Patricia Atkinson odniosła sukces. Francuzi pokochali jej wina, a prestiżowe nagrody, którymi je uhonorowano, przyniosły jej sławę jednej z wiodących producentek tego trunku w regionie. A jednak… Każdy sukces kosztuje, cieniem tego była samotność, rozstanie z mężem, śmierć przyjaciela. Ukojenie Patricia znalazła w pięknie przyrody, hojności ziemi, życzliwości sąsiadów. Ta książka jest pochwałą prostych uroków wiejskiego życia – dobrego wina, przyjaźni, życia ściśle zespolonego z mądrym rytmem natury. Jeśli możesz wziąć udział w polowaniu, iść na ryby albo poszukać trufli, by zjeść ją na śniadanie, czego jeszcze potrzebujesz do szczęścia?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
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.
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. :)
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!
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...
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.