A wonderful read. One of those books you want to go on and on and on.
I was recommended this book by a recent friend who compared it to the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, which is one of my favorites. She described the compilation of characters and, after stealing a few pages, I immediately put it on hold at my local library. She was right – this book is full of whimsy, with truly interesting characters and a world you want to escape to.
Written in 1989, A Year in Provence follows an English expat, his wife, and their recent move to the Provençal countryside. Winning charming reviews from The New York Times and Martha Stewart, it’s easy to see why many have fallen in love with Peter Mayle’s work – particularly A Year in Provence and its sequel, Toujours Provence. Peter and his wife meet a charcuterie of personalities – opinionated construction workers and neighbors with dark affinities, cooks and restaurant owners (frequently in the same person) in homely brasseries – making it difficult to find a dull moment throughout the year. Rarely do I become so obsessed with the setting of a book, but this one definitely had me daydreaming about taking a trip to the South of France soon.
I recently went vegan, so the hardest part of this story for me to appreciate was the local cuisine. I loved the spreads seemingly taking place every other page, with various pâtés and cheeses described in detail, paired with local wines and bread from the boulangerie. An avid lover of fresh bread, I was thankfully able to mostly relate to these shared dining experiences – one of the most integral parts of the story – however even Peter’s character had initial trouble stomaching (no pun intended) the preparation of certain animals embraced by the French. I’d be interested how far I could go in a remote part of the country without needing to force-feed myself rabbit.
My favorite part of this book was Mayle’s gift of illustrating human behavior. Everyday interactions took pages, transporting the reader to the cramped streets of the markets or across the dinner table from neighbors and guests. His descriptions of everyone from young college students to tourists and their mannerisms shocked me in their relatability – especially given it was written over 25 years ago now. I guess even on the other side of the world, in a completely different generation, we really don’t like to change. I found this oddly comforting.
All in all, it was a fantastic book and I definitely recommend – especially if you need something lighthearted to spur your interest in visiting other countries and experiencing new cultures. Again, I think I’ll be keeping the South of France on my radar for a Peter Mayle experience soon and if you read this book, I hope you enjoy it thoroughly!
Penelope Margot 