The Bucolic Plague

How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers: An Unconventional Memoir

By: Josh Kilmer-Purcell

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

A happy series of accidents and a doughnut-laden escape upstate take Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his partner, Brent Ridge, to the doorstep of the magnificent (and fabulously for sale) Beekman Mansion. And so begins their transformation from uptight urbanites into the 200-year-old-mansion-owning Beekman Boys. Suddenly Josh---a full-time New Yorker with a successful advertising career---and Brent find themselves weekend farmers, surrounded by nature's bounty and an eclectic cast: roosters who double as a wedding cover band; Bubbly, the bionic cat; and a herd of goats, courtesy of their new caretaker, Farmer John.

The Bucolic Plague is a tart and sweet, touching and laugh-out-loud funny story about goats, mud, homemade soap, approaching middle age, and finding new depths of love and commitment wherever you live.

©2010 Josh Kilmer-Purcell (P)2011 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Kilmer-Purcell fertilizes this narrative until it reeks of charm." ( The New York Times)

Selling your dream and name dropping

Any additional comments?

My wife and I both got bored with the book about 60 percent of the way through and quit listening. I had a hardcopy of the book that I gave to a friend, and he said he passed it along too because it was too shallow.

So two city slickers spend LOADS of money buying a cool historic country farm and mansion, go to parties at Martha Stewart's house, have wacky adventures with animals (like feeling sad over killing turkeys only to learn real ones don't offer much meat and so the Thanksgiving party doesn't have enough food), and turn the farm into an online site complete with blog. Of course, commuting and the large expenses put demands on their relationship so they have spats.

It just didn't work for me. Maybe if you're more into New Yorker anxiety and celebrities, you'd like it more.

Real and Funny

This book is like a breath of fresh air, real and funny. The performace was excellent.

Laugh out loud story

It is rare that a book makes me laugh out loud, but this one did - even at the gym while on the elliptical. This was an entertaining, yet honest, sometimes poignant, story.

So Funny and Sweet

Would you consider the audio edition of The Bucolic Plague to be better than the print version?

Equal

Who was your favorite character and why?

Brent and Josh and Polka Dot

What about Johnny Heller’s performance did you like?

Yes

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

Yes! and I did twice.

Any additional comments?

This is a great story. I already ordered the soap for my son who is allergic to everything and it is working great on him!!

Great beach listen

Great listen though I think the narrator could have been better. Coming from a "rowhouse" in Philadelphia, upon moving 15 miles outside the city limits, I purchased an end unit "townhouse". I then felt I had to get a riding mower since the lawn was bigger than a postage stamp. I can so feel their pain, especially having Martha Stewart as a friend. Very enjoyable.

Bye bye city, hello country

I wander what Martha thinks of this book? It's a well written chronicle of the two city boys trying to find the farming skills they need to save the Beekman mansion, only to finally realise that their urban savvy is what they needed all along. A really honest and forthright read.

hillarious

What made the experience of listening to The Bucolic Plague the most enjoyable?

the common conversation style of the writting

Who was your favorite character and why?

Brent, Josh, and farmer John

Have you listened to any of Johnny Heller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never listened to him before but thought he was a very good for this story

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not so much extreme but had me laughing and snickering through the whole book

Any additional comments?

a very easy read/listen type of book. If you are familiar with the fabulous beekman boys , it makes the book even more enjoyable.

Great Book

This is my fourth time through listening to the book. makes you want to go plant a garden and maybe get some goats.

Unpredictable

Delightful and unpredictable turns of phrase and storytelling. My husband has talked of desiring an agricultural foray; I hope he will give this a listen too!

Entertaining

Loved this book overall! Funny and a great treatise on the folly of perfectionism. Loved the descriptions of the protagonists, a gay power couple, going from successful New York life to farmers in the historic Beekman Mansion in the New York countryside. Their various struggles with this dramatic transition, juggling jobs in the city, the realities of farm life, and their own relationship, are both humorous and tragic. I found parts of the book repetitive, but actually, never boring. A romp. And better for it's being an intriguing, true story!