Old Style Inspiration Books

Lusignan

I love the early part of the first Hardacre book (by C L Skelton, I think), when Sam Hardacre and his family leave the fish-gutting business and start selling hot sausages at the race-tracks. They live on whatever wages Sam has earned that day (typically fourpence) and always put a little bit away in the tin box. When Sam gets an infection in his finger and can no longer handle the gutting, his wife Mary persuades him to use the couple of guineas in there to invest in the makings of the sausage business.

twink

these are all the kinds of books i love and have read most of them, i will add Larkrise to Candleford by flora thompson its about english country life, the book i have is the illustrated one and is lovely

thriftlady_2

Cider With Rosie is another good one. Laurie Lee describes his childhood in Gloucestershire just after WW1. Going to school with a hot baked potato in his pocket for lunch, Grannie Wallon making wine out of everything in the hedgerow. Beautiful writing too.

The sequel As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning which describes his journey through Spain as a young man is good for OS travel inspiration.

Peem

I forgot to mention my favourite books, "Anne of Green Gables", the whole series.

Marilla and Anne are so inspiring (even when Anne finds a mouse in the batter), seeing what they do to make things go far, and cope without modern conveniences always inspires me.

spiddy100

When I was little, my favourite ever bit in a book was where Almanzo Wilder took Laura back to their new house after they were married and he had built her a wooden larder with little drawers to keep her flour and sugar in. That was my dream of married life - probably still is

black-saturn

I love all those Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Does anyone know if there is a set of all the books you can buy anywhere? I've never been able to get all of them.

Lusignan

I've never read them, but I think I'd like to. I only vaguely remember the TV show.

Plum_Pie

The Little House books are awesome - I couldn't stomach the TV show.

You can get a box set from Amazon for £20

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-House-Collection-Full-Color/dp/0060754281/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-4971111-5411105?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174641455&sr=8-1

I only own '...Big Woods', I bought it in a charity shop for 20p!

hex2

any of the miss read books - country living, wholesome stuff

reverie

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Hi, BS! How about *Driving over lemons* by Chris Stewart. Old Style in Andalucia.

I loved that book too. I really enjoy all of those 'we moved to a derelict building in a beautiful place with no money and no idea and we now live a wonderful, happy, idylic life (with chickens)'. These stories normally involve OS living and also lots of foodie references. I also liked this one, Extra Virgin: Amongst the Olive Groves of Liguria by Annie Hawes, there are a few similar books by her about her and her sister going to live in Italy. Lots of stories of growing your own produce and storing and cooking with it.

This is the same genre, The Greek for Love: Life, Love and Loss in Corfu by James Chatto. It's a lovely book, it did make me cry at one point though

This book, A Greener Life: The Modern Country Compendium by Clarrisa Dickson Wright, was bought for me as a gift (it was on my wish list though) which I thought SHOULD make me feel more OS and it doesn't really. Just doesn't do it for me somehow. I think the book is a a bit too big and flash, it makes me feel like it's too posh to read and certainly doesn't get me in the mood for any OS action!