The Bucolic Plague
Josh Kilmer-Purcell
2010
304 pages
Published by HarperCollins
A couple of times a year I seem to find myself reading a book about city people who move to a farm. And then I proceed to tell you all about the time my parents did something similar back in the 1970s and how I had to live in a barn and use an outhouse when I was 3 and that’s why I hate camping but love reading books about other people who do something similar.
Looks like it’s that time of year again.
Gayle of Everyday I Write the Book (and Discovery, whose Planet Green launches a new show on June 16th, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, which continues the saga introduced in this book) was generously giving away copies of this book at the Book Blogger Convention and after 1) I saw that it was about two guys who want to escape New York to live on a farm and 2) Billy saw that there were goats on the cover I pretty much stalked Gayle and wheedled myself a copy.
Boy, am I glad I gave into my stalker tendencies.
I read this book on the plane ride home from New York. Yes, the whole thing. It provided a much needed distraction from the screaming children that surrounded me…I was able to tune out all but the excruciatingly high-pitched screeches. The book was very engaging, but there are just some things that can’t be blocked out, no matter how hard I read. Anyways. I adored the author’s style. He’s a little chatty, and a little snarky, and totally upfront about the havoc the farm caused in his relationship. And he sneaks in references to his previous life as a drag queen. It’s both a fun read, and a book that gets a little reflective about the author’s relationship towards the end. And there are goats. I loved it all.
As I just mentioned, Josh Kilmer-Purcell is a former drag queen (and I so want to read his first memoir, I Am Not Myself These Days) turned advertising exec who lives in Manhattan with his boyfriend Dr. Brent, who works for Martha Stewart Living. One weekend, on an apple picking jaunt in the country, they come across a beautifully restored mansion on a farm. And it’s for sale. They give into the lure of the country, and then proceed to spend the next couple of years driving themselves crazy as they try to establish the perfect weekend life on the farm. Emphasis on perfect. Josh and Brent discover they have different ideas on what their farm should be, creating stress and a far from relaxing life in the country.
The book hooked me before I even got to page 1, with the Author’s Caution:
The author reminds you that there are plenty of other memoirs out there written by courageous souls who have broken with their past, poetically leaving behind such things as:
1. Drugs and/or Drinking
2. Career Ennui
3. Bad Relationships…and have successfully achieved goals such as:
1. Creative Fulfillment
2. The Simple Life
3. Jesus’s ApprovalThe author notes that those memoirs are generally full of more shit than a barn at the end of a long winter.
I will confess to initially being a little put-off by all the mentions of Martha Stewart, as I’ve never been a fan. But it all comes together in the end, as Josh realizes he and Brent have different world views. Josh is Oprah, Brent is Martha…and it totally makes sense in the book. Also, Martha doesn’t exactly come out of it all smelling like roses.
And now a few words from Billy, who has been staring at me over the computer screen and impatiently tapping his hoof:
Billy wanted to write this review so bad, but Softdrink has been hogging the computer (no offense to the pigs) all morning. Anyhoosie. Billy really liked this book. Especially the cover, with the cute kids. But Billy would have liked to have read more about Farmer John’s goats. They sound like neat kids. However, Billy discovered that Josh talks about what he’s learned from goats on his blog. So it’s all good. Billy gives this one two hooves up. Softdrink says she does, too. Only in her case, it’s thumbs…Softdrink would look pretty silly with hooves.
Yes to not liking Martha Stewart! Okay back to seriousness. This sounds like a great read – what a fantastic set up. Thanks for the recommendation…*mutters under breath*as if I need any more books in my TBR pile….
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..Book Review: The Great Lover =-.
LOL, great review. I haven’t seen this one, but as usual, it’s right up my alley. I suspect we might be reading twins somewhere down the line.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Who the H-E-L-L Am I? =-.
Boy, am I glad I gave into my stalker tendencies. <– you are so funny!
Thanks for the recommendation. It sound fabulous!
I’m glad you liked this one! It’s supposed to be coming in the mail pretty soon. Also, the author’s caution is awesome, and so true.
I think too many Martha Stewart references would annoy me too! but it sounds like a great read, especially with Billy’s two-hoofs up.
.-= Jeane´s last blog ..Eva =-.
The first book club meeting I ever went to, they were supposed to be discussing I Am Not Myself These Days but only two people had read it. With a style like you’re desribing for this one, I can’t imagine why. This sounds like fun!
