Author:Suzanna Clarke
When Suzanna Clarke and her husband bought a dilapidated house in the Moroccan town of Fez, their friends thought they were mad. Located in a maze of donkey-trod alleyways, the house - a traditional riad - was beautiful but in desperate need of repair. Walls were in danger of collapse, the plumbing non-existent. While neither Suzanna nor her husband spoke Arabic, and had only a smattering of French, they were determined to restore the building to its original splendour, using only traditional craftsmen and handmade materials. But they soon found that trying to do business in Fez was like being transported back several centuries in time and so began the remarkable experience that veered between frustration, hilarity and moments of pure exhilaration.
But restoring the riad was only part of their immersion in the rich and colourful life of this ancient city. A House in Fez is a journey into Moroccan culture, revealing its day-to-day rhythms, its customs and festivals; its history, Islam, and Sufi rituals; the lore of djinns and spirits; the vibrant life-filled market places and the irresistible Moroccan cuisine. And above all, into the lives of the people - warm, friendly, and hospitable.
Beautifully descriptive and infused with an extraordinary sense of place, this is a compelling account of one couple's adventures in ancient Morocco.
(Gaff Goddess) should be taught in schools. It's genuinely, hands-on empowering! After four paragraphs I am fully convinced I could build my own house and go on Grand Designs!
—— Marian KeyesAn absolute bible for making your home your own and keeping it that way
—— Emer McLysaghtIncredibly useful and massively empowering, Gaff Goddess will make you feel in full control of your home life. I wish I’d found Laura de Barra twenty years ago!
—— Louise McSharryThere is nothing this woman can’t tell you about maximising small spaces, silicone-sealing a bathroom, cleaning the parts of your home you quite possibly never even considered going at before, and tackling all DIY matters yourself
—— Sunday IndependentIt's absolutely epic
—— Doireann GarrihyThis book is a must for any strong, independent women who don't need no man in the gaff!
—— STELLARGenius
—— Lovin.ieGathered here is the Cork-born Londoner’s fund of home improvement tips and hacks along with a slick visual look by the sometimes-illustrator’s own hand
—— Irish IndependentThe thinking woman’s Instagram go-to for essential tips on all sorts of useful home advice, Laura De Barra’s taught us more than we ever knew we needed to know about how to properly clean a dishwasher filter, fix a faulty window lock and get stubborn marks off bathroom tiles. Hint: they’ll come off. They always come off.
—— Houseandhome.ieWho knew that watching someone descale a dishwasher could be compelling viewing?
—— ImageAccompanied by Laura's beautiful illustrations and her resident humour, it's a useful handbook to get you through any household emergency
—— Image Interiors & LivingA fluent and authoritative account of Europe since the Second World War
—— Literary ReviewAn insightful analysis of the transformation of central and eastern Europe in the decades between the Hungarian revolution of 1956 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
—— GuardianGarton Ash is a clear-headed chronicler of the Continent [and] Homelands is an engaging read
—— Irish TimesAn authoritative big picture well matched with revealing, important human details
—— The TabletTimothy Garton Ash tells the epic story of ... [postwar] Europe
—— Irish TimesExcellent ... Read as a letter, such gemlike vignettes can be treasured. Because in them, Garton Ash has captured something of what it means to be European. Though he is proudly in love with Europe, he is not blind to its faults
—— Washington ExaminerPart memoir, part history and is fascinating, rich in anecdote, and at times intensely moving
—— The Times, *Summer Reads of 2023*A panoramic contemporary history of Europe, in which sharp political analysis is enlivened with personal memoir — drawn from decades of distinguished work as a journalist and academic
—— Financial Times, *Books of the Year*
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