My Half Orange
A Story of Love and Language in Seville

It is a well written, funny and lovely book that shows the love of John Julius for Seville, his wife (Half Orange) and his children. It was delightful to see my home city from a foreigner's point of view. Loved how he describes his wife's view of the North American culture and their differences, whi......more

My Half Orange is a book that deftly explores what it can mean when one embraces a new place, a new culture, and a new language … and the benefits that come when one does so with an open heart and mind. Reel moved to Sevilla expecting adventure, but not until he fell in love with the language and wi......more

I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this memoir. I didn't want to put it down, and read it so quickly. You will fall in love with the story of his life in Seville, what brought him there and what anchored him there. Both intimate and comical, the narrative transports you to living a full life a......more

Whimsical and Profound John Julius Reel welcomes the reader into his memories and gives an honest account of life's transitions. When Reel decides to move from the US to Spain, we see him learn to cope with the gravity of that choice: learning a new language, falling in love, becoming a father, missi......more

As an English expat living in Seville, this memoir was always going to appeal to me — but I didn’t expect it to be quite so warm, insightful, and beautifully written. In a genre crowded with travel memoirs, My Half Orange stands out. John Julius Reel not only paints a vivid portrait of the Seville I......more