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Driving Over Lemons Trilogy #2
A Parrot in the Pepper Tree
Chris Stewart's "Driving Over Lemons" told the story of his move to a remote mountain farm in Las Alpujarras, an oddball region of Spain, south of Granada. Funny, insightful and real, the book became an international bestseller.
This sequel follows the lives of Chris, Ana and their daughter, Chloe, as they get to grips with a misanthropic parrot who joins their home, Spanish school life, neighbours in love, their amazement at Chris appearing on the bestseller lists ... and their shock at discovering that their beloved valley is once more under threat of a dam.
A Parrot in the Pepper Tree also looks back on Chris Stewart's former life - the hard times shearing in midwinter Sweden (and driving across the frozen sea to reach island farms); his first taste of Spain, learning flamenco guitar as a 20-year old; and his illustrious music career, drumming for his school band Genesis (sacked at 17, he never quite became Phil Collins), and then for a circus.
This sequel follows the lives of Chris, Ana and their daughter, Chloe, as they get to grips with a misanthropic parrot who joins their home, Spanish school life, neighbours in love, their amazement at Chris appearing on the bestseller lists ... and their shock at discovering that their beloved valley is once more under threat of a dam.
A Parrot in the Pepper Tree also looks back on Chris Stewart's former life - the hard times shearing in midwinter Sweden (and driving across the frozen sea to reach island farms); his first taste of Spain, learning flamenco guitar as a 20-year old; and his illustrious music career, drumming for his school band Genesis (sacked at 17, he never quite became Phil Collins), and then for a circus.
223 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
231 people are currently reading
1278 people want to read
About the author
Chris Stewart
12 books217 followersChristopher 'Chris' Stewart (born 1951), was the original drummer and a founding member of Genesis. He is now a farmer and an author. A classmate of Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel at Charterhouse School, Stewart joined them in a school band called The Garden Wall, and they later formed another band with schoolmates Mike Rutherford and Anthony Phillips, called Anon. This band eventually became Genesis in January 1967. Stewart appears on the band's first two singles, "The Silent Sun"/"That's Me" and "A Winter's Tale"/"One-Eyed Hound." Although several demos from Stewart's time with Genesis appear on the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set, he is not credited with playing on any of them. (Peter Gabriel seems to have played drums on a couple, and the rest do not feature drums.)
At the recommendation of Jonathan King, Stewart was asked to leave the band in the summer of 1968 due to poor technique. He was replaced by John Silver. After travelling and working throughout Europe, Stewart settled and bought a farm named "El Valero" in the Alpujarras region of Andalucia, Spain where he lives and works with his wife Ana Exton and daughter Chloë. He came in last place for the position of local councillor in the 27 May 2007 local elections in Órgiva representing the Green Party, where he received 201 votes (roughly 8%).
He is now better known for his autobiographical books, Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia (1999, ISBN 0-9535227-0-9) and the sequels, A Parrot In The Pepper Tree (ISBN 0-9535227-5-X) and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society (2006, ISBN 0-9548995-0-4), about his work farming in Spain. All three are also available as audiobooks (Lemons ISBN 0-14-180143-3; Parrot ISBN 0-14-180402-5), and Almond ISBN 0-7528-8597-9, narrated by Stewart.
Stewart's publisher, Sort of Books, announced plans to release yet another Stewart memoir in 2009, this one focused on sailing, entitled Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: An Optimist Afloat.
Stewart has also contributed to two books in the Rough Guides series: the Rough Guide to Andalucia and the Rough Guide to China.
At the recommendation of Jonathan King, Stewart was asked to leave the band in the summer of 1968 due to poor technique. He was replaced by John Silver. After travelling and working throughout Europe, Stewart settled and bought a farm named "El Valero" in the Alpujarras region of Andalucia, Spain where he lives and works with his wife Ana Exton and daughter Chloë. He came in last place for the position of local councillor in the 27 May 2007 local elections in Órgiva representing the Green Party, where he received 201 votes (roughly 8%).
He is now better known for his autobiographical books, Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia (1999, ISBN 0-9535227-0-9) and the sequels, A Parrot In The Pepper Tree (ISBN 0-9535227-5-X) and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society (2006, ISBN 0-9548995-0-4), about his work farming in Spain. All three are also available as audiobooks (Lemons ISBN 0-14-180143-3; Parrot ISBN 0-14-180402-5), and Almond ISBN 0-7528-8597-9, narrated by Stewart.
Stewart's publisher, Sort of Books, announced plans to release yet another Stewart memoir in 2009, this one focused on sailing, entitled Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: An Optimist Afloat.
Stewart has also contributed to two books in the Rough Guides series: the Rough Guide to Andalucia and the Rough Guide to China.
