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The Blueberry Years: A Memoir Of Farm And Family (2010)

by Jim Minick(Favorite Author)

3.52 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0312571429 (ISBN13: 9780312571429)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Thomas Dunne Books

review 1: While I enjoyed this memoir, there was something very... highschool-ish about the writing. The strange interludes where Minick tries his hand at poetry were just bad and the chapter sequencing was completely off. Needs some major polishing. But the story itself is very strong. I loved vicariously tasting the blueberries and romping through the fields, learning about the tough job of working the land. It's a decent read for adult memoir lovers, but best suited for a younger audience.
review 2: I did not expect to LOVE this book as much as I did. I was interested in it, but the author's writing is so beautiful, yet funny and warm, that I just flew through reading it. Jim and Sarah Minick are both teachers who long to quit their jobs for a simpler life in the co... moreuntry. They get the opportunity to move to Virginia and start an organic blueberry farm. They can still work their day jobs as teachers and run the pick-your-own farm during the summer, hoping that eventually the income from the farm can replace their day jobs. LOTS of work was put into getting the farm starting and planting 1,000 blueberry bushes. Even though the peak of their business was 6 weeks in the summer, Jim did not anticipate how much year round work there would be with mowing, mulching, pruning, etc. After more than a decade, they decide that running their blueberry farm is no longer their dream and they move to another farm property nearby. They still enjoy living in the country and growing their own food, but they finally realized the blueberries were not going to financially support them. Even though some may say they failed or quit, their experience was overall a good one and I don't think either of them would regret doing it. And despite leaving their blueberry farm Jim still has a passion for the fruits and they continue to grow them for their own household. There are also quite a few recipes at the end of the book to sample!I just loved how this book was written. Jim tells their story of buying the farm, planting and tending the blueberry bushes and opening for business. But, he also intersperses this with stories of regular customers, friends, neighbors, crazy customers, etc. I also related to them since they have chosen to not have children and deal with trying to find friends and fit into their new community. I would definitely recommend this one! less

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