Rating: 
Summary: disaster
Review: I don't know that i've ever read a worse book. Stupid, unexciting plot; flat, cookie-cutter characters; a lack of deeper themes or messages. I've never read Peter Mayle's other works, but I expected a whole lot more from a bestselling author.
Rating: 
Summary: Best modern mystery I've ever read.
Review: I enjoyed the author's command of the scenes of France, particularly Provence, and Manhattan. There was also a comfortable balance between romance, mystery, and adventure.The four heroes were engaging and intelligent. They were people I would like to have as friends. The villains were really evil, except for the bad luck hit man who provided what little comic relief there was to this story. Finally, I enjoyed the way the author brought together many threads into one satisfying denouement. Overall, simply an educated read in which good triumphed and you met likeable characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Light and Entertaining
Review: I enjoyed this book on tape. The characters are all very colorful in their stylish upper crust manner. It gives you a sense of what people are like in the art world.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun, and Funny, Caper in the South of France
Review: I have to admit, I enjoy Peter Mayle's nonfiction musings on Provence more than his novels. His travel books are classics; his novels are all lighthearted, fun highjinks that put a smile on the face of all but the most cynical. No, are aren't undying literature, but sometimes undying literature is just not what I want. This wonderful little book is a very welcome diversion from the stress of the real world, a sweet and charming "time out," a carefree litte romp through the south of France. Mayle's writing in Chasing Cezanne is every bit as good as in his classic, "A Year in Provence." His descriptions are just as perfect and he has captured the essence of Provence in an extraordinarily enjoyable manner. If you're looking for lighthearted highjinks with a fine mixture of mayhem and fun, then this might be the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Amusing, entertaining, light reading.
Review: I listed to the audiotape version. It was pleasant entertainment during a very long commute. The island accent that the audiotape had for the main female character was slightly annoying. Amusing and entertaining light reading; not a work of truly great literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Chasing Cezanne
Review: I loved A year in Provence, and Toujours Provence. Hotel Pastis left me a bit cool. I bought this a while ago and let it sit for a while, until last weekend. Chasing Cezanne returns you to Provence with its many dashes through Nice, Aix, St Paul de Vence, and so on. You get to taste the tastes, smell the smells, and generally enjoy the French Riviera as a backdrop to this not-terribly-plausible story line. Characters are somewhat awkward, and the plot is contrived, but the writing is fun and light. This is a quick read -- with little effort a sunny weekend will allow you to take a mental vacation to France!
Rating:
Summary: Fake Cezannes and Frou Frou Fiction
Review: I loved Mayle's "A Year in Provence" and "Toujours" and based on the pleasures of reading those two books picked up a $4 remaindered paperback edition of "Chasing Cezanne." What a disappointment! The characters are two dimensional; all dialogue is stilted and hackneyed. The plot is a fallen soufle. Mayle should stick to what he does best: non fiction travel writing.
This book gets one star and that's for Mayle's brief, veiled appearance in the character of Andre Kelly when he makes his prounouncement on "The French Paradox."
Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: I thought this book was really fun and entertaining. It's been a few years since I've read it (I have all of Peter Mayle's books), and I think I'm going to reread it and enjoy it all over again. Those who think it's clumsily written are missing out on its sheer entertainment value. I thought it was great. I'd write something more specific, but don't remember enough details. Maybe I'll come back after the reread! But I would definitely recommend this as a fun departure from Mayle's typical "here's what I did with those silly French people" approach.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a best seller?
Review: I was so excited to get this book, expecially when the librarian told me that is was so marvelous. I kept reading the book expecting it to get better. I think it would have made an excellent short story. The character development was minimal and except for the descriptions of the gourmet meals unimaginative. You can skip this selection
Rating:
Summary: clumsy and hastily penned Mayle
Review: I've enjoyed several of Mayle's other books, but this one is an amiable clunker. The mystery plot is buried under the guise of globetrotting and eating good food. The book would have read much better without the dumb chase scenes (the "hit man" following our narrator) and with more meals. After all, it's mood, ambience and food that Mayle specializes in, not characterization and plot, both of which are sorely lacking. This book is so mediocre that it's not even a good beach read. You won't care much what happens in this "art" mystery because the plot is so thrown together. One gets the feeling his editor said, "Okay, we need a book in a week." I won't hold it against Mayle since his other books are much more charming, but this one is almost totally devoid of this usual charm.
| 
