Paul O'Grady's Country Life

I wasn't initially sure about reading this book but I'm really glad I did. Paul gives us an entirely different side of his personality to how he seemed in his earlier TV shows. This is a much more serious and gentle side of a man who is clearly fascinated by and deeply loves "all creatures great and small"in particular of course his beloved dogs and perhaps with the exception of rats, especially when they were running round behind the walls of the large farmhouse where he lives.Having stayed at a large farmhouse in The Dales lots of times some years ago... I can commiserate with him on that subject. I clearly remember lying in bed during the night listening to them running behind the walls and shuddering! This was quickly put to rights when the next morning we complained to our farmer landlord.What a fascinating book this has turned out to be. It is almost like "a Bible" of country life and he covers every aspect I can think of in his gentle, easy, light-hearted, and also sometimes quite sad tales of his life living out in the country. He manages to turn all the difficult times he has experienced into a pleasure to read.He describes the antics all his farm animals that he looks after. His encounters with his geese are really amusing. I don't think I would turn my back on any of those belligerent creatures. He also is faced with creatures like the fox who keeps on stealing his hens. Yet somehow there seems no real animosity towards this thief who visits and feasts upon the hens both day and night.His love of his own dogs is often described on and off throughout the book and having seen him at Battersea with the many dogs he interacts with in his dry yet amusing way there is no mistaking how much he cares about them.I found his detailed descriptions of various herbs, flowers, trees et al and lots of traditional country folklore most interesting. He seems to cover every aspect possible. Superstitions in general are covered in detail. I suspect much of these were handed down by his own Mum. An example - Never put shoes on a table. Not being superstitious myself I suppose I did find these quite quaint but I know many people take them seriously.Paul is a natural writer with an easy style and his gentle humour is fun to read. He is completely honest about knowing nothing about country life at first so to read about his many 'learning experiences' is interesting too. In the midst of all his detailed descriptions of life in his country home I found his own previously hidden persona comes through and is honest and endearing. He is never too proud to hide all the mistakes he has made and is obviously content with his life style.Dotted all through the book are many recipes to tempt his readers whether they like to cook or not. The very many diverse topics he covers all blend together to make a wholly enjoyable read. Running through the whole book is his own delight with his way of life and his love of getting up each day to tackle whatever his day brings. I found this book not just absorbing but fun to read also. I recommend it highly to anyone with a love of country life.

I can't help but love Paul O'Grady, he is such a sweetheart. I watched an interview on television with him talking about this book and decided to buy the kindle version. I am so pleased I did. He has had a very interesting life with some sad moments and most of all lots of happy ones too. I love his attitude to life and the way he seems to have time for everyone. There is a gentleness and softness about him. His life in the country was certainly a great idea and even though it is not always plain sailing and living in the country comes with challenges, he seems to have found his "heaven". It makes me almost feel like packing up and moving to the country too :-)I am pleased I bought this book and have enjoyed his recipes too. I think he has a gift of compassion for animals as well as people and it always shines through.The book was enjoyable and I would highly recommend it.

Paul O Grady has excelled himself. I am a Paul O Grady fan and have read his books and to be honest found them hard going in parts.But this book is excellent. It will make you laugh out loud and it will make you cry. It is one of the best books I have ever read and I read a lot.I thoroughly enjoyed it . Would HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I’m a huge fan of Paul OGrady full stop. That said if I didn’t think much of this book I’d honestly say so. But I won’t and that’s because it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time (I’m an avid reader of all genre of books except fiction!). As I read it I felt I was actually with Paul as he got on with his rural tasks. I could go on and on but suffice to say Paul has got a heart of gold ( tho I imagine he doesn’t suffer fools gladly).I genuinely didn’t want the book to finish which probably explains why I’ve read most of his others. I’ll read those I haven’t got round to yet pretty soon.

I really enjoyed this book, although why Paul doesn't simply write a Recipe book I don't know, he's clearly an amazing baker. The book was immensely enjoyable and sometimes sad which is inevitable when animals are involved. I found the reading easy and Paul's advice on herbs and their uses should also be written down as a separate book/pamphlet for ease of reference. I didn't know half of them were so readily available. Hope you read this Paul and take note, would mean a bit more writing but then what else is there to do on a sunny afternoon - other than feed a menagerie and keep them out of the kitchen!