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A beguiling novel of romance, adventure, and tongue-in-cheek suspense set in the South of France, from the beloved, bestselling author of A Year in Provence. Simon Shaw, a rumpled, fortyish English advertising executive, has decided to leave it all behind, and heads of to France to transform an abandoned police station in the Luberon into a small but world-class hotel. On his side, Simon has a loyal majordomo and a French business partner who is as practical as she is ravishing. But he hasn't counted on the malignant local journalist-or on the mauvaise types who have chosen the neighboring village as the site of their latest bank robbery. Slyly funny and overflowing with sensuous descriptions of the good life, Hotel Pastis is the literacy equivalent of a four-star restaurant.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Oreillynsf
It's an entertaining read, and for those familiar with Mayle's style, it will be more than an enjoyable pastime. Now, I prefer his nonfiction, but it's a pleasant read nonetheless. The characters are just as quirky as the real life people he caricatured in AYIP.
LibraryThing member ssfletch
As others have suggested, Peter Mayle books can be an acquired taste, like a nice bottle of Provence Rose wine. However, Hotel Pastis works on a number of literary levels and should be an enjoyable read for all but the most severe Francophobe. It is a vaguely creepy mystery sourrounded by the
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sights, sounds, smells, tastes and joie-de-vivre of Provence. The romance between the two main characters is sensual but believable in that their relationship does not automatically solve their conflicting career paths or personal differences. Pleasantly paced and attentive to detail, Hotel Pastis, is a lovely, passionate tale of romance, intrigue and haute-cuisine. Show Less
LibraryThing member GirlFromIpanema
Picked this up at a bookcrossing meetup. We were going on about how the text was littered with french interjections, and joked about it. I have already been scolded for taking this home by a friend (who hates Mayle with passion).
Of course there are lots of those little clichés about the French and
... And here is the update: Well the end cost the book a star, placing it firmly in the light holiday read category. While I liked the atmosphere conveyed by the story and characters, some subplots were just implausible and somewhat out of place (got to go back to my review of "A Good Year" - what was it I was complaining about?). Will there be something new in the next book?
Of course there are lots of those little clichés about the French and
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about Provence, but all in all this is an enjoyable read. I am about 2/3 through and will be back with an update.... And here is the update: Well the end cost the book a star, placing it firmly in the light holiday read category. While I liked the atmosphere conveyed by the story and characters, some subplots were just implausible and somewhat out of place (got to go back to my review of "A Good Year" - what was it I was complaining about?). Will there be something new in the next book?
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LibraryThing member virginiahomeschooler
This is the story of an ad exec who decides to abandon his life in London to turn an old abandoned police station in a small village in Luberon into a hotel. It sounded quaint. It wasn't. It was just rather boring. It started off extremely slow - nearly 200 pages to get to the part about the hotel,
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really? I kept thinking it would pick up once he got started working on the hotel, but it didn't. In fact, the parts that I was looking forward to, the renovations and start-up of the hotel, were glossed over. There was also a side story of a group of men planning a bank robbery that was completely unnecessary. The book could've been 150 pages shorter, but it still wouldn't have been a good one. I'd skip this and read A Good Year instead. Show Less
LibraryThing member lucybrown
Mayle's Hotel Pastis is the perfect treat when one is wanting something light, but not unintelligent or poorly written. Let's think of it as the thinking reader's bon-bon. Light and sparkling as a glass of Dom Perignon ( not a little of which is quaffed in the novel), Mayle spins an engaging story
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of middle age, top of his game ad exe who is tired of the racquet. Simon chucks it all and with the help of his natty aide de camp, Ernest and his savvy new girlfriend Nicole, he restores an old police station in Provence with the intention of opening a small hotel. Ah, that life was that simple. Before long he is caught up in the not quiet life of the countryside. He finds himself fending of Mafia types, involved in retrieving a kidnapping victim and buffeting an expat neighbor's attempts to discredit the hotel. Not to mention there is a bank robbery with some of the most delightful petty criminals in fiction. Witty dialogue, wry insights, pleasing descriptions of setting, marvelously funny characters. Much fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member lucybrown
Mayle's Hotel Pastis is the perfect treat when one is wanting something light, but not unintelligent or poorly written. Let's think of it as the thinking reader's bon-bon. Light and sparkling as a glass of Dom Perignon ( not a little of which is quaffed in the novel), Mayle spins an engaging story
Show More
of middle age, top of his game ad exe who is tired of the racquet. Simon chucks it all and with the help of his natty aide de camp, Ernest and his savvy new girlfriend Nicole, he restores an old police station in Provence with the intention of opening a small hotel. Ah, that life was that simple. Before long he is caught up in the not quiet life of the countryside. He finds himself fending of Mafia types, involved in retrieving a kidnapping victim and buffeting an expat neighbor's attempts to discredit the hotel. Not to mention there is a bank robbery with some of the most delightful petty criminals in fiction. Witty dialogue, wry insights, pleasing descriptions of setting, marvelously funny characters. Much fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member lucybrown
Mayle's Hotel Pastis is the perfect treat when one is wanting something light, but not unintelligent or poorly written. Let's think of it as the thinking reader's bon-bon. Light and sparkling as a glass of Dom Perignon ( not a little of which is quaffed in the novel), Mayle spins an engaging story
Show More
of middle age, top of his game ad exe who is tired of the racquet. Simon chucks it all and with the help of his natty aide de camp, Ernest and his savvy new girlfriend Nicole, he restores an old police station in Provence with the intention of opening a small hotel. Ah, that life was that simple. Before long he is caught up in the not quiet life of the countryside. He finds himself fending of Mafia types, involved in retrieving a kidnapping victim and buffeting an expat neighbor's attempts to discredit the hotel. Not to mention there is a bank robbery with some of the most delightful petty criminals in fiction. Witty dialogue, wry insights, pleasing descriptions of setting, marvelously funny characters. Much fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
A light read that is deeply satisfying. Newly-divorced man and his valet/butler take off to Provence to relax and recover, only to open up a hotel and restaurant. Mayle's writing is very evocative ~ I immediately wanted to book a flight and stay in the region that Hotel Pastis is situated.
LibraryThing member MrsLee
Simon Shaw is tired to death of the advertising business. He meets a lovely woman in France who suggests he buy an old building, restore it and open a small hotel in Provence. This will be relaxing for him. Right. I've managed a small hotel and it is anything but relaxing! Fun ensues as Simon
I enjoyed this read, it was like a mini-vacation. Nothing stressful, although there are bumps in the road for Simon, somehow the reader knows that this will be a gentle ride. I'm pretty sure one could learn a lot of naughty words in French if one took the time to look up the translations. I didn't, but I don't think I missed anything important to the story.
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discovers this for himself.I enjoyed this read, it was like a mini-vacation. Nothing stressful, although there are bumps in the road for Simon, somehow the reader knows that this will be a gentle ride. I'm pretty sure one could learn a lot of naughty words in French if one took the time to look up the translations. I didn't, but I don't think I missed anything important to the story.
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LibraryThing member PattyLee
Easy, charming and reminded me of many trips to France. Plot a bit fragmented, but tant pis.