But the scenery with which they fell in love is not quite like the scenery in postcards. Things need to be done to it, and all of these things involve buying and learning how to use different kinds of tractor attachments. And then there are the neighbors: the sheep farmer who shoots dogs, the curious proliferation of Joe Crowleys, everywhere the hunters. ("Congratulations on your ... dead deer," is all Alex can think to say to them.) Over the year that follows, the two city slickers find out a great deal about livestock, tractor attachments, and themselves; all of which is related in Laskas's funny, warm, conversational style. As she leaves behind her ordered, interior world for one that's gorgeously, chaotically exterior, Fifty Acres and a Poodle becomes much more than just a book about learning to live in the country; it is, in fact, a book about learning to live--dead groundhogs, emotional messes, and all. You don't need your own farm dream to fall in love with this witty and winning memoir, but it wouldn't hurt to look through the real estate pages, just in case. --Mary Park

Product Description
Jeanne 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 — fifty acres of scenery — and living on it are two entirely different matters. With wit and wisdom, Laskas chronicles the heartwarming and heartbreaking stories of the colorful two- and four-legged creatures she encounters on Sweetwater Farm.

Against a backdrop of brambles, a satellite dish, and sheep, she tells a tender, touching, and hilarious tale about life, love, and the unexpected complications of having your dream come true.

The story pulls you in, slowly, but surely, and you find yourself really caring about the outcome of all characters, animal as well as human. I found myself in tremendous sympathy with the author, her bravery, fortitude, insecurities, and all the loves of her life. And, finally, lest things become too serious, the entire story is told with a charming combination of dry humor, sense of wonder, and discovery of self that make it a book hard to put down.

This was a Five Star Read, and I sincerely hope Mrs. Laskas is at home right now on Sweetwater Farm writing the squel.


Heaven On Earth In Fifty Acres   November 22, 2000
 15 out of 15 found this review helpful

Jeanne Marie Laskas has written a jewel with heart in Fifty Acres. A revealing look into the author's life and her pursuance of a childhood dream evolves into a charming and beautifully written narrative that has universal appeal. Everyone imagines doing great things with their lives, few have the tenacity to see them through. Fifty Acres is a testament to living your dream. Laskas has it all: humor, insight and wisdom as she guides you through her journey toward the place she now calls home. This is a must read for anyone who desires country living, even if only in the form of an armchair fantasy. I took this book everywhere with me until I was done, and bought copies for friends and relatives. Let's hope that Laskas has more literary gems to offer her fans in the future.


Heart Warming Story   November 27, 2002
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

This was such a wonderful book, I am so glad that I found it. I am greatful to Ms. Laskas for sharing this story through her eloquent, humorous, highly relatable and at times heart pulling writing.

For anyone who ever had a dream, this is the book that will make you realize that anything is possible. Ms. Laskas' outlook on life is so refreshing. She writes about her life, her relationship with her boyfriend turn fiance and then husband Alex, and their animals with such passion and truth that it is impossible not to keep turning the pages like you would with a captivating work of fiction.

Her animals practically jump of the pages, and having grown up with poodles I could picture everything Marley did. The farm and all the people she and Alex befriend come to life as if they are your own neighbors, and the idea of owning a farm doesn't seem as foreign as it might have before.

I hope Ms. Laskas chooses to write more anecdotes and memoirs. Perhaps a part II of this story. Her words were all chosen perfectly, and the story was charming, fun, and vibrant. I highly recommend it for a refreshing look at life, love, family, and animals.


What a wonderful book!   October 11, 2000
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Jeanne Marie Laskas will make you laugh one minute and cry the next as you take this journey with her. This is a book not just about a farm, but about a woman taking major steps to make changes in her life. You'll meet and come to know an eclectic group of friends and characters along the way. Laskas shows her amazing strength and determination mixed with a childlike wonder that will endear you. This is a book that you will want to share with your friends for years to come.


I laughed, I cried...   October 11, 2000
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Fifty Acres and a Poodle is a charmer. Just as farm living seduces the author, this book seduces the reader with its sly yet empathatic looks at the local gentry -- the livestock, pickup trucks, and hunting culture -- all so foreign to two city slickers. The book avoids being maudlin even though it unavoidably treads into some more serious issues of life and love and health. Highly recommended.