A Good Year by Peter Mayle Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of A Good Year
Book Review: Wine, south of France, romance and mystery - all in one
Summary: 5 Stars
Peter's novel of the blackmarket of wine industry with a little romance on the side with all his best character description. He is in his element with my favorite Mayle book yet!Book Review: Reading Cotton Candy
Summary: 1 Stars
Once one passes a certain age, one usually eats cotton candy only rarely. It is a silly confection that may satisfy a temporary sweet tooth, but certainly cannot satisfy an appetite. Thus it is with Peter Mayle's most recent book, A Good Year.
At this point even casual readers know of Mayle, the former London-based advertising exec who chucked it all for the life of rustic splendor in Provence, and who turned the experience into a cottage industry of books, both fiction and non, all set in that charming corner of La Belle France. Having read all of Mayle's previous works, it was with something of an appetite that I sat down to read A Good Year, only to find that, alas, it was a mere confection. Now, this is not to say that Mayle was ever, or ever will be a Hemingway, Steinbeck, or Kaplan. But he has been known for a certain charm in his nonfiction -A Year in Provence, his first book, was perhaps one of the most charming books written in years- and his fiction, particularly Anything Considered, at least engaged the reader and delivered what the Brits would call a jolly good ride. Unfortunately, A Good Year may have been good for the improbable central character, but for the rest of us it is, as best, a few good moments.
The story, set as usual in Provence, finds one Max Skinner experiencing one of those convenient twists of fate that only Hollywood and romance novels seems to find at all believable, as he is ignominiously cheated out of a livelihood at lunch, only to inherit a French ch?teau and vineyard before dinner. The following third of the book is vintage Mayle, as Max -who naturally speaks fluent French- meets and charms the locals, and begins to fit into the Disneyesque charm of the little village of Saint-Pons. Thereafter, Mayle actually sets up something of a small mystery, as Max's initially charming French attorney, his vin master and his oenologist all seem to have some deep dark secret. There is even a hint of international intrigue as unscrupulous Asian wine merchants murmur outrageous numbers to multimillionaire customers. But the mystery is both too small to engage the reader and too easily disposed of to amount to any sort of payoff for the few who might care. Indeed, Mayle seems so determined to zip to the And-They-All-Lived-Happily-Ever-After ending, that the reader almost suspects even he got bored and decided to put the whole thing out of its misery as quickly as possible.
True to his usual form, however, Mayle taunts the readers with constant references to the items on the menu; as in all his previous books, this once again truly does appear to be his central focus. His real intent in writing these books, one suspects, is to figuratively stick his tongue out at all his former countrymen and say, "Nya, nya...I'm enjoying all this luscious food, and you're still there in the rain eating cold, boiled mutton." For me, this only added to the book's disappointment: the more of these culinary descriptions I read the hungrier I got, but found that all was offered was an airy bon-bon that could satisfy no real appetites whatsoever.
Book Review: A fun way to soak up the Provencal life!
Summary: 3 Stars
Peter Mayle's latest novel is charming and light-hearted and makes for the perfect beach read! His witty prose and colorful characters surely capture the attention of the reader even though the plot is somewhat underdeveloped. The many facets of Provencal life, however, are as delectable as ever, which is likely why Mayle continues to captivate his readers. So pick up a copy of this pleasing little novel, pour yourself a spot of pastis, and indulge your senses in a little of that good Provencal living! Book Review: "A Good Year" is a good read!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a fan of Peter Mayle's, and over the years two things impress me. He is the dean of Mediterranean travel writers, and his quality is very consistent. "A Good Year" is a good read. Mayle weaves his fiction in this book almost as well as his original travel narratives. He spins a nice fictional tale about a young British businessman who has principles and is willing to take a risk. The plot keeps you guessing, and the descriptions of life in Provence (as always with Mayle) are delightful. This is good light reading. I never felt like "I want the book to be over." Good entertainment!Book Review: Perhaps my last Mayle novel
Summary: 1 Stars
I picked up "A Good Year" with some hesitancy since I was already weary of Peter Mayle's hardworking-Brit-turned-Provencal-homeowner formula. But I was in an airport and I figured, what the heck, it should be a comfortable read if nothing else.
It was nothing else. The characters were obviously recycled from previous books (some even down to the name - e.g. Fanny), and all were no more developed than quickly sketched caricatures. Even his rendering of Provence, which is usually described with geniune enthusiasm, was dutifully trotted out like an old show horse that is made to perform the same old trick. Yes, yes, yes Provence is warmer and more laid-back than in England, and yes, the men (not women) play boules and drink Pastis, and yes, one eats a lot and well in Provence. We've heard it all before - and in the exact same way.
Perhaps if this is your first Mayle you'll be more forgiving of the flat characters and lame plot since the idea of running away from fast-tracked city life and living in the warm sunshine of Southern France is appealing all on its own. But if you've already read the "Year in Provence" series and are looking for more, don't waste your money or time. You're being suckered.
Unless Mayle comes up with something new to say, or, at the very least, a different way to say it, I'm done with him.