Pastures New by Clare Balding
Sometimes home is where you least expect it.
PRE-READING THOUGHTS
Expecting a reluctant farm girl, some chaotic sheep, maybe a secret or two, and lots of feelings under all the fleece. Hopefully comforting, hopefully muddy.
POST-READING
As I thought...
Delightfully sheepish in all the right ways. The Welsh setting is lush and alive, the village is full of character (and characters), and Alex is the ultimate city-escapee—witty, flawed, and surprisingly capable. Also: the dog. Iconic.
It surprised me by...
How heartfelt it was. There’s a quiet ache beneath the humor: of grief, of not knowing where you belong, of figuring out who you are when your old life crumbles. But instead of wallowing, the book plants seeds—of community, purpose, and new beginnings.
MUSIC PAIRING
🎵 Featured Song: “Homeward Bound” – Ball & Boe (or classic Simon & Garfunkel, take your pick)
🎶 Vibe Album: Fossora – Björk
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Kate Rusby
VIBE CHECK
🎨 Colour Palette: Slate grey, mossy green, sheep’s wool white
🎼 Soundtrack: Rain on rooftops, kettle whistles, sheep gossip
🌱 Season: Early spring
🌧️ Mood: Rooted resilience
🕯️ Scent: Tea, wet dog, and fresh hay
TAROT PULL:
The Chariot - Labyrinth Tarot
Not for speed, but for determination and direction. Alex doesn’t always know where she’s going, but she learns to steer.
FOR FANS OF:
📚 The Lido by Libby Page
📺 Doc Martin but with sheep and better emotional availability
