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The Olive Farm
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Publisher's Summary
For many, Carol Drinkwater will be forever remembered for her part as the wholesome Helen Herriot in the television series All Creatures Great and Small.
But since being a successful actress in England, she has spent the past 13 years in France with her husband Michel. This is the story of her new life, of the trials and tribulations of acquiring an olive farm, restoring it, farming the olives, overcoming the heartaches of taking on a new French family and slowly coming to understand the workings and life of a vivacious Provencal community - opening the door to vibrant Mediterranean world....
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What members say
Average Customer Ratings
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5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- silkieweaver
- 09-05-2012
An enjoyable listen
Where does The Olive Farm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I'd rank this title somewhere in the top third of all the books I've listened to.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Olive Farm?
I thought the most memorable scenes involved Carol dealing with forces outside her control -- French bureaucracy, the locals, various animals, storms and fires.
Which character – as performed by Carol Drinkwater – was your favorite?
I found it interesting that she is a much more complex character herself than the one she is most famous for portraying on television. She is not afraid to reveal her quirks.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, it was perfect in about one-hour bites, as I listened to it on my lunch hour.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- IreneTH
- 11-01-2012
courage and chaos
Where does The Olive Farm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
In the personal memoir genre this book ranks very high.
What did you like best about this story?
the honesty of the author
What does Carol Drinkwater bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Carol Drinkwater's language, voice, and attention to detail.. She is an excellent and intelligent reader and uses language and description so well that you really can visualize her description of the area and all its attributes. This is a case, given her skills, that could only have been narrated by the author.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No.
Any additional comments?
I'm going to move on to the next olive book in her series.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heather Barney
- 09-05-2016
Most Pleasant
Would you listen to The Olive Farm again? Why?
I have listened to this book several times. It is beautiful. At first it made me want to move and have those same experiences then I realized that I need to create them in my own way, In my own home, with my own family. Love this book so much
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sandra D, Paradis
- 05-11-2012
Travel, Romance and DIY
What did you love best about The Olive Farm?
I liked hearing about following their dreams and dealing with some tough odds to make things happen.
Any additional comments?
This is a good book for those who like hearing about living in a different country, travel also about a new love coming together. Written and narrated by the actress who was the wife in All Creatures Great and Small. Wanted the second book but it is not on audible so I will have to read it!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Carol G.
- 17-06-2019
Read this book, rather than listen to it.
I enjoyed the author's story but I was surprised at the end to find she had also narrated the book. The author mentions in the book that she is an actress. However, I found her narration lacked emotional impact. There was little difference in tone between happy days/events versus trying/difficult days.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Virginia Sanden
- 01-10-2016
Delightful!
I read this book many years ago and Carol Drinkwater's warmth came shining through. So too her audible reading. As a lover and former owner in the South of France, all the places, things and people were deliciously familiar to me. I could smell the smells, taste the tastes. It made me long to return. Thank you
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- chris
- 14-04-2011
A charming easy listener
One of the first audio books I bought was Peter Mayle's Year in Provence, having heard it on Radio 4's book of the week, and this is a return to similar territory but the with added interest of the development of an olive farm and the attendant technical and horticultural activities. The author narrator is an accomplished actress, who does an excellent job of bringing it all to life and overall it is a charming easy listener, which provided an interesting break from my usual crime and history diet.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-10-2011
Problem oriented story steps to farm south France
It's a story about international family (Irish woman & divorced French man w. family) buying almost ruined house together. In story house is situated between Cannes and Frejus. Story is the Irish womans point of view.
First summer they move in before they own house. It's made possible by pre-payment and scheduled buying agreement. Starting without water, electricity and leaking roof they manage to spend a summer without quarrels. In the end she get's to stage of starting olive garden.
It's quite like Peter Mayle's Year in provence, but it doesn't concentrate French-English confrontation and secrets of France like Mayle does a lot. It's more problems oriented like handling bying a property as (Irish) foreigner and owning house as foreigner and living abroad. So if you are even thinking bying house in France this is really worth of listening.
Sample is too short to tell enough of this book. If you liked the "Year in Provence" you most likely end up bying more than this first book. I liked it and it was easy enough to listen as not a native English speaker.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Celia
- 04-05-2011
The Olive Farm
A lovely easy ready. Really takes you to the hot countryside outside Cannes. Have not been able to put it down and definitely for anyone that craves sunshine and sunny days.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- "ymcgarry"
- 05-08-2019
Loved it.
Evocative. Beautifully written and read. Brings me right back to the South of France. 15 more words.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- P S Law
- 17-01-2019
Fabulous- lyrical and evocative
Loved this. The taste and the scent of the South of France is almost tangible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. Linda Hall
- 25-08-2018
An outstanding read
An exceptional book. Listening to the naration you are transported to the south of France. I cannot wait to find the next book by Carol Drinkwater.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- angie
- 27-07-2018
Fantastic
Good quality and excellent narration from a talented author and actor. Can highly recommend this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sue glason
- 29-04-2018
wonderful
loved it, will definitely listen to it again and again. great descriptions, easy to picture the scenery, the ups and downs, great people and animals. great. recommend listening
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Abby
- 22-03-2017
Made me want to sack it all in and move to France!
A wonderfully rich story full of tears and joy. I could hear, see and smell the beautiful French countryside. So moving in parts, I don't know how Carol carried on reading. Can't wait to download the next instalment!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Di Sheppard
- 20-01-2016
The lovely Carol!
It was a lovely listen, and it made me want to know more about Carol and her farm! I will buy the other 2 books ! Her reading.....or rather acting .....was also very enjoyable. However I felt that she 'over wrote' her story which was a shame!!