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February 9, 2023
I loved Chris's 1st book, Driving over Lemons, ann most of this book was pretty entertaining as well.But I am very puzzled over what he had to say about Shearing sheep. He is driving from Spain to Sweden in the dead of winter, it is snowing, and the pond or lake is frozen over , so I know it's pretty cold. He is heading for a rancher's house in order to sheare his sheep, all 300 of them, and this in the dead of winter. Now, I know you don't sheare sheep in winter because they need their wool coats in order to keep warm. So what's the deal?
So, I just decided to take it as it was, Kind of. I mean, I really can't quit thinking about it. Maybe the sheep are a different breed that like the cold. Maybe he has a barn large enough for 300' sheep and he keeps it heated all winter.
Then, when I finish the book of this author's adventures on his own farm in Spain, I bought his 2 other books.
And now I can't quit thinking about that poor parrot, The horse stepped on his FOOT and would not move it. The parrot was squawking. He was crying. Chris had to lift the horses Hoof off the Parrots 'FOOT. Chris did not think that the horse knew what he was doing. Yes, he did. And I believe he was a she because mares are mean. I know that mares are mean because 1 kicked me in the thighs and another Stepped On my FOOT and wouldn't move it. I lifted it off of my ' FOOT. Then she begin pushing me into the fence and I had to grab her reins to move her in a different direction. Yes, Mare's are mean.. I need to have a talk with Chris On a couple of matters.
Chris. You wanted to talk to me?
Me. Yes. What is this about shearing sheep in the winter? You don't do that. They will They will freeze to death.
Chris.I only shear them half way. They were getting top heavy and would fall down on the ground and not get up. So I had to cut half of their hair off. I mean. Wool.
Me. What? Laughing. Do you think I'm that stupid? And what are you doing in my review?
Chris. Well, you walked into my story. The 1 about driving over lemons.
Me. Yes, that is true. And you just wait till I read your 3rd story. I will find my way into it somehow. I see right now though, there is no talking to you, so I will ask you no more questions.
Chris. Just stay out of my wine this time.
Me. Okay. Got any vodka? He gives me a dirty look and leaves.
Update.The mystery is solved. You leave enough wool on the sheet so that he will stay warm.
So, I just decided to take it as it was, Kind of. I mean, I really can't quit thinking about it. Maybe the sheep are a different breed that like the cold. Maybe he has a barn large enough for 300' sheep and he keeps it heated all winter.
Then, when I finish the book of this author's adventures on his own farm in Spain, I bought his 2 other books.
And now I can't quit thinking about that poor parrot, The horse stepped on his FOOT and would not move it. The parrot was squawking. He was crying. Chris had to lift the horses Hoof off the Parrots 'FOOT. Chris did not think that the horse knew what he was doing. Yes, he did. And I believe he was a she because mares are mean. I know that mares are mean because 1 kicked me in the thighs and another Stepped On my FOOT and wouldn't move it. I lifted it off of my ' FOOT. Then she begin pushing me into the fence and I had to grab her reins to move her in a different direction. Yes, Mare's are mean.. I need to have a talk with Chris On a couple of matters.
Chris. You wanted to talk to me?
Me. Yes. What is this about shearing sheep in the winter? You don't do that. They will They will freeze to death.
Chris.I only shear them half way. They were getting top heavy and would fall down on the ground and not get up. So I had to cut half of their hair off. I mean. Wool.
Me. What? Laughing. Do you think I'm that stupid? And what are you doing in my review?
Chris. Well, you walked into my story. The 1 about driving over lemons.
Me. Yes, that is true. And you just wait till I read your 3rd story. I will find my way into it somehow. I see right now though, there is no talking to you, so I will ask you no more questions.
Chris. Just stay out of my wine this time.
Me. Okay. Got any vodka? He gives me a dirty look and leaves.
Update.The mystery is solved. You leave enough wool on the sheet so that he will stay warm.
June 12, 2022
(3.5) It’s at least 10 years ago, probably nearer 15, that I read Driving over Lemons, the first in Stewart’s eventual trilogy about buying an isolated farm in Andalusia. His books are in the Peter Mayle vein, low-key and humorous: an Englishman finds the good life abroad and tells amusing anecdotes about the locals and his own mishaps.
This sequel stood out for me a little more than the previous book, if only because I mostly read it in Spain. It’s in discrete essays, some of which look back on his earlier life. He was a founding member of Genesis and very briefly the band’s drummer; and to make some cash for the farm he used to rent himself out as a sheep shearer, including during winters in Sweden.
To start with, they were really very isolated, such that getting a telephone line put in revolutionized their lives. By this time, his first book had become something of a literary sensation, so he reflects on its composition and early reception, remembering when the Mail sent a clueless reporter out to find him. Spanish bureaucracy becomes a key element, especially when it looks like their land might be flooded by the building of a dam. Despite that vague sense of dread, this was good fun.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
This sequel stood out for me a little more than the previous book, if only because I mostly read it in Spain. It’s in discrete essays, some of which look back on his earlier life. He was a founding member of Genesis and very briefly the band’s drummer; and to make some cash for the farm he used to rent himself out as a sheep shearer, including during winters in Sweden.
