The Olive Farm

By: Carol Drinkwater

Narrated by: Carol Drinkwater

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

For many, Carol Drinkwater will be forever remembered for her part as the wholesome Helen Herriot in the television series All Creatures Great and Small.

But since being a successful actress in England, she has spent the past 13 years in France with her husband Michel. This is the story of her new life, of the trials and tribulations of acquiring an olive farm, restoring it, farming the olives, overcoming the heartaches of taking on a new French family and slowly coming to understand the workings and life of a vivacious Provencal community - opening the door to vibrant Mediterranean world....

©2001 Carol Drinkwater (P)2001 WF Howes Ltd

Most Pleasant

Would you listen to The Olive Farm again? Why?

I have listened to this book several times. It is beautiful. At first it made me want to move and have those same experiences then I realized that I need to create them in my own way, In my own home, with my own family. Love this book so much

Carol Drinkwater is my Favorite Newly Discovered Author!

During these strange and challenging times of 2020’s pandemic, civil unrest and political turmoil, I desperately needed something to remind me what was real and what really mattered in life; The Olive Garden was just that beautiful reminder!
Set partly on the Mediterranean, in divine Southern France, this memoir of Carol Drinkwater’s early days, details the joys, struggles, heartbreaks and triumphs of reclaiming an abandoned villa and surrounding property complete with citrus and olive groves and transforming it into a productive, award winning, producer of olive oil.
Laugh, cry and hide under the covers in fear as Carol Drinkwater recounts this riveting tale in her own words in her own alluring voice!
The perfect antidote for fear. The perfect reason to exploit your own dreams. The exact reason why “biting off more than you can chew” is always the right thing to do when following your heart.
Listen and Love!
Thanks a million times Carol! I only hope to sit down and discuss this story with you in person one day over a dish of olive oil and a glass of Rosé.

Cheers!

- Nathan Heinrich

Outstanding Story

This is a beautifully written story about a family who toss caution to the wind and embark on a new experience of which is foreign to them. I am taken back by the unbreakable courage and determination this family expressed while facing terrific odds in following their dream of love and nature.

Read this book, rather than listen to it.

I enjoyed the author's story but I was surprised at the end to find she had also narrated the book. The author mentions in the book that she is an actress. However, I found her narration lacked emotional impact. There was little difference in tone between happy days/events versus trying/difficult days.

Delightful!

I read this book many years ago and Carol Drinkwater's warmth came shining through. So too her audible reading. As a lover and former owner in the South of France, all the places, things and people were deliciously familiar to me. I could smell the smells, taste the tastes. It made me long to return. Thank you

courage and chaos

Where does The Olive Farm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the personal memoir genre this book ranks very high.

What did you like best about this story?

the honesty of the author

What does Carol Drinkwater bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Carol Drinkwater's language, voice, and attention to detail.. She is an excellent and intelligent reader and uses language and description so well that you really can visualize her description of the area and all its attributes. This is a case, given her skills, that could only have been narrated by the author.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

I'm going to move on to the next olive book in her series.

Travel, Romance and DIY

What did you love best about The Olive Farm?

I liked hearing about following their dreams and dealing with some tough odds to make things happen.

Any additional comments?

This is a good book for those who like hearing about living in a different country, travel also about a new love coming together. Written and narrated by the actress who was the wife in All Creatures Great and Small. Wanted the second book but it is not on audible so I will have to read it!

The best medicine

Provence 2023 a must. Tenacity, love and friends.Watching the series too, a tonic for any time .

An enjoyable listen

Where does The Olive Farm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'd rank this title somewhere in the top third of all the books I've listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Olive Farm?

I thought the most memorable scenes involved Carol dealing with forces outside her control -- French bureaucracy, the locals, various animals, storms and fires.

Which character – as performed by Carol Drinkwater – was your favorite?

I found it interesting that she is a much more complex character herself than the one she is most famous for portraying on television. She is not afraid to reveal her quirks.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it was perfect in about one-hour bites, as I listened to it on my lunch hour.

Liquid sunshine!

This was a delightful audio experience which stayed with me when I was too busy to listen. The sights, sounds and smells of the south coast of France were all around me as I listened to the excellent narration by the author, Carol Drinkwater. I am looking forward to listening to the next book, Return to the Olive Farm, very soon.