Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #88016 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Anyone contemplating running a fruit farm in Spain would do well to read Peter Kerr's Mañana, Mañana, which describes how he left Scotland with his wife and two wary sons to set up a little valley farm growing oranges in the Mallorcan countryside.

Far from being an idyllic option in "tranquilo" surroundings, the family have to work hard to survive and the gaps in their accumulated knowledge soon become apparent. Of immediate concern, for instance, is their seemingly healthy orange orchard which turns out to be riddled with diseases. Thankfully, however, the Kerr's wise neighbour Pepe--who aligns all farming tasks to the phases of the moon--intervenes and strips down the trees so that they and the family's fortune again become viable. Indeed, there is no shortage of well-meaning advisors to guide the Kerrs through and past the pitfalls they encounter: cackling, good-natured Maria with her increasingly strange selection of old wives tales (does burning donkey manure really keep away mosquitoes?); Jordi, who prides himself on his alcohol intake and knowledge about the local traffic police; Scottish Jock, who can lead them through the convoluted "Mañana, Mañana" attitude of the bureaucracy.

Throughout, as in his previous book, Snowball Oranges, Kerr excels in his character descriptions. He populates the book with vivid and likeable personalities and the family's relationships with these colourful people are often the cue to lively and hilarious adventures: rampaging pigs, eventful boat trips, dogs with strange fetishes. The expected malapropisms are genuinely funny and unexpected too--all contributing to a narrative with a generous helping of laugh-out-loud moments.

However, what really distinguishes Mañana, Mañana, apart from its well-drawn and interesting characters, is its honesty and realism. The sunshine and fun is balanced by some dark moments when the family wonder if they have done the right thing and, consequently, the writing never seems smug or self-assured--just a record of a likable family trying to make the most of a new way of life. Not forgetting that all the while the beautiful and majestic Mallorcan countryside lies in wait in the background, ready to charm the reader just as it has the Kerr family... --Christina McLoughlin

Review
From a farm in the Scottish highlands where rescuing sheep from snowdrifts and breaking the ice on drinking troughs are a farmers regular winter tasks to a lush valley of citrus groves hidden among the Tramontano Mountains of Mallorca, where a scorching summer sun is the only natural enemy, seemed a tempting step - the Kerr family - Peter, Ellie and their two young sons - took the cance and moved to the Mediterranean to start a new life. This beguiling account of their advenures as they gradually learn to adapt to their neighbours, and to treat heat instead of cold as the threat to successful farming, makes excellent reading for armchair travellers. Peter tells the tale with a nice touch of self-deprecating humour - Ellie is something of a fall guy - the one who makes all the embarrasing linguistic mistakes - ordering cojones (testicles) in stead of conejos (rabbit) at a local restaurant. Friendships with colourful neighbours, brushes with local police and the trials and triumphs against the elements that are so fundamental to a farming life give the book an underlying touch of earhty reality which sets it apart from the average tale of foolhardy emigres. Easy to see why the whole family fall for a way of life that never does today what could possibly be done manana. Excellent holiday reading - basking in the sun and rejoicing that you aren't farming in it! (Kirkus UK)

Monocle Magazine
Kerr has an ability reminiscent of D.H.Lawrence to capture the overwhelming oppressive feel of physical fatigue on a hot day.

Customer Reviews

A wonderful new life in the sun.
This book is in the genre I usually go for but what a five star read this is. I read it whilst rained in for a week on the west coast of Scotland and as such could see real midge infected reasons for this families desire to start a new life on a Spanish island. It has the successful mix of farming disasters, public relation hang-ups - solved with humour. Trouble with the law, small farmstead - slow life - siesta - no hurries - no worries lifestyles. Primarily it took me to a hot place, riddled with the special kind of arid - tolerant attitudes that must prevail to make a go of it, which the Kerr family certainly exhibit. I am not generally fussy it's true as to my literary choices, as long as it's travel based, set near the Med. and is funny. This certainly fits the bill, and like my recent spectacular reads of Ripe for the picking, Eh? Is For Ants and A Parrot in the Pepper tree it has me itching to book a flight with a budget airline like pronto! That wet cloud over our holiday cottage certainly had a silver lining.

A Mallorcan breath of fresh air
I read this back to back with the brilliant Snowball Oranges whilst actually on holiday in Mallorca. The tales of Peter Kerr and his family in the wonderfully simple and genuine Mallorcan countryside are hilarious, touching and very informative. Plenty of colourful phrases to be learnt too. Loved it!

Not just another travel book
Peter Kerr, doesn't write in the genre of Pete McCarthy/ Joseph O'Connor, but as one living the life under the sun of Mallorca. So if you picked up either this book or his previous ones and expected Bill Bryson, meets McCarthy meets O Connor, you'd be disappointed!
I read his first and was semi disappointed, but never one to dismiss him, I picked up a copy of Manana Manana and started to read.
I can't say I was overtly gripped by the story, but as its 'follow on', I already knew the main players and learnt more about them.
Therefore it was 'old faces' that I knew and read about, and how the kerr's first summer on Mallorca was taking hold.
The Kerr Family adapting to live as fruit farmers, and the laughs about the things that happened to them along the way.
And I say one thing to Peter Kerr, STOP TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE NICE PARTS OF THE ISLAND!You will spoil it for us that have known about them for years!
In a way he has been the one man band who may encourage people to visit the island, more so than Antioch their minister has done in the past year!
But, on a more serious note, there was something lacking, there was moments of sheer enjoyment and then something which made it all fall flat later on.
I haven't given up on Mr Kerr just yet, and have even pre ordered his 3rd book! Maybe the missing element comes with practice of writing, and to be honest I just don't know what it is that is missing, maybe I have read too many Bryson/ O'Connor/ McCarthy /Mayle books, but its a nice gentle to read when sitting on the beach, when you thought all Mallorca consisted off was egg & chips down the pub in Magaluff.