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iaproton's review
I thought it would be relaxing but I didn't care for the posh accent and the dialogue with the various voices some of them being quite louder than others .There was too much description with what felt like unnecessary filler details and it seemed to be too slow, crawling to get anywhere and I usually like these types of stories.Felt a bit like the author was obsessed with herself and looking down on poorer people. It doesn't help that the narrator seems to randomly emphasize words that don't have much importance, like "window frames". It reminds me of A House in Fez which was worse than this.
crafalsk264's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
3.5
Joe and Vicky Twead are approaching retirement and deliberating on the best place to settle down. Joe leans toward returning to England while Vicky wants to live somewhere warm and sunny. They agree to find a place in Spain and live there for five years. At the end of that time, they agree to reconsider their options. So they relocate to a small village called El Hoyo in Andalusia. They have no idea that they will become accommodating neighbors and caretakers to a menagerie of chickens, mules, dogs and cats. The house they purchase is strictly a fixer upper and they have a long term renovation on their hands. Between the quirky neighbors, a tumble down house, and their animal companions, they forge a life rich in friendship and fun.
This is the first of a series of six memoirs in the Old Fools series. This memoir focuses on two middle aged Britons who are planning for their future retirement. Vicky Twead is a clever and talented author with a gift for finding the humor in daily life. There is a certain amount of repetition of events. How many times do we need an account of a hostile rooster attack? However it is not too much to prevent enjoyment of the book. I do have doubts about extending this memoir into a series of six. However I did enjoy this one and recommend to readers who enjoy books about travel, memoirs, humor, biography, food, animals and Spain.
readerlistener's review against another edition
4.0
Vicky and Joe's five year plan to live in a remote Spainish village is filled with adventures and missteps. Will they stay permanently in Spain or move back to Britain? The memoir continues in book two of the "Old Fools" trilogy.
pebbles1984's review against another edition
4.0
A fun, easy and entertaining book. I read it with a smile on my face, and I loved all the adventures of Victoria and Joe in Spain. How different life can be in a country not even that far away. I especially loved the stories about the chickens, the kindness and generosity of everyone in the village, and how the Spanish people (mostly Paco and Carmen) must have been surprised by their quirky English neighbours. I'm looking forward to reading the other books, and I can't wait to try the recipes!
veganjo's review against another edition
5.0
Magnificent! Loved this book: the characters, adventures, scenery......everything about it. Loads of very loud laughing moments! A few more poignant moments too.
Each chapter includes a Spanish recipe, genius idea and I can't wait to try some of them.
I'll definitely be reading more of the books in the series
Each chapter includes a Spanish recipe, genius idea and I can't wait to try some of them.
I'll definitely be reading more of the books in the series
kjw2's review against another edition
5.0
Picked this up on Amazon's weekly E-reader deal! What a delight! Pure pleasure!
kla809's review against another edition
5.0
This was a delight to listen to on audible. The writing is witty, the story engaging and the narrator did a wonderful job. I guess I'll have to look for "Old Fools, #2)
cooeeaus's review against another edition
3.0
I call this a cozy read, I liked the story very much. The neighbours of the couple, who are the main characters, are completely amusing.