in Dieulefit a few years ago. This book makes me want to go back there.

[Vicky Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the author's sense of humor in the book. I love that she uses her real-life experiences to inspire her stories (write what you know, who knew?). Having read some of Jean Gill's work, it was delightful to get a peak into her authentic self, even for just a short time.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to follow during much of the narrative. Kind of written in a stream of consciousness. But, amid the convoluted passages are some lovely stories & descriptions of France.

[Ieva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and witty, good book. My only problem with it was the writing. Long sentences, too many brackets, which made one sentence into a full paragraph. Started to read a sentence and by the time I finished it I had no idea what it started with.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat in the navel-gazing genre, but there are some interesting observations of the world in Provence.

[Peta-Dee Rawlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be quite a lovely read. Easy to pick up and read bits at a time between jobs. Quite amusing in places and very enjoyable

[Asuka Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book while i read it, its very interesting and funny, it makes me laugh many times , very entertaining!
Thanks to the author Jean Gill that has sent this book to me... i am so happy, she is very nice and kind ^^
Well i am so lucky that i won this book from Goodreads giveaway :D

This book tells about what like the experience ltransition from one country to another country, which must adapting the culture and the language that very different one..making an old house become a new one. The author is very honest descript about the country, because its from her own experience and she told it with specific detail about it so i could imagine what is the country look like.

The author use some france language too so i could learn france language little by little.
This book ideal for holiday reading and in free time or in weekend.... while u need refresh ur mind from the stress day... because its very funny and so true...

I really love it! Brilliant!!!
5 stars from me :D

[J.G. Harlond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that transcends genre; it's as much a travel book as a personal memoir - as is the best travel writing, I suppose - thinking here of Bruce Chatwin. Gill sets out to entertain; her account of dealing with day-to-day household affairs in a new location and in a different language is very amusing. But there are also some poignant details and some beautiful descriptions of her valley in Provence. Anyone who has moved to a very different location to where one grew up or, indeed, a new country, will relate to some of the daily ironies and irritations, and how ultimately humour is the only remedy. All in all, a great read.