Evelyn Hardy

Oh, if only every tourist could tread so lightly and sensitively where she traveled. Unfortunately, she seems to have only written this one book and it is scarce. This is the story of an American woman who buys a house in southwestern Ireland (County Cork) and writes about her entire first summer there. We never find out about the following years but I surely wish I knew. A good travel writer makes you feel like you are with her and that is how I felt. The characters are painted in a loving and empathetic manner and the natural world of the area comes to total life with the colors and textures so well described. Evelyn is determined to find out all the historical names of every patch and mountain near her, to the puzzlement of the locals who don't know and don't care. She is non-judgmental and patient as she figures out what to do about the previous owners never really leaving and then building onto the house at her expense. Fabulous book if you can find it. I miss the people already.… (mere)