A Story of Seven Summers

by Hilary Burden

'Looking back over seven summers, I know that who I am is where I am. It might not be the secret to life, but it is the secret to this life ... I'll tell you how that came to be and that will be the story of the Nuns' House.'

On the outside, Hilary Burden was living a glamorous life -- she was a busy, high-flying, globetrotting magazine journalist based in London, who thought nothing of flying to New York for a weekend, interviewing movie stars in luxury hotels or jetting off to Italy on assignment to hunt truffles with Curtis Stone. But on the inside, something was missing in her life and she didn't know quite what it was.

Deciding that she wanted to make her own life, Hilary returned to Tasmania. She bought a ramshackle old house - the Nuns' House - with a sprawling, neglected garden, and gave herself the time and space to begin again. There was no particular kind of plan, but things just somehow worked. Now, seven summers later, she has a home, a garden, two alpacas (named Jack and Kerouac), two chooks (called Marilyn and Monroe), a purpose and a passion.

A beautiful, intimate and inspiring story of having the courage to step into the unknown.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Book Club

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! And such a courageous woman, I wish I was gutsy enough to accomplish all that she has. I loved reading about her adventures and mulled over her positive little philosiphies and daily life lessons. Best of all was the fact that she was getting pretty worried about having no cash flow for a while there and it became evident that this isn't your run-of-the-mill story of a cashed up, middle-aged woman who embarks on a new life. Hilary actually had to get creative and find a way to earn some cash to maintain her lifestyle whilst ensuring she didn't let go of her values and work in a job she hated.

I completely admired her take on life and her adaptability. I liked how she took it on the chin when things in her garden didn't work out, or when projects she was hoping to work on failed. She didn't let it get her down, but focused her attentions on something new. It made for really excellent reading.

Big plus: recipes throughout. And they're not boring, mumsy recipes. They're groovy, wild recipes...

I just really loved this book.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed ready this book as it was full of what life throws at you and what life has to offer you. But not only that it is a real story, the story of a life and the changes that one person (Hilary Burden) has made in order to realise what her life means and what a new life is all about.
Love the flow, the stories of food and the recipes of which I will be trying.
A Story of Seven Summers
Hilary Burden
Allen & Unwin Australia Pty. Ltd.

[SS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a welcome stroll with Hilary on her life (seven summers) after moving back to Tasmania. Hilary's life on settling back into Tasmania, after the wilds of London, is centred around the Nun's house she bought and life she creates with her own bare hands. The simplicity of life is delightful and the book is definitely a romantic portrayal of the lifestyle. With Hilary you experience the landscape, the seasons and the people in an idyllic manner.

A pleasure to read with interspersed recipes that bring to life some of the characters, the food and the experiences Hilary writes about.

Best wishes to Hilary and Barney and Hilbarn. Thanks for the read. And now to travel planning for a summer holiday to Tasmania to pick fresh berries from family farms. ❤️

[Cathy Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is easy to relate to the need to leave the rat race behind and find true meaning to living in a more realistic way. I admire the courage and tenacity! Loved the recipes and connections to real people throughout the book. Rather spend my time enjoying this type of read than the grrr of 'The Natural Way of Things' - which was such a waste of time, effort and emotion. Love feeling inspired and uplifted!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as it’s set in the area in which I live. I didn’t love the writing style - it seemed a bit disjointed, but there were some inspiring observations about how good it is to be in touch with the natural world. I liked the final section more than the rest. 2.5-3 stars.

[Jenny Rushforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book….such a great read….courageous & inspiring….
It’s wonderful how Hilary recognised, during her Career, that her Life was no longer fulfilling her, & recognised “something” was missing & followed her heart….
WELL DONE Hilary….
Being a Gardening I LOVED it….
THANK YOU 🙏 Jenny

[Éric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing style! She kept my full attention that I devoured it in a couple of days. Please give us more, Ms. Burden!

[Stuart Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved this account of one individuals re-discovery, partly of themselves, and yet also of where they grew up. An organic progression of establishing life and finding love.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful memoir spanning 7 summers set in Tasmania. I enjoyed Hilary’s tales of coming from her glamourous life as a worldly journalist to settle back ‘home’ in the slow countryside learning as much as she could about this place she had chosen to make a new life in. From her creating a quiet retreat in the Nun’s House for her friends across the world to come visit, to the journey of her produce box business showcasing the local fruit and vegetables of Tasmania - this book was a pleasure to read.

“Travelling might give you a different perspective on where you are, but in settling you reap the reward of each season by turning with it. In this way I think I’ve come to understand that who I am is where I am.”

