Overview

"""Winter spring"" finds Peter, under the sharp eye of his long-suffering wife Ellie, struggling to shake off the relaxed Spanish tranquiloness that he has now mastered all too well. Old friendships have been established and new ones are found as the Kerrs are introduced to Mallorca's champagne-swilling filthy rich set and theireyes are opened by just how the other half lives. Mosquito-repellant vinegar baths, delicious Mallorcan food and with background support from dogs, donkeys, geckos, parrots and canaries, this is an autumn such as they've never known."

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9781840243802

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Reviews

An endearing insight into life in rural Mallorca and a characteristically humorous portrait of its colourful inhabitants. -- A Place in the Sun magazine

Another season with the Kerr clan in sunny Mallorca. Readers of Snowball Oranges (2002) and Manana Manana (2001)-both established Kerr's reputation as a humorous travel writer-will remember that Kerr, with his wife and kids, moved from their Scottish farm to the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. Charmed by the weather and the promise of a simple life, the Kerrs bought an orange grove and settled in. Now, we find the family in their third season there, trying to make a go of those oranges. The jokey tone is set by the opening discussion of the death of Mario Lanzarote, a pet canary. Equally representative is the section on mosquitoes, which Kerr fears will carry him off alive. He tries a vinegar dip, prompting his wife, Ellie, to remark that he smells like fish-and-chips. Amid this Mallorcan menagerie, Kerr also sketches vignettes about the sex life of his neighbors and complains about the uninvited guests from Blighty who frequently drop by. The predictable elements of the genre are all in place. There's a supporting cast of local eccentrics, Maria and Pep always on hand to give friendly advice. There's low-grade family drama: Teenage son Sandy, who has become a handsome hunk, must decide whether to stay in Mallorca or return to Scotland. There are the requisite descriptions of Mallorcan cuisine-though some of the gustatory musings seem farcical, as when the Kerrs partake of a delicious bean stew and make the discovery that beans cause flatulence. And, of course, there's a lesson learned: If you're going to undertake a risky endeavor, you should commit yourself fully and hold nothing back. Meanwhile, some of Kerr's efforts are more cutesy than funny-as when Maria shows off succulent cuts of meat from her own fig-fed pig (last year's model, of course). A bit like stand-up comedy: entertaining, but hardly deep. (Kirkus Reviews)

And so we return to the Kerr family's Mallorcan farm - Ca's Mayoral - for the third instalment of true-life adventures in foreign climes. All the ingredients are in place for more frustrating yet amusing encounters between the Scottish ex-pats and their Mediterranean neighbours. Those locals, their animals and their foibles are as much the stars as the Kerrs themselves as another season of tribulations and amusing cultural interactions unfolds among the orange trees. If you enjoyed the previous brace of books in this award-winning series, then you'll know exactly what to expect here as Autumn descends on the island. There certainly aren't many surprises among the dead canaries, family peccadilloes, pidgin Spanish, odious ex-pats, and unwelcome visitors, but Viva Mallorca! is a perfect book if you love vicariously experiencing the lifestyle of those who love a challenge. Kerr's relaxed and comfortable style conveys a genuine charm that is difficult to resist. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Peter Kerr, the best-selling Scottish author, was born in Lossiemouth, Morayshire, in 1940,a nd now lives in East Lothian. His award-winning 'Snowball Oranges' series of five Mallorcan-based books have sold in large numbers worldwide and have been translated into twelve languages. They recount the often hilarious adventures experienced by Peter and his family while running a small orange farm on the Spanish island during the 1980s.

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