Farm Fatale: A Comedy Of Country Manors (2002) - Plot & Excerpts
Well, let's be honest. Firstly I picked this book up in error, thinking it was by an author I liked. A silly mistake to make, but the cover styles of Wendy Holden's books are very similar to those of Judy Astley. I like Judy Astley... In my haste in the library I grabbed this book and began to listen to it (talking book you see) on my way to and from work. I remember thinking to myself that it was not in the usual style of the author I thought it was (I know, I know, my mistake) but by the time I realised my error I had already got through a fair few chapters and I HATE to give up on a book once I've invested more than a few minutes in it.So, I plodded on. Where to start on what is wrong with this book...? Firstly, the characters are the most one-dimensional, raging stereotypes I have had the misfortune to encounter since marking a 14 year old's creative writing project. In addition to this, they are not only stereotypes but also thoroughly dislikeable. I know that humorous books exaggerate characteristics to make situations amusing, but the characters here, with their bizarre names and excessive behaviour often descended into the farcical. The plot itself had potential - young couple move to the country, find things not quite as they expected, adventures ensue. However, everything was so overblown and any potentially funny situations were SO obvious that you could guess where a funny piece of dialogue or scene was going by the end of the first sentence. The main character, Rosie, was such a wet lettuce and it seemed to me that she would have ended up with any character that gave her the time of day, falling in and out of love according to how nice the current object of her desire was to her at any given moment.I will never, ever read another Wendy Holden book. It took me so long to get through because I found it so tedious. Chick Lit at its worse and I'm no book snob, but I really don't get why anyone would find this book amusing! The only bit that made me smile was that the farmer had a cow called Jennifer Lopez. I once knew a farmer who also had a cow called Jenny, because she had a big bottom like J-Lo. That anecdote is funnier than anything you will find in this book... I rest my case.
Wendy Holden has done it again! With Farm Fatale: A Comedy of Country Manors she had me cracking up as well as worrying about her heroine Rosie, and her semi-unfocused life. Illustrator Rosie lives in London with her boyfriend Mark, an ambitious reporter. Desperately wanting to move to a country village, Rosie is able to pull her plan together when Mark is given the opportunity to write his own column. They will find a country cottage and Mark will write about their experiences as Londoners learning the country way of life. A cottage built in 1649 with an overgrown garden becomes their home, surrounded by quirky yet friendly neighbors and visited daily by the nosiest postman in England. Rosie adapts well to their new home, bringing the garden back to life, finding the perfect illustrating job to complete in her rural world, and making friends all over Eight Mile Bottom. Mark is having a more difficult adjustment, unable to find topics worthy of his column, holing up in the cottage, and worrying about the criticisms of his editor.Rosie and Mark grow apart, and Rosie grows close with a local farmer while Mark begins questioning the wisdom of staying in the countryside. A large social occasion in the village brings their relationship to a head, and in the days following Rosie and Mark begin building their separate lives.Farm Fatale is filled with funny characters and situations, including a wanna-be starlet and the local publican, who runs the village hen races. Wendy Holden gives us more thoughtful moments as Rosie contemplates jumping from one relationship to another, and she learns that the person the world sees is often not the person one is inside. I greatly enjoyed Wendy Holden's Farm Fatale, and would love another story about all the interesting characters of Eight Mile Bottom. I can't recommend this book more as a great example of fun, summer time beach reading!
What do You think about Farm Fatale: A Comedy Of Country Manors (2002)?
From My Blog...Farm Fatale by Wendy Holden is a lively, faced-paced, clever novel that makes for a delightful afternoon of reading or the perfect summer book pick. The adventure begins as Rosie and Mark decide to give up life in the city and choose to move to Eight Mile Bottom in the country, beginning a brilliantly witty tale of the antics of the rather eccentric characters of Eight Mile Bottom. Will Rosie and Mark be able to survive country life?Holden writes a brilliant novel filled with a delightful and eclectic cast of characters, vivid description and imagery further ensconces the reader into Eight Mile Bottom. I recommend Farm Fatale to anyone looking for a charming, witty novel. Pack up a copy of Farm Fatale into your bag before heading to the beach and you shall not be disappointed.
—Jennifer
This. Was. Awful. Horrible. I wanted a fluffy chic lit but seriously?? She gets engaged to a rock star who knows her all of a week. Really?? That does not happen. The infallibility of it is nuts. Not to mention a completely pointless side romance that ends in a ridiculously fast engagement as well. The author can't seem to chose which person she wants Rosie to end up with. First she makes the reader love the first one, then shows him as a jerk. Then the second guy-also a jerk. Then the author wants to hurry and finish the damn thing and throws in a rock star engagement. Um... None of the characters are particularly likeable. Where she is supposed to be quirky she's unrealistic. I hated it and I do not recommend it to anyone. Ever.
—Jessie Adamczyk
… a comedy of country manors… Novel ini bercerita tentang orang-orang kota yang ingin pindah ke pedesaan dengan alasan yang berbeda-beda. Ada yang memang ingin mencari suasana baru, ada juga yang hanya karena pengen dibilang 'up to date'.Ada Rosie, ilustrator di suatu majalah; ada Mark, pacar Rosie, jurnalis yang berambisi banget punya kolom sendiri; lalu Samantha, bintang film, yang gayanya 'ngartis' banget; Matt Locke, superstar yang sembunyi di desa untuk menghindari publikasi.Yang lucu di sini, sebenarnya tokoh Samantha, yang pengen banget tinggal di pedesaan, tapi tetap membawa atribut perkotaannya.
—Ferina
