Ten Trees and a Truffle Dog by Jamie Ivey

Truffles aren't something I know anything about, but I've heard from a friend in New York that they are lovely and really make food taste better.  Another odd tidbit I've learned about them is that you can use a dog or a pig to find them.  Their noses are sensitive enough to locate them, even deep in the ground.  After seeing this title, I had to read this memoir of Mr. Ivey's adventures in France.

Skyhorse Publishing sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check your local bookstore for a copy.

Provence in the south of France has a much slower pace than London.  It also has it's own set of rules in how things are done, and you need to be careful not to offend anyone.  You can get ostracized very easily.  The Ivey's learn this from close up experience as they try to buy land and build a house.

They have one child and another on the way and the house is taking a very long time to build.  A person across the way is a real naysayer and has him worrying about construction "faults" and nothing happens fast or cheaply.

He wants to grow his own truffles and use some and sell some.  It doesn't sound too hard.  He's in a good area and the conditions should be right.  Then he decides to get a dog.  They are already living in a small apartment that is a bit crowded with one child, another child is on the way, and now he wants to add a dog?  Needless to say his wife and landlord aren't enthused.

There are situations in this book that make it sound fictional.  That couldn't really happen could it?  But it did.  Mr. Ivey's life is not boring and he makes you chuckle as well as feel his frustration about trying to get things done.  Life is different in Provence.  And he likes it that way.

Happy reading.