.-= Lisa´s last blog .. =-.
Hi, Billy!!
PS – this message is from Baby Death.
I absolutely love how you say Billy saw their were goats on the cover. There were screaming children on my plane, too, what’s the luck?
one in particular just kept SCREAMING. Oh well, I’m really really looking forward to this book!
.-= Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..5 Books I’m Buzzing Over from Book Expo America =-.
ack! i don’t love how I used the wrong there! I’m really getting old….
.-= Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..5 Books I’m Buzzing Over from Book Expo America =-.
This sounds like a book I would love!!!! It is going on the list. Though it sounds to me like these two have no business running a farm!!!
And be sure to come by on Monday … I have a farm-related book review that is right up your alley!
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..Review: "How To Get Things Really Flat" by Andrew Martin =-.
Ha, excellent caveat. Though I was won over just by the title, because I am always saying bucolic on accident instead of bubonic. They are really very similar words.
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Review: The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell =-.
Sounds like a great book and just perfect for you two!
.-= Amused´s last blog ..Wolf Hall Wednesdays: The End! =-.
Oh, that sounds totally fun. Also, I’m not a fan of Martha. I’m just not. My MIL is a total Martha but she’s terrific and my future DIL is also a Martha clone (everything must be perfect, classy, wooden) but I still liked her a lot . . . till she called me a crazy cat lady via my son, who is a mindless puppet and didn’t realize I can recognize something that didn’t come out of his own brain. Umm, I might be ventilating.
Anyway . . . goats. Mississippi’s Larry Brown (may he rest in peace)wrote a book of essays in which he included some stories about his attempt to raise goats (wild animals repeatedly mucked up that lovely goal) and he kept saying, “They were just so damn cute.” That is probably when I fell in love with Larry Brown. The book is Billy Ray’s Farm. Obviously, Billy would love it.
.-= Bookfool, aka Nancy´s last blog ..Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler =-.
thanks so much for the great review! i’m glad you liked it. the goats are too.
.-= josh kilmer-purcell´s last blog ..dscf1764 =-.
Ack! I can’t believe you read it already! I, too, got a copy and can’t wait to start it. It’s definitely not something I normally pick up, but after hearing you and Jen rave about it, I couldn’t say no!
.-= Jenn’s Bookshelves´s last blog ..Adventures in Parenting: Trust. How Much Is Too Much? =-.
Oh, “Bucolic” not “Bubonic”!-I thought this was going to be a totally different kind of book! It still sounds interesting, even if it’s not a plague book in the traditional sense.
.-= Dreamybee´s last blog ..What I’m Reading Now-Catching Fire =-.
I love the Author’s Caution that you posted. After reading that, I am guessing this is a book I would like.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..The Babysitter’s Club Bonanza =-.
I requested a copy of this from Shelf Awareness and got it. I really can’t wait to read it — Loved the author’s caution. I have a nephew who worked for Martha (for a few months) and so I might get a kick out of the Martha references.
And if Billy gives it two hooves, then I need to give it a try. I bet Billy was happy to be in the cargo area of the plane — far, faraway from the screaming human kids.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Review and Giveaway of SOS! by Aviva Goldfarb =-.
This is my favorite read so far this year and it started off with a bang right from the caution like you highlighted. (I did that on my review too)
The goats on the cover are what got me interested when a PR person sent me an email. I love goats and I am not afraid to admit it.
What I really liked about the books overall appeal was that it didn’t dwell on the drag queen, same sex couples, etc. all that much. It was tasteful. I don’t mind it, but I know that many of my followers have different opinions. I found the references hilarious and any sane person knows that relationships are tough no matter what genders or preferences are involved. Their differences in motivations really reminded me of my relationship. There are times when I just want to get a project done and he wants it to be all measured and perfect. Neither of us are wrong, we just have to learn to respect each others approaches like Josh and Dr. Brent do.
Go you for reading it already! I need to get ON this, but I sort of want to read the other farming book I got at BEA and “Coop” at the same time, so I need to block out a week or so.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Motherhood is Murder by Diana Orgain – Book Review =-.
I got this one via Shelf Awareness and also read it in one day, though it was very different than I expected! I thought it would be much more about the gardening and restoring, but it was hardly about that and more about the pursuit of perfection.
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..Review: The Emerald Storm =-.
An Oprah/Martha to-the-death face-off would be horrifying. No one in the immediate area would survive with their books or craft projects intact.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..The Library, It Was Looted. =-.