About this title: Mayle's humorous true story of his attempts to make a home for himself in the south of France after he fled his advertising job in England.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
"A delightful tale of an English couple's first year of owning, and renovating, a home in Provence, France. They learn some french, get to know some local people, come to terms with the lifestyle (centered around food, not just food, but great food) and the customs of the people. Hand signs and body language add refinements to mere words, especially when promises for completion dates are being, apparently, made. The tale is told in twelve chapters, each of a month, from January to December, from the harshness of winter with the cold winds, through the home renovations, the joys of spring and summer (with its mandatory visits from people from back home, to the celebration of Christmas. And of course, the food, the central theme to life in Provence.."
"Peter Mayle takes the reader through his first 12 months of moving to and living in Provence while employing his unique brand of humor and wit. I can't tell you how many times I actually laughed out loud while reading this book, even picking up the phone to call my daughter to share a laugh and read some of the passages that were written with such a sense of humor that his books will keep me coming back for more. As there are a number of additional titles in this series presently sitting on my shelf that I've picked up along the way, I'm excited to have more of Mayle's storytelling to enjoy. Punctuated by intermittent use of the french language throughout the book to add a bit of authenticity to his storytelling, this book is also a great source of geographical and cultural information regarding the Provencal region and other areas of France. Fantastic summer read with a glass of your favorite wine!"
I do not believe that the author intended to write a book with a plot. Nor do I believe that he intended to provoke our sympathies by simply recounting the various day to day activities of renovation of the house and exploration of the country. There was no underlying tone of "feel sorry for us". I did, however, find myself thinking, may I be so lucky as to have the problems faced by this obviously wealthy couple.
He did what he set out to do, kept a simple and entertaining diary of his first year in Provence. And good for him, dammnit! It was escapist without being mindless. He perfectly described the sights, sounds, tastes of his new home, to tantalizing effect. It was not great literature, it did not address any underlying cultural issues. It was just fun."
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