It's a genre I call Moving-and-Starting-Over books. I've read and tagged fifty-five books at Goodreads as such.
Now I'm not talking about people who take a trip for a couple of weeks or months or even a year or two. Nor am I talking about people who have to move somewhere for a couple of years, knowing they will eventually be returning home. No, I'm talking about really Moving and Starting Over. Selling your home. Moving off to a place where you know no one. Buying a house and starting completely over.
Here are some of my favorites:
Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik
Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia by Chris Stewart
The Olive Farm: Life, Love, and Olive Oil in the South of France by Carol Drinkwater
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
Spanish Lessons: Beginning a New Life in Spain by Derek Lambert
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
And I Shall Have Some Peace There: Trading in the Fast Lane for My Own Dirt Road by Margaret Roach
Gringos in Paradise: An American Couple Builds Their Retirement Dream House in a Seaside Village in Mexico by Barry Golson
Still Life With Chickens: Starting Over in a House by the Sea by Catherine Goldhammer
Country Matters: The Pleasures and Tribulations of Moving from a Big City to an Old Country Farmhouse by Michael Korda
Have you read any of these? Do you ever think about moving and starting a new life? Have you read any moving-and-starting-over books I have left out?
I loved A Year in Provence. This type of book is fantastic, particularly when it's heading off to a new country rather than a city or state. I always think it's incredibly brave to do this. It was hard enough moving to France for me and that is only for a few years! I love books about this move and I've added some of yours to my to read list! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIncredibly brave.
DeleteInteresting subject, lovely seeing some different books to usual :)
ReplyDeleteYes, that's my intent.
DeleteOh nice topic! These are all totally new to me reads too!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I like to share books others don't know.
DeleteOh it's certainly a dream of mine- I bet you know where I'd move to too. I've read A Year in Provence, about a 100 years ago though, so I don't really remember it. I must read Paris to the Moon it's been on my TBR for the longest time.
ReplyDeleteParis would be a great spot for the widows' home I'm planning.
DeleteThat's a fantastic idea! I'm in.
DeleteGreat list! I love these kinds of books, Paris to the Moon and Driving over Lemons are certainly on the want-to-read list. I haven't read Under the Tuscan Sun but I did read another one of Frances May's books that eft me really wanting to travel!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Wow I have read none of these books! I have always thought of starting over somewhere I think it would be absolutely terrifying and then amazon gat the same time!
ReplyDeleteI loved A Year in Provence - I would still like to see pigs finding truffles! Although haven't read Under The Tuscan Sun I really liked the movie.
ReplyDeleteWhen Bad Covers Happen to Good Books
This is one of my absolute favorite topics and I've only read Under a Tuscan Sun. Adding the rest of these to my TBR. Great list!
ReplyDeleteFrance, England & Spain? Give those books to me :D Thanks for bringing these to my attention. happy reading!
ReplyDeletehttps://ireadboooks.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/top-ten-classics-ive-yet-to-read/
Driving over lemons looks so cute! Actually, this is a topic that relates pretty well to me this week, as I've had a friend that's recently going through some hard times in her marriage and is looking to start over. Would any of these be good for encouraging a person like that?
ReplyDeleteStill Life with Chickens would be perfect. The author was separated from her husband at the time she made the move.
DeleteThanks so much! I'll buy it for her- hope it helps!
DeleteThis was an interesting topic. Have never done this. Did move to Portland, OR for 3 years with hubby's job. Knew no one at all. It was hard as family was all here in Texas. Came home in 3 years, mostly because hubby couldn't stand the 8 months of rain. I liked it OK. I've not read any of these books, but I've known of several of them. I do like the Tuscan Sun movie.
ReplyDeleteThe romance of moving-and-starting-over is probably better than the reality.
DeleteMoving every few years was a big part of my growing up, being an Army brat. The only book I've read that touches on the subject was a MG book called My Life in Diorama's by Tara Altebrando. I like the sounds of My Own Dirt Road by Margaret Roach
ReplyDeleteI only moved twice growing up and I stayed in the same general area, so part of me always longs to move-and-start-over.
DeleteExcellent idea for a post! I've ready Under the Tuscan Sun and Spanish Lessons and agree that they're both great for vicarious start-overs. The hours I've spent about running away to Tuscany...
ReplyDeleteYes. The older I get, the easier it is to choose to travel by book.
DeleteNice topic... I haven't seen anyone else use this topic.
ReplyDeleteThe following is a link to my TTT post for this week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2015/05/top-ten-tuesday-sexy-male-characters-in.html
Oh these titles all look wonderful. I know a few of them and others I will jot down. I'm especially interested in the first 3 on your list. If you want a few more titles in this genre, check out Karen Wheeler's "Tout Sweet" books on moving to rural France. They are a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteOoh what an interesting exercise! We should all challenge ourselves to make a similar list. Book boxes are heavy to move! I quite enjoyed A Year in Provence.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great list and idea! I've never thought of shelving books this way and didn't even realize how much I liked this type of book until I read your list! I love Margaret Roach's blog so should definitely pick up her book. Country Matters also looks right up my alley as I dream of someday having an old Victorian farmhouse. I've also alwasy kind of longed to live by the ocean....So basically lots of great reading ideas on here - Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI did that. Sold up in California and came to live in Catalunya (Spain) 14 years ago. I wrote a book but couldn't find an agent to get it published. Boo.
ReplyDeleteKeep trying. There is definitely a market for another moving-and-starting-over story.
DeleteThis is such a great topic idea (and applause for the creative shelving!). Some of these are on my to-read list, but I haven't read ANY of them (which is not usual for me). Thanks for all the lovely recommendations :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: http://rlhendrian.blogspot.com/2015/05/top-10-fictional-worlds-id-like-to.html
Nice topic, I like the idea of moving and starting over so the fact that there's books about it is great.:) I haven't heard of many of the books on your list but I might check out a few. MY TTT http://booknerdrambling.blogspot.com/2015/05/top-ten-tuesday30freebie-top-ten-books.html
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these, but goooosh, I've moved and started completely over SO MANY TIMES. My childhood was stuffed with moving. It's kind of made me sworn, as an adult, to never move again, haah!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!
I've Read Under the Tuscan Sun and Still Life With Chickens, which I found years ago in the travel section of all places! It's nice to fantasize, though I have started over several times and have lived in 5 states in my life, but would like to live or travel outside this country and experience more of the world.
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