Fifty Acres and a Poodle: A Story of Love, Livestock, and Finding Myself on a Farm

"Humorous . . . This true-life tale charts a big-city girl's transformation to farm gal."-People"Jeanne Marie Laskas is the thinking woman's Erma Bombeck . . . with a talent for finding wisdom in daily life. . . . Even the most entrenched urbanite will be charmed by this book."-TimeJeanne Marie Laskas had a dream of fleeing her otherwise happy urban life for fresh air and open space-a dream she would discover was about something more than that. But she never expected her fantasy to come true until a summer afternoon's drive in the country.That's when she and her boyfriend, Alex-owner of Marley the poodle-stumble upon the place she thought existed only in her dreams. This pretty-as-a-picture-postcard farm with an Amish barn, a chestnut grove, and breathtaking vistas is real . . . and for sale. And it's where she knows her future begins.But buying a postcard-fiftyacresof scenery-and living on it are two entirely different matters.The questions seem endless- How long before the barn roof collapses? Should they buy sheep? Will the place be good for her writing, and for her relationship with Alex?With wit and wisdom, Laskas shares everything she learned about life, love, and the unexpected complications of having your dream come true.

“"A wonderful writer, smart as they come, and a real joy to read." Annie Dillard "Humorous ... this true-life tale charts a big-city girl's transformation to farm gal." People "Jeanne Marie Laskas is the thinking woman's Erma Bombeck ... [with] a talent for finding wisdom in daily life.... Even the most entrenched urbanite will be charmed by this book." Andrea Sachs, Time.com "[A] delightful memoir about love and relocation ... [by] an accomplished journalist and also a deft storyteller ... Hilarious ... a pleasurable read indeed." Newsday "Rarely has a city girl transformed herself into a country goddess with such humor." Rita Mae Brown Be sure to look for Jeanne Marie Laskas's new book in spring 2003 wherever Bantam Books are sold From the Trade Paperback edition.”

“Hilarious . . . [A] delightful memoir about love and relocation.”—Newsday

“[A] refreshing and funny account of a move to the country . . . The touching story of a woman finding herself and trusting love.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
“Rarely has a city girl transformed herself into a country goddess with such humor.”—Rita Mae Brown

“Jeanne Marie Laskas is a wonderful writer, smart as they come, and a real joy to read.”—Annie Dillard

“A terrifically funny, honest look at one woman’s attempt to chuck her city life and take up life on the farm. With Anne Lamott–style humor, Laskas lets us know . . . how worthwhile all of her missteps and headaches have been. A charmer of a book, sure to cure any city girl’s concrete blues.”—Linda Urban, Contentville

“Jeanne Marie Laskas is a formidable reporter and one damn fine writer. Check out her charming memoir about buying a farm in the country.”—Esquire

“A winning journey of the heart and psyche . . . There are laughs aplenty. Laskas creates an intimacy with readers.”—The Philadelphia Weekly

“Anyone who’s toyed with the idea of moving to the country should read Fifty Acres. It’s stunning, witty, sly—a wonderful surprise.”—Katherine Russell Rich, author of The Red Devil

“This beautiful memoir is more than a love story. It is a story of discovery, of change, of finding oneself. It is about fear and loss and grief, of finding what is truly important in life. It is tender, poignant, wise.”—Huntsville Times
 
“For anyone who’d like to chuck it all and move to the country.”—The Washington Post

“If Laskas were a novelist, she’d be Lorrie Moore. Fifty Acres is as much about farm shopping as it is about the vulnerability that comes with loving, the difference between solitude and loneliness, and the complications of dreams—nurturing them, ignoring them, and, finally, allowing them to come true.”—New Age Journal

“When your fantasy becomes reality, then what’s left to dream about? Laskas finds this, and plenty of other things, out along the way to uprooting her life and building a new one.”—Seattle Weekly
 
“Engaging, engrossing, fun to read . . . sprinkled with unforgettable characters.”—Delaware County Daily Times
 
“Laskas exudes a sincerity about her rural innocence that commands respect for her both as a person and as a writer.”—The Observer-Reporter
 
“An amusing and emotional tale, told in loving detail . . . with heartfelt honesty . . . offering many fresh pleasures for any city dweller who has ever dreamed of buying a farm.”—Publishers Weekly

Jeanne Marie Laskas is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestseller Concussion, the basis for the 2015 Golden Globe-nominated film starring Will Smith. She is a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine, a correspondent at GQ, and a two-time National Magazine Award finalist. Her stories have also appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Esquire. She serves as Distinguished Professor of English and founding director of the Center for Creativity at the University of Pittsburgh, and lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

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