4 out of 5 stars
The author provided a copy of this, free of charge, in return for an honest review.
Fiona Stocker had already moved halfway around the world from the UK to Australia. However, the life they had made there in the city of Brisbane, was becoming a little jaded and they felt that owed their daughter a chance at a slower pace of life.
They had heard good things about Tasmania and a trip out there reinforced those messages. It didn’t take long to find a property that they liked the look of and as a bonus, it came with five acres of land. They made the decision there and then, and set in motion the move to Tasmania.
Soon after they moved in, her husband acquired some alpacas, an animal that he had always fancied keeping, but as he was developing his new cabinet-making company, it fell to Fiona to look after them along with a toddler and a fast-growing bump, would soon be their second child. It did take a while, but slowly they began to settle into their new home and community.
I thought that this was a very enjoyable book, she writes with a bone-dry wit about the life they are having there. It did seem strange to be reading about a family life set in this part of the world having read so many travel books of people beginning a new life in Europe, it is a very different finding that the garden has wallabies, venomous snakes and huntsmen spiders. Not sure I am keen on the latter two…
If there was one flaw, I think each chapter has been adapted from her blog, they reflect the piece written at that time and it didn’t feel like there was a cohesive narrative at certain points in the book. That said, these snapshots of family life and the way that they settled into their new life is an engaging read.
I enjoy travel writing, but perhaps people who move in somewhere, stay and learn more about the place are more interesting.
I like both types. A Year in Provence was the book that hooked me on travel writing
I’ve just read an earlier version of A Year in Provence, Sunset House by Winifred, Lady Fortescue. In 1937 the builders were more reliable.
I think I have one of her books.
Sounds interesting and a place I know next to nothing about. Not keen on the snakes and spiders either!
It was, Penny.