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Summary: Truffle Poachers? A Fast-Paced and Fun Read
Review: "Anything Considered" is a fun story of a jack-of-all-trades looking for work, who stumbles into a sticky situation with truffle poachers in Monte Carlo.The first sixty pages are a bit slow setting up the premise: Julian Poe, a hideously wealthy Englishman living in France, hires Luciano Bennett to live in Monte Carlo and pretend to be him so that Poe can avoid paying taxes as a full-time resident of France. In his first week at Poe's Monte Carlo home, Bennett botches the delivery of an important package meant for Poe, and this is where the real story picks up and starts running. The package meant for Poe was a secret formula for growing large black truffles, but it ends up in the hands of Italian poachers. The Italians decide to hold an underground silent auction, inviting other seedy poachers to bid on what could help them corner the global truffle market. While wholly improbable and fantastic, "Anything Considered" is a terrific read, simply because it is light, fast-paced and funny. If you find yourself too stressed for the melancholy of Goethe or the intensity of Proust, this is a good diversion for taking a breather, running yourself a nice hot bath, and forgetting the troubles of the day. And, of course, it's a must-read for anyone with a taste for truffles . . .
Rating: 
Summary: Very engaging - excellent plane reading
Review: "Be careful what you ask for." How many times have you heard that from your mother? Obviously the main character in "Anything Considered" did not hear it enough times--and he found it out the hard way.
I was just finishing a book the night before a flight to the west coast and picked up Peter Mayle's latest so that I would not be without diversion. Two flights and eight hours later, I found myself looking at the last page wanting more to read (but oh so happy to be getting off of the airplane).
"Anything Considered" could find itself in the local movie theatre near you very soon. The story is a three week look into the life of a not very well prepared guy who finds himself without a job or money to support his lifestyle. So he writes an classified ad in a local paper and selects an opportunity.
In less than a week, the character is living it up on the south of France and looking forward to a great summer - postponing the tough life decisions he has to make. What comes next surprizes him and pulls you in deeper. Intrigue, cross-border chases and a bit o'romance decorate a throughly enjoyable read.
Whether you are looking for beach or plane reading, this is the page turner for you.
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Summary: Especially if you daydream about a European lifestyle...
Review: ... this title will indulge you richly. It was categorically cinematic - each page plays out like a scene in the mind's eye. Having just read some not-so-light novels, I was surprisingly just as interested in this light read, and rather enjoyed myself.
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Summary: Splendid little book about an Englishman in Provence
Review: A bit of mystery surrounding truffles, some intriguing characters, and the French Riviera mix up together in this Peter Mayle book about an Englishman who places a notice in the paper advertising his availability to do just about anything. He soon gets a response from a mysterious millionaire, who is in need of some English speaking assistance. I won't ruin the book by going any further, but this is a hard one to put down.
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Summary: When is the next flight for France?
Review: A fabulous page turner. Mayle makes me want to hop the next flight for France in search of the lavender-colored hills and mouth-watering cuisine he writes about.
What a bunch of characters in this book! Tuzzi is such a buffoon! A laugh riot! Onto "A Year in Provence" for this late-comer of Mayle's (but so glad I discovered him)!
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Summary: DANGER, ROMANCE, & LIFE OF LUXURY RESULT FROM PERSONAL AD
Review: A man has the adventure of his life following the placement of a personal ad asking for employment. He gets the job offer of
his life - complete with travel, money, and the ultimate in
luxurious surroundings and culinary creations. Yet, you knew
it was too good to be true - the world's best job has a life-altering cost.
The story is a satisfying snack, curbing your hunger without
making you regret digesting it. It WILL give you an urge to
max the credit card to travel to France, or at least to dine
at the nearest 5 star restaurant. Wish the adventure was mine.
Rating:
Summary: A joy to read !
Review: A thoroughly enjoyable book. Get yourself a glass of wine and sit in a nice cozy chair and let Mayle take you off into a fantasy world of French countryside, food, money, lust, and iintrugue. It is like taking a vacation without leaving home. I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Loved this book!
Review: Another great book by Peter Mayle. (It is also wonderful to listen to, as are all books read by David Case. He does a great job at the various English and French accents.) Very entertaining & hard to put down!
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Summary: Great Book with lots of twists and turns
Review: Anything Considered is written very well. Another great masterpiece from Peter Mayle. The idea of a poor Englishman on an adventure in France is riveting. All of the characters are well thought out and descriptions are wonderful. This is my first Peter Mayle book and I am hooked on his writing. It is different from the normal fiction that I read, but it is a very, very welcome change.
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Summary: Lighthearted mystery
Review: Anything Considered was so much fun to read. It was a mystery that in another author's hands might have been dark and sinister. There were a lot of twists and turns that I was not expecting, and in some places I laughed out loud.
The descriptions of the South of France and the food the hero of the story eats are fantastic. They made me want to pack up and visit the South of France right away, and if I had to deal with some unsavory characters in order to go there, I would be more than willing to do it.
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