In my post of 17th February -link- I promised to write a review of this book, kindly sent to me by its author Rosy Thornton, so finally here it is. I've really enjoyed reading it and didn't want to rush getting to the final page savouring all the descriptions of the French countryside and towns, but, as the saying goes 'all good things must come to an end' and now I feel slightly bereft.
The heroine of the story is Catherine Parkstone, a divorced mother of two grown up children, who leaves her home in England to live in a small hamlet in the Cevennes region of France in a house called Les Fenils (the Haylofts). The story is of Catherine's first year in her new home; the changing seasons, the landscape, the farming community in her small hamlet and beyond are all beautifully described. As Catherine works in her garden, talks to her bees, walks in the mountains, works on her burgeoning soft furnishing business and creates her tapestries so life goes on around her. This is a gentle, thoughtful book and just as Catherine sews her tapestries the author weaves around her the story of the rural community, the density of French bureaucracy, her feelings for her intriguing neighbour Patrick and her connections to her own family at home. The threads of life, love and loss, of friendship and of family commitments intertwine within the glorious landscape and fascinating community around Les Fenils. For those of you who like a happy ending rest assured there is one!
Rosy Thornton's website
It sounds like my cup of tea! Just the front cover of the book is enough to entice me, but your description really makes me want to read this book. I am sure it is much more jolly than 'A Child of the Jago' that I am currently reading set in the London slums of the 1890's!!! x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review ... it sounds just the sort of book I would like to read.xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for reviewing it. I like stories with happy endings and it sounds a good read. I will be looking out for it.xx
ReplyDeleteYes, I like the sound of that! And I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteif she talks to the bees she must be worth reading!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Another title to add to the to-be-read list!
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely - and I am a sucker for a happy ending - and France! I love the cover too. Do you know the author? xxx
ReplyDeleteNew follower here and looking forward to having a look around.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book.
carol
http://dizzycslittlebookblog.blogspot.com/
Sounds great, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBee happy x
Have a delicious day!
It sounds like a story I would enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rosie, This sounds like a great read and I'm going to look for it at my local library. Thanks for your book review. Marie x
ReplyDeleteI think I would love this book Rosie, being a bit of a Francophile! Thanks for the link to Rosy's website, I will have a little meander over there.
ReplyDeleteHave you read any of Carol Drinkwater's books about her Olive Farm in the hills above Nice? They are beautifully written. Well worth looking out for, at the library of course:-)!
Jeanne
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