Peter Kerr - Rated 
writes very well, and his characters bloom. The Spanish section of the book is particularly strong, but I enjoyed reading about his adventures in Scotland too, and his battles with the planning system. A deserved bestseller, however I would have liked him to have learned a bit more perhaps - or maybe I'm just being niggly?
Is this the last of the Peter Kerr Saga - Rated
It was nice to once more settle into the unfolding story of Peter and his family's last days in the sun of Mallorca and the wake up call of a different lifestyle in the Scottish Highlands. His description of the countryside of Scotland was very interesting, but I missed the banter of the old way of life in Mallorca.
I look forward to reading more of his escapades in the future.
Another greatly enjoyable read - Rated 
Ever since I read Peter Kerr's first book, « Snowball Oranges », I've become a fan. I don't know about you, but how often do you come across a truly funny author who manages to keep you amused through a whole series of books? From Paella to Porridge follows the Kerr family's journey back from Mallorca to Scotland. It turns out to be probably the most moving amongst Peter's accounts of one family's quest to fulfil their dream. A dream with an unexpected ending. Who needs fiction when real-life can produce such page-turning material! Like his previous books, I found " From Paella to Porridge" such enjoyable reading that I read it in one go, unable to put the book down (very good for slimmers: you get hooked on the book and forget to eat, unless you've got a fantastic other-half on hand to cook you an estupendo paella!)
Missing a little sunshine ................. - Rated 
I have read and enjoyed all Peter's previous books. This one does just lack the joie de vivre factor of the previous books based in Mallorca.
The title gives too much away, and I found myself reading the early chapters just wondering when they would move back home - this made the searches for a replacement farm on Majorca seem a bit pointless.
Also, you cannot help but miss the long-established characters that get left behind when they leave Majorca, and even his sons get less of a mention once back in Scotland.
I still enjoyed it. I'll still buy the next one, if there is another in this series.
I'll also be looking out for reviews on his new detective novel, it'll be interesting to see what folk think of that. Peter Mayle did something very similar after his Provence series .....
Healthy Porridge - Reviewer, Nigel 'a true traveller' - Rated
Being a resident of Edinburgh, and an Englishman to boot,I take exception to the reviewer Cathy's derogatory comments about the city and Scotland. There are more restaurants and pubs with 'romance attached' within a stone's throw of each other in Edinburgh's Old Town than there are in all of Spain's concrete resort jungles put together. Also, having lived in many countries throughout the world, including a few bordering the Med, I can tell armchair travellers like Cathy that Scotland is as vibrant, beautiful and interesting as any I've experienced.
As in his autobiography, 'Thistle Soup', Peter Kerr's descriptions of Scotland in this book are every bit as graphic, attractive and skilfully composed as are those of Mallorca in his other titles in the series.
What sets his books apart from others in a similar mould is the warts-and-all realism and earthy humour that he injects into his writing. Those who are incapable of appreciating that should stick to reading the 'dreamland in the sun' froth that abounds in this genre.
|
