It was Joan of Planet Joan who first mentioned ages ago that she had enjoyed reading Carol Drinkwater’s Olive Farm books. Ever since then I’ve intended reading them, but wanted to read them in order, so when I saw The Illustrated Olive Farm at the library last week I borrowed it. Perfect timing as there are lovely photographs in it and it was just what I needed during this cold snap that we’re having at the moment. Armchair travelling to the south of France.
Before writing these books Carol Drinkwater was better known as an actress, although I think I only remember her being in All Creatures Great and Small, the series based on the James Herriot books.
Anyway, in this book she tells of her search for a home in France, something she had had a hankering for for a long time. It was a job offer which eventually led to her marrying a French executive producer, and together they found a very dilapidated property, over time they make it habitable and bring the olive trees back to health and are able to sell the crops.
I enjoyed the photos of their house and the beautiful surroundings, trees flowers and animals, mainly dogs. It’s a beautiful area and I’ve never been there, I imagine that the south of France is always very busy with tourists, and that thought puts me off.
In a weird way though it was quite heartening to discover that French business people seem to enjoy ripping off fellow French people, I had been thinking they just fleeced Brits whenever they could, at least they are even-handed about it!
A Romance with French Living by Carolyn Westbrook is another such book, eye candy, but this time it’s interiors to drool over. The book is beautifully photographed but I’m a wee bit puzzled by the title as most of the photos could just as easily be of British traditional settings. There’s a lot of leather chesterfield type furniture, wood panelling, silver, crystal, decanters, baskets and claw-foot baths. Maybe a book titled A Romance with British Living Interiors inspired by classic British style just wouldn’t have sold as well in the US.
I must admit that I’ve never heard of Carolyn Westbrook but according to the blurb she is a well known lifestyle designer. It’s an attractive book anyway and the last part of it is about her daughter’s wedding which took place in the family garden in Texas. Stylish but relaxed.