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Summary: A laugh-out-loud review of a woman's adventure into love
Review: ...and farm life with her loved ones, which include the best friend she didn't admit she loved, and all the adventures that go along with a city couple buying the farm life and all the animals and local friends that seem to go along with it! An excellent, excellent writer, very witty in a wonderful sort of way! I'm buying ALL her books next, including the new one not yet out!
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Summary: From Urban Jungle to Rural Jungle
Review: A charming tale of urban escape to rural life. The book is filled with characters guaranteed to make the reader want to pull up stakes for the rustic life. My favorite part was the author's better half, a man's man, the proud owner of the title's poodle, who's first country purchase is a monster tractor of awesome power and noisemaking capability. I can relate to him, not the poodle, just the tractor.
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Summary: Romance and transition
Review: A love story told with charm, humor and insights about mid life.
A delightful, light read that will bring you tears and laughs.
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Summary: A Memoir For The Ages!
Review: After completing spectacular literature, I have a tendency to really sputter. Over my Christmas break, I read a number of good books including Dennis Lehane's Mystic River and Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer. I thoroughly enjoyed both, but really needed a change of pace that did not come readily. Finally, in frustration I chose a recent read and plugged it into Listmania hoping for some sort of recommendation; SHAZAM!! I hit on Fifty Acres and a Poodle. The memoir deals with Ms. Laska's purchase, along with boyfriend Alex, of a Pennsylvania farm. A cast of humorous and lovable characters makes for a wonderful, moving piece of literature that everyone should read. Whether it is for the whole farm-purchasing adventure, journey of self discovery, love of animals, wonderful sense of humor, etc., I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy this book. I fell in love with Bob the basketball-playing cat, Marley who sounds so much like my family's dearly-departed Airedale, Chumley, and leading lady Betty. The purchase of Sassy and Cricket, the "Joe Crowleys," the blaze orange hats, the wedding mums, etc. I could wax poetic forever. Please do yourself a tremendous favor and read this moving, funny memoir.
In closing, please Ms. Laskas, continue your tale! I want more.
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Summary: A book for those whom love animals and wide open spaces!
Review: After reading these reviews I just had to buy this book and I'm glad I did... ...
This is a memoir-style story about how two animal loving people, a mutt and cat loving writer (Jeanne Marie Laskas) and a poodle packing physchologist, (her long time male friend) that begin as friends in the city and end up sharing their lives with each other and the pets they cherish on a 50 acre farm. This is both funny and entertaining, mixed with the realities of life when it comes to losing beloved pets and family. For anyone that thinks animals are people too, you will enjoy this fast-paced and humorous adventure!
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Summary: A "dream come true" ( thorns and all)
Review: Although seemingly the tale of a city woman and her boyfriend who chuck it all to find happiness on a 50 acre farm, this gem of a book is far more than that. It is also a revealing and often hilariously funny memoir about what happens to a woman who has the courage to follow her dreams, however far-fetched, and the unforeseen challenges and pleasures which follow. Think of this one as a picture postcard where the beauty shines through in spite of the sharp edges and rough spots which soon become apparent behind the pretty veneer.
In this case the dream is to live on a farm, even though author Jeanne Marie Laskas (and her boyfriend, Alex) know nothing about country life. The solitude. The occasional hunters who shoot at everything and everyone. The wildlife which ignores the boundary between inside and outside.
Undeterred, they take the plunge and buy their farm even after a daunting conversation with the former homeowners about well-water filtration systems, chain saws, raccoon invasions and a particularly gruesome tale of a rat which entered the house through a hole in an oven. But as the author herself notes, they are "in hot pursuit... of a dream" and a little reality isn't likely to stand in their way.
What sets this book apart from other country memoirs is the author's sense of what makes for a good story. You won't find lengthy and often boring descriptive passages here. Written in a crisp, action-packed style with plenty of soul, this one is a likely to become a classic. An absolute charmer, punctuated with plenty of wit and spirit to spare!
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Summary: I laughed, I cried...
Review: Fifty Acres and a Poodle is a charmer. Just as farm living seduces the author, this book seduces the reader with its sly yet empathatic looks at the local gentry -- the livestock, pickup trucks, and hunting culture -- all so foreign to two city slickers. The book avoids being maudlin even though it unavoidably treads into some more serious issues of life and love and health. Highly recommended.
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Summary: What a pleasure!
Review: From the first page this book is a refreshing and fun read. The author captured my interest, attention, and heart!
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Summary: What a terric book!
Review: Having read an excerpt in a magazine earlier this year, I was anxious to read the entire book. Since it was not yet released by the publisher, it was a long two month wait, but well worth it. This book is about far more than a "30 Something" woman who makes a life style change; moving from the city to a farm creates a domino effect that cascades into every corner of her life. And, delightfully, Mrs. Laskas takes us with her on this journey of discovery and change.The story pulls you in, slowly, but surely, and you find yourself really caring about the outcome of all characters, animal as well as human. I found myself in tremendous sympathy with the author, her bravery, fortitude, insecurities, and all the loves of her life. And, finally, lest things become too serious, the entire story is told with a charming combination of dry humor, sense of wonder, and discovery of self that make it a book hard to put down. This was a Five Star Read, and I sincerely hope Mrs. Laskas is at home right now on Sweetwater Farm writing the squel.
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Summary: A Wonderful Warm Story
Review: Having read Jeanne Marie's column in the Washington post for years, I felt like I already knew her. Now after the book I feel even closer to this wonderful talented and witty woman. She has such a clever style that really clicks with most people. I highly recommend this book. I went to meet Jeanne Marie at a local bookstore and she is just as delightful in person...
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