La Belle Saison

by Patricia Atkinson

How often have you eaten a mushroom that you picked yourself that morning? Or sat on a boat opening and eating oysters as you lift them from the sea? Or partaken of a seven course feast of game to celebrate the success of the chasse? When Patricia Atkinson - bestselling author of The Ripening Sun - first moved to France, her intention was simply to establish a vineyard. Over the years, however, she found herself becoming integrated into a way of life that, had she stayed in England, she would hardly have believed existed. Grounded in the rhythms of the land and the seasons, daily life in Patricia's south-western corner of France is dictated by a series of rituals and celebrations that we have long lost in our supermarket age.La Belle Saison is Patricia's eulogy to this way of a testament to the timelessness of the beautiful French countryside, the bounty of the land, and the generous-hearted French neighbours who showed Patricia that a simple life has many rewards. In France, every season is 'la belle saison', offering up its gifts to those willing to appreciate and look after the land.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2005

Reviews

[Justyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

co za gniocisko!
bezrefleksyjne opisy polowań na zwierzęta i ptaki
szczegółowe opisy przyrządzania foie gras czy żabich udek (odcinamy żywej czy nieżywej żabie udka, korpus wyrzucamy)
no japrdl, rzeczywiście ROZKOSZE WIEJSKIEGO ŻYCIA WE FRANCJI
FACEPALM
o winobraniu i samej winnicy odechciało mi się czytać

[Scott Osburne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was enjoyable but it was a disappointment compared to her first work. It lacked the tension, drama, and excitement of her gigantic efforts to create a successful vineyard and winery. This book was more of a dis-jointed trip through the seasons...of course with a tragic death thrown in for good measure. And, yet, even in that death she held back. She is just an observer.

[Ruth Hosford · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re after a very slow meander through life in rural France, then this book is for you. I enjoyed just sitting and remembering our times spent in rural Aude watching the locals go about their daily lives and this book brilliantly brought it all back to life. It was a joyful trip down memory lane for me.

[Barbara Phi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable return to this old friend. It's a first hand account of the sort of life in France we all imagine. I like the use of language, the immediacy of the experiences and the level of knowledge demonstrated. A very enjoyable experience.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one. I found it a bit disjointed and the French phrases that weren't always translated a little frustrating. I did enjoy her developing relationship with Fidde and it was very sad that he passed away.

[Pauline Ginty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An evocative read - outstanding description and details about life in rural France.
Meeting with many very likable local characters, and her journey to establish herself as a wine producer is an excellent read.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. I do love reading about people who have relocated their lives to a new country and succeeded in transforming/subsuming themselves into that new environment. Very pleasing. Especially when it requires a new language and a business venture.

[Jane Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this as much as her pr Vito's book. Atkinson seems more removed from th sitiuation and there was almost o much description.

[Juliette Morris Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to return this before finishing it - but I'll request it again. Patricia's story is enjoyable, if not a bit hard to follow. I understand that she is chronicling her life just after the breakup of her marriage - she stayed on in France and eventually created an award-winning vineyard. The descriptions of the grapes, how and when they were harvested to produce the fine wines she ends up producing, the friends she has and the food they eat are all described in a lovely way - but it feels as though it's 'out of order.' Not in a storytelling way, but in a confusing way (perhaps just to me). Will finish it soon to see if it reads better. :)

[Paul Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Atkinson's first book was so brave, as she was, and most enjoyable,
I was so pleased to find her second book La Belle Saison, I devoured every page especially the food and wine descriptions, Sadly I was devastated when her beloved friend died in her arms, it upset my whole week end, deserving so much after all her effort - then suddenly losing so much, thankfully, she has wonderful and special friends for support, please keep writing, thank you for sharing your life with us!

[Jane G Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know the folks of the small village that the author came to know and love, and I read with care the portions of the book that explained the life of growing and gathering grapes, but I didn't enjoy the prose, and by the end was ready for it to be over...

[Catherine Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment of Atkinson's escape to France memoir. not as memorable as the first- but full os pretty vignettes of food and life in south west France.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

8/10/2004

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take me there- it sounds so wonderful! Food, wine, friendship, belonging to a community, sun drenched and full of beauty...

[Magpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has been in bookclub