Place Of Stones

by Ruth Janette Ruck

1962. Reprinted. 227 pages. Illustrated dust jacket over blue cloth covered boards with gilt. Pages remain clear with minimal tanning and foxing. Ink stamp to front free end-paper. Binding remains firm. Boards have mild edge wear with slight rubbing to surfaces. Mild crushing to spine ends. Gilt lettering has become dull. Boards have minor damp and dust stains. Book has a slight forward lean. Boards are bowed. Unclipped jacket has heavy edge wear with some areas of loss, heavy tears, chips and creasing. Damp staining all over. Moderate tanning to spine.

Genres: Memoir

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Farming is rather like the theatre—whatever happens the show must go on.” I reviewed Ruck’s Along Came a Llama several years ago when it was re-released by Faber. This was the first of her three memoirs about life at Carneddi (which means “place of stones”), the hill farm in North Wales that she and her family took over in the 1950s. After college, Ruck trained at a farm on the Isle of Wight and later completed an apprenticeship at Oathill Farm, Oxfordshire under George Henderson, who seems to have been something of a celebrity farmer back then (he contributes a brief but complimentary foreword). By age 20 she was in full charge of Carneddi, where they kept sheep, cattle and fowl. Many of their neighbours had Welsh as a first or only language. At that time, farmers were eligible for government grants. Ruck put in an intensive hen-rearing barn and started growing strawberries and rearing turkeys for Christmas.

Even when things were going well, it was a hand-to-mouth existence and storms or illness could set everything back. The Rucks renovated a nearby cottage to serve as a holiday let. Another windfall came in the bizarre form of a nearby film shoot by Twentieth Century Fox (The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman). Mountainous North Wales stood in for China, and the film crew hired Ruck as a driver and, like many locals, as an occasional extra. This book was light and mildly entertaining, though probably more detailed about everyday farm work and projects than I needed. I was reminded again of Doreen Tovey, especially in the passage about Topsy the pet black sheep, but also this time of Betty Macdonald (The Egg and I) and Janet White (The Sheep Stell).

Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.

[Hil Chap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting recount of one woman's determination to build a life on a farm on a harsh craggy hillside in North Wales. Mid 20th century view of her life and that of her family.
It is an example of one woman overcoming the expectations of others to achieve her vision. The words in your head as you read, are of a companion sitting with you and telling you about episodes in their life.
It fits in with the following books to make a good 'back to back' read. As these three books are less easy to find, I suggest you have them ready before you start!

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

eks neid raamatuid, kus linnainimesed lähevad maale talu pidama, on ju kirjutatud päris palju,. enamasti on tegu mingi eksituste komöödiaga ja tihti tullakse lõpuks, saba jalge vahel, tagasi. või siis on mingitel asjaoludel kuskilt võtta hästi palju raha, et seda tsirkust käigus hoida (vt ka: Jeremy Clarkson).

aga siin on selline leebe kulgemine, mis ei lõppegi halvasti - vb läks ajastusega hästi (suht vahetult pärast II maailmasõda ostetakse odavalt farm ja siis on tükk aega toiduhinnad päris kõrged ja mingid riiklikud toetused ka helded ja turu globaliseerumine suurt veel ei ähvarda) ja vb oli abi sellest, et perekond, kes asja ette võttis, oli veidi ebakonventsionaalne - isa, ema, neiueas tütar (veidi vanem tütar läks ülikooli ja vist põhiosa ajast talupidamises ei osalenud) ja, ee, lapsehoidja! viimane neist oli ainus, kes enne oli maal üldse elanud, ja osutus täiega toeks, kui mitte päris ilmasambaks. noh ja see talu, mis neile ette sattus ja raamatu põhjal otsustades impulsi ajel ära osteti, juhtus olema Walesi mägifarm, mis oligi sobilik sellisel väiksel skaalal oma perega nokitsemiseks.

jutustajaks ja tegelikult põhitalunikuks (juba oma vanuse ja energia tõttu) ongi loo alguses 17-aastane olnud Ruth, kellel on lapsest saadik olnud kirg loomi ja peenraid pidada. "Place of Stones" katab umbes 12 esimest aastat talus ja on suures osas lihtsalt erakordselt detailne päevik sellest, milline lehm mis asjaoludel maha müüdi ja kuidas uus hangiti; mismoodi ehitati kanalat ja mismoodi renoveeriti elumaju; kuidas katsetati kalkunikasvatusega ja kuidas maasikaistikute paljundamisega. sekka üks meeleolukas peatükk sellest, kuidas lähimas külas toimusid filmivõtted, peaosas Ingrid Bergman (filmi nimi oli "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" ja Põhja-Wales, selgub, on Põhja-Hiinale täiesti piisavalt sarnane); kogu külarahvas sai osaleda nii tugitiimis kui statistidena ja sisse tõi selline asi rohkem kui kanad ja maasikad, lammastest rääkimata.

kõhklesin natuke, kas viitsin järgmise(d) osa(d) ka ette võtta, aga siis googeldasin ja sain teada, et Ruth ja Paul hiljem abiellusid, ja kuna Paul siin esimeses raamatus esineb ainult naabrimehe ja hooajatöölisena, siis nüüd tellisin küll järgmise osa raamatukogust ära, et teada saada, kuidas see kõik täpsemalt juhtus.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Randomly picked up from a free library- an account of the modernisation of a Welsh farm in the mid-20th century and pretty interesting.

[Kate Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love North Wales. I’ve been coming here on holiday since my early 20s and to the same cottage near Harlech for the last ten years. While I’m here I like to books that capture the magic of the area, and so this year I picked up Ruth Ruck’s Place of Stones which tells the story of her farm, Carneddi in the hills near Bedgellert. It’s beautifully written; very practically describing day to day life on the farm, but imaginatively describing the magic of the Welsh hills. I admire Ruth’s hard work and determination to make the farm work with very little experience; she is open to new ideas and not afraid to experiment - as well as the traditional sheep and cattle, trying hens, turkey, strawberries and potatoes. She paints an evocative picture of the hard work of the farm, balanced with time spent in leisure, especially her description of learning to rock climb was fun. I didn’t know the film The Inn of Sixth Happiness was filmed in this area, Ruth got the chance to work as a driver on set, and brought the scene to life brilliantly. Two more in the series for next time we’re here!

[Susan Fehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still like this book. Its one I've used to have, got rid of when I moved, and just bought again. It tells of one (young) womans decision with her family to up sticks to snowdonia and life and owrk an old welsh sheep farm in the traditional way. Another of these 'leave the rat race' books - except that its not, as Ms Ruck never wanted to do anything other than farm, and her parents snap decision to buy the farm and move to the country enabled here to live her dream.
This is a more rose tinted view of the country life than hovel in the hills, but Ms Ruck is doing something other than getting out. She is contributing to her local community and maintaining and improving a farm as her resources allow.
The story is simply and easily told, Ms Ruck writes well, and it is a joy to be transported to a sheep farm in the 50s, with all its ups and downs.

[Ginebra Lavao Lizcano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful account of a young girl's determined dream to build a farm, pack strawberries in sphagnum moss and use an unmeasurable amount of DDT. Ed's.