While in Paris I bought his latest book Paris A to Z. I have not seen it in the U.S. It is a wonderful book. He takes each letter of the alphabet and provides witty and fascinating explanations of words, people, etc. Great read.

Thanks powell, I will add this to the the notebook I keep of books I want to read, I have enjoyed Mayle's other books but had not heard of this one. Best regards.

Okay... here's a trivia question for you Mayle buffs.

What books did he write in the early 1970's (when he had a Beatle's haircut)... and which were more amusing than anything he's done since A Year in Provence ?

Hotel Pastis??
It is one of my favs!
Is there a prize?
Round trip airfare to Provence??

"What's Happening to Me."

Scatch that!
"The Amazing adventures of Chilly Willy."
Powell, he also came out with a book last year Confessions of a baker.
Mr Auzet of Cavaillon who was one year voted best baker in France (we visied there, he is good!)

Lol...I'm taking too many gin baths like my friend thin.
Chilly Willy is a cartoon penquin.
Peter Mayle's guy is "Chilly Billy"
who is a little person who lives in a refrigerator.

I just tried to look for the Paris A-Z on Amazon. The only one they've got, which is pre-order only (coming out October '06) is Provence A to Z.

Is this the one to which you refer?

Thanks.

It is th Provence A to Z.
Does anyone remember the book, "Perfume" by Patrick Suskind?
It takes place in the 18th century around Grasse. I read it's been made into a film starring Alan Rickman and Dustin Hoffman. Strange tale but stranger casting.

Hi Mimi:


Yes, I read that book a few years ago - it is hypnotic and disturbing and a great read.

I'v read Mayle's "non-fiction" and mostly enjoyed it. I thought "Hotel Pastis" was dreadful; apparently this was the book he INTENDED to write when he moved to Provence and ended up writing "A year in Provence" instead. I tried to read his last attempt at fiction, "A Good Year" and I'm afraid I could not get back the first two chapters.

Thank you, cigalechanta. I would like to order that as a Christmas gift.

"Chasing Cezanne" is my favorite Mayle. Also enjoyed "Hotel Pastis" and "Anything Considered." "A Dog's Life" is also good.

I love his stuff. Thanks for the news about the new one. I'll either order it or put it on a list of Christmas present ideas I'm always asked to make up.

Mimi was correct... "What's Happening to Me" and "Where Did I Come From". There was a third in the series (about explaining death to small children) that I can't remember the title of.

Hotel Pastis was based on the Bastide de Gordes, if anyone is interested....

Sorry AuntAnnie... no prize !

Patricia

"A good year" stars Rusell Crowe and should open here in late November.

A hard bound copy of Chilly Billy is going from $200-$700

Interesting CC--I hadn't heard a movie was being made. I read that book shortly after it came out I think and enjoyed it, as I have all of his books. Russell Crowe is an interesting choice. I have the movie "A Year in Provence" and John Thaw had the title role. Don't see much similarity between the two actors! I loved John Thaw--so sorry that he's gone--and enjoy watching the detective series he was in, the name of which escapes me right now (that happens a lot lately LOL)!

Giovanna, I thought John Thaw was miscast. His voice was the same in tone(ranting) as he was in Inspector Morse. I met Mayle at a very sad book reading. Brookstones went of of busines(in Boston) and most of the shelves were empty the night he came to read. There were only a dozen of us to greet him but he carried on under such depressing circumstances.

An interview with Mayle.

http://www.paris-expat.com/interviews/07-04_mayle.html

Rats!

Different author, but does anyone remember the book came out, hmm five years ago where the "travel writer" documented her trip through France by meals, restaurants and includes recipes and such?