what do you think of peter mayle's books on provence?
 

i came across peter mayle's name in the guidebooks i read before we visited provence. out of curiosity, i bought a copy of his year in provence. it was very entertaining, i found myself buying 2 more of his books - tourjours and hotel pastis. do you think his descriptors of provencal lifestlye has some good degree of reality?

I don't know how accurate they are but I thoroughly enjoyed them. They started me on a reading theme about people who leave their homes and move to distant lands. You'd be surprised how many books of this sort there are.

They're a kick, especially the first in the series and then the novel "Hotel Pastis." I picked up "A Year in Provence" in London when it first came out and before it was issued in the U.S.--sat by a pool in Provence and laughed my way through the book. When I got home the book made its way through my circle of Francophile friends, all of whom really enjoyed it.

And yes, Mayles's description of life in Provence is fairly accurate--especially the agonies of organizing house repairs. Our friends in Provence have told us some hair-raising tales. However, I think "contractor's time" is probably much the same anywhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed them. It has been ages since I read them, I should go back and do it again.
They made me want to try moving to Europe .. more than the Tuscan Sun story did.

It's too bad Humpfries of Are you being served is older now, he would have been perfect for Hotel Pastis.

I too have enjoyed Peter Mayles' books, although I have never been to France. "Under The Tuscan Sun" left me so bored, lol.

I have only read one of Tim Park books "Italian Neighbors" but for any of you that enjoy Peter Mayle's books I think you would enjoy the books by Park. An Englishman who settled in Northern Italy, east of Verona with his wife. Quite interesting, informative and amusing.

Loveitaly,

thanks for the recommendation. I have Tim Parks' Italian Neighbors book on my "to read soon" shelf, but I keep passing it over. Now I'll give it a try.

I've read all of Peter Mayle's books and think they are hilarous.

I first read Mayle's "A Year in Provence" just before I went to Provence last year and then couldn't get enough of him when I got back. In preparation for our next visit (in 14 days time!) I have really enjoyed the British actress Carol Drinkwater's "Olive Farm" series and also an Aussie called Henrietta Taylor's "Veuve Taylor" both set in Provence.

I enjoyed the books as well and when we were in the Luberon in 1999, I swear I met his dog (can't remember the name) in an olive grove one day when we were having a picnic! I know that Mayle was not living in the area at the time, but all the same, it seemed perfect!

Alison

ozgirl, I hadn't realized that Henrietta Taylor had written a book. We rented a house from her in Saignon in 2003. She is a delightful woman and offers one of the best renting experiences we have ever had.

Here's her website, for those that may be interested (we rented Rose Cottage): www.henriettataylor.com

And here is a review of her book: tinyurl.com/k4n2l

Anselm

As I looked at that photo of Henrietta on the site of the book review I realized it was taken with Rose Cottage in the background.

Anselm

Hotel Pastis is probably the funniest book I've read. It is the novel he originally went to Provence to write instead of the non-fiction he did first. Chasing Cezanne is also good.

A Year in Provence was great, even better the TV series which brought all the seasons into focus. The outstanding scenery, the kitchen remodelling was the funniest and true anywhere. Their toasting to "guddelp" had me rolling - intrepreted to mean "good help." Or when in the charcutterie everyone who walked into the shop commented on how to and what kind of meat to use for their evening meal!

As to the novel, Hotel Pastis, yes, yes and yes... the best and oh so funny.

I confess... I've got all his books
Tourjours Provence; the one he writes after an absense when he and his DW moved to Long Island for a few years to get away from "it all"...and one on just fine living or its eccentricities.
Make me laugh out loud!

"Acquired Tastes".. is a hoot.
For years now, at Christmas, if a friend has a dog, I've given them "A Dog's Life" and everyone seemed to be happy to get it.
This morning, reminded here, I did a search and just ordered a recipe book (I think) about Bread in France.

I just happen to be reading Le bonheur en Provence. Had to get it in French as my library did not have it in English. I also like Tim Park and I loved Annie Hawes (sp?) Extra Virgin.

Katharine Clifton - is that your real name or are you another English Patient aficionado?

When 'Year in Provence' and the next few books first came out they were not well-received by the French and were not published in Provence, perhaps in all of France. We have been to Provence for 13 years in a row and Mayle's books and the recommendation of a friend were the initial propellants for us to vacation there.

They are published in France now. Mayle is a Francophile, I find his books enjoyable as long as one remembers they are a bit of a caricature. "Prenez ces livres avec un gran de sel". Mayle is an excellent story-teller. We saw him in NYC at a Rizzoli's book signing and he is a most engaging Brit, a former advertising man.

I am told he has returned to France and lives in Lourmarin under his wife's name.

I found them quite amusing and thoroughly enjoyed "A dog's life." Not to change the subject at all but just tried to read Frances Mayes' new book, A Year in the World, and generally found it to be a snooze fest!

It's been years since I read Peter Mayle but when I think back to his books I smile--they are terrific and very entertaining.

