The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers: An Unconventional Memoir (P.S.) Paperback – March 22, 2011

What more can be said about THE BUCOLIC PLAGUE that has already been so well stated by all reviewers? Josh Kilmer-Purcell is not only a gifted writer, able to blend beautiful prose with microscopically descriptive situations - both of high comedy and of sensitive insight into the many facets of relationships among human beings (and humans with animals!) - but he is more. He is able to look at the world in which we live from so many vantages that this book could easily be a study of the NOW in the history of the world!The topic of Kilmer-Purcell's memoir is one of high romance, not in the physical sense of the term (though underlying much of his writing is as fine a description of the many secrets of what makes a relationship tick), but in the Big Dream sense. As an ad executive he and his significant other, partner Brent Ridge who is a physician now part of the Martha Stewart television family, have been together for 9 years, living the life of overworked Manhattanites, but spending enough time to take annual autumn apple picking journeys outside of the city. During one of these adventures in autumn bliss they come across rundown Sharon Springs and discover Beekman Mansion, a grand old 200 year old home on a farm - in need of repair, but for sale. Of course they fall in love with the village and the mansion and the farm and decide to enhance their lives by buying the quaint bit of nostalgia. They work weekdays in the city, but spend every spare moment of the weekends to restore the farm, the gardens, the trees, the accompanying goats, and their fellow farmer John. The work is intense but exceptionally fulfilling - until an idea they share (making soap out of goat's milk) catches on, especially with Brent's connection on the Martha Stewart show. The farm and mansion become an internet sales success, but amidst the glories they have wrought by following their dreams, Josh and Brent have communication problems exacerbated by the dip in the economy and the concurrent loss of heir jobs. But as the future looks dim the light of friendship and camaraderie of their new home village overcomes a lot and they get a keener view of the value of 'things' versus 'home'.This book is brimming over with hilarious incidents exceptionally well told by the witty and wise Josh Kilmer-Purcell: some moments with the goats, with New York Times reporters, with the zombie flies, the fellows' first observation of the birth of triplet goats, the preparations of canning, gardening, and party planning are bound to stay in the readers memory long after the book is finished. This is a dazzling bit of writing and a heart-warming story with just exactly the right balance of wit, sarcasm, and warmth that should make it appeal to everyone who's ever pondered a dream. Bravo! Grady Harp, August 10

As soon as I read about The Fabulous Beekman Boys on a friend blog, I so much wanted to see the reality. But here in Italy it was on a cable network and it was a little expensive to pay for a year subscription just to see 10 30 minutes passages. So I set down to buy the DVD as soon as it was available... just to discover they didn't deliver it in Italy (actually in Europe) since it was available only for US. I even tried to buy it on streaming when I was in Mexico, and no, actually it's not even allow in South America... I was starting to resign myself to wait for October, my planned visit to NYC, when last night, I discover an economic format of the DVD (not the 2 disc edition I was moping on) that was available for Europe and of course I bought it immediately (should arrive soon). And since I was there, I went to my wish list and was almost buying the paperback version of The Bucolic Plague when I noticed it was available on Kindle! Yes, instant gratification, what is better in life?Just to not sound as a complete idiot, I should probably explain why I'm so fascinated with this venture of Beekman 1802. I actually tried myself to realize my run from stressful job life change dream, but with no success; my little venture, the first coffee-bookstore open 7.00 a.m. to 2.00 a.m with wireless internet, bistro kitchen in medieval Italian historic centre on its first year of life was featured on the 2 most important travel magazine in Italy, was the subject of a bachelor degree thesis in finance as innovative business and hosted a national television channel showtime for one day... to close after 2 year due to the fact that, in the end, it was not enough to maintain itself and the people working for it. So yes, I'm vicariously enjoying Brent and Josh's success and I wish them all the good in the world, and I'm here cheering for them and their goats, and Farmer John, and Doug and Gareth from The American Hotel, and Sharon Springs and Bubby the bionic cat and everyone in this story.Yes, I'm still eagerly waiting for the DVD to arrive, but I think that now I will see it in a different way; since, from the outside, everything seemed perfect on that mansion, the pictures were wonderful, the recipes just out of an historical cook book, the dream even too easy to realize. I was thinking, lucky them, they are living an American dream (do you know that here in Italy, when someone realizes the dream of their life, we say it's an "American Dream"?), and I'm happy, but also a little envious of them. Then reading the book, I understood that it was not so easy, that they, like many other before them, not only risked their future, but also their relationship. The story has an happily ever after, but it's a "barely" stretched one, and in a way, it's not even so sure the dream will survive its third year of life. True, the story closes before the reality showing them was aired, and now it's at its third season, so maybe, in the end, they managed to survive third and fourth year and they are leading towards always greener pasture... again I wish them all the best.Coming back to the story, even if this is not a fiction book, but more a memoir, the writing style is really easy and flowing, and sincerely it reads without any stopping like many of the romances I love, only that this is real life. There is even a funny story behind this dichotomy between real life and fictional story: way before I heard about the Beekman Boys, I included Josh Kilmer-Purcell on my Top Book of XXI century with his memoir I'm Not Myself These Days. I still remember some years ago going to his website and looking at the pictures of his life as Drag Queen and thinking, well, what an interesting man. It was 2006 and Beekman Mansion was, I believe, not in the picture (pun intended). Years later, browsing another website [...] I firstly didn't recognize the co-owner of the mansion like the memoirist that so much fascinated me. But if you will decide to read the book, there is a lot of him in this story (of course, it's real life!) and in a way, you could read this book as a sequel of I'm Not Myself These Days, just to know what happened to that Drag Queen... it's an happily ever after story (at least until now!).

