Ten Trees and a Truffle Dog: Sniffing Out the Perfect Plot in Provence

by Jamie Ivey

There is a moment every morning when the countryside takes a pause. The birds stop singing, the dogs choke back their barks, and cats pause mid-stride. Everything waits. Its in this vacuum that a man working alone has the best chance of finding truffles. The plot of land was perfect, just what they'd been looking for, offering expansive views across the valley and within walking distance of the local village. There was only one small problem ,there was no house. And yet the land was affordable and came, the agent promised, with a possible income from a copse of truffle oaks. Just after the birth of their first daughter, after leaving the London rat race behind, here was a chance for Jamie and his wife to finally realise their dream of owning a property. With one final salivating glance at the oak trees the decision was made. All they needed now was a dog. And their quest to find and train a truffle dog turns out to be as full of hidden discoveries as a truffle hunt itself. With delicious humour and superb storytelling, Ten Trees and a Truffle Dog is sure to delight anyone who loves dogs, food and rural France.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, France, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Foodie

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Jamie Ivey is the author of three books about the south of France. He lives near the village of Lourmarin in the Luberon with his wife and daughter. Jamie's books have been published in the UK, the USA, Holland and China. Before becoming a writer Jamie was a corporate lawyer in the City of London. He has no regrets about giving up the rat race....

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an 'easy' reader, but I did find myself irritated by the stupidity and unthinking attitude of the lead character.

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charmed clean out of my skepticism

I admit, any expatriate-en-Provence story will be held to critical judgment with Peter Mayle as the keystone. Literary or live, I've seen 'em come and go: innocent arrival and the romance of The French. You can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em. But there aren't many who can tell the tale with such an enjoyable blend of astonishment, amusement, and respect. Chapeau, monsieur Ivey!

[Karellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten

What seems like light years ago I had the same dream as Jamie. I followed his story through the "Rose" books and even sent him my best wishes. In those days he was trying to sell wine in Provence. Now the story moves on to truffle hunting in the Perigord. Sounds like a cliche but as usual Jamie is an entertaining raconteur. I gave up on my pipe dreams but he probably never will.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light but charming read.sooooo many books written about the escape to Province ,this one written with great affection for the country and the french. lovely to read while it snows and the woodstove sparks.

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A valiant effort and always cheering for authors who write their own stories...but this was "too many words" and too much irrelevant detail. Several proofreading errors in first ten pages (I almost quit) but remainder clean. Couldn't figure out how he chose what to translate from French into English and what to leave in French. Obvious choices translated and what seemed important untranslated. Suddenly no one in the town is inviting them to anything and then, suddenly, Delphine is in the picture again. Wished he spent a little more time on how this affected them and how it was remedied. Completed P in my reading challenge for PLANT: in title or on cover.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were parts to this book that I did like, but there was a lot that I didn't like. Jamie Ivey and his wife Tanya move from England to Provence, France looking for a more laid-back life. The real estate market is notoriously over-priced, catering to wealthy foreigners looking for a vacation home. Jamie and Tanya have just about given up on trying to buy in Provence when their realtor shows them a property that they would have to build on, but the bonus is that there is a stand of oak trees known for bearing truffles. The prospect of their own truffle patch seals the deal and Jamie and Tanya spend the next two years trying to get their house built, while also raising their daughter and training their future truffle dog.

I started getting irritated when the locals in their town turn on them after they have to go with a different, non-local builder. The local builder they were originally working with withheld information from them and created multiple delays. When they went with another builder all their "friends" in town dropped them. And it still took another year to get their house built! It was one of those everything-that-can-will-go-wrong things, but instead of being funny I just felt really bad for them. Especially after all the people they thought were really friends dropped them so fast. In the end their house is built and they seem happy, but overall the story was about 50/50 interesting and frustrating.

[MaureenMcBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote this review for our newspaper:
Jamie Ivey did what many midlife careerists dream of. The London lawyer and his wife chucked their old lives and moved to the south of France, where they built a new life selling wine and settling into a town in Provence. There he learns about the mysterious truffle market and the even more mysterious ways of building a new home in an area bound by many unwritten rules.
Ivey’s account of the travails of buying land and dealing with contractors bears a strong resemblance to the work of another British ex-pat in the south of France, Peter Mayle (“A Year in Provence,” etc.). In a writing contest, Mayle wins. But Ivey’s story comes into its own when he buys a truffle-hunting dog and sets out to hunt the aromatic treasure. First, though, he discovers that he must solve yet another puzzle of his new life in Provence: how to get a truffle-hunting dog to like truffles.
This book is a satisfying summer read, letting readers live Ivey’s expatriate experience from a safe distance. We see that it may not be as easy as we’d hope to find a community of friends in a new land, but that perseverance and good humor can help some dreams come true.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming book! Narrated by yet another British expatriate, it details the story of a family attempting to acclimate both to the climate and culture of Provence.

The story is centered around the Ivey clan's purchase of a piece of property near there village. One of the selling points is the stand of oak trees purported to be a truffle haven. Jamie buys into the romance of truffle hunting, believing that it will help in his adaptation to his new home.

As with many other expat stories, both humor and frustration are illustrated as he and his wife Tanya attempt to navigate French bureaucracy and local custom.

It was a delightful quick read. Provence is one of my favorite places to visit. It was nice to do so from my armchair this time of year.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot even imagine why anyone would feel good about the French or Provence after reading this book. And when does a picturesque town, even a beautiful countryside, make up for rude, deceitful, fickle people? Yet Jaime and Tanya choose to live here and raise their family here. I do believe I kept reading only because I could skim this book while using the elliptical. It was the correct size for the book holder. Tanya appeared to have no personality. About the third time the dog peed in the house it would have been crated. Jamie seemed to have lots of spare time on his hands. Elodie at least rang true. Oh,why am I writing this in past tense. These are real people. Real, dull people. At least as depicted by Jaime. Don't waste your time.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After several years in Provence, Jamie Ivey and his wife had just about given up the idea of ever owning a home there. Then they found the perfect piece of property: great views, within walking distance of the village, and even the right type of oak trees for truffles. The only downside was the lack of a house. That small negative became the cause of much drama and trauma. And the adaptation of non-dog-lovers to a truffle hound was a small, but comical, inconvenience by comparison. This is a delightful story and a lovely peek at the pleasures and idiosyncrasies of Provence.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about an English couple who settled in Provence, had children and had a house built. I feel bad not to give it 5 stars because I enjoyed the book but I like to keep 5 stars for the books that are my very favorites, like "Hot Zone" by Richard Preston.

[Margaret Hoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pure fluff but a nice relaxing summer read.

[Mary Strasner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not connect with the author and his family. This is no YEAR IN PROVENCE or TOUT ALLURE.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much in the style of Peter Mayle, this is a well-written and easy to read book. Although I haven't read any of his previous books, it didn't detract from the story. Jamie and his wife have been renting a house in France for a number of years when the opportunity arises to buy their own property. With a successful wine business and a new baby, it sounds like a great idea. There's just one hitch. The land is perfect, there are truffle trees, the views are beautiful. But there isn't a house. I loved following the struggles to get a house built, and train a truffle dog whilst running a business and bringing up a baby. Fabulously written book; I will definitely be looking up his previous ones.

[Judy Alter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten Trees and a Truffle Dog is a charming memoir about a young Brit couple’s effort to adapt to life in a small village in Provence and find acceptance from wary villagers. Jamie Ivey chronicles their entry into not only the village but parenthood, home ownership and truffle harvesting. As a narrator, Ivey is debonair and sophisticated, clear-sighted and self-deprecating, with a wry sense of humor. Running through the book like a thread is the lure of truffle hunting with a dog, both legally and the underground. Lots of fun!

[alison consumes media · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was enjoyable because I haven't really read much in this genre, but I've heard there are much better offerings in the Brit-romanticizes-his-life-and-moves-to-Provence category since. Not much to write home about plot-wise, but the descriptions of the food and scenery of France is wonderful. I couldn't really get over the fact that it's a work of fiction, but uses the real names of the author and his wife, but otherwise a fun casual read that leaves you feeling hungry.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

How could I not love a book about truffles and Provence? Well this book wasn’t particularly well written unfortunately. It had some moments but it came off as bitter at times and didn’t really tie up several loose ends. It’s a fine book to read and dream of leaving it all behind to go live in rural France and hunt truffles but there are better books out there to fulfill this fantasy.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Jamie, for bringing us into your Provençal world. I enjoyed the stories of your family, building a home, and your little lion dog. Snuffles is such a great name for a truffle hunter. Your daughters must be adorable. But I would consider this to be a cautionary tale for those thinking of a second home in Provence.