[Rhody Reader]

I stayed up all night to finish this book. Burden is a good writer, and she does an excellent job of writing about building a life in Tasmania, where she grew up. My only complaint is that all the publisher hype uses the word "alone", and while she moved on her own, she has parents and siblings who live really close to where she buys the house, so she was hardly on her own. Her family help her to get the house organized and to find workmen. However, all that does not diminish the fact that she has to make a living in a rural location with few opportunities.
She describes the place, the people, the food, a bit of local history, the emerging farm, food, and vineyard scene, and also the tension emerging between the lumber industry and those who would maintain the natural beauty of Tasmania and create jobs without ever sounding preachy, while she makes a place for herself and discovers what she wants from her life.
There are recipes, too, and love.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilary Burden is a high flyer living in London who feels the call of home, and returns to rural Tasmania to live near her family. Finding an old nuns home to buy and renovate, she buys some Alpacas and sets about to live the good life.

A bout of insomnia (so annoying on the night before New Years Eve) left me with four hours of tossing and turning, so I managed to get most of this book read overnight. It was a nice little book about her friendships with lots of new and interesting people, and a new business of producing fruit and veg boxes for customers.


Last one for 2012!!!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine lent me this book, saying "You should read it. It's about Lilydale!" Given we are approaching our own fifth Summer in this idyllic village, it was apt I read a book describing a very similar journey to which we ourselves have been undertaking. The easy-going and genuinely kind locals whom we now also call friends, the astoundingly breathtaking landscape and the ever changing and yet constant seasons, all lovingly portrayed in this beautifully written memoir. I will be returning the copy I borrowed and buying my own copy this week.

[Faye Barron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, about seven years of the author's own life, provides the reader with a good, relaxing reed.

Hilary is a successful, world encasing journalist - but in her mid-life craves something more. Returning to Tasmania, and starting a new life on a small farm, with an old home with an interesting history, paves the way for new experiences, new interests, and a quiet happiness.

The tale is interspersed with recipes (well worth keeping), and a good taste of living in Tasmania.

Thank you, Hilary!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful memoir that tells the story of the author’s longing for more from life. She achieves this by swapping her professional, high-flying, globe-trotting career for life in a small community in rural Tasmania. The book, based on her journals, follows her experiences from the purchase of an old, run-down former convent to her becoming a valued member of the community she adopts. Her passion for growing her own produce and sharing the bounty with like-minded, newly-made friends leads to a richer, more fulfilling life.

[Felicity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed every page, so glad I stumbled onto this book, and it just goes to show once more how, it's the simple things in life that really make all the difference. This is an honest glimpse into a life changing decision that Hilary Burden made to leave one life style, and embrace another on the other side of the world. She came to live in beautiful Tasmania, an island that I'm lucky enough to call home as well.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable story of the author's career and life in Tasmania. I was also a newcomer to Tasmania a few years ago so I related to Hilary's experiences. There a re a lot do delicious recipes included in the text and I am trying them all out - so far, the pasta sauce, lemonade, chicken curry and quiche. Read it while on holidays and it was east to pick up and put down without losing track of what was going on.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Initially the author made me envious of her ease in making friends for life. One on the job interview later or people met on a holiday, etc. But her views on life and the type life she is achieving resonated with me. It is what I am looking for and am hoping to achieve on my future, semi, self-sufficient, hobby, farmlet.
I have ordered this book for my brother and his wife who are about to move onto a small property in Tassie and live this life.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about an escape from the rat-race to a more fulfilling life of gardening, championing local produce and savouring a slower pace of life valuing 'people' and 'place'.

Presumably all possible due to an absolute killing made on the London property market.....
Quite fancy going to Tasmania now!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow-paced book (this does match the storyline) which I enjoyed perusing but didn't adore. I do now want to own alpacas and start my own vegie box business, but I don't feel I could relate to the protagonist as well as others might. I copied out quite a few recipes to try later though. Not a bad biography at all.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has completely shifted my city driven life and jolted my dream of moving to the country x I couldn't wait to finish my daily tasks so I could melt away with this book. I'm half thinking I'm going to read it again x

[Helen Goltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this book and loved it. I love the escapism of moving to the country and restoring a house (the Nun's house) and even though I'm not a 'foodie', I even enjoyed the recipes. A great escape.

[Laura]

Beautiful and inspiring with the addition of much loved recipes to try

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Not just because I know the area she describes well, but also because I am a journalist writing a book and understand how she evolves over time as a writer.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and didn't want it to finish. Probably helped that I was able to relate to it.

[Annetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book and an easy read.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely read that inspires you to slow down, have real conversations and most importantly, get out into the garden more.

[Jenny Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable

[Jenny Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and will reread it for the delight of sharing in the joy of procuring and producing perfect food for sharing and enjoying

[Jodie Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this so much, its my go to book when I need inspiring, or to slow down.

[Julie McAliece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I loved . Such a wonderful journey that Hilary Burden has been on. Tasmania is truly a beautiful state of ours and I was quite envious of her life. ❤️❤️❤️