For anyone who has thought of making a life change (Extra Virgin - Annie Hawes)

Member Name: Trishajs

Product:	Extra Virgin - Annie Hawes
Date:	05/10/09 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I found it inspirational

Disadvantages: I was left wanting to know more

Have you ever been on holiday somewhere that you truly did not want to leave? Most of us have at sometime or another- but then reality raises it's head and you sigh deeply and go home.

This book is the true story of how two sisters in their twenties have that feeling, but they don't decide it would be a fantasy to stay, they realise it would be a very sensible move. After all, they would have no chance on the property ladder in England, but here, in the beautiful area of Italy called Liguria, high above the Mediterranean, they could purchase a property outright. Ok so it wouldn't be palatial, (for wouldn't be palatial read " it's a wreck"); but who needs luxury inside when you are wrapped in the warmth of "quality of life".

Anne Hawes the author, being one of the sisters, tells the story of how they establish themselves in a new community, learn new skills and adapt to their whole new lifestyle. The nuances of the local Italian language being one of the many obstacles they have to overcome. Another being that they are two women alone, a fact that the locals cannot quite get their head around, women's lib not being alive and well in their new home.

One of the many new strings they add to their bow is growing olives, the main crop of the area. I really enjoyed learning about this and look at my extra virgin with a new found respect.

Liguria is, as I would imagine any village to be, where everyone knows everybody and it becomes like an extended family. As with most families there are those who are always on hand to help, and those who don't. We get to know them all.

I found I learned so much about day to day life for these people, and it was interesting to see how seemingly simple things impacted on their lives.

The descriptions of food make you hungry, you can visualise the scenery and you truly come to know the characters. You become involved in their lives and the lives of those closest too them

When the sisters came to visit they had not planned to stay, they had not envisaged a holiday romance, but out of the blue, they both fell head over heels in love. In love with the Italian Riviera.

There were many times I had to remind myself that this was a true story and not a novel.

I thought this book was a great read, my only issue was I wanted to know a little more about their money earning trips back home. I would have found it very interesting to know that side of their lives. Not only to learn how they financially managed their life, but also the contrast that she personally felt.


On another note, knowing that these people just upped and changed their lives and literally jumped into the unknown, is for me very inspirational. They are really two people who saw life and grabbed it with both hands. Isn't that a lesson so many of us need to learn?

Summary: You will choose your olive oil with new found knowledge