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very light read about following a dream. The couple bought a “fixer-upper” in France and tried to fit in with small-town locals of a different culture. Didn’t give me a very good impression of rural France, frankly.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a treat

Jamie captivated me with the opening sentence.. and whisked me away to France.. and I once again fell in love, I can picture Jamie his wife, their daughters, the village. What a delightful voyage. Try it!,,

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our 20th Retirement Read Aloud!

[Jane Unland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Did not want it to end. Charming. Engaging. Just fun.

[Norma Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

an entertaining fun read that makes you want to buy a villa in Provence or at least visit for a couple of weeks in the relaxed tropical friendly countryside, enjoying the local wine and food.

[Cil Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read

I feel as though I’ve been living in Provence and eating delicious food sprinkled with truffles! Mr. Ivey is a great writer, and he’s smart and funny…

[Kathleen Lange · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reading of this purchased book was interrupted by several library holds. I enjoyed the book on one level, but with the frequent interruptions I lost interest.

[Cindy Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be delightful. It gave me a wonderful insider’s look into living in Provence as the author navigated food, restaurants, business liaisons and even the healthcare system.

[Lauren Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I received this book as a gift. I don't think the world needs another book about someone trying to build a house in Provence, no matter how charmingly written, and this one does have its moment. Still. I'm quite sure that's been done, possibly done to death.

As someone who lived in France for many years, I recognize the frustrations and stereotypes, the problematic landlords and dizzying bureaucracy as well as some of the colorful stock characters. The dog training bit was new, and frankly horrifying. It sounded more like animal abuse that dog training. Although perhaps it shouldn't surprise me. When I lived in France my neighbors would go off on a month-long vacation the first of August, tossing their dogs outside as they drove off. If they were alive when they got back, wonderful, if not, get a new dog. When I protested I was called weak, and laughed at. People said, "It's a dog, Lauren, not a child." Now, let it be known some people I knew treated their animals wonderfully, with much care and respect, but I was often depressed by animal care in France. And yes, pony is still on the menu, as it is in Iceland.

But I digress. This book is fine, but the problem is it's all been done before. For those of you who can't get enough of this sort of book, you'll probably enjoy it. For those of you who love France, but may be ready for something a little different, may I suggest M.F.K. Fisher? "Two Kitchens in Provence." Brilliant.

[Tuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

english guy and his english? wife move to provence, build a house (most of book is about him trying to build the house, getting all crossways with the village, and about his wife having babies and how nice and good french health care is), start a business retailing/wholesaling wine (he was a rose nut but got over it), and gets into finding truffles. some good bits, but he glosses over many things that could be of interest like olives, lavender, and local wine. but he does good job talking about small town life in southern france, and how fraught with politics, gossip, and easily hurt feelings it is. he finally finds a buddy who takes him truffle poaching and he figures out how to do it, and gets a dog and dog too figures it out. both interesting and silly, a fast read of provence by an outsider who lives there.
no pics, citations, maps, or usable leads to wines and foods.

[sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After several years in Provence, Jamie Ivey and his wife had just about given up the idea of ever owning a home there. Then they found the perfect piece of property: great views, within walking distance of the village, and even the right type of oak trees for truffles. The only downside was the lack of a house. That small negative became the cause of much drama and trauma. And the adaptation of non-dog-lovers to a truffle hound was a small, but comical, inconvenience by comparison. This is a delightful story and a lovely peek at the pleasures and idiosyncrasies of Provence.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. The birthing story at the start of the book is hilarious. A love a moved-to-France memoir. There were times I felt myself taking on his stress: building issues, financial worries, cultural clashes & disappointments. While there were lighter moments & humorous bits, I felt there weren’t enough to balance out the negative. Perhaps the more uplifting anecdotes are in previous books?