To start with, they were really very isolated, such that getting a telephone line put in revolutionized their lives. By this time, his first book had become something of a literary sensation, so he reflects on its composition and early reception, remembering when the Mail sent a clueless reporter out to find him. Spanish bureaucracy becomes a key element, especially when it looks like their land might be flooded by the building of a dam. Despite that vague sense of dread, this was good fun.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
July 26, 2014
I read the first book in this trilogy years ago (Driving over lemons) and enjoyed it, so I am not really sure why it took me so long to read this second one.
Very easy to read - Stewart has that lucky talent for being able to tell a good tale in a relaxed, often amusing way that makes me convinced he'd be great company.
I'm definitely not a fan of 'we escaped the rat race and bought a run down property' books but this is more than just one of those. Stewart has a fascinating past including a stint with a very early Genesis line up (which didn't last long). He dips into those early memories throughout the book and that works well.
I also like the way he doesn't try and write about his life as the perfect idyll. We hear about his worries and fears every bit as much as the lovelier side of living in such a beautiful part of rural Spain. And he also avoids the pitfall of making all the locals sound like colourful caricatures.
Stewart isn't playing at living abroad - he clearly states this is where he wants to stay with his wife, and where he will raise his young daughter along with their menagerie of dogs, cats and of course the parrot, Porca. The parrot's antics were often very amusing!
Very easy to read - Stewart has that lucky talent for being able to tell a good tale in a relaxed, often amusing way that makes me convinced he'd be great company.
I'm definitely not a fan of 'we escaped the rat race and bought a run down property' books but this is more than just one of those. Stewart has a fascinating past including a stint with a very early Genesis line up (which didn't last long). He dips into those early memories throughout the book and that works well.
I also like the way he doesn't try and write about his life as the perfect idyll. We hear about his worries and fears every bit as much as the lovelier side of living in such a beautiful part of rural Spain. And he also avoids the pitfall of making all the locals sound like colourful caricatures.
Stewart isn't playing at living abroad - he clearly states this is where he wants to stay with his wife, and where he will raise his young daughter along with their menagerie of dogs, cats and of course the parrot, Porca. The parrot's antics were often very amusing!
August 3, 2019
Tiene sus partes buenas, pero no es tan bueno como el anterior. Yo creo que al señor le dio un poquito de pánico escénico: no pensó que le iba a ir tan bien cuando lanzó las memorias originales, y ahora escribe este segundo tomo sabiendo que tiene un público real al cual complacer... entonces gran parte de las anécdotas se ven forzadas y un poco temerosas, como preocupado de querer seguir cayendo bien. Algo muy humano, pero que no es amigo de la literatura.
Con tal que igual me divertí, pero al final fue un miti-mota. Aunque historias buenas, sí, pero ninguna tan memorable como en la vez primera.
Con tal que igual me divertí, pero al final fue un miti-mota. Aunque historias buenas, sí, pero ninguna tan memorable como en la vez primera.
March 31, 2011
You know, some people just have a knack for writing; they can make even the most boring things seem interesting — partly because they find it interesting and probably don’t give a damn if you think it’s boring/silly/lame. (And maybe it’s just me, but I prefer people like that.)
I think the main reason I liked Chris Stewart’s “Driving Over Lemons” was because he has this way of writing that makes you feel like you’re reading an old-fashioned, handwritten letter from a really good friend you haven’t seen in ages, but you’ve kept in touch with through letters — you know, the sort of letter that’s on crinkly, thin sheets of white paper in a messy scrawl that goes into all sorts of cool details about the things they’ve seen and the people they’ve met.
“A Parrot In The Pepper Tree” is what Stewart describes as a “sort of” sequel and it delves into — a little bit — about how “Driving Over Lemons” came into being; it also touches briefly on Stewart’s short tenure with the band, Genesis, as one of its founding members.
He writes on his site, “Peter Gabriel (q.v.) asked me to play drums for his band, so that he, who had started as the drummer, could keep his hands free to play the flute and wave about while he sang. They kept me on for a bit because I was enthusiastic and amiable, and I even got to fool around for an afternoon in a recording studio and cut a couple of tracks. But the writing was on the wall and the famous Jonathan King, the manager, persuaded the lads to throw me out.
This was a wise decision, as I was, to put it mildly, a crap drummer.”
See what I mean about his writing? It’s that unabashed honesty that I like.
When you read over his bio, you can’t help but be a little jealous because this is a guy who has really lived. He’s done all sorts of interesting things and he’s pretty good at writing about them.
In this book, he writes about life with his family on their remote Andalusian farm where a misanthropic parrot joins their home and WWOOFers (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) come to stay.
Between all of that, he brings his eccentric neighbours vibrantly to life on the page and you learn about their lives in Stewart’s beloved valley — which, at the end of the book, you learn is under threat of a dam.
