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A House in the Sunflowers: Living the Dream in the South of France
In 1976, in the Lot-et-Garonne region of southwest France, Ruth Silvestre and her family found and fell in love with, Bel-Air de Grezelongue, a house that had been left, deserted and uninhabited for ten years. "A House in the Sunflowers" provides rare glimpses of French family life in the region that is considered the gastronomic center of France, complete with mouth-watering descriptions of meals in the sun and fascinating insights into the history and customs of this area. In this charming, funny and romantic book, Ruth Silvestre manages to include much practical and useful information for those who also wish to fulfil their dreams abroad. Lovers of France, its rural life and customs will be delighted with "A House in the Sunflowers" and its unforgettable love affair.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 9, 2018
I really loved this book! I felt like I really got to know the author and her family and the friends they made when they spent summers at their sunny house in southwestern France next to fields and a pond. The book covers several years of summers, so there is a progression through various projects, times with friends and harvest days. Reading this book made me feel I was right there in the bright fields of the countryside with the warm sun shining over everything and the flowers blooming. This book had great warmth and would be a good read on a cold and dreary day in winter.
July 9, 2015
The great detail in this book really transported me and the descriptions of meals made me hungry, I enjoyed the detail and will read the full trilogy. However, it was not a gripping page turner but a pleasant read.
September 11, 2024
I love any stories about restoring old buildings in France. Who could not love the helpful neighbors, the large meals with everyone sharing what food they have.
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October 30, 2019Good reading book
I had some problems understanding some things she talked about especially when she wrote it down in a different language. I wouldn't understand what she talked about. The book wasn't a bad read but I did read better. Then when she came up with the old letters she found I had to go several times to re-read what I read. Got a bit confusing for me of who was who.
I had some problems understanding some things she talked about especially when she wrote it down in a different language. I wouldn't understand what she talked about. The book wasn't a bad read but I did read better. Then when she came up with the old letters she found I had to go several times to re-read what I read. Got a bit confusing for me of who was who.
April 5, 2023
No doubt many of us dream of one day idling away our summers in warmer climes, and this book certainly leaves the reader enchanted by an English family's discovery and renovation of their second home in rural Aquitaine. What comes across most strongly is how the locals seem to have embraced their new neighbours and it is clear that life long friendships and mutual respect evolved in time, over endless meals and shared traditions. A lovely read.
August 12, 2017
Relaxing, homey story of an English couple who restored a ruin to a home. The food discussions are wonderful....I travelled to France, met "new" friends, "ate" new food and thoroughly enjoyed every moment nt
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about other cultures. I am an armchair traveller, and enjoy every moment I spend reading.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about other cultures. I am an armchair traveller, and enjoy every moment I spend reading.
July 13, 2021
A really well written and interesting account of how a family found their second home in France and how they made it habitable, made good friends and ecame a part of the community. First published some years ago, in 2021 the prices and cultural context are somewhat dated, but that doesn't spoil the enjoyment of this friendly book.
February 17, 2023
Wish I understood French!
The stories were interesting and had some world war1 and 2 history woven through the book but unless you speak or understand French you miss much of the content. The relationships that were formed with neighbors who became friends was probably a factor to hold my interest and also the restoration of the house.
The stories were interesting and had some world war1 and 2 history woven through the book but unless you speak or understand French you miss much of the content. The relationships that were formed with neighbors who became friends was probably a factor to hold my interest and also the restoration of the house.
August 28, 2021
What a lovely book. I felt so drawn in it was hard to put down at times! I felt like I really knew the people Ruth mentioned. It's so dreamy, idyllic and an ideal escapist read for a city girl like me.
October 2, 2018
loved it. about to read the 2nd of the trilogy.
August 13, 2018
A fun and relaxing read.
September 22, 2018
I wish I could read French! So much of this book was written in French without a translation that it was difficult for me who only took French in High School 50+ years ago. I did enjoy the book...
December 28, 2020
Just couldn’t finish this one- lost interest
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January 4, 2024Great book, now on book 3
July 17, 2017
Every once in awhile I just love to read a book that soothes and relaxes. The characters are congenial and their story about building (or re-building) an old home in France flows gracefully and picturesquely. Good vacation read.
February 10, 2014
I read the paperback version of this book many years ago and was so pleased to see it brought to kindle that I had to buy it and read it again. Second time around it didn't disappoint and I have read many similar books (some good, some not so) since my first read of A House in the Sunflowers.
This is the first book in The Sunflower Trilogy and tells the story of Ruth and her family finding Bel-Air de Grèzelongue in the Lot-et-Garonne and despite it being unloved and uninhabited for ten years, to them it was the perfect house in France. Their story is very different to many similar memoirs, mainly because they bought their holiday home in the 1970's. A time when there was no local expat network offering help and advice, just them and their French neighbours and the special friendship that grew over the years.
Ruth writes with fondness about the way their neighbours at the working farm down the lane did their best to welcome the strange newcomers and became good friends, including them in family celebrations, local events and inviting them to help with the harvests, all of which helped integrate them into the community. There was lots of work to do on the house, so their time spent on holidays in France was busy and sometimes stressful, but they were always happy to be back in their new French community.
Ruth generously shares their many new experiences and insights into the French culture in an engaging way. I read this book shortly after our move to France and I can't tell you how comforting it was to read it during our `settling in years'. I have read many move to France memoirs, before and after moving, but these three books by Ruth will always be very special to me. See also A Harvest of Sunflowers (The Sunflowers Trilogy) and Reflections of Sunflowers (The Sunflowers Trilogy).
