The Lost Garden, by Katharine Swartz

You may be surprised (nay, perhaps shocked) at how little I read when traveling.  All those flights, train trips, early evenings – one would think I’d be in book heaven…but afraid not.  I gaze out at the scenery during train journeys holding my book (or kindle) unopened. I find myself catching up on missed movies during long flights and, as a typically tired tourist (all that walking, exploring, eating, navigating and translating) I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.  So my reading falls by the wayside.

I wanted an easy-going book for this most recent trip.  Nothing too complicated with multiplying characters or, even worse, a family tree to keep straight.   I knew while in Switzerland, I would be happily distracted and pleasantly tired.  I would only be reading in short bits and pieces.

I’d been saving the The Lost Garden just for this trip.  I eagerly awaited this historical novel of a hidden garden with secrets, a dual time-line (present day and just after WWII) and set in rural England.  (I know, I’m  boringly quite predictable.)

It also held charm because it brought to mind The Secret Garden one of my all-time favorite and cherished children’s books.

The Lost Garden is both a mystery and family saga set at Bower House, on the edge of a village church property with a hidden walled garden. In 1919, nineteen-year-old Eleanor Sanderson is grieving the death of her brother so her father hires a young gardener, Jack to restore the walled garden to comfort her.  Eleanor falls for Jack especially once he reveals the garden to her.  (I won’t give away the special garden he created – just know it’s magical.)  Problems arise, secrets are kept and the garden is at the center of it all.

In the present day, Marin Ellis has taken on the custody of her sulky 15 year old half-sister, Rebecca.  They move to Bower house to try and start a new life for themselves.  They, too, are grieving the sudden accidental death of their parents.  When Rebecca shows a spark of interest in the now decrepit walled garden, Marin hires Joss, a local gardener to help them restore the garden.  Together, they uncover the garden’s past and its secrets – and again friendships and romance evolve around the lost garden.

I found the characters authentic and the setting just so darn dreamy (I want my own secret garden…).  For those readers who want a fast moving plot and high drama – this is not a book for you, as The Lost Garden moves gently and slowly along.  I found myself living with its characters, breathing in the rooms of the house and seeing the garden transformed in both time periods.

A purely pleasant read for total escape to a magical secret garden  — some times that’s all you need.

Digital review copy provided by Lion Fiction via NetGalley.

 

 

 

The Saddest Little Bookworm

I’m nearing the end of THIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling like this little bookworm…

 

Louise Penny – in person

Last night I went to an author event at Keplers Books in Menlo Park (a great bookstore)…but this was not just any author event – it was LOUISE PENNY — author of the  Chief Inpsector Gamache series based in the fictional village of Three Pines outside of Montreal.  If you don’t know of Louise Penny it is advised that you immediately get yourself to a bookstore or library and get your hands on her first book, Still Life.  You’ll thank me later, or maybe not —  because there is a warning – you won’t be able to wait for the next book in the series to come into the library, and you will happily spend your hard-earned dollars on the next book … and the next.

Here’s some photos from the event.

Ms. Penny is just as I imagined her – warm, funny, self-deprecating, smart, wise, gracious and very very real.  I want to be her new best friend – (but not in a creepy stalking kind of way).

I also got this – see what I mean about spending your money?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her new book – signed.  I started it last night and once I’ve finished I will give it away to any Book Barmy reader who can answer the following question:

What gift did Ms. Penny receive last night from an adoring fan? (And not from me, an originally from Canada fan…)

Submit your answers in the comments section and I’ll announce the winner in a future post.

Meanwhile – I’m leaving now to return to Three Pines, the bistro, Ruth and her duck…I know you’ll understand.

N.B.  If more than one reader has the correct answer, trustworthy husband (he was an Eagle Scout you know) will pick the name at random.

Our last days in France

August 16

Sunday is market day, so we head straight out the door and around the nearest corner into the open market…husband and I can’t resist a market.  And with Eric we buy ingredients for Sunday lunch (because it’s France and we eat lunch!). 

After another wonderful lunch complete with wine from our winery visit the day before, we again take a rest – it’s Sunday and everything is closed.

In the late afternoon, husband joins Alain in his cave-like workshop in the lower part of the building.  Alain has been building Adirondack chairs based on husband’s own hand-built versions on our deck.  There was an impressive hammer that was just a bit too tempting after almost 4 weeks of traveling together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving the others to their woodworking project, Eric and I went for a long walk along the river Isere and just as the sun was setting, I got some photos of the bridge in the waning light.

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August 17

We take off for the day to visit the area around the Rhone Valley.  Based on Eric and Alain’s recommendation we visit The Tour de Crest, the highest medieval keeps in France.  The hot climb up inside was worth it for these views.

 

Then we found Mirmande – a “plus beau village of France”.  (This list of villages in France is on my bucket list — complete listing HERE).

