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mglibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
emjay2021's review against another edition
4.0
I read the whole thing on an international flight and thoroughly enjoyed it. The situations and characters are slightly larger than life, but in a boisterous, good-hearted, effective way, not in an annoying try-hard way. Prudence, a Williamsburg hipster who dreams of running her own small sustainable organic farm, has her wish granted when her great-uncle dies and leaves her his rural Vancouver Island home. Although the farm definitely doesn't match what she had in mind, soon she has gathered a group of local misfits to help her transform it into the communal oasis she had envisioned: Earl, the elderly farm hand whom she inherits along with the property; Seth, the 21-year-old agoraphobic alcoholic who reluctantly agrees to work on the farm in exchange for room and board; Sara, the 11-year old who raises prize chickens and provides livestock advice.
This was a great holiday read that is warm and funny. I actually laughed out loud at one point, which I almost never do. It reminded me of early Miriam Toews--lighthearted with overall happy endings, but not afraid to address serious issues like addiction, estrangement, and neglectful/abusive parents.
This was a great holiday read that is warm and funny. I actually laughed out loud at one point, which I almost never do. It reminded me of early Miriam Toews--lighthearted with overall happy endings, but not afraid to address serious issues like addiction, estrangement, and neglectful/abusive parents.
kelly_e's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Title: The Woefield Poultry Collective
Author: Susan Juby
Series: Woefield #1
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: January 1, 2011
T H R E E • W O R D S
Playful • Quirky • Heartwarming
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Woefield Farm is a sprawling thirty acres of scrub land, complete with dilapidated buildings and one half-sheared, lonely sheep named Bertie. It’s “run”—in the loosest possible sense of the word—by Prudence Burns, an energetic, well-intentioned twenty-something New Yorker full of back-to-the-land ideals, but without an iota of related skills or experience. Prudence, who inherited the farm from her uncle, soon discovers that the bank is about to foreclose on Woefield Farm, which means that she has to turn things around, fast.
But fear not! She’ll be assisted by Earl, a spry seventy-something, banjo-playing foreman with a distrust of newfangled ideas and a substantial family secret; Seth, the alcoholic, celebrity-blogging boy-next-door who hasn’t left the house since a scandal with his high school drama teacher; and Sara Spratt, a highly organized eleven-year-old looking for a home for her prize-winning chickens, including one particularly randy fellow soon to be christened Alec Baldwin.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I chose The Woefield Poultry Collective as one of twelve books for my 12 recommendations from 12 friends project in 2023. I honestly knew very little about it before jumping in, other than the fact it took place on a farm.
Prudence, Earl, Seth, and Sara, along with the animals, are a cast of offbeat characters I never quite expected, yet couldn't help but love. They are all flawed in their own way, but they each have something to offer as they attempt to save Woefield farm. Some of the scenes are quite outlandish and highly unbelievable, but I couldn't help but laugh. The language used isn't always empathetic or compassionate and could rub some people the wrong way. What this story offers is a in depth exploration of facing your fears, coming together for the greater good, and finding connection in the most unlikely of places.
A rural comedy, The Woefield Poultry Collective, is a charming and lighthearted feel-good story. A real comfort read. I don't know if I will continue with this series, but it's a possibility and I'd definitely be interested in picking up something else Susan Juby has written.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of unlikely friendships
• readers who like farm settings
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I think enthusiasm counts for a lot in dancing and in life."
"It’s important to give people the benefit of the doubt even if they don’t deserve it."
Author: Susan Juby
Series: Woefield #1
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: January 1, 2011
T H R E E • W O R D S
Playful • Quirky • Heartwarming
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Woefield Farm is a sprawling thirty acres of scrub land, complete with dilapidated buildings and one half-sheared, lonely sheep named Bertie. It’s “run”—in the loosest possible sense of the word—by Prudence Burns, an energetic, well-intentioned twenty-something New Yorker full of back-to-the-land ideals, but without an iota of related skills or experience. Prudence, who inherited the farm from her uncle, soon discovers that the bank is about to foreclose on Woefield Farm, which means that she has to turn things around, fast.
But fear not! She’ll be assisted by Earl, a spry seventy-something, banjo-playing foreman with a distrust of newfangled ideas and a substantial family secret; Seth, the alcoholic, celebrity-blogging boy-next-door who hasn’t left the house since a scandal with his high school drama teacher; and Sara Spratt, a highly organized eleven-year-old looking for a home for her prize-winning chickens, including one particularly randy fellow soon to be christened Alec Baldwin.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I chose The Woefield Poultry Collective as one of twelve books for my 12 recommendations from 12 friends project in 2023. I honestly knew very little about it before jumping in, other than the fact it took place on a farm.
Prudence, Earl, Seth, and Sara, along with the animals, are a cast of offbeat characters I never quite expected, yet couldn't help but love. They are all flawed in their own way, but they each have something to offer as they attempt to save Woefield farm. Some of the scenes are quite outlandish and highly unbelievable, but I couldn't help but laugh. The language used isn't always empathetic or compassionate and could rub some people the wrong way. What this story offers is a in depth exploration of facing your fears, coming together for the greater good, and finding connection in the most unlikely of places.
A rural comedy, The Woefield Poultry Collective, is a charming and lighthearted feel-good story. A real comfort read. I don't know if I will continue with this series, but it's a possibility and I'd definitely be interested in picking up something else Susan Juby has written.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of unlikely friendships
• readers who like farm settings
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I think enthusiasm counts for a lot in dancing and in life."
"It’s important to give people the benefit of the doubt even if they don’t deserve it."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Cursing
Minor: Death
shalot's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 Stars. Couldn't connect to any of the characters or really even the plot.
shanmac's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thehalfmonty's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lizbusby's review against another edition
3.0
A strange quirky book with unreal characters. Picked up because it was set in the islands of Canada where we were vacationing. I obviously enjoyed it enough to finish it, but can't say if I recommend it.
jennus's review against another edition
4.0
Stuck between 3 and 4 stars, but it warmed my cold heart and that bumped it up.
cozydarosy's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! Lighthearted and heartwarming, small town Canada to a T. Susan Juby is a master of character, immediately immersing you in a different character each chapter like they're speaking right to you. We've all known at least one of these people and it was wonderful and hilarious seeing them all interact.
sawyerbell's review against another edition
5.0
Loved, loved, loved this book with its laugh out loud humour and its lovable, eccentric characters.
When a lost but idealistic New Yorker inherits a farm on Vancouver Island, she thinks it's a dream come true. Arriving to find her inheritance near bankruptcy, she sets out to save the farm with the help of her unlikely neighbours: a grumpy septuagenarian, a reclusive alcoholic teen, and an eccentric 11 year old poultry expert.
Juby is a wonderful storyteller; if you enjoyed mood and style of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society , you'll enjoy this book too.
When a lost but idealistic New Yorker inherits a farm on Vancouver Island, she thinks it's a dream come true. Arriving to find her inheritance near bankruptcy, she sets out to save the farm with the help of her unlikely neighbours: a grumpy septuagenarian, a reclusive alcoholic teen, and an eccentric 11 year old poultry expert.
Juby is a wonderful storyteller; if you enjoyed mood and style of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society , you'll enjoy this book too.