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The Olive Farm cover art

The Olive Farm

By: Carol Drinkwater
Narrated by: Carol Drinkwater
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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....

©2001 Carol Drinkwater (P)2001 WF Howes Ltd

What listeners say about The Olive Farm

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

long windedno

Would you try another book written by Carol Drinkwater or narrated by Carol Drinkwater?

no

Has The Olive Farm put you off other books in this genre?

yes

Would you be willing to try another one of Carol Drinkwater’s performances?

no

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

It was like reading a tourists guide book

Any additional comments?

if you are looking for a book with a good story this is not it

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

real life in France

I enjoyed the story of starting a new life in France. The dream and the reality.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommended read

I bought this book on a special offer and I'm so glad I did, its well written and enchanting

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story

This was an interesting story for me ...as a Francophile and the ups and downs of living in France!
However ...I got slightly exhausted by the descriptive writing being a tad OTT

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Was special to experience their lives, their adventures. Will listen to the next one eagerly.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully written and read

Carol’s retelling of her story is memorising, the descriptions of the places and people make you feel you are there with her. It is a truly inspirational read and listening to it read by Carol add the most fantastic depth to the story - recommending to everyone who will listen

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good to fall asleep to

A good story, but I find Carol Drinkwaters reading a little shrill at times and her writing too flowery. She uses far too many adjectives.

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1 person found this helpful