When a book causes me to laugh out loud twice — before I even get to page one — I’m pretty sure that I’m going to like it.
From the page after the dedication page:
“This is a memoir of a certain time in my life. The names of some characters have been changed, and some are composites of various people, experiences, and conversations I had then. If you think that’s unfair, you’ve obviously never lived in a small town and written a memoir about your neighbors.”
Author’s caution (from the page after that):
“This book is not about living your dream. It will not inspire you. You will not be emboldened to attempt anything more than making a fresh pot of coffee.”
Josh Kilmer-Purcell goes on with that quote to compare The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentleman Farmers, an Unconventional Memoir to other memoirs that are “written by courageous souls who have broken with their past, poetically leaving behind things such as drugs, career ennui, and bad relationships.” Of course he’s writing with tongue firmly in cheek, and as an advertising exec, he’s learned the value in setting the bar low so as to exceed expectations.
In spite of his disclaimer, this book does address career ennui, relationships, and does inspire one to figure out how to live “Your Best Life Now.”
After buying a mansion and farm with his partner Brent as a weekend getaway from their busy lives in Manhattan, Josh was inspired after attending an Oprah taping to figure out how he could really live his best life. He decided that his best life would be living full time in the bucolic setting of their new country home, growing vegetables, raising goats and becoming a part of the local community.
His partner Brent receives his inspiration from another media mogul: Martha Stewart, for whom he works as a “wellness expert.” After an appearance on her show, their goat’s milk soap business and their Beekman1802 “brand” takes off, causing what was meant to be an escape and a place of restoration to become a plague — on their relationship and to their time off.
The humor in this book kept me flying through the pages, as did Brent and Josh’s struggles and extraordinary experiences (like creating and cooking from an heirloom garden). Kilmer-Purcell is right that he is not writing to change the reader’s life, as some memoirists seem to set out to do. The fact that he’s just sharing his experience helps it to avoid that completely self-important trap that many memoirists fall into.
I came to care about this farm, the community, and its owners. I wanted to see them succeed, because their effort and intent was valiant, but also to prove to myself that it was possible to go for it and achieve your dream.
I loved this book. I’m surprised at how much I loved this book. It seemed to end somewhat abruptly (maybe because I just wanted it to go on and on?), but I was reminded that real life doesn’t tie itself up neatly with pat resolutions. It earned the 5 Stars Read label.
The good news is that the Fabulous Beekman Boys can be followed on the small screen starting June 16 on Discovery’s Planet Green (follow the link to read my review of the two episodes I previewed).
The other good news is that I have a copy of The Bucolic Plague to give away to one of you. Please leave a comment if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winner on June 23.
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After being raised in the suburbs of the 4th largest city in the U.S., Houston, Jennifer Donovan loves her bucolic existence in small town Connecticut. She blogs at Snapshot about her life as a mom, but never about goats or heirloom gardens.
That sounds really funny!
Please enter me, thanks!
I would love to read this book. And June 23rd is my birthday too!
Enter me please.Thank you.
I love small towns…and books about small town life. I’d love a chance to win!
I come from and still live in that small, small, often way to small town…sign me up for this.
Sounds interesting…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
These two sound like my kind of people! I would love to win the book.
Oh that just sounds like so much fun!
Sounds good…count me in, please.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am a big fan of memoirs and would love a chance at this.
sharon54220@gmail.com
This book sounds like it’s right up my alley, I love laughing and getting lost in a book! Please enter me to win!
This sounds very interesting – thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
This book sounds exactly what I need. I am currently reading a non-fiction book that is set in Africa and I am almost afraid to read the next page. It is so full of genocide and torture. It is true stuff but I sure do need a break!!
I really, really want to read this book.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This book looks interesting.
I love funny reads! Thanks.
Sounds interesting, count me in towards the drawing!
This sounds so funny – I’m in!
This sounds like a good book to read.
Sounds like my kind of book…thanks for the thorough review.
I love a good funny book!
Count me in!
Okay, you’ve sold me — sounds great! If I don’t win, I may just have to pick up my own copy anyway…
Sounds like a great read, and a really fun topic. Sign me up!
I’ve recently found that I really enjoy reading memoirs. They are very very fun. Plus my husband has discovered he loves nonfiction. So we would both enjoy this book.
I love memoirs!! They are my favorite type of reading. A close friend of mine read the book and said he loved it, so I want to give it a try. I HOPE I WIN!
I am already ready to read this after reading your review-sounds funny
hey I just saw an add for this show on tv tonight!
We would enjoy this!
Please enter me in this giveaway – Thanks!
seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win this book! Thanks!
This sounds great, love to win!
This sounds like a great read. Hoping!!