Release: June 2, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Fat Sheep Press
Source: Love Books Tours
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle , B&N
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To make her dream come true Lorraine Turnbull dragged her new husband and reluctant children away from Glasgow to live the ‘Good Life’ on a smallholding in Cornwall. Sheep wrestling, making cider, dealing with maggots and a demented mother and all under the pressure of the dreaded Agricultural Occupancy Condition. Lorraine shares the story of the delights and disasters of living off the land in Cornwall and how she finally triumphed over adversity.
About the Author:
Lorraine Turnbull was born in Glasgow where she lived until 2015 when she and her family moved to a tired bungalow and an acre of land with an Agricultural Occupancy Condition on it in Cornwall. She started a smallholding from scratch, retrained as a horticultural tutor and also worked as a Skills Co-ordinator for The Rural Business School. She began commercial cider making in 2011 and until recently ran a profitable small craft cider business.
In 2014 she was recognised for her contribution to sustainable living by winning the Cornwall Sustainability Awards Best Individual category.
After removing the Agricultural Occupancy Condition on her home she relocated to a smallholding in France.
Living off the Land Review:
Living off the land is not the kind of book I usually read, but was surprisingly very compelling.
Firstly, I love stories that borderline between fiction and reality. Even though the book is about the author’s experiences of smallholding in rural Cornwall, some of them are so extravagant that they borderline on fiction. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and thought the author described the events in an engaging manner.
Personally, the highlight of the story was the author’s relationship with her mother. I thought they shared a very interesting relationship, and it was heart breaking to see how the mother suffers from dementia. The author writes her experiences about dealing with her mother in a very brutal and honest manner.
Moreover, there are some incidents that were graphic and disturbing like when Lorraine discovers maggots, or when Lily gets stung by the bees. However, there were also scenes where the author describes the happy incidents she shared with John and her children. Similarly, I also enjoyed reading about the various courses Lorraine enrolls in. Hence, the author blended the ups and downs of her life in a very balanced manner.
However, I felt like the author would have experienced these incidents irrespective or where she went, and its not particularly related to being in Cornwall. Also, I thought the Enforcement scenes towards the end suddenly came up and felt rushed towards the climax.
Apart from that, this was a very interesting book. Reading this book made me feel like I connected with the author in a personal level, and I appreciate her for talking about her life in the story.
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Living off the Land: My Cornish Smallholding Dream by Lorraine Turnbull Blog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Books Beans & Botany – 21st Aug – Digital
Karen and her Books – 21st Aug-Review PC
B for Book Review – 22nd Aug-Excerpt
Neville Louise – 22nd Aug-Review PC
Donna’s Book Blog – 23rd Aug-Digital
Booky Charm – 24th Aug-Digital
Book Reviews Today – 24th Aug-Excerpt
Portobello Book Blog – 25th Aug-Author Spotlight
Clare Horrocks for Love Books Group – 25th Aug-Review PC
Blake’s Book Blog – 26th Aug-Digital
The Book Reader – 26th Aug-Digital
Jazzy Book Reviews – 27th Aug-Excerpt
eBookAddicts – 27th Aug-Digital
Mrs LJ Gibbs – 28th Aug-Review PC
Rajiv’s Reviews – 28th Aug-Digital
Captured on Film – 28th Aug-Digital
Manic Mumdays – 29th Aug-Review PC
Orchard Book Club – 30th Aug-Excerpt
Hayley Reviews – 30th Aug-Excerpt
