Henrietta Taylor

A follow on book to Hendriette Taylor's first book: http://www.librarything.com/work/6761127

This book is a collection of stories surroundings the building up of an accommodation business in Provence, for the most part focusing on the relationships and emotions this encapsulates. It also includes descriptions on how she coped with merging herself and her children into French life.

Many of the chapters include a reference or two about the author trying to extract herself out of a long-distance relationship and how she coped with making her venture a financial success; and it was this that was the thing that kept me reading.

When reading the book one is left with many unanswered questions regarding the publication of her book, how could she afford to fly back and forth the Sydney and have trips to Italy if she was in fire straits financially, and there is little on her interaction with her guests? But that's the purpose of the book - it's about author's journey, not that of others. The story is focussed on the author with good reason. And therefore it's important that her first book is read before this one.… (meer)

Another story of someone setting up a new life in the South of France, and yet unlike all the others I have read. The difference here is that this is a story of someone (somewhat self-centred and chaotic) growing up relatively well in Sydney, and then facing the dying and death of her husband at an early age. It's an emotional ride we are taken on, learning about her struggles with the loss, what he left (or didn't leave her), family members, substances, and life in general, whilst trying to raise two pre-school children. The author took some time off with her kids in France, and then after a financial windfall, she bought three properties - one for her family and two for rental to tourists. In 2011 she's still there and you can still stay in her homes (just search for her name).

it's an easy and fun read, despite the emotion. The chaos remains a major theme, excusable for a part of the time, but at times it appears to be a bit overstated - she is after-all a cleaning freak. The author has a followup, which should not really be read before this one.… (meer)