This is the first book in The Sunflower Trilogy and tells the story of Ruth and her family finding Bel-Air de Grèzelongue in the Lot-et-Garonne and despite it being unloved and uninhabited for ten years, to them it was the perfect house in France. Their story is very different to many similar memoirs, mainly because they bought their holiday home in the 1970's. A time when there was no local expat network offering help and advice, just them and their French neighbours and the special friendship that grew over the years.
Ruth writes with fondness about the way their neighbours at the working farm down the lane did their best to welcome the strange newcomers and became good friends, including them in family celebrations, local events and inviting them to help with the harvests, all of which helped integrate them into the community. There was lots of work to do on the house, so their time spent on holidays in France was busy and sometimes stressful, but they were always happy to be back in their new French community.
Ruth generously shares their many new experiences and insights into the French culture in an engaging way. I read this book shortly after our move to France and I can't tell you how comforting it was to read it during our `settling in years'. I have read many move to France memoirs, before and after moving, but these three books by Ruth will always be very special to me. See also A Harvest of Sunflowers (The Sunflowers Trilogy) and Reflections of Sunflowers (The Sunflowers Trilogy).
August 17, 2014
English couple buys a farm in the south of France. They deal with the trials and tribulations of making it habitable. They learn to make adjustments to become a part of the local community and the way of life in rural France. Helping out with the harvest of plums, grapes, corn and mushrooms, along with their new neighbors exposes them to traditions that have remained unchanged for generations. There are many excellent descriptions of the countryside, and rustic farm buildings of the area. As for food and wine, I would suggest you do not read this book on an empty stomach. The descriptions of meals, paired along with wines, throughout the book will get those gastric juices flowing. Making wine for personal consumption is fairly common for French farmers so a portion of the grape harvest is retained for home fermentation and the rest is sold to the cooperative. I found interesting, the techniques of wine making and the types of wines consumed in the area. This is a great summer read. Keep a French Dictionary on hand, there are many phrases in French scattered throughout the book. You can still get the gist of what is being said without translation, but the meaning of a well- turned phrase has its’ particular charm when completely understood.
January 13, 2021
Not so much of a pasionate book
I bought these Trilogy Series of "A House in the Sunflowers", as I love to read the category of "Travel" where writers let us, the readers, learn and enjoy other cultures, specially I do like reading about people who live away from the big melting pots, lost in the mountains and still connected as families and friends become a big family themselves. I didn't quite enjoy this first book. The writer gets lost onto too much noise of stories within the main story. I found myself "speedreading" and not interested in what I call "the noise". Regardless, I am going to give it a second try by reading Book # 2.
I bought these Trilogy Series of "A House in the Sunflowers", as I love to read the category of "Travel" where writers let us, the readers, learn and enjoy other cultures, specially I do like reading about people who live away from the big melting pots, lost in the mountains and still connected as families and friends become a big family themselves. I didn't quite enjoy this first book. The writer gets lost onto too much noise of stories within the main story. I found myself "speedreading" and not interested in what I call "the noise". Regardless, I am going to give it a second try by reading Book # 2.
September 2, 2015
I'll give this a 2.5 over 5.
Only because there were too many French words and phrases, thus ruining the fun for me in reading the book. My French skills are almost zilch, and I can only understand one or two words -- MAX!
But the way Silvestre writes makes it astonishingly easy for me to put myself into her shoes and see that life she put into words.
If only I knew more French, then I'll be one happy reader!
Only because there were too many French words and phrases, thus ruining the fun for me in reading the book. My French skills are almost zilch, and I can only understand one or two words -- MAX!
But the way Silvestre writes makes it astonishingly easy for me to put myself into her shoes and see that life she put into words.
If only I knew more French, then I'll be one happy reader!
January 13, 2017
A lovely ode to France
What a wonderful story. All of us should have a house in France. The world would be a better place. My one critique of the book is the extensive use of the French language, the majority without translation. I felt I missed some of the story. Regardless, I recommend this book to anyone interested in France.
What a wonderful story. All of us should have a house in France. The world would be a better place. My one critique of the book is the extensive use of the French language, the majority without translation. I felt I missed some of the story. Regardless, I recommend this book to anyone interested in France.
November 10, 2012
An enjoyable easy read about a family who buy a house in France. The description of the house and its environment are refreshing and funny. The author spends a lot of time exploring the roots of the former owner. Of course since it is set in France, a lot of the descriptions center around food.
January 26, 2015
Excited beginning but felt it lacked page turning thrill. Nice story of English couple who buy run down house in rural France. Neighbours and friends who helped in restoration and integration into area. Seems authentic and a slow read, but helpful for anyone wishing to follow their path.
June 17, 2015
A lovely, unpretentious memoir of the purchase and restoration of an old house in France, and their assimilation into village life. I really enjoyed the story and will probably go on to read the second book in the trilogy.
December 6, 2008
brilliant start to a trilogy..read #2 now,#3 to go..makes me want to pack my bags
October 19, 2010
Great book for anyone traveling to the south of France.
March 15, 2011
A wonderful escape.
May 12, 2011
Light weight reading about living in France, one of the many books I eagerly read as we prepared to move.
November 4, 2013
$2.00 new central tunnel basement book
December 20, 2013
I'd like to live this dream right about now. A nice little memoir--nothing earth shattering, but definitely made me wanna save up for a farmhouse in France.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews