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 enlarge | Authors: Betsy Draine, Michael Hinden
Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $13.19
You Save: $6.76 (34%)
New (17) Used (12) from $11.58
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 143245
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 322
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5 x 0.7
ISBN: 0299179443
Dewey Decimal Number: 914
EAN: 9780299179441
ASIN: 0299179443
Publication Date: March 7, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new book! Delivered direct from our US warehouse by Expedited (4-7 days) or Standard (usually 10-14 days but can be longer). Expedited shipping recommended for speedier delivery. Over 1 million satisfied customers
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| Customer Reviews:
 A realistic fantasy January 31, 2006
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Like Mayle's YEAR in PROVENCE and Mayes' UNDER the TUSCAN SUN, this title follows a couple through the pleasures and pitfalls of buying a vacation home in a lovely, exotic locale. Draine and Hinden, both professors at UW Madison, purchase a home in southwest France. Much more low-key than the Mayle and Mayes books mentioned, CASTLE in the BACKYARD has considerably fewer pages devoted to construction pitfalls and perils as well as a cast of much less colorful characters. All in all, CASTLE seems like a much more realistic story than other tales of buying a dream home in a dream location, which in my opinion, made this tale a bit less compelling a read.
This book gives the reader the "real" view of France and the French September 23, 2005
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
The title might lead the reader to think that this book is about how to buy real estate in France. It does provide some very helpful tips in that regard, but the book goes well beyond buying real estate. The authors provide insight into how cultures can interreact. The book is an absolute must for anyone interested in the nuances of the French as well as getting eyewitness tour of the Dordogne region. The book is educational, poignant at times, funny at times and always a joy to read.
Sharing the Fantasy of a Home in France - Excellent! September 20, 2005
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Having driven through the Dordogne and being a closet Francophile, I was thrilled to read this book. A very easy and pleasant look at life in the French countryside. It's not so much about buying a home and the perils therein; it's not a string of amusing anecdotes -- it's really a wonderful memoir of finding a second home and making the community a second family. I'm ready to go buy my own piece of the dream in this gorgeous and intriguing part of France. If you are interested in French country living or the thought process of establishing a second home in Europe, you will enjoy this book.
A Spectacular Getaway in the form of a Book! May 4, 2004
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I read this book piece by piece on my commute to and from work. I read quite of few of the "escapist" books, especially the ones where one escapes to the south of France. This one was particulary enjoyable and engrossing. I constantly found myself complaining that my commute was too short. You really feel like you're there with them. The only bad aspect to the book is the fact that it makes me want to do the very same thing as them even more, and my means to do it hasn't improved! An absolute pleasure to read!
Great read! August 18, 2003
5 out of 10 found this review helpful
This couple did not choose to live near glamourous Riviera, but this was a very good adventure anyway. It is well written and I would read it again!
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