If you liked "Year in Provence"
I was introduced to Mr. Nichols with an article in The Guardian listing the best gardening books. Since gardening is a true passion of mine, I was intrigued and bought "Sunlight on the Lawn" not realizing it was the 3rd in a trilogy. Still, the sequence I don't think should matter--I will be reading 1 and 2 when I finish 3. If you read and loved Peter Mayle books about his experiences in France, prepare to fall in love again. As I read Mr. Nichols, I couldn't help but wonder if Mr. Mayle also had read about the care and nurturing of Merry Hall!
Mr. Nichols writes like one would expect of a writer with post WW2 sentiment and sensitivity. The best I can describe is "he was speaking to me" in every word while describing characters AND landscape with intuitive emotion and introspection. The N.B. (you will know what that is when you read the book) became at once anthropomorphic and assumed a role in the story that was vibrant and alive. I can see where some might think he is sentimental, but I would have to challenge the notion. Mr. Nichols does not minimize the quirkiness or eccentricities of himself or his characters who are flawed or could use an injection of patience.
