A Good Year by Peter Mayle
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Book Reviews of A Good Year
Book Review: A Terrific Little Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
"A Good Year" is a book I picked at random and absolutely fell in love with. Not even 300 pages, it's a breezy and light-hearted book that is both funny and charming...The cover, which proclaims "perfect for summer reading!" is beyond accurate. The book is about Max Skinner, a ruthless stock market executive, who suddenly loses his job. On the same day he finds out that his beloved Uncle Henry has passed away and Max, being his only next of kin, has inherited his French estate and adjacent vineyard. Despite Henry's wishes for Max to keep the place, Max's best friend Charlie informs him that he has a chance to make quite a bit of money if he sells it. Everything sounds great until Max arrives on the property and discovers a few problems. The first problem is that a man named Roussel and his wife, the couple who live on the estate, are not very keen on leaving. The second problem is that the wine the vineyard produces is a step above poison and the third, most devastating, problem is that an American woman named Christie has arrived and claims to be Henry's illegitimate daughter. As he still ponders selling the vineyard, Max finds himself falling for a local girl named Fanny and discovering that the place might not be so bad after all. The book is not only terrific (although it contains shades of "Sideways"), but it is also vastly better than it's recent Ridley Scott-directed film adaptation. If you've seen the film and don't really see a reason to read the book, look again. This is a delightful novel and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
GRADE: A
Book Review: A great book for a person short on time.
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up this copy of "A Good Year" at my local [...]. I bought it on a whim, not sure exactly why. It was relatively cheap which was a bonus. I set it down in my bedroom and never thought much more about it. Finally, one day, I was looking around for something to read and saw it. Being a little interested and seeing nothing else better at the time, I picked it up and started reading. Immediately, I was hooked. The writing style is on target. The pace is fast, but not hurried. There's no long periods of flash backs, detailed analysis of the furniture and a history of road construction in France. What the reader needs to know is relayed to him/her. What information is required to set the scene is provided. Anything else is left to the readers imagination. In other words, this book is perfect for the reader who is short on time, but still wants the privilige of enjoying a good story. Chapters are divided up into aproximately 10 minute blocks if I had to guess. I've not timed them, of course, but they're short and complete the scene. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story and doesn't have a lot of time to invest in a 500+ page epic novel. I may even rent the movie, who knows?Book Review: An enjoyable literary diversion
Summary: 5 Stars
I was looking for something to read on the plane and picked this book up because I thought it had an interesting setting. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The writing style is clean and the plot not overly-complicated. I thought the characters were believable and fit well into the lovely French countryside setting. I learned a few things about wine, too, but not more than I wanted to know.
It was fun to read a romance from the man's point of view. I also appreciated the easy, light-hearted feel to the story. It was the kind of book I could enjoy in smaller reading spurts as time allowed during my business travel. I will enjoy reading this book again some cold, rainy afternoon when I need a little literary escape.
Book Review: I Loved this book
Summary: 5 Stars
My first Peter Mayle book and I was hooked. I have ready almost all of the rest but enjoyed this the most. Another book that was a good combination of a love story from a man's point of view with humour, wit, a little spice and a great view of life in southern France. I think many men will be able to identify with the main character and the trials and tribunes he goes through in life. Few people live their dreams as this character did but this was written in such a way that everyone could see himself following this same path without stretching their imagination. too far.Book Review: Some Vivifying dialogue
Summary: 4 Stars
What other reviews of Peter Mayle's "A Good Year" neglect is that he comes up with some great lines. How about, "Forgive my lips; they find joy in the most unusual places." Now doesn't that sound like what (one's fantasy of) a French girl would say? There's also, "(I want) a bottle of wine that tastes like you; and a glass that's never empty." Hope I haven't ruined the book for you, but for me, I'd like to have thought either of those characters' confessions up, myself! Mayle challenges - no, he invites - us to do so, even if we haven't inherited a French chateau and vineyard. Enjoy the journey. I sure did.