Chickens, Mules And Two Old Fools

I received a free copy of this e-book from the author. The titl

I received a free copy of this e-book from the author.

The title alone promises that Victoria Twead’s Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools is going to be a hilarious adventure, and that’s what you get and more!

Vicky, the author, decides that retirement for her does not include dreary English weather. Instead she envisions a lovely house in sunny Spain and proceeds to talk her husband Joe into the idea. Ultimately, they do relocate to a strange but fascinating house in a tiny Andalucían village way up a mountain.

As much as the very nature of the book lends itself to humor, it would all probably be quite pointless without the excellent ‘voice’ of Vicky herself. The author has the absolute knack for seeing the humor in every single thing – from the German real estate agent, to the trials of making the odd house livable, to of course, the inevitable chickens. She also has the ability to relay that humor in an engaging, friendly way that makes you feel that you’re sitting down with an old, dear friend.

This book also has a special place in my heart because I grew up in a small, rural Catholic village in the Caribbean and many of the festivals that the author describes take me right back to my childhood. The many pictures in the book also enhance the storytelling, and helps bring many of the incidents to vivid life. Oh, I loved the addition of the Spanish recipes as well, which I’m slowly working my way through trying.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a quirky look at life, and writing infused with humor and gentle sarcastic wit that will leave you laughing long after you’ve finished reading.

Ready for an escape??

Another reviewer said that she felt as though she were on vacation herself while reading this book, and I have to agree. Its the middle of a dreary winter here in New York and this is just what I needed! There are so many funny and endearing parts, I felt like I wanted to jump on a plane headed for Spain and experience this myself. The description of the people and surroundings was so well done I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. The chickens....well.....you have got to read the story and you will have a new appreciation for chicken owners! I cannot say enough, this is a wonderful story and I highly recommend it to anyone. Also of note, there are mouth-watering recipes included in the book that can help you authenicate your Andalucian experience!

Escape to Spain without having to pack your bags

I've always dreamed of moving to Spain, and this book lets me do that vicariously. Victoria Twead has a warm, engaging style that makes me feel like I'm catching up with an old friend, who's telling me about her adventures over a drink or three. We get to hear about the house hunt, the renovations, the chickens -- who knew they had such personalities! -- and, of course, the neighbours. Plus there are more than two dozen recipes, so you can recreate the dishes to get some of the tastes and scents of the tiny village described so lovingly. It's a lovely read from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Absolutely delightful - HIGHLY recommended!

I just couldn't put this book down and read the whole thing in one sitting. It made me laugh out loud so many times and I just wish I could move to that little Spanish mountain village where Victoria and Joe live. I loved all the characters (including the animals) and felt I knew each villager personally by the end of the book. I'm so looking forward to the sequel which is coming soon, I believe.

I loved this book so much that I've bought several paperback copies to give away to friends.

Wonderfully entertaining

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book. It's non-fiction, the true tale of a couple who decide to leave England to retire to Spain. There are a few laugh-out-loud moments, and generally the book made me smile. The author made a decision to leave the UK one rainy day. Joe, the author's husband, was not sure about the move, so they compromised, agreeing a 5-year plan. They would move to the remote village of El Hoyo in Andalucía for 5 years and if it didn't work out they would return to the UK. Victoria Twead has a gift for describing people, places and actions so that the reader feels they are actually there. She is a fabulous storyteller. 'Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools' is a wonderfully entertaining book. I feel as though I know all of the eccentric characters described in the book, and would recognise them all immediately if I took a trip to the village. I would recommend 'Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools' to everyone, it's a real tonic. Reading the book I almost felt as if I was on holiday, right there in El Hoyo watching these strange and wonderful characters (and animals!). I didn't want the book to end, and in a way it hasn't because interspersed throughout are traditional Spanish recipes, all of which sound delicious and which I will be trying out!

Utterly Hilarious!

Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools proves once again that moving to a foreign country and fixing up an old house never works out quite as you planned. This time the setting is the Spanish Alpujarra mountains and the naive couple are Joe and Vicky, a British couple looking for a place where the sun always shines.

At first the writing struck me as a bit unedited and rough around the edges, but as the book progressed the style grew on me until I wouldn't have had it any other way. Vicky comes across with a refreshing frankness, leaving nothing out as she and Joe stumble their way into their idyllic, Spanish life.

You haven't properly described the book until you explain how utterly hilarious it is. From the first meeting with their German estate agent where they have to explain that they would like a house with a roof and walls to their hysterical chickens and wacky building contractor with his team of Equators you will be laughing all the way through. I highly recommend this book for a lovely period of escapism. You will thoroughly enjoy hanging out in Spain with Joe and Vicky!

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