This is a Memoir/travel book which spans thirty years from the first twelve months working in a Bavarian Health Clinic to celebrating her sixtieth birthday there several visits later. Denise Barnes shares her experiences of the seventies in great style. Then perhaps the tale begins to flag a little with her return visits.
The Tannerhof Sanatorium in the German village of Bayrischzell has a big impact on the life of Barnes, and her zeal for the place and people of the area shines through her writing. The story does ramble a little at times when her visits seem to merge together and cause the reader slight confusion.
100 Year Celebration of Tannerhof Health Clinic
Located just north of the Austrian border, in the picturesque land of Bavaria, this health farm is still in existence today and Barnes was there to celebrate her own birthday along with the 100 year celebration of Tannerhof.
The tale begins as Barnes accepts a year posting in her maternal Grandfather’s country to escape her tedious job; this is the start of a journey that she repeats over the years. Catching up on friends made she finds herself pulled back again and again to this beautiful part of the world.
As her German language skills begin to surface and her cooking takes shape she realizes that it’s far from a job but has become a part of her life that won’t just end after twelve months, and she becomes not a kitchen worker but a health farm guest being waited on.
For a self-published book it’s a charming and highly readable work that would sparkle with a good edit to eradicate the superfluous and highlight the gems.
Barnes has given us a light-hearted tale with plenty of finger-pointing fun at both the English and the Germans – a tale well-told and enjoyed.
The illustrations didn’t do the book justice at all and being limited to the beginning of a chapter only was a blessing.
Overall it’s a nice quality production, presented well, with a great easy-reading layout and what joy – no typos. Although it is a rather expensive buy at £8.99, it’s a tale well-worth the read and to be recommended.
If you know of anyone going abroad to work in a health farm, maybe this book should be given as a present and with a warning – Health farms are addictive, you may need to return periodically for the rest of your life!
Published by Pen Press Publication in the UK in 2008
ISBN 1906206066
Rachel L. Webb - Rachel L Webb lives in and writes mainly about Andalucia. She enjoys exploring the region and shares her explorations through her website ...
