The Magic Apple Tree
This post could result in impulsive clicky finger syndrome
I hang out on several forums on the internet. I get to chat with like minded people about the things that are important to us.
Our grandmothers chatted over the garden fence putting the world to rights. For many of us those days are long gone. Perhaps we don't know our neighbours. Perhaps we work outside of the home. Lots of people don't hang their washing on the line, or sweep their front path, or scrub the door step like our grandmothers did. Opportunities for general chit chat about life, the universe or 'her over the road' and her latest fella have gone. Coincidentally at the same time as the lifestyle of our grandmothers has disappeared there has been a significant increase in mild to moderate mental health illness - depression and anxiety are skyrocketing. It's possible to get a short course of counseling through your GP - to talk about life, the universe or how you feel about 'her over the road' and her latest fella.
I digress.
One of the most dangerous things about chatting with like minded people is the book reviews. I have bought many books recently - fortunately all second hand. This is a review of my current favourite......
The Magic Apple Tree - A Country Year by Susan Hill
I have read four chapters of this book and it is truly magical. She starts the year as winter descends on Moon Cottage. She has a snow day!!! She tells the story of Mr Ash the eccentric woodsman and her erratic supply of wood for the stove. There are recipes. Let me repeat that - there are recipes. This book may just be perfect.
Written in the eighties Susan Hill, a bestselling author, playwright, wife and mother, moved to Moon Cottage and began living the simple life. Slap bang in the middle of the Thatcher years, the years of 'you can have it all' Susan Hill was living with the seasons, in a village where ritual and festivals marked the turning of the year.
If you are in anyway interested in living a simple life, downsizing, self sufficiency, village life then I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
Our grandmothers chatted over the garden fence putting the world to rights. For many of us those days are long gone. Perhaps we don't know our neighbours. Perhaps we work outside of the home. Lots of people don't hang their washing on the line, or sweep their front path, or scrub the door step like our grandmothers did. Opportunities for general chit chat about life, the universe or 'her over the road' and her latest fella have gone. Coincidentally at the same time as the lifestyle of our grandmothers has disappeared there has been a significant increase in mild to moderate mental health illness - depression and anxiety are skyrocketing. It's possible to get a short course of counseling through your GP - to talk about life, the universe or how you feel about 'her over the road' and her latest fella.
I digress.
One of the most dangerous things about chatting with like minded people is the book reviews. I have bought many books recently - fortunately all second hand. This is a review of my current favourite......
The Magic Apple Tree - A Country Year by Susan Hill
I have read four chapters of this book and it is truly magical. She starts the year as winter descends on Moon Cottage. She has a snow day!!! She tells the story of Mr Ash the eccentric woodsman and her erratic supply of wood for the stove. There are recipes. Let me repeat that - there are recipes. This book may just be perfect.
Written in the eighties Susan Hill, a bestselling author, playwright, wife and mother, moved to Moon Cottage and began living the simple life. Slap bang in the middle of the Thatcher years, the years of 'you can have it all' Susan Hill was living with the seasons, in a village where ritual and festivals marked the turning of the year.
If you are in anyway interested in living a simple life, downsizing, self sufficiency, village life then I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
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