second in the series of moving and living in Spain books, Life Beyond the Castanets, by Jean Roberts including how and how not to do it!
Life Beyond the Castanets readers reviews
Great news! I’m excited to tell you about my latest new book “Life Beyond the Castanets: My Love Affair with Spain” which is out now and include some of the reviews of my books left by my fabulous readers.
A few reviews for my latest book:
Life beyond the Castanets, moving to Spain.
as shown on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Amazon.es and Amazon.com.au
First off a professional review from the blog writer and radio reviewer Hannah Read, taken from her website: Pages, Places, & Plates
Life Beyond The Castanets – Jean Roberts
Second Of Two Travel Memoir Books Journeying From The UK To Spain
As you all know, I love travel memoir books. And I love discovering them by local authors. You may remember that, back in August 2019, I reviewed A Kiss Behind The Castanets by Jean Roberts, a wonderful memoir detailing Jean’s rather, erm… interesting journey to becoming a homeowner in Spain. I knew there would be a sequel and I’ve been excited to read it ever since finishing the first one. And now, here it is!
My Review
I raved about A Kiss Behind The Castanets as it was such a well-written and engaging book. As someone who wants to live in Spain I found it fascinating, and as well as being an enjoyable read it also highlighted many issues that I may face if I eventually buy a property in the country.
Life Beyond The Castanets has a different slant – Jean and her husband Adrian are all settled in now. The difficult part of making that step to a foreign country has happened, and they’re now ready to live their combination Spanish and British lives to the full. Not without encountering even more issues though, of course! This book focuses more on their adventures across Spain (and other countries), with chapters giving an insight into their lives both in Andalucía and back in the UK. Like with the first book, I loved it. Jean has such an easy-going writing style, and I love the way she injects humour into her words. Reading her books is truly like chatting with a friend.
Although I learnt so much about buying property in Spain from the first book, I felt I learnt more in the second based on the variety of topics discussed. We see some more interesting examples of household issues and Spanish “solutions”, but this time it goes beyond that. One chapter, for example, delves deep into the history of Franco’s dictatorship and the Spanish Civil War, using conversations with someone to illustrate how horrific the time was for the Spanish. Another chapter explores the Remembrance parades and ceremonies as experienced in Gibraltar, and the comparisons between there and the UK.
Some of my favourite chapters were actually set on a road trip going all the way from Jean’s home in the UK to her house in Acerico. We’re taken to some wonderful locations in this part, from stunning mountain scenery to cowboy scenes in Europe’s only desert. I found these chapters inspiring, and they added a good few places to my ever-expanding travel bucket list!
Like with A Kiss Behind The Castanets, this second instalment also has a recipe section at the back. Some of them are mouthwatering, and I can’t wait to try them. I really want to make gazpacho, and I also have my eye on one mimicking tostada con tomate. I’m a big fan of travel memoir books that include extras like this – it adds some extra culture to the reading experience.
The great thing about Jean’s books is that she doesn’t just narrate situations – she ponders over them, giving meaning and reflection. She takes something away from every moment, which inevitably the reader does too. Chapters are short and simple to read but every single one is meaningful, and I love that. One in particular really stood out – the chapter where Jean tries on clothes in a shop. A simple and mundane activity, yet the effect the experience had on her made it so memorable. I read the whole thing over two days, but I think Life Beyond The Castanets would work well as a book read in small doses, too – a couple of chapters here and there where you can reflect on them afterwards.
Final Thoughts
I had a feeling that I’d really enjoy Life Beyond The Castanets, and I was right. It’s another interesting, funny, and fascinating travel memoir that really gives you an insight into Jean’s experiences. Some situations are hilarious, and others poignant, but each one is entertaining in its own way, and you’ll honestly feel like you know Jean personally by the end of it.
I’d recommend reading a Kiss Behind The Castanets first as this really lays the foundations for this book. However, if you like to read things out of order (a habit of mine!), then this works as a standalone as well. Definitely a must-read if you love Spanish culture and travelling, and a perfect way to indulge in a foreign country during the pandemic. Hannah Read.
Lovely escapism for the C19 lockdown. I read her first book and enjoyed this one too. Interesting with humour and pathos. I like the recipes. But I wish she had written more about daily life at her house, as she tends to go off on a tangent a bit.
Well, I certainly don’t need to be sold on Spain, I love it; even after I read this memoir pointing out the hazards of wild storms, damaged air conditioners, a leaking pool and a toilet facing the wrong way. The author has counterbalanced the trials and tribulations with a search for the perfect wine, a rather crazy week at a language school and a visit to the film set depicting an old American Western town. Oh and don’t forget the hair-raising car rally. It’s quite a ride.
I read Jeans first book, A Kiss Behind the Castanets, and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to her latest book. Life Beyond the Castanets carries on from the first, in that it forwards the reader on another year with Jeans adventures, warts an all.
It lays bare the feelings Jean has about her new life in Spain, good and bad. I personally found the book funny and varied and with Jean’s light and easy way of writing, I was caught up and felt I was there living it with her. I enjoyed the road trip and Chambon chapters along with the chapter about her friendly builder. However I particularly enjoyed “In search of waterfalls” with her beautiful descriptive writing I felt I was getting wet from the spray! In short I recommend this book and look forward to the next.
Jean’s second book enthralls one in the same way as the first. The adventures continue on many fronts. They range from 4×4 rather hair-raising but fun trips across France and Spain, to the solving of problems on the home front. Repairs after severe storms and even plumbing arrangements are told with humour that delights the reader.
This is a book with many fascinating and interesting aspects too numerous to mention here.
Looking forward to book number three.
