Farm from Home: A Year of Stories, Pictures, and Recipes from a City Girl in the Country

As I didn't know who Amanda Brooks was, I purchased the book because of it's content, living in the English Countryside. Her book does have this element, but I felt that Ms. Brooks was a bit pretentious in her description of her and her family. I would read about a lovely account of her and her horses, but then she would reference it back to her New York expensive lifestyle. The nannies, the house keepers, the mortgage, the private schools all the while saying they spent the money as soon as it hit their account. So they decided to move to England, where her husband's family country estate was. And yes, this is just as expensive. She worries about things such as whether she will be fulfilled enough to be happy in England, whether she will be remembered as a fashioned icon, will she still be relevant when her English trip abroad ends. I could hardly finish the book, the entitled references were to much. Humble is a word she and her family know nothing about.If your looking for a delightful and humble description of the English Countryside, this isn't it. Try Susan Branches book "A Fine Romance", it is truly a wonderful description of the " Real English Countryside".

This is a beautiful book and Ms Brooks is a a wonderful photographer and writer. I loved the monthly layout and the idealized ( ideal) English lifestyle in the country with the horses and the flowers and the recipes and her husband's compost heap. The photography is so dreamy. They are a terribly artistic and wealthy couple so this is aspirational lifestyle at its best! ( lots of photos of horses, photos of flowers, family photos, stylish food photos, country meadow photos interspersed with recipes and stories- she is known for her photography but I do like her writing. This isn't just pictures with a little text - there is a lot to read about in this book). Ok, just one little complaint. Actually, not a little complaint - to me, this is very agitating. Very very agitating. There is a photo of Ms Brooks and her husband ( who is an artist) and she has labeled it "our Rockwell moment". Except it is actually an homage ( sort of) to Grant Woods' "American Gothic". This really bothers me... Her husband is an artist, she has worked in the Art world - I'm completely perplexed by this. If anyone who reads this book can explain this to me, I would be so appreciative. I literally do not understand the reference to Rockwell and how or why this mistake was made and not corrected or even if it was a mistake. Perhaps I am a little (a lot) ridiculous but it is like a picture that I can't straighten or an itch that I cannot scratch. Very distracting.

I absolutely LOVE this book! Having dreamed of someday "riding to hounds" in the English countryside, this book is like a fantasy escape for me! The author's photographs are lovely and her month-by-month descriptions of life on the farm are interesting, honest & informative. My husband grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin & I am often sharing tidbits with him so he is enjoying it too.. Have already baked the Corn Bread Muffins with Raspberries & they are delicious! This book is so charming - I am enjoying every bit of it!

I devoured Brooks' earlier books after following her for years. I suspect she is counting on devoted readers like me to grab this next book. And she'd be right. But while her earlier books are dishy, party and fashion-filled adventures with lots of advice to soak up, this book doesn't give as much away to her audience. I know it's not fair to compare a book to earlier works, as it should be judged on its own merit, but I was underwhelmed.Maybe this is precisely her point. She has embraced a quieter life in her 40s, and this book reflects just that. The book is structured by month, which is a simple way to share what have become routines of her current life--the jam making and school runs and horse life she charmingly assures us now fills her heart. Instead of tips for dressing the part, we get recipes for using up those quinces that litter the yard every year. OK, I admit it, I MISS her writing about fashion and style. I hope she returns to it eventually, as her voice in that realm is distinct and needed.

Amanda Brooks is a delightful story teller. The book was far more than I expected, it was an inspiration. She shared her inner most feelings about the huge adjustment in lifestyle of moving from New York City to another country and living on her husband's family farm. The book is direct but with true feeling. A beautiful book with lovely photographs taken by Amanda; an inspirational story of day-to-day family living in the English countryside; and a heartwarming story. This book is a joy.

A lot of thought went into this book, and I have enjoyed all of it. My favorite "moment," however, is the two-page spread showing the exterior of Amanda Brooks's office-in-a-shed as it appeared in each of twelve different months. Brooks has a delicate touch, both as a writer and as a photographer. I found myself making her recipe for Swedish pancakes and wishing I had her raspberry jam to go with them.

Was a little disappointed in the quality of the book physically. No dust cover, no glossy finish to the cover or pages. Pages themselves were blurry in my opinion.

It's really well written and the subject is interesting - NY city girl moves to English countryside and describes what life is like on a farm. There are beautiful photos in it, recipes I want to make as well as engaging stories about what goes on every month of the year.

I enjoyed Amanda Brooks' first book very much as she is obviously a very visually talented person, so I found it very odd that the whole design of this book is sort of drab. Many pictures are lovely, but it's just not the sumptuous book that I'd hoped. The idea was probably to make it comely like a Laura Ashley catalogue, but, like another reviewer, I miss some real glamour. The author has insistently branded herself as a very glamorous, native newyorker who is now doing her best to glam up the English countryside, but this book seems completely devoid of that glamour. The chapters are thorough descriptions of her family's home life on the farm that her husband has inherited, and while it is very earnest and there is an occasional interesting fact or observation about the English countryside/society/flora & fauna, it is also ... most of the time ... somewhat boring! I would much rather rifle through stuff like this on a picturesque blog (which Amanda Brooks used to have) than in this stuffy, static, rather self-important format.

Although my own experiences of farm life is very different from Amanda's English upper-class country life and this book feels like it was written for people who have already been following her online or in general for awhile/years, I really really enjoyed her style of writing/her voice/her humour, which despite the material luxuries of her life feels quite down to earth, very personal and open (more than I expected), and at the end of the day I do feel inspired by her wonderful photographs, interior design choices and overall positive approach to life :-)

Enjoyable read, inspiring lifestyle. The author is transparent and shares interesting details and stories about herself and family. Her experience motivates you to slow down and enjoy the things that matters more in life. Plus beautiful photos and delicious recipes!

Not bad but I expected more. Sadly the pictures are very small and there is a lot of text to tell not much. A lot of recipes that makes it more a cookbook then an inspiration for designing your home. I will probably give it as a Christmas present.

This book contains all my favourite things, beautiful interiors, good food and best of all a wonderful collection of animal companions. Amanda has a lovely relaxed style of writing and you almost feel that you are having a conversation with her, she makes you feel that she is a friend , truly delightful.