I've only read a couple incl. "A Year in Provence" and like them very much. I am also a fan of the video series. I have visited Provence just twice, so no expert, but have experienced the day-to-day of living in another country and I think Mayle nails (no pun intended) the frustrations and humor of it all.

swalter -- funny! I have not read the new F Mayes book, but have found "Under the Tuscan Sun" to be the best sleep-aid I know of. I keep it by my bed and when I occasionally have insominia, a page or two and I'm out.

Someone "gifted" me with a copy of A Year in Provence just after I'd purchase my house here in Provence. As luck would have it, my plumber was Bernard, who delighted in telling me that he had a "lead role" in the book. I kept telling him he shouldn't get too excited until he reads the book in French. Luckily the translation didn't come out until most of the work in the house was finished.... he was not a happy camper.

Now, I'm not saying that Mayle is at fault, but just after he read the book, and just after he'd started work on our pool he had a mid life crisis, left his
wife and bought a Harley motorcyle. He'd zoom into the driveway, look at the hole and zoom out again. Needless to say, our pool was finished four months LATE...

I love the books. Where would I find the video series? Have any of you seen them for rent? Thanks, PJK

I haven't read Henrietta Taylor's book yet but can certainly recommend her rental. We rented Place de la Fontaine last fall and loved it (and Henrietta)!

Found the DVD on Amazon. It is on my wish list. PJK

I believe that NetFlix has the DVD of the series.

"gifted?" your friend chided me for using that expression but I still use it. :)
I have th videos but I thought it was miscast and they come across sort of not that nice as in the book. John Thaw rants throughout. Powell, I met Mayle at a reading under sad circumstances, the Boston Waterstone was closing down and most of the shelfs were empty and he bravely went on to speak to a very small audience.

I find Peter Mayle's books on Provence to be humorous, but rather light--the kind of books you read on a beach, air plane, or train. Having read "A Year in Provence" several years ago, I remember nothing about it, save the French roofers who took wine-swilling lunches. Funny but forgettable. Mayle is no Balzac or Zola.

Mrs. E Worthington-Manville

Anaheim:
Read about Peter's "Year in Provence" and a few months later, in the winter of '94-'95 we decided to follow the "Peter Mayle Trayle" while visiting Provence...what a kick...we went to Bistrot du Paradou, near St.Remy/Les Baux for lunch and had a marvelous time meeting with the locals as he suggested, then a few days later we had lunch at "Gu" in Aix...great...the next day we had a fine lunch with the famous wicker tray full of intriguing condiments at Auberge du Loube in the tiny village of Buoux, whose owner, Maurice, greeted us with open arms when we mentioned his friend Peter..tried to get into Chez Michel, the restaurant he recommended in the little town of Cabriere's d'Avignon, but the place was closed and the owner came out to our car and generously recommended another place in Petit Palais, a small nearby village, which turned out to be excellent..we were all alone (winter!) and Bernard Auzet, the owner-chef, treated us like visiting royalty...a superb evening! So, thank you, Peter Mayle, for a delightful visit along your trail!

Stu T.
P.S. Having just been in Provence, we decided to return to the Bistrot du Paradou for lunch...alas, Peter's book has turned the once very reasonable bistrot into a much more expensive proposition...nearly 50 E's for prix fixe lunch...beyond what we wanted to spend..in fact, only four people were lunching there, while in '94 the place was packed with colorful locals...the publicity seems to have run it way beyond their budgets! Ah, me!

Flygirl..Finally somebody noticed. The English Patient is one of my favourite movies. Definitely NOT my real name. You are very astute.

we just rented the DVD on Another Good Year ( based on Mayle's novel on this English nephew who inherited his uncle's vineyard/winery ) boy were we disappointed ! first, the storyline was so different. i could hardly recognize the plot compared w/ the book. given that book version vs movie version are hardly the same - the movie usually disappoints if one had the book on which it is based. but this one is way beyond this. i wonder if peter mayle approved of this butchering of his work. anybody had seen the movie version? your thoughts?

We enjoyed the first two (and the TV mini series), but got bored with the rest...it seemed like he'd returned to the same well too often.

I thought I'd read somewhere that he's since divorced the wife (Annie?) he was married to in his Year in Provence series.

I found them to be light fluff. I QUITE enjoy the genre, but there's an awful lot of bad writing in it (I don't mean Mayle, tho' I doubt he'll ever win the Nobel prize for literature). It's a shame becuase the good ones are just excellent.

Mimi, Humphries is not only old, he's dead:(

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6429425.stm

You have, however, whetted my appetite for Hotel Pastis.

I've enjoyed the books of Peter Mayle, and the BBC series of A Year in Provence is a real favorite in our house. (My husband and daughter talk about some of the characters as if they are old friends.)

We had a chance encounter with Peter Mayle in Lourmarin this spring, and he was surprisingly friendly. (You can read about it here: http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...682#8151068682)

Our first stay in Provence we rented the Rose Cottage from Henrietta Taylor. The village of Saignon, the cottage, and Henrietta all added to our instant enchantment with the Luberon. I knew Henrietta had written a book, but if anyone knows how to get a copy in the USA, let me know!

Kathy

I'm headed to Provence for 5 weeks in 15 days! I think I must read these!