Hotel Pastis : A Novel of Provence

Rating:
Summary: Mayle Brings Provence To Your Doorstep
Review: "A Year in Provence" is one of my all-time favorite books. I spent a semester in Aix-en-Provence when I was in college and fell in love with the region . . . and Mr. Mayle does a wonderful job of bringing the tastes, smells, sights, and sounds of Provence into your living room. "Hotel Pastis" is his first (I believe) work of fiction set in Provence, and it does not disappoint. The story succeeds on so many levels, the characters are described so well that you expect to recognize them walking down the street. Mr. Mayle's talent is in creating these characters, and richly describing them so perfectly, without rambling on for pages on end. The prose is never boring, the story is always jam-packed and exciting, the characters always have so many different levels and layers, and they are all somehow interconnected with each other. The book is fun -- you aren't going to find anything serious or thought-provoking here -- and absolutely wonderful. "Hotel Pastis" is like vacationing in Provence -- it is an enjoyable experience, and you will find yourself re-reading it so you can re-visit with an old friend. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Good beach reading
Review: "A Year in Provence" is one of my all-time favorite books. I spent a semester in Aix-en-Provence when I was in college and fell in love with the region . . . and Mr. Mayle does a wonderful job of bringing the tastes, smells, sights, and sounds of Provence into your living room. "Hotel Pastis" is his first (I believe) work of fiction set in Provence, and it does not disappoint. The story succeeds on so many levels, the characters are described so well that you expect to recognize them walking down the street. Mr. Mayle's talent is in creating these characters, and richly describing them so perfectly, without rambling on for pages on end. The prose is never boring, the story is always jam-packed and exciting, the characters always have so many different levels and layers, and they are all somehow interconnected with each other. The book is fun -- you aren't going to find anything serious or thought-provoking here -- and absolutely wonderful. "Hotel Pastis" is like vacationing in Provence -- it is an enjoyable experience, and you will find yourself re-reading it so you can re-visit with an old friend. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Mayle Brings Provence To Your Doorstep
Review: "A Year in Provence" is one of my all-time favorite books. I spent a semester in Aix-en-Provence when I was in college and fell in love with the region . . . and Mr. Mayle does a wonderful job of bringing the tastes, smells, sights, and sounds of Provence into your living room. "Hotel Pastis" is his first (I believe) work of fiction set in Provence, and it does not disappoint. The story succeeds on so many levels, the characters are described so well that you expect to recognize them walking down the street. Mr. Mayle's talent is in creating these characters, and richly describing them so perfectly, without rambling on for pages on end. The prose is never boring, the story is always jam-packed and exciting, the characters always have so many different levels and layers, and they are all somehow interconnected with each other. The book is fun -- you aren't going to find anything serious or thought-provoking here -- and absolutely wonderful. "Hotel Pastis" is like vacationing in Provence -- it is an enjoyable experience, and you will find yourself re-reading it so you can re-visit with an old friend. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable
Review: Discovered Peter Mayle this summer and have already read all his novels. This one was my favorite, the most developed story lines and very engaging characters. You like all the people you come across, even the bad guys! It's true as the other critics said, that it doesn't tie all the ends up at the book's conclusion, but nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable. This is absolutely one I recommend for summer reading reading on the beach (preferably in Nice!) or for winter reading when you want to think about summer!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely enjoyable--but where's the ending?
Review: Found this book especially delightful as it is a fantasy of mine to quit my advertising job and move to the south of France. As usual, couldn't put the book down and had to go out and buy a hard copy once I returned my borrowed copy. However, if I have one criticism of Mayle's books, it's that he doesn't end them. I am always just a ittle peeved at him for not tying things together a bit more. For example, whatever happened to The General and his gang? Did Simon ever fire Zieglar when he got the chance? I felt the author missed the opportunity for some more dramatic storytelling. Even if he plans on picking this up in a sequel, it was still a bit too abrupt and unfinished for the book to stand on its own. Otherwise, it was a five-star read throughout. Found the same trouble with "Chasing Cezanne." We never discovered what happened to the man who orchestrated the art swindle, or whether our protagonists ever made any money off the art exchange for their efforts. Again, it seems like we got left hanging right in the middle of a chapter. Although I do like Mayle's books and will continue to read them, since they provide hours of entertaining reading--until the end.

Rating:
Summary: Good beach reading
Review: Having been transported to Mayle's world of Provence in two of his non-fiction books, I was curious to see how he would turn his hand to fiction. He's a sure hand with plot (especially as it thickens, like a proper French sauce), and I enjoyed his glimpses into another world he seems to know well, the London advertising scene. Enjoyable, light-hearted reading.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book with and ending that fits
Review: I adore this book, and have read it several times. I love the ending as well. It ends perfectly for those who have always wanted books to end differently than they really do. Dust off your imagination and read this book... I hope I can find more books with characters such as "Air-nest"!

Rating:
Summary: The most fun book I've read in a long time!
Review: I don't know what book our esteemed reader from Los Angeles read, but I found this book fun, light and yet hard to put down. I could not wait to find out how the General's little plan worked and Simon was such a fun guy, searching for something better for his life. And Ernst, who could not like Ernst? I just wish I had one of him in my life. I haven't read all of the other books, but you can bet that I'm going to now!

Rating:
Summary: Fiction is more fun than Facts
Review: I first read Mayle's non fiction A Year in Provence and Tousjour Provence and I was snared. Having lived in Europe and traveled extensivly in France it brought back wonderful memories. At first I was reluctant to try the novel, wondering if he could pull off the fiction as well. And Hotel Pastis proves he can do both very well. In fact the novel was even more fun that the non fiction. Light reading, ideal for a plane trip or a similar situation, humorous but with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. A delightful read. Keep it up Mr. Mayle.

Rating:
Summary: What a Good Book!
Review: I loved this book! After the first two pages I couldn't put it down. It is one of my Favorite books.