Instructions for Visitors

Instructions for Visitors describes life and love in a village in southwestern France as seen through the eyes of British novelist Helen Stevenson. Fortunately, her eye is a discerning one as she settles into everyday living. Her writing captures the sense of bustling village culture; shopping, eating and café society are high on the agenda, as is art--not surprising in a place where the light and scenery are so beautiful that the village has, over the years, attracted Picasso and Matisse, among others. This beauty is not lost on Stevenson ("this part of the world is like a colour wheel") and her imagery is poetic and striking: "…each house looks like a children's dressing-up trunk that has been plundered, contents spilling out into the sun".

Not surprisingly, in this setting romance seems almost inevitable and the recently divorced Stevenson embarks on an affair with charismatic local artist, Luc, who is also the village dentist. She is mesmerised by him and the book follows their relationship, allowing for some wonderfully atmospheric passages--for example, their horse-ride in the mountains--as she describes the ups and downs of their life together. Through Luc she also meets other local, eccentric characters and writes about them sensitively and entertainingly so that Instructions for Visitors is enriched by the glimpses into their lives too.

As her relationship progresses, it's clear that Luc is charming but complicated and very much his own man: "It is as if God wrote lots of little instructions at the beginning of the world, like 'build cities', 'make maps', 'invent printing press' … Luc had taken the one that said 'sit under tree and watch spider.'" Other women from Luc's colourful past make fleeting appearances; one of his ex-girlfriends, the middle-aged Gigi, runs the local village dress shop and takes Stevenson under her (style) wing as she advises her on her clothes.

Stevenson is not unhappy, however, with this lifestyle and uncertain relationship. There is a distinct sense that she is walking away from her previous life and that her final destination is not yet clear "This is not my life, it's wonderful but it's not my life", she says--is she herself perhaps the "visitor" of the title?

Instructions for Visitors is about living and loving in a village in a beautiful part of the world and it describes this admirably and poetically. However, Stevenson has also convincingly conveyed, sometimes enigmatically, the sense of an inner journey that people who travel and who seek to find new lives also experience en route. --Christina McLoughlin

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A novel? - Rated
Despite all the bad reviews I would like to state that this is a fantastic NOVEL. It is,indeed, not a travel guide, but it gives a fantastic idea of how the region is. Use your fantasy ( and a good map errrrr www. viamichelin??? google) and you know where the story is set. How intriguing ... is it true does that painter really exist. Shall I go and look?? Will I embarrass myself by asking where is ....? How sensitive the I figure is. How is she now?Of course, she is only fiction or ... is she?? is she Helen or isn't she? Anyhow I love her.
Advice to reader of this review "READ IT!

Childish and badly written - Rated
Childish and badly written sum up the way this book is put together. Her style is lumpy and dull; her story pathetic and disappointing. I was so bored on holiday that I needed something to read. Sadly even in these circumstances I could not finish the book and it went into the hotel rubbish bin.

Somewhat frustrating.... - Rated
Much more informative and personal than a travel guide, I felt that I was actually living in that town, and amongst those very characters she painted so well. My one disappointment was the ending of her relationship with Luc - so much was left unsaid, no apparent reasons given that I was left rather wondering why she felt there was no future with him. I did feel that having involved us with his character(and others) for so long throughout the book, I felt quite cheated that she didnt think to include me, the reader, when making up her mind to leave him or why.

DISAPPOINTING - Rated
Very sorry to say that I cannot join in with the enthusiasm of other reviewers. While I enjoyed the descriptions of the house, the neighbourhood, etc., I found the story of the relationship thoroughly depressing. Luc turns out to be a man who simply can't/won't commit and it is difficult to sympathise with the author as she persists in trying to make a go of her relationship with him, despite his continual "blowing hot and cold". I really hope her life is much happier now.

Lovely unput downable book - Rated
I picked Helens book off the shelves because I recognised many of the place names, having owned a house in that part of France for nearly 20 years. I found the book incredibly poignant and moving. The fact that the authoress was purging herself of a very deep relationship was very obvious but the book was even more interesting for that very reason. This is definitely one that will not be finding it's way to the car boot or jumble sale, this is one for my bookshelf to be read over and over again.