Spanish Lessons Derek Lambert
To be honest, I thought long and hard about the first book I would present you. There were so many options for me that my head became like a giant library and I was at a loss which book to pick. But suddenly it all became crystal clear:
1- we've been in a pandemic for two years now and most of us saw their travels clearly impacted: so let's travel.
2- It's January...and let's face is we are tired of grey-on-grey shades and we all need a bit of sun now.
3- You already know that Valentine's favorite genre are detective novels but those of you who are familiar with her are aware that Spain holds a place dear in her life...and her heart.
In short, let's go to "the land of the setting sun" as the Greek would say. (The etymology is disputed but I like this hypothesis).
Derek Lambert (a British journalist) and his wife Diane (a Canadian airline stewardess) are in their forties when they decide they are weary to live in a new country each year or so, and that they want to start a new life.
At the beginning of the novel, we follow them in their brown Jaguar as their look for a Spanish village that "would bring [them] into contact with people remote from the clichés of Spain"; and right from the start we are with them savoring stolen oranges "juice trickling from our chins". The first few eccentric encounters (we may by the way wonder if some are a little fictionalized or if Derek just had the knack for bringing the quirkiest out of people!) rapidly set the tone of the novel and engulf us in their adventure.
Once they found their perfect village, the couple brings back their 4-year-old son from Canada and buys a run-down house that they'll undertake to renovate. Thus, we follow them in their first year filled with twists and turns, sometimes weird meetings, but also friendly encounters and you'll soon wish you were with them munching on Manchego cheese! With style that flows and allows the author to write as frankly as he would have spoken and with vivid images that translate his thoughts, this book is very funny. Indeed, Derek even manages to turn a snow storm (the first in 25 years!) that happened at the beginning of the house's restauration, into a true comical moment!
This lift-me-up sunny novel is just what we need right now, so if you're ready to meet "theroofer who couldn't stand height" and plenty other sunny and ludicrous but also endearing characters, I strongly invite you to open these pages.
Written by Virginie
Have you read this book ? What did you think of it ?