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BOOGIEMAN (and his cat) IN ANDALUCIA
Jim is a piano man. A Scottish boogie piano man. He has left his northern homeland to play music in the Almería province of Andalucia in southern Spain.
His "attractive but critical" wife calls him depressingly optimistic. Jim is utterly hopeless at DIY, so this is not your typical ‘new life abroad’ book where the author rebuilds a ruin with his bare hands. In this book, he describes his hands as only useful for playing piano and “the odd bit of sensual massage”....
Jim came to Spain to say “Yes” to every chance of playing music of every kind. Jim's wacky adventures include playing piano with an opera singer in prison, performing at a teetotal Scottish ceilidh and being stalked by a washboard player. Then there's a violin-playing Elvis impersonator, a stretch Shirley Bassey, a jazz funeral and the most confusing Christmas carol service in Spain. And don't miss Jim's hilarious account of possibly the most unromantic Valentine's night in history.
Apart from music, Jim's other main interests are making chutney and collecting spatulas! He is reputed to have the largest collection of silicone spatulas in southern Spain.
But the real hero of this book is Jim's rescue cat Sammy, who has turned his house in Bédar village into a Tom & Jerry film.
‘Stuff happens’ to the boogieman. This really is unlike any other book you've ever read about Spain, music, cats and spatulas.
"The greatest book in history" WHAT BOOGIE? MAGAZINE
"The book is ok, but there's not nearly enough mention of spatulas" SPATULA DIGEST
His "attractive but critical" wife calls him depressingly optimistic. Jim is utterly hopeless at DIY, so this is not your typical ‘new life abroad’ book where the author rebuilds a ruin with his bare hands. In this book, he describes his hands as only useful for playing piano and “the odd bit of sensual massage”....
Jim came to Spain to say “Yes” to every chance of playing music of every kind. Jim's wacky adventures include playing piano with an opera singer in prison, performing at a teetotal Scottish ceilidh and being stalked by a washboard player. Then there's a violin-playing Elvis impersonator, a stretch Shirley Bassey, a jazz funeral and the most confusing Christmas carol service in Spain. And don't miss Jim's hilarious account of possibly the most unromantic Valentine's night in history.
Apart from music, Jim's other main interests are making chutney and collecting spatulas! He is reputed to have the largest collection of silicone spatulas in southern Spain.
But the real hero of this book is Jim's rescue cat Sammy, who has turned his house in Bédar village into a Tom & Jerry film.
‘Stuff happens’ to the boogieman. This really is unlike any other book you've ever read about Spain, music, cats and spatulas.
"The greatest book in history" WHAT BOOGIE? MAGAZINE
"The book is ok, but there's not nearly enough mention of spatulas" SPATULA DIGEST
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 13, 2015
This is a book for all musicians who have ever dreamed of playing away the rest of their lives in warmer climes.
Leaving his native Scotland and settling in Almeria, this is what Jim Mackie has managed to do, and he seems to enjoy it. Moving there in late middle age, their children having left home, they set about making themselves a life, and being sort of people they are, they soon have enough friends to fill a pub.
Mackie’s musical ability has something to do with this, I’m sure, but it sounds like that’s not the whole story. He and his wife are clearly the sort who are good at getting on with people.
Most of the book it devoted to various gigs around the area, interspersed with gigs back in the days when he played in the UK, and colourfully described, we are drawn us into the spirit of them. These events, however, are often fraught with disastrous, and amusingly told. We feel part of the action, and enjoy the playing, and what happens around it.
Written with enormous enthusiasm he introduces us to a myriad of players and some music we haven’t heard since the 60’s. Lily The Pink, Cliff Richard numbers, Steeleye Span – and even Eden Kane (whatever happened to him?). As a failed rhythm guitarist I envied the world he found himself in.
Although the action largely concerns the ex-pat British community, we learn a fair amount about Spain as the book goes along – fiesta’s, local customs, the daily round of a small country village, and a lot of bizarre local characters – and all this is vibrantly described.
We don’t learn a lot about the Mackie’s inner lives nor of their aspirations, but we do learn lot about their cat. However, we are constantly entertained by the humour the author brings to bear on everything he sees.
The book, I think, is too long, and could do with a stronger over-arching narrative – something that could have been achieved with the help of an editor – but it’s a most enjoyable read.
