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Books Related to The Farm Richard Benson - ISBN: 0141012943
Disappointing - Rated
I read all the reviews on this book and as a result was very excited at the prospect of reading it. I realise it's obviously a big hit with most people and so I'm the one who is obviously out of step BUT . . .
Whilst I sympathise hugely with the plight of some farmers, I didn't see the book as being much about the farm. It was more about the author and to that end I found it very self-indulgent. There were lots of examples of the author introducing a person or a subject into the story and then never pursuing it further. Too many dead ends and lots of things that didn't seem at all relevant. The book, for me, was a rant, not a story. All the stuff about seeing the psychiatrist seemed out of place given that he wasn't the farmer, his brother was. The author's brother and parents didn't seem to do much to help themselves. They made several comments about the next door farm being developed by a builder and therefore making substantial money for the farmer who sold the land but then did nothing themselves about trying to get planning permission or getting a builder involved before they sold the animals and the machinery. Given that the next door farm was being developed, there would surely have been no difficulty in obtaining planning consent and as a result the family would have been able to live more comfortably after the sale rather than struggling. I ploughed through to the end (no pun intended) and was relieved when it was all over. I am probably a bit biased against the farming system because I have been self-employed all my life and no-one ever offered me a subsidy to get me through the difficult times. And as for being the caretakers of the countryside, how many tidy farmyards have you seen lately. The book confirmed the shambolic state of most farmyards when the author described all the crap that was dragged out for the sale of items that were rusty, busted and useless.
What a great book - Rated
I really enjoyed this book as i grew up not far from the village where it was based on. I recognised just about all the places and with coming from a farming background myself i know how hard life is 'Down on the farm!!' no more to say than FAB FAB FAB book!!!!!!!!!
Farm life - Rated
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I grew attached to the characters and loved hearing about their way of life. The passage that tells of the day the family had to auction their farm was extremely moving and I had to gulp back the tears. A terrific tale of life on a farm and all the hardship and joy that being a farming family entails. At times an extremely emotional read but also has moments of great humour.
Farm owner reviews the book - Rated
Gripping in some parts. Asks questions, but fails to answer a fundamental question. What business would solely rely on the land? There was no indication of diversity i.e bed and breakfast, craft making or taking on another job whilst the season was poor. If Richard had been more proactive could he have prevented the sale of the family business?
I have run a busy farm and it is not easy but through diversifying it can be brought round. I think they buried their head in the sand-harsh but this is the reality!
A really special book that stays with you. - Rated
A simple book, simply written yet this is a testament to a passing age & all that goes with it; loss of innocence, the relentless march of commercialism, dominance of faceless corporations.
You don't need to come from a farming or indeed rural background to appreciate the message within this book.
Richard Benson may not have had the mindset/skills to help out so much first hand on his parents' farm but his writing skills have ensured that the plight of this & other farms have not gone un-noticed.