I think the main reason I liked Chris Stewart’s “Driving Over Lemons” was because he has this way of writing that makes you feel like you’re reading an old-fashioned, handwritten letter from a really good friend you haven’t seen in ages, but you’ve kept in touch with through letters — you know, the sort of letter that’s on crinkly, thin sheets of white paper in a messy scrawl that goes into all sorts of cool details about the things they’ve seen and the people they’ve met.
“A Parrot In The Pepper Tree” is what Stewart describes as a “sort of” sequel and it delves into — a little bit — about how “Driving Over Lemons” came into being; it also touches briefly on Stewart’s short tenure with the band, Genesis, as one of its founding members.
He writes on his site, “Peter Gabriel (q.v.) asked me to play drums for his band, so that he, who had started as the drummer, could keep his hands free to play the flute and wave about while he sang. They kept me on for a bit because I was enthusiastic and amiable, and I even got to fool around for an afternoon in a recording studio and cut a couple of tracks. But the writing was on the wall and the famous Jonathan King, the manager, persuaded the lads to throw me out.
This was a wise decision, as I was, to put it mildly, a crap drummer.”
See what I mean about his writing? It’s that unabashed honesty that I like.
When you read over his bio, you can’t help but be a little jealous because this is a guy who has really lived. He’s done all sorts of interesting things and he’s pretty good at writing about them.
In this book, he writes about life with his family on their remote Andalusian farm where a misanthropic parrot joins their home and WWOOFers (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) come to stay.
Between all of that, he brings his eccentric neighbours vibrantly to life on the page and you learn about their lives in Stewart’s beloved valley — which, at the end of the book, you learn is under threat of a dam.
March 16, 2016
No big trips for me this summer. Not by plane or train anyway. Instead, I've traveled by book. A Parrot in the Pepper Tree carried me to Spain, to the mountain home of Chris Stewart and his family. With the Stewarts, life is always a degree or two west of normal, with all the odd Spaniards of the world apparently living within walking distance of the Stewarts' home. Don't expect a big rollercoaster adventure; Pepper Tree is more of a hike through a quirky human zoo.
November 16, 2017
Once again Chris Stewart has written an entertaining novel about his life in Spain. After reading his first book, Driving Over Lemons, we decided to move to Spain ourselves. His vivid descriptions of the stunning landscape, interesting people, and frustrating bureaucracy is right on. He clearly loves his adopted country, his family, and his neighbours. This is a laugh out loud book that will also warm your heart and make you wish you were there.
October 27, 2021
Reading this in Andalucia, with squawking parrots in the trees above, made this book even more enjoyable. It transports you to a place and a time, surrounded by interesting characters and creatures. The author’s self-deprecating way with a good story had me laughing - and reading - out loud. Loved.
September 27, 2019
Chris Stewart, ex Genesis drummer, moved to a remote Spanish farm with his family. This book follows their progress with some amusing tales and some hardships. An excellent read.
May 27, 2024
Mi abuela y yo solemos prestarnos libros cada cierto tiempo. Hace unos meses le dejé uno de Shólojov, y ella me prestó "El loro en el limonero" de Stewart, batería original de Génesis. De primeras no sabía que esperar, pero ha sido una grata sorpresa.
Mi tocayo relata sus aventuras en el cortijo donde vive con su familia, ubicado (para mayor sorpresa) en la Alpujarra de Granada. Aproxima ciertas experiencias de su vida, como su breve recorrido en Génesis, sus viajes por Inglaterra gracias al circo en el que trabajó, una intensa estancia en Sevilla, ... Y me ha encantado. Es breve, pero entrañable y conmovedor.
Parece ser que éste es el segundo de una trilogía, por si alguien quiere curiosear más.
Mi tocayo relata sus aventuras en el cortijo donde vive con su familia, ubicado (para mayor sorpresa) en la Alpujarra de Granada. Aproxima ciertas experiencias de su vida, como su breve recorrido en Génesis, sus viajes por Inglaterra gracias al circo en el que trabajó, una intensa estancia en Sevilla, ... Y me ha encantado. Es breve, pero entrañable y conmovedor.
Parece ser que éste es el segundo de una trilogía, por si alguien quiere curiosear más.
February 20, 2020
Šis ir turpinājums grāmatai "Pāri citroniem" un pārsteidzošā kārtā bija vēl labāks. Humors izkoptāks un stāstījums raitāks. Man grūti iedomāties otru tik pozitīvisma un miera pilnu grāmatu. Nekādas vardarbības, seksa vai negāciju, vien vienkārši cilvēki, kuri no sirds mīl savu dzīvi un darbu.
January 28, 2020
Whereas Driving Over Lemons recounted the arrival of Chris Stewart and his wife at El Valero, the focus of Stewart's sequel, A Parrot in the Pepper Tree, is broader and more ambitious. Following his final sheep-shearing expedition in Sweden, Stewart describes the writing of and then response to Driving Over Lemons, interspersed with more amusing tales from Andalucia and semi-autobiographical details of Stewart's earlier life.
