Blog Tour - Apple Island Wife by Fiona Stocker

What happens when you leave city life and move to five acres on a hunch, with a husband who s an aspiring alpaca-whisperer, and a feral cockerel for company? Can you eat the cockerel for dinner? Or has it got rigor mortis? 

In search of a good life and a slower pace, Fiona Stocker upped-sticks and moved to Tasmania, a land of promise, wilderness, and family homes of uncertain build quality. It was the lifestyle change that many dream of and most are too sensible to attempt. Wife, mother and now reluctant alpaca owner, Fiona jumped in at the deep end. Gradually Tasmania got under her skin as she learned to stack wood, round up the kids with a retired lady sheepdog, and stand on a scorpion without getting stung. 

This charming tale captures the tussles and euphoria of living on the land in a place of untrammelled beauty, raising your family where you want to and seeing your husband in a whole new light. Not just a memoir but an everywoman s story, and a paean to a new, slower age.

When I was offered this book to review and to take part in the blog tour I jumped at the chance. The furthest I have ever travelled is Paris and to spend a weekend or so transported to Tasmania sounded like a great escape from the horrible cold spell that has hit Britain. When it came time to pick up the book I had also come down with a horrible flu virus so 'Apple Island Wife' definitely came into my life at the right time.

Apple Island Wife is the author's, Fiona Stocker, story of her and her husband's decision to upsticks and move to Tasmania. As it can be imagined this is a big culture shock, one which both Fiona and her husband embraced with open arms and took all the oppurtunities made avaliable to them.

I really enjoyed reading Fiona's story. The initial tentative steps into their new lives and as they each learnt new skills and was of life. As I read the book I round myself taking a big breath and relaxing the slower pace of life in Tasmania took over.

I really enjoyed Fiona's writing style, it felt as if I was chatting with a friend on the phone, talking about the animals (albeit alpacas rather than cats and maybe chickens) and the daily routine of home life.

I would like to say thank you to Unbound Books and Anne Cater for organising the blog tour and for inviting me to take part and a copy of the book in return for an honest review.