Viva Mallorca!: One Mallorcan Autumn

Snowball Oranges #3

by Peter Kerr

Autumn has arrived for the Kerrs on their fruit farm on the island of Mallorca. The year’s third season, “winter’s spring,” finds Peter under the sharp eye of his long-suffering wife, Ellie, struggling to shake off the relaxed Spanish tranquiloness that he has now mastered all too well. Old friendships have been established, and new ones are found as the Kerrs are introduced to Mallorca’s “Filthy-Rich Set” and their eyes are opened to just how the other
half lives.
Mosquito-repellent vinegar baths, delicious Mallorcan food, and with the support from a background cast of dogs, donkeys, geckos, parrots, and canaries, this is an autumn such as they’ve never known.
On top of all this, the vital question for the Kerrs is whether they will win or lose their gamble of starting a new life in the sun. Fortunately, the laughs still outnumber the tears as they look forward to their second year at the orange farm with redoubled--or maybe overly optimistic--enthusiasm.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Spain

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Peter Kerr, the award-winning Scottish author of the 'Snowball Oranges' pentad of humorous Mallorcan travelogues, is a former jazz musician, record producer and farmer. He has also written a range of fiction titles, including the 'Bob Burns Investigates' trilogy of humour-spiked mysteries and 'Song of the Eight Winds', a historical novel set in 13th century Spain. 'Thistle Soup' is a set-in-Scotland prequel to 'Snowball Oranges', while 'Don't Call Me Clyde!' is a memoir of his life as a young jazz musician in early-60s London. A comedy-laced caper called 'The Other Monarch of the Glen' is set in the Scottish Highlands and was published in December 2017, while 'Goblin Hall', a humour-peppered fantasy adventure for a family readership, was published in April 2020. July 2021 saw the release of 'Jen - A Border Collie's Tale', the heart-warming life story of an old farm dog, narrated by Jen herself. 'Author - Don't Make Me Laugh', an amusing though frank and revealing account of the long road to becoming a published author at sixty, was published in November 2024. Peter, an accomplished artist, also illustrates his own books. His reputation as an entertaining and amusing speaker has resulted in regular appearances at book festivals and similar literary events throughout the UK and abroad.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it made laugh and smile while being entranced by the author's descriptions of life in the Mallorcan countryside. We have spent several holidays in Mallorca and this book enhanced my knowledge of the island and even improve my basic Spanish a little. I spent a large part of the book wondering why they returned to Scotland so I suppose I will have to read the next in the series to find out. One thing is for sure, we'll be having a holiday near Andraxt area sometime soon

[Valerie Quinto · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn’t get into this. It felt like I was listening to the author and his wife bickering half the time. I’ve read many travel/expat memoirs and loved most of them, even when I couldn’t quite relate to the author. But this one just wasn’t for me.

[Nigel Kirton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this with low expectations. I love this genre but, frankly, many works are tedious and poorly written. This, however, was a joy. I looked forward to opening my kindle each evening and enjoyed every minute of it.

[Linda Hartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Also liked how occasionally the reader was given a little 'tip'! The one about planting lemons we shall try! Having a property within Spain, although not Mallorca.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read after finishing the 2nd book in the series. You didn’t need to have read the previous books to enjoy this as there were plenty of recaps.

[多余人-Lishnye Lyudi · Rating 3 out of 5]

向往的生活……

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Autumn has arrived for Peter Kerr and his family on their fruit farm on the island of Mallorca. The year's third season, 'winter's spring', finds Peter under the sharp eye of his long-suffering wife, Ellie, struggling to shake off the relaxed Spanish tranquiloness that he has now mastered all too well. Old friendships have been establish, and new ones are found as the Kerrs are introduced to Mallorca's 'Filthy-Rich Set' and their eyes are opened to just how the other half lives.

As always, there are the restaurants and tapas bars with their mouth-watering fare and hilarious episodes involving mosquito-repellent vinegar baths, a canary named Mario Lanzarote, and the Kerrs' equially colorful neighbors. This is an autumn the likes of which they've never known, and will never forget,

On top of all this, the vital question for the Kerrs is whether they will win or lose their gamble of starting a new life in the sun. Fortunately, the laughs still outnumber the tears as they look forward to their second year at the orange farm with redoubled--or maybe overly optimistic--enthusiasm."
~~from the back cover

I liked the book in spite of the fact that I expected something different, from the title. I rather thought it was going to be all about autumn in Mallorca -- a paean to sweet autumn sunlight, and wine on the piazzas at mid-afternoon. You know the sort of thing. Instead it was a series of vignettes about life with the Kerrs on the finca they'd bought from their selling-up money in Scotland. Charming, funny, thought-provoking. I found myself in their corner, hoping the finca would prove profitable after all, hoping the grown sons would settle in -- hoping that it all turned out for the best. I won't spoil it for you, but the book definitely was a joy to read, even if it wasn't the lush and glorious description of autumn on a delightful island.

[JackieB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of an agreeable series of books in the "Year in Provence" mould (The first in the series in "Snowball Oranges"). I enjoy them but Peter Kerr has a bit of a tendency to explain his humourous observations to make sure you don't miss them. Still I've read all three books so that's only a mild criticism

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became interested in this series when I came across the first of the books prior to a visit to just this part of Mallorca. This one continues the family's story, but brings them to life to such an extent that I feel that they are old acquaintances. When you have read one of the books you just have to read the next to see what happens to them.