This sequel felt considerably more engaging than Driving Over Lemons, perhaps because the individuals described are understandably more familiar. The novel's stories and characterisation both remain highly entertaining, especially with the development of Chloë, their daughter, and comical depiction of their parrot. The penultimate chapter, 'A Night up the Mountain', exhibits Stewart's most immersive storytelling yet, relating their search for gentians amid the looming uncertainty surrounding the hydroelectric dam.
Rating: 4.4/5
This sequel felt considerably more engaging than Driving Over Lemons, perhaps because the individuals described are understandably more familiar. The novel's stories and characterisation both remain highly entertaining, especially with the development of Chloë, their daughter, and comical depiction of their parrot. The penultimate chapter, 'A Night up the Mountain', exhibits Stewart's most immersive storytelling yet, relating their search for gentians amid the looming uncertainty surrounding the hydroelectric dam.
Rating: 4.4/5
July 29, 2024
A sequel as good as the original. I suppose it’s not really ‘travel writing’ - but these stories of developing a farm in rural Spain are funny and interesting and inspiring. In other news, I desperately need a holiday…
April 9, 2021
Read the second book in the series. So well written. An engaging narrative of ex-pat life with lots of humour built in. Ordered the next book from eBay
January 7, 2025
Loving this trilogy of books so far life on the farm is becoming hectic
July 10, 2020
A nice gentle comfort read :) 3.5 stars
May 21, 2015
Following in the footsteps of his first book, here we have another delightful sojourn at El Valero, in the Las Alpujarras in Spain - at the eco friendly home of Chris, Ana and their five year old daughter Chloë..... also present are the dogs, the sheep – and their eccentric parakeet ‘Porka’.
Under the warm, funny and self-deprecating writing of Chris Stewart, there moves a man of granite. Life at El Valero ain’t for wossies. Whether he’s describing the climb to admire the fields of gentian flowers on the on the high slopes of the Mulhacén, or the rigours of enduring a deeply uncomfortable wet Christmas in a house and a valley designed for sunshine, it is obvious that he and his family are hugely stoic and enduring.
“But it kept on raining and gradually the whole Alpujarras turned to porridge. Clouds and mists shrouded the valley and all the landmarks we knew disappeared. The bridge was among them, swept away downriver and cutting us off from any chance of visitors....The ground around the house got so sodden that the water table rose and the kitchen was flooded with three inches of water. So too was Ana’s end of the bedroom. We were wet and cold and bored and sniffling with colds....A frequent topic of conversation and indeed a measure of a certain sort of respectability is the quantity of buckets you have in your house collecting drips from the roof. One day I counted twenty-three receptacles dotted around the house – buckets and bowls and tins and tubs.... The solar power system had given out and we moved like ghosts through the grey gloom or by the light of a few feeble candle-stubs. The fire, fuelled by wet black wood, filled the room with smoke and offered but a feeble and malevolent glow.....”
In spite of this and other challenges, their love of their home and for the people who share their valley resonates throughout the book. For every drawback there is a plus, a celebration of life and the human spirit. They come across as people who have found their niche – and it is a pleasure to share it with them. This is a nice escapist read, perfect for a relaxing bedtime and sweet dreams.
Under the warm, funny and self-deprecating writing of Chris Stewart, there moves a man of granite. Life at El Valero ain’t for wossies. Whether he’s describing the climb to admire the fields of gentian flowers on the on the high slopes of the Mulhacén, or the rigours of enduring a deeply uncomfortable wet Christmas in a house and a valley designed for sunshine, it is obvious that he and his family are hugely stoic and enduring.
“But it kept on raining and gradually the whole Alpujarras turned to porridge. Clouds and mists shrouded the valley and all the landmarks we knew disappeared. The bridge was among them, swept away downriver and cutting us off from any chance of visitors....The ground around the house got so sodden that the water table rose and the kitchen was flooded with three inches of water. So too was Ana’s end of the bedroom. We were wet and cold and bored and sniffling with colds....A frequent topic of conversation and indeed a measure of a certain sort of respectability is the quantity of buckets you have in your house collecting drips from the roof. One day I counted twenty-three receptacles dotted around the house – buckets and bowls and tins and tubs.... The solar power system had given out and we moved like ghosts through the grey gloom or by the light of a few feeble candle-stubs. The fire, fuelled by wet black wood, filled the room with smoke and offered but a feeble and malevolent glow.....”
In spite of this and other challenges, their love of their home and for the people who share their valley resonates throughout the book. For every drawback there is a plus, a celebration of life and the human spirit. They come across as people who have found their niche – and it is a pleasure to share it with them. This is a nice escapist read, perfect for a relaxing bedtime and sweet dreams.
December 9, 2020
"Chris Stewart's Driving Over Lemons told the story of his move to a remote mountain farm in Las Alpujarras -- an oddball region of Spain, south of Granada. Funny, insightful and real, the book became an international bestseller.
