The Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell

Book:  The Bucolic Plague: How Manhattanites Became Gentleman Farmers.  An Unconventional Memoir 

Author:  Josh Kilmer-Purcell 

Grade:  A. 

Recommended To:  Everyone who loves Goats, Farmers, Mansions, Gardens

I first fell in love with Josh and Brent when they were on  The Amazing Race Season 21.  They were the gay goat farmers who needed to win so they could pay off their farm and live together again.  I rooted for them the entire time, despite their occasional whining and sometimes faked injuries.  They were the total underdogs and I always root for the underdogs.  Not to spoil anything, but they ended up winning The Amazing Race because they are smart and the final leg was in New York City where they both spent most of their adult lives.

Then,  I found out that Josh wrote a book about their lives on a New York Farm and I've wanted to read it ever since.  This month, on Amazon, the book is only $1.99 as a part of their monthly book deals with 100 books for under $3.99.  I snatched it up on February 1st and read the entire thing in about three days.

I loved this book.  Josh has a voice that I can relate to.  He's very very funny and I found myself laughing out loud on the train during the first few pages of this book.  The book begins with Josh and Brent's purchase of a 200 year old mansion with an attached farm.  They then invite Farmer John to raise his 80-something goats on the farm, start an heirloom vegetable garden, a blog, a soap business (featured on Martha Stewart), and try to keep their relationship together.  The magic of Josh's writing voice is that the experiences he describes could happen to anyone, they are normal, run of the mill life events but the way in which he delivers on his narrative makes this book outstanding.

This is a couple that you want to root for, and not just on The Amazing Race.  These guys are interesting, kind, driven and above all very funny.  They are the kinds of guys that you want to sit down and have a beer with.  They have a great website and blog and I have repeatedly asked the hubs to buy me their 48 dollar, 2 pound wheel of goat cheese as a gift.  (currently sold out).

I high recommend this book as a hilariously quick read.  Plus, its cheap until the end of February!

Happy Reading!!