Hill Farm Story

by Ruth Janette Ruck

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1966

Reviews

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

sel raamatul polnud viga midagi, hubane lugemine, ainult et natuke pingutatud oli ta, ses mõttes, et siin oli ebaproportsionaalselt palju juttu sellest, kui raske seda kirjutada oli. nii et tekkis korduvalt küsimus, et kas on siis nii hirmsasti vaja kirjutada, kui aega ei ole ja nii palju huvitavaid asju ka enam ei juhtu, kui farmipidamise algusaastatel?

samas jällegi sai siia kirja hulk asju, mis tahtsid kirjasaamist - alustuseks see lugu, et kuidas Ruth ja Paul abiellusid (esimeses osas oli Paul lihtsalt farmi abitööline ja hea sõber, aga romantikale nagu ei viidanud miski). ja kuigi nii palju seiklusi kui esimeses osas kanade ja maasikate ja Ingrid Bergmani ja teabveelmillega ei olnud, siis lisandusid ponid ja nendega justkui nagu jälle oli (st kui ma ütlen seiklus, siis ei midagi dramaatilist, lihtsalt järjekordne lugu, mis algab sellest, et "meil polnud ainugi, millesse me end mässime, aga tundus hea mõte" ja lõppeb seggela, et kõik läheb enamvähem hästi). noh ja osaliselt see, et Ruth tahtis endale raamatukirjutamisaega, viis selleni, et farmi võeti mingeid abilisi ja praktikante juurde, nii et lisandus sümpaatseid kõrvaltegelasi.

seda ma nüüd jälle ei tea, kas ma kolmandat osa viitsin, ehkki pealkiri on paljutõotav: "Along Came a Llama". no kuidas sa ei loe sellise pealkirjaga raamatut.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this account of a city family with a pet mad daughter, relocating to Wales having bought a hill farm, 20 years ago so didn't remember too much about it. Farming in the 1950's with virtually no knowledge, the author/farmer in chief(aged 17 when they moved) recounts the hardships, mistakes and triumphs that befell her and her family. Her learning curve was immense to the extent of re-roofing a cottage with the assistance of a part-time farm helper. Besides the sheep, there were a couple of cows purchased with the farm and later she added chicken, turkey rearing, raising stocks of virus free strawberry plants and seed potatoes to the list. Her only means of transport was a battered, tempermental ex-US military jeep but even this brought her in extra much needed cash when it was hired with her as driver to transport film crews, props and supplies over the rough terrain when the hills nearby were chosen to become China in the filming of The Inn of the Sixth Happiness starring Ingrid Bergman and Curt Jurgens.
Beautifully written, never boring, I'm full of admiration for Ruth Ruck and the courage and stamina she displayed. I have the follow up to this book that I intend to re-read very soon.