"Three years on A Parrot in the Pepper Tree follows the lives of Chris, Ana and their daughter, Chloe, on their farm, as they get to grips with a misanthropic parrot who joins their home, Spanish school life, neighbours in love, Journalists beating a path to their door .. and the shock of discovering that their beloved valley might once more be under the threat of being engulfed by a dam.
"A Parrot in the Pepper Tree also looks back on Chris Stewart's former life -- the hard times shearing in midwinter Sweden (and driving across the frozen sea to teach island farms; his first taste of Spain, learning the flamenco guitar as a 20-year-old; and his illustrious music career, drumming for his school band Genesis (sacked at 17, he never quite became Phil Collins), and then for Sir Robert Fossett's circus.
"These new episodes are an irresistible continuation of the Lemons story."
~~back cover
Charming vignettes into the continued family life of the Stewarts. And their neighbors. All told with a touch of whimsy and a bit of tongue in cheek. Not great literature, but an enjoyable read. The only problem is, it leaves the reader hanging about the fate of their valley. I would have hoped for a third book to resolve this dire threat, but Parrot was published 20 years ago, so it's doubtful the third book is in the offing. Too bad.
"Three years on A Parrot in the Pepper Tree follows the lives of Chris, Ana and their daughter, Chloe, on their farm, as they get to grips with a misanthropic parrot who joins their home, Spanish school life, neighbours in love, Journalists beating a path to their door .. and the shock of discovering that their beloved valley might once more be under the threat of being engulfed by a dam.
"A Parrot in the Pepper Tree also looks back on Chris Stewart's former life -- the hard times shearing in midwinter Sweden (and driving across the frozen sea to teach island farms; his first taste of Spain, learning the flamenco guitar as a 20-year-old; and his illustrious music career, drumming for his school band Genesis (sacked at 17, he never quite became Phil Collins), and then for Sir Robert Fossett's circus.
"These new episodes are an irresistible continuation of the Lemons story."
~~back cover
Charming vignettes into the continued family life of the Stewarts. And their neighbors. All told with a touch of whimsy and a bit of tongue in cheek. Not great literature, but an enjoyable read. The only problem is, it leaves the reader hanging about the fate of their valley. I would have hoped for a third book to resolve this dire threat, but Parrot was published 20 years ago, so it's doubtful the third book is in the offing. Too bad.
December 3, 2007
Tan o más agradable que "Entre limones". Sin pretensiones, con humildad, Chris hace que su retahíla de anécdotas sea una delicia, y un derroche de sentido del humor.
April 4, 2015
I wonder why I am reading this trilogy. Chris Stewart makes life in the Alpujarras seem about as comfortable as sitting on a barbed wire fence.
August 14, 2015
Not as good a story as Driving Over Lemons, but seriously enjoyable nevertheless.
October 21, 2017
Not as good as the first one but still a fun read
September 10, 2018
Another entertaining winner from Chris
August 6, 2018
Over the last twenty years or so, there have been a huge number of books written by British people who have gone to live abroad, and felt the need to write about their experiences. Whether they've written because their new home has revealed the author inside, or because the whole scheme has been a disaster, and they are desperately hoping they can make some money from writing funny stories about backward neighbours, is anyone's guess.
They range from the sublime to the ridiculous, from the endearing tales of learning about adapting to a new culture to those that essentially rage at all things 'foreign', where you wonder why the author went to live abroad in the first place. I've read a few over the years, and some have been entertaining and thought-provoking.
This volume is the second book by Chris Stewart charting his continuing struggles after deciding to go and live a partly self-sufficient life in one of the more remote areas of Andalucia. With his wife Ana, and now his daughter Chloe, he lives in a traditional small farm called El Valero. In the first book in the series - Driving over Lemons - he introduced himself and something of his life. In book two, we find him more settled, continuing to develop the farm, and building his new life.
As these books go, this is pretty good. He is an engaging writer, and his life and adventures are interesting enough to be worth reading about. He tells us more about his past, and how he came to choose Spain as a destination. His relationship with the local population is generally very good - although some of them are actually incomers too - and they seem to have accepted him.
The style is always light, even when things go wrong, and it makes for easy reading, and there are some very funny moments. The family, and the other main characters, are likeable and real. The one thing missing for me is his wife, Ana. Although she makes regular appearances throughout the book, she is never really fleshed out as a real person. This may be deliberate; perhaps she prefers to keep something back. But although I feel I get to know Chris quite well, I never feel I know Ana.
With this one reservation, the book is very readable. Yes, it's light entertainment. But with some fun stories, and a few interesting thoughts about home, life, work and where we all fit in.
They range from the sublime to the ridiculous, from the endearing tales of learning about adapting to a new culture to those that essentially rage at all things 'foreign', where you wonder why the author went to live abroad in the first place. I've read a few over the years, and some have been entertaining and thought-provoking.
