A Parrot in the Pepper Tree (Windsor Selection) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Chris Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2003 | Series: Windsor Selection

Chris Stewart's "Driving Over Lemons" (9780956003805) told the story of his move to a remote mountain farm in Las Alpujarras - an oddball region of Spain, south of Granada. Funny, insightful and real, the book became an international bestseller. "A Parrot in the Pepper Tree", the sequel to "Lemons", follows the lives of Chris, Ana and their daughter, Chloe, as they get to grips with a misanthropic parrot who joins their home, Spanish school life, neighbours in love, their amazement at Chris appearing on the bestseller lists and their shock at discovering that their beloved valley is once more under threat of a dam. "A Parrot in the Pepper Tree" also looks back on Chris Stewart's former life - the hard times shearing in midwinter Sweden (and driving across the frozen sea to reach island farms); his first taste of Spain, learning flamenco guitar as a 20-year old; and his illustrious music career, drumming for his school band Genesis (sacked at 17, he never quite became Phil Collins), and then for a circus.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is everything that made the first book so hugely successful - endearing, heartwarming, self-deprecating, sometimes surreal." Evening Standard" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Chris Stewart shot to fame with Driving Over Lemons - Sort Of Books' launch title in 1999. It became an international bestseller and with its sequels - A Parrot in the Pepper Tree and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society - has sold over a million copies and helped define the 'good life abroad' book. Chris prepared for life on his Spanish mountain farm with jobs of doubtful relevance. He was the original drummer in Genesis (he played on the first album), then joined a circus, learnt how to shear sheep, went to China to write the Rough Guide, sailed a Cornish Crabber round the Greek islands, and completed a course in French cooking. Despite the extraordinary success of his books, Chris, his wife Ana, and their daughter Chloe, continue to live on their farm, with their numerous dogs, cats, chickens, sheep and a misanthropic parrot. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Chivers Large print (Chivers, Windsor, Paragon & C (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754018989
• ISBN-13: 978-0754018988
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,055,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parrots, January 20, 2007

By 

Sarah Sammis "Avid BookCrosser" (Hayward, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parrot in the Pepper Tree (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Travelling by book, December 10, 2011

By 

Debnance at Readerbuzz (Alvin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parrot in the Pepper Tree (Lemons Trilogy) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Parrot in the Pepper Tree, March 14, 2011

By 

Elizabeth A. Hepler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Parrot in the Pepper Tree (Lemons Trilogy) (Paperback)

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.