A Year in Provence

Advantages: T'was a freebie!
Disadvantages: You know, I don't think there were any?

...again. Would I plump for a Francis? A Koontz? A Mansell? An author I was familiar with? Nah, went for a Mayle. A Peter Mayle. An author and book that I had only fleetingly heard about when John Thaws visual offering of ‘A Year in Provence’ had been a flop. I never saw the program. I had never read any of his work. I didn’t know what to expect? The only reason that this book was in my ‘to read’ pile was, because it was free. In fact, the only reason ...
...It was a travel mag, and while there’s nothing I like better than to spread my wings and leave my native country for worlds unknown, buying and reading travel mags only manage to fill me full of wonder lust. Certainly not the ideal situation when you live in the UK, where it’s cold, wet, windy and a million miles away from the sun. Oh, and broke!! But anyway, buy the mag I did. Read the mag I did. And finally get round to reading the book I did. ... Read review

Advantages: True to life
Disadvantages: For me none

Having lived in a Mediterranean country, my chosen was Spain, and travelled widely throughout France,I found this book hysterical. I felt as if I were back in France or Spain. Knowing the Gallic shrug very well, as I am very close to a French family, I could recognise instantly what Peter Mayle was talking about. The time taken by the French and the Spanish peoples to complete a project is well known. The fiasco with the slab of marble is also very ...
...difficult for them to call a halt. The words "it can't be done" or "it's not possible", do not seem to be in their vocabulary. It must be done! They will not back down. The mistral, the gastronomy, the heat, Tony, the notaire, Faustin, Madame Soliva, I have met or encountered them all. Peter could not have got more close to the life in France. ... Read review

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...make the normal seem absurd and the absurd seem normal. When you find a book which has a couple of tea stains on the front, and a spine which has more creases in it than your average Provence valley has vineyards, you know that your on to a winner. ... Read review