Extra Virgin [Paperback]

Annie Hawes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2001

A small stone house deep among the olive groves of Liguria, going for the price of a dodgy second-hand car. Annie Hawes and her sister, on the spot by chance, have no plans whatsoever to move to the Italian Riviera but find naturally that it's an offer they can't refuse. The laugh is on the Foreign Females who discover that here amongst the hardcore olive farming folk their incompetence is positively alarming. Not to worry: the thrifty villagers of Diano San Pietro are on the case, and soon plying the Pallid Sisters with advice, ridicule, tall tales and copious hillside refreshments.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Annie Hawes, originally from Shepherd's Bush, has lived in Liguria now for fifteen years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books (April 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140294236
• ISBN-13: 978-0140294231
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A vacation for the soul..., May 4, 2003

By 

"carly_bee" (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extra Virgin: Amongst the Olive Groves of Liguria (Paragon Softcover Large Print Books) (Paperback)

This book was one of those novels that makes you wish you were: A) courageous enough to drop everything and move to a foreign country, B) arrogant enough to think that, just maybe, you'll manage to learn all of the ancient farming techniques that have been passed down for generations, and C) intelligent enought to enjoy every minute of the work-to-the-bone lifestyle you've just chosen. That being said, I am none of these things, yet. Reading this book takes that pressure off, though, and lets you into a world you may never experience otherwise. This isn't the glamourous riviera of the movies, and this isn't an over-glorified triumph of the earth either, its just a lovely novel that you will want to devour as if it were a fresh piece of foccacia dripping with... of course... ligurian olive oil.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gloriously delicious and funny, November 12, 2006

By 

A. Peer (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Extra Virgin (Paperback)

A great read. Witty, engrossing account of Annie & sister's unplanned purchase of a rundown farmhouse in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, and their (mis)adventures and interactions with the locals. Very funny, affectionately sly observations of human nature and the idiosyncrasies and highlights of Italian village life, olives and the love of good food. And interesting information about local olive farming and wine making and food. I just loved it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book to read with a glass of wine in the sun, July 8, 2006

By 

Naomi12345 (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extra Virgin (Paperback)

Annie Hawes writes in a slow, laid-back style that is evocative of the Ligurian lifestyle that she lives. It took me a while to settle down and read this book, but when I did, I found myself escaping to the author's descriptions of pruning olive trees, dancing at village fiestas, and her encounters with eccentric locals. I'll definitely read this again.