Leaving his native Scotland and settling in Almeria, this is what Jim Mackie has managed to do, and he seems to enjoy it. Moving there in late middle age, their children having left home, they set about making themselves a life, and being sort of people they are, they soon have enough friends to fill a pub.
Mackie’s musical ability has something to do with this, I’m sure, but it sounds like that’s not the whole story. He and his wife are clearly the sort who are good at getting on with people.
Most of the book it devoted to various gigs around the area, interspersed with gigs back in the days when he played in the UK, and colourfully described, we are drawn us into the spirit of them. These events, however, are often fraught with disastrous, and amusingly told. We feel part of the action, and enjoy the playing, and what happens around it.
Written with enormous enthusiasm he introduces us to a myriad of players and some music we haven’t heard since the 60’s. Lily The Pink, Cliff Richard numbers, Steeleye Span – and even Eden Kane (whatever happened to him?). As a failed rhythm guitarist I envied the world he found himself in.
Although the action largely concerns the ex-pat British community, we learn a fair amount about Spain as the book goes along – fiesta’s, local customs, the daily round of a small country village, and a lot of bizarre local characters – and all this is vibrantly described.
We don’t learn a lot about the Mackie’s inner lives nor of their aspirations, but we do learn lot about their cat. However, we are constantly entertained by the humour the author brings to bear on everything he sees.
The book, I think, is too long, and could do with a stronger over-arching narrative – something that could have been achieved with the help of an editor – but it’s a most enjoyable read.
May 20, 2016
If you understand the importance of modern silicone spatulas, properly-sharpened kitchen knives, homemade chutney and spoiling stray cats, you’ll enjoy this book. I loved the author’s DDIY—Don’t-Do-It-Yourself—stories, and his vivid descriptions of life in the quirky Bédar village in Spain. Jim now lives in a place where figs grow wild, where Spanish-speaking toddlers serve imaginary tea in the local hair salon, and where spatulating is a verb. It was a fun read!
October 9, 2015
A delightful tale of a Scottish couple and their adventure in Spain. In their search to find a haven to avoid the cold winter months in their homeland, this couple sets out to find the perfect “place in the sun”.
The author vividly describes the town of Bedar, where they finally decided to live. These details about the countryside, the townspeople and the customs make the reader feel a part of it all. I particularly liked this: the Spanish people love flowers and in Bedar they used every available space…to grow plants.”.
The musical talents of the author always shine through and his experiences with fellow musicians were a nice addition to the story. He referred to many popular songs and his comments were priceless-
Sammy, the cat who adopted them, proved to enrich their home life and never left the couple with a dull moment. Loved the way the author described Sammy playing football and how he treated the house guests.
The easy reading style and the author’s great sense of humor make this book well worth reading. The trips to the barber shops alone had me hysterically laughing.
The author vividly describes the town of Bedar, where they finally decided to live. These details about the countryside, the townspeople and the customs make the reader feel a part of it all. I particularly liked this: the Spanish people love flowers and in Bedar they used every available space…to grow plants.”.
The musical talents of the author always shine through and his experiences with fellow musicians were a nice addition to the story. He referred to many popular songs and his comments were priceless-
Sammy, the cat who adopted them, proved to enrich their home life and never left the couple with a dull moment. Loved the way the author described Sammy playing football and how he treated the house guests.
The easy reading style and the author’s great sense of humor make this book well worth reading. The trips to the barber shops alone had me hysterically laughing.
November 6, 2015
In the tradition of Bill Bryson Jim Mackie does an amazing job of bringing us somewhere we’ve never been, making it seem incredible, and making us wish we were there along with him. In The Boogieman and his cat in Adalucia we follow a Scottish couple during their time in Spain, see the beauty of it through their eyes, and meet a series of colorful characters with whom we have adventures.
Now any book will have weakness and strengths, and one of the biggest things this book has going for it is the descriptions. When the author writes about people we know them as well as he does. When he talks about places it’s like we’re there. But not in the clinical ways, I mean he captures the spirit of them, the essence and the flavor. In an indie novel this is a very rare thing (and welcome). What I also love about the book is that it spurns the traditional 3 act structured, goal/motivation/stakes/obstacles story. Instead it shirks the box, meanders, and what we get is a quaint, funny, strange, and beautiful story about people and how the unique world’s they inhabit cross and blend in amazing ways.