This volume is the second book by Chris Stewart charting his continuing struggles after deciding to go and live a partly self-sufficient life in one of the more remote areas of Andalucia. With his wife Ana, and now his daughter Chloe, he lives in a traditional small farm called El Valero. In the first book in the series - Driving over Lemons - he introduced himself and something of his life. In book two, we find him more settled, continuing to develop the farm, and building his new life.
As these books go, this is pretty good. He is an engaging writer, and his life and adventures are interesting enough to be worth reading about. He tells us more about his past, and how he came to choose Spain as a destination. His relationship with the local population is generally very good - although some of them are actually incomers too - and they seem to have accepted him.
The style is always light, even when things go wrong, and it makes for easy reading, and there are some very funny moments. The family, and the other main characters, are likeable and real. The one thing missing for me is his wife, Ana. Although she makes regular appearances throughout the book, she is never really fleshed out as a real person. This may be deliberate; perhaps she prefers to keep something back. But although I feel I get to know Chris quite well, I never feel I know Ana.
With this one reservation, the book is very readable. Yes, it's light entertainment. But with some fun stories, and a few interesting thoughts about home, life, work and where we all fit in.
August 30, 2025
In Parrot in a Peppertree, Chris Stewart is back in this hilarious followup to Lemons. Parrot continues the tale of he and Anna, and now with Chloe, their daughter. I like how Stewart gives us some of the back story of his early beginning in an English prep school, the founding of Genesis, and how it got it's name, and his struggles as a young musician trying to find his niche in the music industry. Many of the same characters from Lemons are still included in the story--after all, they are his neighbors still-- and a few others are introduced. He mentions his emigration to Spain and how he searched for lodging when he first arrived. It turns out the taxi driver showed him affordable accommodations in a brothel.
Their daughter, Chloe, makes her entrance in this book and we find out she is a lot like her mother in that she speaks the unvarnished truth of things to her dad in the same way that Anna can put Chris in his place when he starts to get a bit reckless with his plans for the family. This book retains all of the humor of Lemons while adding a warmth that reveals their love for each other and for the life they have built at El Valero.
They find that their homestead may be at risk due to some public works projects that threaten to flood the valley. They hire an eco-engineer who has convinced them to install a swimming hole--notice I didn't say swimming pool--at their home. Also, Chris has to deal with an irate neighbor who may want to kill him.
I was so glad to find there was another book that followed Lemons. And even more thankful that there are still more of these stories. Stewart's narration is superb. Another book that I hated to see end. I will definitely read more of his tales from his exploits in Alpujarras.
4/5
Their daughter, Chloe, makes her entrance in this book and we find out she is a lot like her mother in that she speaks the unvarnished truth of things to her dad in the same way that Anna can put Chris in his place when he starts to get a bit reckless with his plans for the family. This book retains all of the humor of Lemons while adding a warmth that reveals their love for each other and for the life they have built at El Valero.
They find that their homestead may be at risk due to some public works projects that threaten to flood the valley. They hire an eco-engineer who has convinced them to install a swimming hole--notice I didn't say swimming pool--at their home. Also, Chris has to deal with an irate neighbor who may want to kill him.
I was so glad to find there was another book that followed Lemons. And even more thankful that there are still more of these stories. Stewart's narration is superb. Another book that I hated to see end. I will definitely read more of his tales from his exploits in Alpujarras.
4/5
November 19, 2020
Krisa Stjuarta otrais memuārs. Kriss dalās ar lasītāju ar stāstiem no jaunības, - kā viņš mācījās spēlēt spāņu ģitāru, kā viņš spēlēja grupā "Genesis", kā izlēma uzsākt dzīvi Andalūzijā, - un ar jauniem atgadījumiem, laika periodā pēc pirmās grāmatas izdošanas. Grāmatas ir sarakstīta no vairākiem epizodiskiem ierakstiem, kas sarindoti bez hronoloģiskas secības. Teksts tulkots sarunvalodā.
!SPOILERI!
"Papagailis piparu kokā" lasīsanas pieredze ir salīdzināma ar vienu no tām situācijām, kad satiec nepazīstamu cilvēku, kas uzsāk sarunu, un pašam nemanot, sarunai beidzoties jūs esat kas līdzīgs draugiem. Kriss ir cilvēks kā visi mēs, kas ir dzīves gaitā saskāries gan ar bēdīgākām, gan ar priecīgākām notikumiem. Manuprāt, Kriss ir samēra impulsīvs un ekspresīvs, memuārā aprakstītās pieredzes man ir svešas. Bija interesanti kaut uz brīdi izprast kā domā cits cilvēks un kas virza viņu. Pirmais memuārs, ko esmu izlasījis.
Vērtējums: 3/5. Interešu literatūra, kas, manuprāt, var palīdzēt izprast cilvēkus virzošos spēkus, un, varbūt, pietuvināties šo spēku pirmavotam pašā lasītājā.
