Customer Reviews

Parrot in the Pepper Tree

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Two years ago I read and enjoyed Driving Over Lemons, the memoir of a British ex-pat and his family's life in Spain. A Parrot in the Pepper Tree is the follow up book, covering the time when Stewart was writing his first book along with some memories from his youth.

While I felt the bits about his attempt at being a rock star were rather dull, the rest of the book more than makes up for one skip-worthy chapter. The majority of his book takes place in the year when he was writing his first memoir. He describes all his different attempts at farming including a bleak winter drive into Sweden to shear sheep and a go at growing potatoes. Neither venture goes well but he takes the disasters with a good sense of humor. To his sup rise, he succeeds as a writer even though his daughter insists that he can't write (at least in Spanish).

It took me longer to read than expected but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Chris Stewart is an enthusiastic ex-pat making a living in Spain with his wife and daughter. He tries his hand at sheep sheering, farming and flamenco but ultimately it is writing that he excels at.

No big trips for me this summer. Not by plane or train anyway. Instead, I've traveled by book. A Parrot in the Pepper Tree carried me to Spain, to the mountain home of Chris Stewart and his family. With the Stewarts, life is always a degree or two west of normal, with all the odd Spaniards of the world apparently living within walking distance of the Stewarts' home. Don't expect a big rollercoaster adventure; Pepper Tree is more of a hike through a quirky human zoo.

I enjoyed reading this book, which had been chosen by our book club for March 2011. Apparently, it is hard to locate here in Riverside as neiher of our major book stores had it in their computer. It took two weeks for me to receive it and another person had been told an even longer travel time. Maybe this was because it came from England. And this was probably because it had been published in England. It is classified as a travel book, even though the author doesn't travel, but tells interesting experiences of his, and his wife's, on their farm in a large rural area of Spain. All in all, an easy to read book and very entertaining.

It's an ok and enjoyable sequel...equally well written but not as compelling as Driving Over Lemons which I loved.