I read the first book in this series, “A Kiss Behind the Castanets” and wondered as I read this, the second, if it could possibly be as good as its predecessor. It is, in fact, in my opinion better. Jean Roberts is a master at lyrical descriptions of Spain and the life she and her husband are living there.
After finding and renovating their Spanish home, it seems like it should be time to kick back, relax, and enjoy. That idea is quickly disabused when on their trip out with Adrian’s father, Brian, they have to stop due to a squealing noise from the wheels. The book proceeds from car troubles, to armed burglars in the neighborhood, to extreme drought, to flooding rain that leads the flamingos in the lake to browse in the sunflower fields. However, interlaced between these disasters are moments of peace and fun. Jean and her husband travel from England to France and on to Spain in an unusual form of transportation and bring us along on the ups and downs of the journey. They take us on other trips to Gibraltar and around Spain and share their new-found appreciation for wine that costs more than 3 Euros. While this is the second book, you can read it without having read the first. However, I highly recommend reading it also. In fact, I am re-reading it myself right now.
Just finished reading this book in record time for me as i couldn’t put it down. So sad when it was finished as i wanted more. Jean and Adrian have lead such an interesting life. When you think of moving somewhere as warm and beautiful as Spain you think of it as all sunshine and sangria, you don’t realize all that can go wrong in the process. Most people would have thrown in the towel faced with all the problems they met. I have read both of Jean’s books now and hope there are more adventures in the future that she could write about particularly if she does another road trip. Having met Jean and a few of her friends (all be it briefly) it’s so good to be able to put faces to some of the names. in any case it’s just a really enjoyable read.
Having read Jean Roberts first memoir A Kiss Behind the Castanets and really enjoying it I was looking forward to reading her second book in the series. I was not disappointed at all. From the beautiful front cover to the end it is an engaging read. She has lots of fascinating and fun tales to tell. I must say she is a rather intrepid lady. Her hair-raising adventures off roading in a jeep had me holding my breath. There’s a lot of fun tales in this delightful book and some rather poignant ones as well.
I could have wept with her as she sat with her feet dangling in her empty pool but I must admit to having a good chuckle at the renovations to her toilet and shower – not to mention the cesspit! Just as well she and her husband have kind hearted and handy Spanish friends.
I do enjoy her warm, conversational style of writing which draws the reader in. You can tell just how fond she is of her home in Spain and her life there. As a bonus there are lots of delicious recipes at the end of the book and I’m going to enjoy trying them out. There’s also a link to photographs of places and events mentioned which I always like. Highly recommended.
The first few chapters were OK and then there was a great chapter about life during Franco rule. Chapter 9 was fun and I think a lot of us can relate and the book just got better and better after that. I am always amazed at how much it cost to move to different countries in Europe—if people don’t have a lot of money in reserve they will never make it. I recommend this book
Not only do you get a great read and giggle about Jean and Adrian’s travels through Spain and France in their 4×4, the trials and tribulations of their house in the campo and get to know some of their diverse friends and acquaintances, but you also get a list of the recipes for the delicious food that is mentioned through the book.
How’s that for value!!
I have read and loved Jean Roberts’ ‘A Kiss Behind the Castanets’, so I was delighted to know that she was writing a whole series of memoirs about moving to Spain. ‘Life Beyond the Castanets’ continues where her first book left off, and it’s another lovely, easy read, with a few laughs too.
I liked that the book started off with a bit of a resume of what happened in the first book; useful to jog your memory-or if you haven’t read her other book previously.
Jean tells us about problems; stuff to mend and maintain-it’s not all luxurious life in the sun! Heavy rains; there can be damaging weather in Spain (Not all sun is sunnier and grass is greener), we see the other side too. It’s not just about Spain: there are also some memories of her younger days, following a band. As well as the usual breakages, fixes, renovations etc, we also have trips out: to Nerja, Gibraltar, Seville, and a cruise. Interesting and enjoyable reading.
Another lovely, easy read showing the ups and downs, and highs and lows of living the dream. Looking forward to Book 3!
Loved this book as I always do with any set in Spain, France , Italy etc. etc
It is a while ago I read it but did enjoy it very much!
As we too live in Spain , having bought an old farmhouse it is always lovely to read how other people have coped with the change of lifestyle .
Well done Jean. Think there will be more coming sometime??
I really enjoyed the book, it was very relatable to as we have a home in Spain too, I think it will appeal to a wide audience and I like her style of writing, very descriptive of the true life of the Ex-Pat in Spain. Highly recommended. A lovely holiday read or for anyone thinking of biting the bullet and moving to Spain like I did.
Following on from her first successful dip into the literary word the author does not disappoint with her second book, Life Beyond The Castanets. Whereas the first book, A Life Behind The Castanets, concentrates more on the trails and tribulations of owning a property in Spain and what awaits the unsuspecting first time buying ex-pat wanting to live the life of sun, sea and sangria. This second trip to Spain, through Jean’s writing is, as before, one that draws you in as though you are taking the journey with an old friend, one that you have known for a while and are comfortable with when in their company. There is something within her composition that does indeed make you feel that you are there. Whether it be in Adrian’s attempts to fix something in the heat or rain, their travels in their Jeep across rough and rugged terrain or experiencing a planned trip that goes askew. You feel the disappointment in her words when explaining about remembering the fallen in Gibraltar and at the same time picturing the scene in your minds eye as you too crane your neck to try to catch a glimpse of a far away ceremony. Descriptive lyrical words tumble from the page as one goes through the book urging you to turn the page to find out how the shared experience went. An enjoyable read and with recipes to try out at the back of the book it retains an essence of what the author set out to do in her first book, which is leaving you wanting more.