!SPOILERI!
"Papagailis piparu kokā" lasīsanas pieredze ir salīdzināma ar vienu no tām situācijām, kad satiec nepazīstamu cilvēku, kas uzsāk sarunu, un pašam nemanot, sarunai beidzoties jūs esat kas līdzīgs draugiem. Kriss ir cilvēks kā visi mēs, kas ir dzīves gaitā saskāries gan ar bēdīgākām, gan ar priecīgākām notikumiem. Manuprāt, Kriss ir samēra impulsīvs un ekspresīvs, memuārā aprakstītās pieredzes man ir svešas. Bija interesanti kaut uz brīdi izprast kā domā cits cilvēks un kas virza viņu. Pirmais memuārs, ko esmu izlasījis.
Vērtējums: 3/5. Interešu literatūra, kas, manuprāt, var palīdzēt izprast cilvēkus virzošos spēkus, un, varbūt, pietuvināties šo spēku pirmavotam pašā lasītājā.
June 22, 2025
Parrot in the Pepper Tree picks up right where Driving Over Lemons left off—more sunshine, more sheep, and more wonderfully absurd moments on Chris Stewart’s Andalusian farm. I listened to it on Audible again, and having Stewart narrate his own story adds a warm, familiar touch—like catching up with an old friend who always has a ridiculous story to tell.
This second book leans more into reflection, with anecdotes from Stewart’s past—flamenco guitar learning, sheep shearing, even a stint with Genesis—woven in between present-day misadventures. There’s still the same baffling naivety (buying animals without knowing how to care for them, trusting locals blindly, building a bio pool), but by now it feels like part of the charm. You don’t read Stewart for practical wisdom—you read him because he’s good-natured, funny, and genuinely loves the life he’s built, chaos and all.
It won’t make you sell your house and move to Spain, but it might make you daydream about it—at least until the plumbing breaks. Mostly, it’ll just make you smile. Again.
This second book leans more into reflection, with anecdotes from Stewart’s past—flamenco guitar learning, sheep shearing, even a stint with Genesis—woven in between present-day misadventures. There’s still the same baffling naivety (buying animals without knowing how to care for them, trusting locals blindly, building a bio pool), but by now it feels like part of the charm. You don’t read Stewart for practical wisdom—you read him because he’s good-natured, funny, and genuinely loves the life he’s built, chaos and all.
It won’t make you sell your house and move to Spain, but it might make you daydream about it—at least until the plumbing breaks. Mostly, it’ll just make you smile. Again.
August 2, 2025
Chris Stewart welcomes us back to his Andalucian farm in this equally laid back sequel to Driving Over Lemons. While still interesting enough, this book revisits multiple different time periods in Stewart's life. He recounts his time as a teenager learning flamenco guitar (boring) and a month spent in a Swiss home shearing sheep with Viking descendants (interesting). The eponymous parrot is introduced halfway through the book and his appearance is a positive turning point for the book. Hes wild and unpredictable, and gets himself into crazy situations. In a story lacking the Spanish local element, Porca the parrot brought some much needed comic relief. We don't see much of Domingo, one of Stewart's neighbors and my favorite part from the first book. The book ends with Stewart and his wife climbing to the top of the mountain, admiring the view and the blue tinted grass.
September 11, 2017
Después de una aceptable primera parte con 'Entre limones' esta segunda vuelta al cortijo alpujarreño resulta menos sorprendente, menos humorística y menos hilvanada. Capítulos inconexos, el loro, el chaparrón, la bronca, el rebaño, el invierno sueco, la presa, se suceden sin acabar de convencer ni de hebrar un relato ordenado. Chris es un tipo simpático, un escritor regular y un ecologista encomiable. Con todo, el relato es solo pasable. El estilo tosco y, desaparecida la novedad de la ironía educada inglesa, te preguntas a dónde te lleva todo esto. En fin. Te gustaría darle un abrazo y desearle la mejor de las suertes en sus futuros proyectos pero acabas dudando si querer leer la tercera parte.
February 21, 2024
This is the second book of Chris Stewart’s Trilogy. I have read all three now & believe them to be great fun. The author’s authentic voice shines through. I rarely read a book more than once, but I have thoroughly enjoyed all three of these books.
The themes are about Chris Stewart’s life, they form a series of memoirs from the time in which he bought the farm in Las Alpujarra district of Andalusia in Spain. He & his family come to life.
I looked up his life on the internet & discovered that he and his wife Ana still live there. They have lived on their farm for over 28 years. I have also recommended this trilogy to friends who visit Andalusia regularly.p
The themes are about Chris Stewart’s life, they form a series of memoirs from the time in which he bought the farm in Las Alpujarra district of Andalusia in Spain. He & his family come to life.
I looked up his life on the internet & discovered that he and his wife Ana still live there. They have lived on their farm for over 28 years. I have also recommended this trilogy to friends who visit Andalusia regularly.p
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