The simple life - Lauren Wells

Would you swap the company BMW for a third hand van? Eight pairs of Manalo Blahnik mules for a pair of wellies (and not even green ones, at that)? Would you know what to do with a vegetable that didn't come wrapped in plastic? Lawrence Langland has had enough: of watching his tongue and playing corporate politics, of school fees and fifteen hour days - he wants out, to a simpler life as a small holder, a hippy, an apple-grower. Amazingly his wife Isobel, a woman whose key ring (gold plated) says `Born to Shop', has her own reasons for wanting to escape from their cosy suburban rut (paranoia in Marks and Spencer being the least of her problems) and embarks on country life in a tumble down cottage with alacrity. Eight-year old Jacob is in seventh heaven - he'll have to leave his horrible boarding school, but Dory needs more persuading; until she realises that there are boys in the country too...Lauren Wells's wise, witty novel explores the pleasures and pitfalls of striking out on your own, as the Langlands reap the consequences of daring to be different. Making the decision was the easy part, can they cope with the reality?