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!