What is it about ancient stone villages?  Husband and I are just drawn to them. Here’s Mirmande and oui, c’est tres beau, n’est pas?

We got back to Romans in time to take Eric and Alain out to dinner as a small thank you for their hospitality.

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August 18

We depart Romans sur l’Isere and say goodbye for now to Eric and Alain.  They may come back to San Francisco some day, so we hope to see them again.  We head slowly back to Lyon, taking the backroads and enjoying the drive.  Sunflowers fields just gone past their bloom and ready for seed harvesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We visit the Abbey of St. Antoine near Valence and as we sat inside the cool Abbey, we were treated to a pipe organ practice which reverberated through our bones.

And, finally a late lunch at an outdoor cafe – it’s France – we eat lunch.

 

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From here on we were in transit, back to Geneva by train and then we flew home early the next morning.

We’re back home now, dealing with laundry, a bit of jet lag and emails.

But we’re left with that weary but happy feeling of having had a great adventure, but glad to be home the land of good showers, ice and your very own bed.

Thanks everyone for reading along.  Now it’s back to books!

Our last few days in France

August 14

We sadly, pack up to leave Lausanne and take the train into Lyon, France – where we rented a car and drove south to Romans-Sur-l’Isere…why you may ask?  Back in 2011, when we went back East for a family wedding, Eric and Alain had requested a home exchange just for that time.  So they stayed in our home in what is called a non-simultaneous home exchange.  We were happy, as our house was occupied during our trip and someday we would go to their home.  This was the year.

Eric and Alain live in Romans Sur-l’Isere – a stone walled town dating back to the middle ages.  Especially wonderful is that their apartment is on the 2nd floor of the oldest building (actually a hotel) in Romans, built in the 15th century.  The building has a jaw dropping courtyard protected from the street and their home boasts ancient high ceilings and stone walls.   Here they are in front of their apartment and then various photos of their charmingly eccentric home.  (Check out our bedroom with the bed tucked into an old doorway.)

Because Eric and Alain were not traveling we had the pleasure of having them around. We stayed in their guest room and they served us a delicious dinner complete with an apricot crumble that cooled on the courtyard windowsill while we ate.

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August 15

Husband and I go exploring the town but under strict orders to be back by 1pm – because it’s France and we have lunch.  We are also asked to bring back bread, as it must be fresh every day.  The town has a fun clock tower where the man hammers the bell every hour.  There is town artwork which commemorates the towns later role as a major shoe manufacturer (there’s even a shoe museum – we gave it a pass.)

After lunch we were instructed to go and rest – which we did happily – and then in the late afternoon Eric and Allen took us on hike up to a small chapel that overlooked the Rhone River valley.  We ended the day at a local winery.

 

 

That’s all for now…

Aug 12

Very hot here, so we decide to head up and explore one more ancient little village  — St. Saphron.  It seems to be a little sort of artist community, see the surprise over the fence. Lovely and cool in the town, and as we climbed for a better view we discovered that the vines have now all been covered with netting to prevent the birds from eating all the grapes.

 

We then decide to head for the hills and a tower overlook on top of one the hills here.  We’d gone up there before but didn’t indulge in the great family style cafe at the top.  They are known for their fondue and cream desserts.

So we sat under the awnings enjoying the breezes from up there and had fondue and shared some local rose wine for our Linner.

Linner is our own made up word — like brunch – only lunch+dinner – usually taken in the late afternoon.  Attention all you hard working cooks out there, this is a great way to skip cooking dinner.

 

Finally remembered to take a photo of our apartment building, ours is the second level, far left where the two white awnings are down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:  This will be the last post for awhile. We leave early Friday morning for the Lyon, France area and won’t have regular access to a computer.  Stay tuned,  I will update Travel Barmy with our last week of photos and stories when we’re back in San Francisco.  Thanks everyone for reading along.

 

 

 

We venture into France

August 11

We decide to visit Annecy, France – which I remember fondly from a business trip to Geneva 15 years ago.  One of my days off, I took the train into Annecy – known as the Venice of France.  Lots of bridges over canals, flowers, parks and lovely little shops.  It was October and I wandered the practically empty streets, did a little shopping and had lunch at a cafe right next to the canal – it was a great day.  I wanted husband to see it, and so we drove over – only 1 1/2 hours from Lausanne.

Well, let me tell you Annecy in August is a whole different animal than in October.  Much to our dismay, it was quite hot and the streets were packed with hordes of wandering tourists.  So we quickly directed ourselves into the back streets and quieter parts.  Still a lovely city and we enjoyed just walking around.  I found a couple of nice shops, we walked through the market, looked in all the bakery windows and enjoyed a plat jour lunch at a very good cafe.  Here are the photos — just ignore all the hot and sweaty tourists who intruded into my carefully composed photos – especially the husband photo-bomb in the last shot.

 

Had a reviving coffee-tea break and headed back home.  Over 90° by the time we bailed at 5 PM.  Nonetheless, a very nice side trip.