A Castle in the Backyard: The Dream of a House in France
by Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden
Overview
From the Publisher
In one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe, in the region known as Périgord in southwest France, castles crown the hills, and the surrounding villages seem carved all of a piece out of the local stone. In 1985, in the shadow of one of these medieval castles, Betsy Draine and Michael Hinden fell in love with a small stone house that became their summer home.
Like any romance, this one has had its ups and downs, and Betsy and Michael chart its course in this delightful memoir. They offer an intimate glimpse of a region little known to Americans-the Dordogne valley, its castles and prehistoric art, its walking trails and earthy cuisine-and describe the charms and mishaps of setting up housekeeping thousands of miles from home.
Along with the region's terrain and culture, A Castle in the Backyardintroduces us to the people of Périgord-the castle's proprietor, the village children, the gossipy real-estate agent, the rascally mason, and the ninety-year-old widow with a tale of heartbreak. A celebration of a place and its people, the book also reflects on the future of historic Périgord as tourism and development pose a challenge to its graceful way of life.
My thoughts
Oh! Oh! Sometimes you just luck into a terrific book and that's exactly what happened to me this time!! Alerted to the book I reviewed earlier, I went to Amazon.com to place the order. They do that annoying thing where they say, "If you like this book, you'll enjoy this book, too!" Annoying, because half the time they suck me right in with that marketing scheme, even though I know it's just that -- a marketing scheme! No regrets this time!
I think what sold me on the book is how things fell into place, very much like Under the Tuscan Sun. By a flukey set of circumstances, the authors, near the end of their summer vacation visiting friends in France, ended up unexpectedly in a remote village that captured their hearts and imagination. In their explorations of the village the next day, they dared dream the silly and extravagant dream of owning one of the many homes for sale. The dreams continued to build and a year later they owned a home in France! How wonderful and romantic is that?!
Aside from the story itself, the writing, shared by both authors, is terrific. I love the stories they tell and they way they tell them! I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud as I read, nor how many times I wiped a tear from my eye as they described a touching experience. The fact that I'd just read a similar travel book that takes place in a neighboring region added to my enjoyment, as I already felt some familiarity to the customs, people, and most wonderful cuisine! (My mouth waters just reading about their dining experiences!) I loved this book, and how I wish I could have my own castle in France!
Favorite Passage
It's fun to fling open your shutters in the morning. We don't have shutters in Wisconsin; nobody does -- or if a house has them, nobody uses them. It's not quite the same to twirl open the blinds, draw back the curtains, or just raise the shades. Shutters swing open with a squeak and a clatter as they clap against the walls. The commotion announces to the village that you're ready to go public. Your house, that intimate space that up to a minute ago was strictly off limits, is part of the common sphere again, open for socializing. You belong to the town, and you had better be dressed. And sure enough, just as soon as our shutters flew open that morning, we were hailed by an elderly woman standing in her garden below our widow and gesticulating in the direction of our door.
"Cuckoo! Cuckoo!" she shrilled in a sharp-pitched voice, insisting by her arm movements that we come down immediately. Obviously, she had been keeping watch and waiting for the right moment. Pulling on jeans and sweatshirts, we spiraled down the staircase and opened the door. There on the threshold were several plastic bags containing walnuts, a fresh lettuce, potatoes, and bunches of string beans straight from the garden. Mme. Boucher (we soon learned her name) beamed up at us, clearly proud of her housewarming gift.
She was a tiny, white-haired woman in her eighties, with surprising strength in her limbs from a lifetime of farm work. Now a widow, she lived alone in the house behind the garden, which the window of our main room overlooked. It wasn't long before we were chatting away -- she in the clear country accent of southwest France, Michael in the gliding French he had learned in Paris, and I in the twangy accent I had copied from my Quebecois high-school teacher. Our interest in each other soon overcame the differences in our versions of French.
From: "Michael C. Hinden"
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 1:47 PM
Dear Becky,
Thank you for the kind things you said about our book, A Castle in the
Backyard.
It's a treat for authors to be appreciated.
A Vos Desirs,
Michael Hinden
Betsy Draine