Brief Description: The subtitle pretty much sums up the book: "How Two Manhattanites Became Gentleman Farmers." After stumbling upon the rundown but filled with potential Beekman Mansion near Sharon Springs, NY, Kilmer-Purcell (former drag queen turned advertising guru) and his partner Dr. Brent Ridge (who at the time was working as "Dr. Brent" for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia) impulsively decide to purchase the mansion and the surrounding 60 acres and become weekend farmers. Their experiences are chronicled in this highly amusing memoir.My Thoughts: This was a such fun read! This is just how I like my memoirs: a writer with a wicked sense of humor, a "fish out of water" story (Kilmer-Purcell's account of transporting a flock to baby goats to appear on Martha's television show was downright hilarious), and celebrity close encounters (mostly with Martha Stewart herself, who Kilmer-Purcell regards with a mix of wonder, admiration, snark and disbelief). Mixed in with the light-hearted and humorous account of their farming experiences is the story of a relationship that starts to flounder due to financial strains and a schedule that leaves little time for togetherness. The fact that Kilmer-Purcell and Ridge ended up making a reality show about the Beekman (called The Fabulous Beekman Boys and airing on Planet Green) after this book was released was a relief to me, as I was rooting for this couple to stay together and continue making the Beekman a successful working farm. A delight from start to finish, I would highly recommend this book to just about anyone.

I had seen the series of the fabulous beekman boys and read Josh' first book. So I was sooo exited if it met my standards. And boy did it ever. The feelings and the decribtions of events were just wonderfull. I would not hesitat to buy any other books written by Josh. Please keep writing Josh.

Josh Kilmer-Purcell needs to live several more lives so he can write several more memoirs. I love his writing style, his narrative draws you in, makes you laugh and cry, he's brilliant.This story is so much more than drag queen meets "Green Acres". It's about midlife and getting older, relationships, finding what is important in life, Martha Stewart, trying, failing, and really what it means to be human in 2010. Loved this book, I couldn't put it down.I'm now trying to think of new endeavors for Mr. Kilmer-Purcell so he can write another memoir, ideas welcome. Josh goes to Africa and becomes a tribe medicine man? Josh organizes gay pride week in Mumbai? The boys buy a china shop in Madrid just before the running of the bulls?I'm hoping we hear a lot more.

Enjoyed it just as much as I thought I would. He's a wonderful writer. Love the series, the boys, everything. Bought this for a friend, since I had purchased the paperback for myself.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Josh, you are certainly one of a kind, intended in the nicest way. I wish I knew you. I normally read non fiction and this was non fiction, but certainly lighter and more amusing that books I normally read. Quick summer beach read. I have a new place in my heart for goats, farmer John and settlers. I have found dreams to be much more difficult when you actually put them to the test. I have quite a supply of Beekman products. Don't like the ones that are fragranced (allergies). If goats like eating weeds, you should let them help you in the garden! Good thing you are both young and energetic. Would like to drive down to see your mansion at Sharon Springs, the countryside, experience the characters, visit your mercantile, etc. Has Martha been there yet?

I first saw these two on The Amazing Race and then learned about their efforts to be farmers. I really enjoyed the book describing their adventures