Apple Island Wife

This memoir showed how your life can change when you least expect it to and how going along for the ride can give you unexpected happiness, even if there are hard times on the way!

I loved reading Fiona Stocker's memoir "Apple Island Wife."  Tasmania is a mysterious-sounding island that not many people know about and Stocker brings it to life in her vivid account. This is an enjoyable, slice-of-life read that offers readers a glimpse into what it's like to live with alpacas and other colorful creatures, i.e. a scorpion.

I dove into the pages of Apple Island Wife this weekend, hoping the memoirs of a woman making a new home for her family in rural Tanzania would distract me from our frigid Canadian winter. (It was adorable how she described how some individuals might consider Tanzania cold.)

This charming tale was a delightful telling of growth and discovery, stories of everyday life in a new setting, interspersed with droll humour. The account was amusing and educational (being from the North American corner of the world, there were some terms I was unfamiliar with!) While I enjoyed many of the aspects of the presentation, Fiona’s recounted insights into her husband’s interests (and her decided lack of interest in said pursuits) truly amused me – I too will never understand the appeal of a tractor pull or farm auction, no matter how many we attended as children.

Her colourful characterizations of the animals – pet, herd, and pest – as well as the lively description of her neighbours and the land were vividly well done. I could at once envision myself in the midst of the scenes she described. Wallabies, huntsman spiders, and snakes, oh my!

The chapters were not presented in a linear fashion. While I understood the general timeline as a whole, there was a part of me that wondered how old the children were, how many months or years had passed, or whether an incident happened before another if it was not explicitly presented in the writing.

It was relatable for any woman who has ever made a decision and questioned whether they were truly equipped for the change. She found the right balance in presenting how many of us struggle with wanting to be more than a mother or housewife and I was delighted with her term of domestic Chief Executive Officer. She acknowledges her strengths and her weakness with a balance of humility and humour.

Overall, this is a book that I highly recommend for a little glimpse into someone making a home for themselves in a strange-to-them environ. Settle in with a cuppa in a comfy chair – you’ll feel like your about to listen in while a close friend recounts amusing anecdotes of everyday life or the reminiscing of your favourite auntie. It was an intimate glimpse into the Stocker family’s venture into farm life and I, for one, cannot wait to read more.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley courtesy of the author and/or publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Published by Unbound Digital; Publication Date – December 4, 2018

#AppleIslandWife #NetGalley

A fantastic memoir. Really interesting and quick read. 

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I felt so honoured to be given an insight into the life of Fiona Stoker, husband Oliver, and their adorable children. Fiona’s memoir is an amusing account of how they moved to Tasmania and adapted to a new country, new climate and a totally new way of life.

The anecdotes are both informative and funny, Fiona has a way of making the most mundane tasks seem really amusing. However, by contrast, she describes the most outrageous occurrences as if they happen on a daily basis!

The Stoker’s new life meant that they had to build relationships with neighbours because of the remote rural setting. I like the way Fiona describes the quirky characters and the close sense of community. Everyone seemed to know each other and they pooled tools, resources, and knowledge to make the best of what was available.

I loved how Fiona described her husband Oliver’s tendency to start projects but never quite get round to finishing them. Something that I can certainly relate to! As an animal lover, the recollections of alpaca training and choosing the right hens (to name but a few) had me captivated and chuckling in equal measures.

I was in awe of the way that Fiona left everything behind, including family and friends and moved to a rural country she knew nothing about. It is something that many of us contemplate, but few have the courage to do so, and for that, I take off my hat to her.

I always like a city couple moving to the country memoir and this was a pretty good one. I have to admit, it taking place in Tasmania, a place I know little about, added to my enjoyment. It was comedic but had some serious moments. Great pick for anyone who dreams of living it all behind and starting fresh.