Driving over Lemons: An Optimist in Spain
When Chris Stewart and his wife Ana buy a farm in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains of Andalucía, they get a crash course in rural life and the Spanish renovation process. Set amid abundant olive groves and lemon trees, their new home brings complications, surprises, and joy.
Quote:
"In spring the blossoming of the orange trees takes you unawares. At first only a pale haze becomes apparent across the dark green of the leaves. This is the green of the flower-buds. Then all of a sudden the buds are transformed into exquisite white five-petaled stars, radiating from cream-yellow pistils and stamens. The scent is delicate and heady, and when each tree becomes a mass of white flowers an almost tangible mist of orange blossom hangs in the air."
Author:
Chris Stewart was the original drummer for the bad Genesis, and now works as a writer and farmer. His books include Driving Over Lemons, Three Ways to Capsize a Boat, A Parrot in the Pepper Tree, Last Days of the Bus Club, and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society.
Published: 1999
Length: 256 pages
Set in: Spain