Chris, Ana y su hija continúan en El Valero. Un loro se cuela en casa, los vecinos siguen con sus historias de amor, y descubren que su amado valle está bajo la amenaza de ser sumergido por la construcción de una presa.

A lovely sort of sequel. Again thoroughly enjoyable! ( )

I just finished this delightful book, only realizing it was a sequel to another, after I started reading. But that fact does not interfere or detract from the reading at all. I liked Stewart's writing and gentle humour. He is equally skilled at laughing at himself and the circumstances he finds himself in. An enjoyable book and I may now seek out the first book! ( )

Second in a series of three books about an English couple who set up home in southern Spain. A casual read, where you meet a series of characters in the area. Somewhat humorous, a lot at the cost of the author. However, not as good as the first book. ( )

This is a book of anecdotes and tales from the life of Chris Stewart, a Brit living on a farm in deepest Andalucia with his wife and daughter. It follows on from the success of his debut book, 'Driving Over Lemons', which I haven't read.

This book exceeded all my expectations. I found the author to be an easy-going optimist who likes to laugh at himself and life with self-deprecating humour. This is a man who went to school with Peter Gabriel, drummed in the school band called 'Genesis' but was sent back to school by his parents to finish his studies just as the band began to enjoy a degree of success. I wonder whether his parents rue the decision to complete his expensive Charterhouse education which led him to a career in the circus, a stint learning flamenco in Seville and making ends meet sheep-shearing in Sweden.

I was afraid this would be a smug account of some middle-class Brit playing at living the good life abroad. I was wrong - this is the real thing. This family was living hand to mouth, struggling to pay bills, whilst trying to keep on top of the never ending list of jobs to do around the farm. His decision to write about his antics was a financial gamble and his success was beyond what they dared to hope for.

The stories themselves are amusing and describe wonderfully life in Spain and the cast of eccentric characters that cross their paths. I loved the arrival of Porca the parrot and the way he completely takes over, putting everyone firmly in their place. The tales are woven together with the construction of the eco-folly and the looming prospect of the building of a dam. In all this is a lovely, sunny book to read and I wouldn't hesitate to read Stewart's other books. ( )