This book... it’s about laughter, and music, about joy and love. In short, it’s about life.
Now any book will have weakness and strengths, and one of the biggest things this book has going for it is the descriptions. When the author writes about people we know them as well as he does. When he talks about places it’s like we’re there. But not in the clinical ways, I mean he captures the spirit of them, the essence and the flavor. In an indie novel this is a very rare thing (and welcome). What I also love about the book is that it spurns the traditional 3 act structured, goal/motivation/stakes/obstacles story. Instead it shirks the box, meanders, and what we get is a quaint, funny, strange, and beautiful story about people and how the unique world’s they inhabit cross and blend in amazing ways.
This book... it’s about laughter, and music, about joy and love. In short, it’s about life.
January 12, 2016
It took me a while to read this book, due to time constraints, but when I eventually opened it up, I was pleasantly surprised. The author has done a very good job of what I would call, his biography. It is very comical in most places. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion. The author tells of him and his wife's move to Spain, and of the music played, making friends and so on.
It is a real page turner, and very well conceived and thought out, and extremely well written. Never a dull moment.
I recommend this to anyone who likes laid back, engaging reads. You are guaranteed a good laugh.
It is a real page turner, and very well conceived and thought out, and extremely well written. Never a dull moment.
I recommend this to anyone who likes laid back, engaging reads. You are guaranteed a good laugh.
January 25, 2016
A man recounts his move to Spain and exploits as a “musician for hire”.
It’s obvious the author has a knack for getting on with people, enjoys life, has had some musical adventures (including disasters) and lives with an unusual cat, so as well as providing a lot of information about Spanish customs this book is laugh out funny in some places.
A lot of the humour and references will mean nothing to younger people, so I expect only people over fifty who enjoy “Carry on films” will really get into this book – so my rating is 3.5 (as I’m not really the right demographic).
It’s obvious the author has a knack for getting on with people, enjoys life, has had some musical adventures (including disasters) and lives with an unusual cat, so as well as providing a lot of information about Spanish customs this book is laugh out funny in some places.
A lot of the humour and references will mean nothing to younger people, so I expect only people over fifty who enjoy “Carry on films” will really get into this book – so my rating is 3.5 (as I’m not really the right demographic).
October 23, 2015
I have been lucky and meet the boogieman, and heard him play, he´s fingers just run along the keys and they sing music of all styles. I heard he was writing a book and was quick to ask for a copy, I have not been able to put the book down, apart for not seeing some pages because the crying with laughter, had to reread it and still I laughed, I like the lovely bright cover, of this well-written book. I enjoyed every minute, and would heartily recommend it to everyone.
December 21, 2015
Full review to come...
April 29, 2017
“What makes expat life so addictive is that every boring or mundane activity you experience at home is, when you move to a foreign country, suddenly transformed into an exciting adventure. When abroad, boredom, routine and ‘normal’ cease to exist. And all that’s left is the thrill and challenge of uncertainty, “ Reannon Muth.
Born with a natural musical talent, Jim spent his spare time in his youth learning the piano. Making a living got in the way of his musical interest until he was able to cash in and follow the smoke from his pipe dreams. His dream took him out of the cold Scottish climate and planted him in sunny Spain. Lucky for Jim his father insisted upon the piano instead of the bagpipes. Not many want to hang out with a piper, but when you can play the piano, and play it well, then you’re in demand. Like most memoirs, this book isn’t about having an obstacle and overcoming it, it’s about the funny things that happened to us on the way to the gig. Having pictures at the beginning of the chapters was a nice touch. You don’t see that often. An enjoyable, entertaining book.
Born with a natural musical talent, Jim spent his spare time in his youth learning the piano. Making a living got in the way of his musical interest until he was able to cash in and follow the smoke from his pipe dreams. His dream took him out of the cold Scottish climate and planted him in sunny Spain. Lucky for Jim his father insisted upon the piano instead of the bagpipes. Not many want to hang out with a piper, but when you can play the piano, and play it well, then you’re in demand. Like most memoirs, this book isn’t about having an obstacle and overcoming it, it’s about the funny things that happened to us on the way to the gig. Having pictures at the beginning of the chapters was a nice touch. You don’t see that often. An enjoyable, entertaining book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews