Status
Available
Genres
Publication
New York : Knopf, 2004.
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. HTML:From Peter Mayle, a wonderful new novel steeped in wineâ??and the business of wine?and set in, bien sûr, Provence. Max Skinner is not exactly setting the London financial world on fire?and when his supervisor steals his biggest client, itâ??s definitely time to inspect the vineyard in Provence that his recently departed uncle left him. Heartily and happily distracted upon his arrival by the landscape, the weather, and the food?not to mention the gorgeous notaire handling the estate and the stunning owner of the local bistro?Max almost forgets about his inherited property. Which might have been a good idea, because the wine produced there is swill. But then why, Max has to wonder, is his caretaker so anxious to acquire the land? When a beautiful young woman from California arrives with what might be a legitimate claim on the estate, and knowledge of vineyards that far outstrips Maxâ??s own, the plot begins its twists and turns into and out of truly wonderful complications and resolutions. This is luscious reading?soothing us with the sensual wonders of Provence while it tells a fascinating tale of the hugely lucrative and competitive boutique-wine trade. It is Peter Mayleâ??s most satisfying, most delecta… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
This book is a light, quick read, perfect for a short plane ride or as a "beach book." The narrative opens up with Max Skinner, an overworked young businessman from London, losing his job but finding out the same day that his uncle has passed away and left him a vineyard in France. With nothing
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left to lose, Max decides to try his hand at wine-making and packs up his things to move to France. While in France, he meets a host of interesting characters and stumbles upon a number of secrets. The writing is not superb but nor is bad, and the author makes a point of avoiding vulgarity, which is a pleasant surprise. The characters are not deep, but they are entertaining and you will find yourself enjoying the pleasure of their company as you settle into France along with Max. Show Less
LibraryThing member soniaandree
The story is simple: a Londoner loses his job and goes to the Lubéron to inspect an inheritance. It includes a big house and vineyards. The subject is well treated, light, no frills, and includes the comedy tone of other novels by the same author. Good, light reading, this book should find its
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place in your bag when travelling or on the seaside. Show Less
LibraryThing member salweir
Mayle's first few books were funny, fresh, even insouciant. I liked them, enjoyed them, and read two, maybe three, maybe even four. Haven't read him for a few years. Still, it is clear he is now writing the same book with a few details changed, not a new story, not a new book, really.
I found "Good
I found "Good
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Year" predictable, unimaginative, and boring. Pains me to have to pan Mister Mayle, but this book is a turkey. Show Less
LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
This is a quick and relaxing read, and entirely engaging even if you have seen the movie and allowed that to draw you to the book. You'll have a yearning for french food and a ready glass of wine while reading, for Mayle's descriptions are carefully accurate as well as creative. Wonderfully
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recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member Pool_Boy
While this book was not the most amazing, wonderful and fresh story, it was still enjoyable enough -- probably because I am a wino. While a bit predictable, I still found it amusing and worth the quick read that it was -- just suspend your disbelief a bit and perhaps your knowledge of other Mayle
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books (or similar style books from other authors) and you'll enjoy it too. Show Less
LibraryThing member gooutsideandplay
Boring and pretentious. Mayle should have stopped writing after he published A Year in Provence. This book has all the same elements of his other novels: handsome English twit has stroke of luck because he has inherited a place in France, allowing him to quit his boring real job and run off to
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vineyards and lucious French girls and sunshine. I think I quit after the first 25 pages or so. Show Less
LibraryThing member Fluffyblue
I really like Peter Mayle's writing style. It's light hearted, easy to read, warm and friendly and usually quite humourous.
A Good Year was A Good Read! I had previously seen the film, starring Russell Crowe, so I knew a bit about the book beforehand, but it was quite different to the film. The
The book is about Max, who works in London in the Square Mile. His boss 'steals' a deal from him that he's been working on and so Max quits. Luckily for him (or unluckily for his uncle) his Uncle, who had a mini-chateau in France has just died and he inherits the chateau and surrounding vineyards. There are quite a few different character, Christie, who turns out to be the Uncle's daughter comes to find her father, only to find he has died and that she might inherit the chateau, just as Max is deciding to settle in... There's also the mystery of the 'garage wine' that's been sold for $100,000 per case that becomes part of the story.
Excellent reading!
A Good Year was A Good Read! I had previously seen the film, starring Russell Crowe, so I knew a bit about the book beforehand, but it was quite different to the film. The
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character of Max is a lot more gentle in the book, in fact all the characters are - also the story is quite different from the film version. That said, I enjoyed them both. The book is about Max, who works in London in the Square Mile. His boss 'steals' a deal from him that he's been working on and so Max quits. Luckily for him (or unluckily for his uncle) his Uncle, who had a mini-chateau in France has just died and he inherits the chateau and surrounding vineyards. There are quite a few different character, Christie, who turns out to be the Uncle's daughter comes to find her father, only to find he has died and that she might inherit the chateau, just as Max is deciding to settle in... There's also the mystery of the 'garage wine' that's been sold for $100,000 per case that becomes part of the story.
Excellent reading!
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LibraryThing member LukeS
"A Good Year" is light, amiable reading, endearing its characters to the reader and posing an almost tongue-in-cheek mystery part to round it out. This book is visually pleasing and gently satisfying. If you are in need of an easy and pleasing bit of fluff that won't take too long, try this one. On
I second sweetiegherkin's review of this book, every word. It's more detailed and quite accurate.
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that basis, I do recommend it. I second sweetiegherkin's review of this book, every word. It's more detailed and quite accurate.
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LibraryThing member GirlFromIpanema
I just finished this today. I read a German translation, so that may colour my perception of the book. This book has recently been made into a film to be released in November 2006, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe as Max Skinner, the investment banker-turned-winemaker.
I just
I'll still have a go at the film, because I like the stuff Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe have done so far.
A good read with the same premise (from London to the Downs to build a winery) is Gay Biddlecombe's "A Vine Romance" (ISBN: 0330327674).
I just
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hope that this is a case where the film is better than the book, since I wasn't impressed that much by the book. Apart from some hilarious lapses in translation ("elbow grease" to "Armschmalz"? Puleeeze...), at no point did I feel pulled in by the story or the characters. There's not enough information about the winemaking to get me really interested and the romantic angle also isn't really explored. The denouement of the plot felt tacked on; you've got a story about a winery in some godforsaken nest in Provence, and suddenly there's Big Crime looming... I'll still have a go at the film, because I like the stuff Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe have done so far.
A good read with the same premise (from London to the Downs to build a winery) is Gay Biddlecombe's "A Vine Romance" (ISBN: 0330327674).
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LibraryThing member holt1026
A good yarn, nut the ending didn't work for me.
LibraryThing member sturlington
A British man in a dead-end job in London gets fired and, on the same day, inherits a vineyard in Provence — that is the premise for this light novel. It was entertaining enough, but a trifle fluffy for my tastes I wish more of the narrative had been spent on wine and food, and less on silly
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conspiratorial plots and even sillier romances. Show Less
LibraryThing member Harrod
True to form Mayle. Most enjoyable.
LibraryThing member krizia_lazaro
It was an easy read, so easy that it does not really have a well-thought of story. It was average and bordering boring. There was no clear, real, exciting plot. If you like wine maybe you'll like this but this book is not for me.
LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
A great story which conjured images of the village life, the strangeness of farming grapes and all the intricacies of making a famous vintage. I never did like that the crooked lawyer and the venal wine merchant escaped with ill-gotten gains that belonged to Max, so my overall feel for the story
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was shadowed. Show Less
LibraryThing member ParadisePorch
Guy inherits farm in France just as career dives. Moves to rural France, with no money worries, and grows crops, has animals - everyone's dream. Sort of a fictional account of 'A Year in Provence' by the same author. Mundane in that regard, but relaxing to read.