Family Life: Birth, Death and the Whole Damn Thing (A Corgi book) [Paperback]

Elizabeth Luard (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Corgi book | Publication Date: September 2000

Food - meals eaten together in many different places and circumstances - is the common thread of this book whose underlying idea is that the family at the table is the source of its strength. The book recounts the Luard family's life in a cork-oak forest in southern Spain, a snow-bound farmhouse in Languedoc or a sheep-farm in Northamptonshire. Containing anecdote, humour and curious food-lore, this book is written by the author of "European Festival Food" and "The Barricaded Larder". Elizabeth Luard features in a TV series based upon her book "European Peasant Cookery".

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Pub (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552145440
• ISBN-13: 978-0552145442
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,289,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, wonderful book., January 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Family Life: Birth, Death and the Whole Damn Thing (A Corgi book) (Paperback)

I have read this book about 10 times, and I gave it to 12 of my friends for their birthdays and at Christmas. Elizabeth Luard's writing is so relaxed and lovely, she describes the years she spent bringing up her children in London and in Spain. She tells funny little anecdotes and describes the smells and sights of Spain and France. This is a MUST for any woman of any age, anyone having children or who has ever had a mummy. I cant tell you how much I adore this book, and how much my family and friends have enjoyed it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gem, November 13, 2003

By 

Li (Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Life: Birth, Death and the Whole Damn Thing (A Corgi book) (Paperback)

This is a great book which makes you realize how much is missing from many families nowadays. Elisabeth's re-telling of raising her family while traipsing through Europe makes one wonder how much richer one's own childhood would have been if our own parents had done the same.

If at times a little idealistic (whosoever heard of such near-perfect children?) it is still a wonderfully written, heart-warming book great for every occassion where an easy read is wanted. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time. I found it in a second hand lending library and couldn't bear to give it back!

The recipes throughout also sound wonderful and complement the story perfectly, although I haven't had the chance to try any out.

The last couple of chapters dealing with the author's daughter's death is a sobering touch which brings the novel back to earth - bad things do happen. It is a bit of a shock after such a pleasant jaunt to have a death drop in your lap - but I suppose real life is like that!

If you're willing to put your cynicism aside (patches of minor pomposity and smugness in places) and take the book for what it is - a rosy view of how the author raised her family, you are guaranteed to enjoy this thoroughly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny, sad, and sort of strange., May 30, 2003

By 

Mrs. T (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Life: Birth, Death and the Whole Damn Thing (A Corgi book) (Paperback)

It took me a while to warm up to this book...Luard's writing style takes a bit of getting used to-- a sort of posh/bohemian thing that, to me at least, seems unique to British writers.

But Luard's writing about her daughter's illness is amazing. It's loving, moving, beautiful, and terrible. It's also shocking, because the tone of this memoir very abruptly changes from this jovial story about an eccentric family's travels to a different, much more serious, story altogether. I don't think I have ever been so moved by a book.