Rating:  Summary: Hotel Pastis.....Where Do I Check In!! Review: I'll begin this review by giving "Hotel Pastis" a total of SIX stars instead of the obligatory five. Stay with me and I'll explain why. Being such an incredible fan of Mr. Mayle's previous books on Provence I was slighly apprehensive about his delving into the world of fiction. Untested waters to be sure but I held my breath and waited for "Hotel Pastis " to appear at my local book store. When it finally arrived I, without hesitation, picked up my copy and that evening sat down... ready to be disappointed.Obviously, quite the opposite has occured. Looking back over the past few years when I first read this novel I actually have to laugh at my apprehensiveness (ummm... is that a word?). "Hotel Pasts" is, at least for me, one of the most enchanting, funny and in some small, strange way, romantic books I have read in many a year. Mr. Mayle simply makes you really care about the people that populate this book and you truly do want to see an "happy-ending"! The novel is written in an extremely fast-paced mode and moves along with the speed of sound! Never a dull moment! Without going into the plot of the novel, the main character Simon Shaw and his "man Friday" Ernest are both so cleverly drawn and fleshed out that I keep hopeing for a sequel to this work. Especially Ernest, part valet, part confidant, part friend and qualified Rolls-Royce mechanic is simply so fascinating that his character alone is worthy of a book. Obviously,as in any Peter Mayle novel ( and in real life) things don't always go as intended for our "heroes" and that is where the fun truly begins. This book simply has it all...French comedy, romance, bumbling crooks, ex-wives, a malignant local journalist and, perhaps most important of all, the French country-side, in all it's glory. Perhaps, in some way, the villages of southern France are as much of the novel as the characters. Altogether an extemely well-rounded first novel that is as fruity and smooth as a bottle of pastis! Do yourself a huge favor and run to your library or local book store and pick up your very own copy. I've bought countless copies as gifts and speaking for myself have read this wonderful book on 'six' seperate occassions. And while you're at it pick up a wonderful bottle of wine and an an Edith Piaf record. You may not be in France but...you certainly won't be home either! Bon Appetit!!
Rating:  Summary: Beautiful light reading Review: If you are just going on hollidays, go find this book somewhere and take it with you. The characters are realy enyojable and fun. Great summer reading.
Rating:  Summary: Lots of Fun Review: If you want "heavy" reading that makes you think beware of Peter Mayle. His books are more fun than...well...anything! If you love France, food, and a little foul play...then welcome abord. In "Hotel Pastis," Mayle works the special brand of magic that he first showed us in "A Year in Provence." The only book that's ever made me want to leave Italy! For awhile, that is! Enjoy!
Rating:  Summary: Lots of Fun Review: If you want "heavy" reading that makes you think beware of Peter Mayle. His books are more fun than...well...anything! If you love France, food, and a little foul play...then welcome abord. In "Hotel Pastis," Mayle works the special brand of magic that he first showed us in "A Year in Provence." The only book that's ever made me want to leave Italy! For awhile, that is! Enjoy!
Rating:  Summary: I'VE DECIDED TO CHANGE MY ID ON "UNITEL" IN KOREA TO"PASTIS" Review: IN KOREAN, ÀÌ ¼Ò¼³À» ÀÐÀº »ç¶÷Àº Çѱ¹¿¡¼ ±×¸® ¸¹Áö¾ÊÀ» °ÍÀÌ'Ù. ¿ì¿¬ÇÑ ±âȸ·Î ÀаԵǾú'ø "HOTEL PASTIS"' ¸Ó¸®°¡ º¹ÀâÇÏ°í Èûµé ¶§, ¾î·ÆÀÝ°Ô ¼ÕÀÌ »¸¾îÁö' ¼Ò¼³ÀÌ'Ù. ½ÃÁ¾ÀÏ°ü, 1)'Ù¼ÒÀÇ ³«°ü·ÐÀûÀÎ, 2)»óȲ, »óȲ¿¡ °É¸Â' ¼¼·ÃµÈ ¼ø¹ß·Â, 3)±×¸®°í, ÇÁ·Î¹æ½ºÁö¹æ¿¡ 'ëÇÑ ¾Æ·ÃÇÑ ¸Å·ÂÀ» Àß ¹¦»çÇÏ°í ÀÖ'Ù. ÀÌ Ã¥À» Àаí¼, "PASTIS"¸¦ ¹Ýµå½Ã ÇÑ ¹ø ¸Àº¸°í, ±× ºÐÀ§±â¸¦ Áñ°Ü¾ß°Ú'Ù' »ý°¢ÀÌ µé¾ú°í, ¸ÓÁö¾ÊÀº Àå·¡¿¡ ÀÌ·ê »ý°¢ÀÌ'Ù. ¹°·Ð, Çѱ¹ÀÇ Åë½Å¸ÁÁßÀÇ ÇϳªÀÎ "UNITEL"¿¡¼ÀÇ º»ÀÎÀÇ ID¸¦ Á¶¸¸°£ º¯°æÇÒ ÀÛÁ¤Àε¥, 4°³ÀÇ À½ÀýÀ» °¡ÁöÁö¸¸, ¹ßÀ½Çϱ⵵ ÁÁÀ» »Ó ¾Æ'϶ó, ºñ½ÎÁö¾ÊÀº ¼¹ÎÃþÀÇ ¼úÀ̶õ Á¡, ¶Ç, ÇÑ¿©¸§ÀÇ ¿±â¸¦ ½ÄÇôÁÙ À½·á, ¶Ç, ÇÁ·Î¹æ½ºÁö¹æÀÇ ½Ã°ñÀÇ Ç³Ã븦 °£Á÷ÇÑ "¼ÖÁ÷ÇÔ"ÀÌ ÁÁ±â ¶§¹®ÀÌ'Ù. ÁÁÀº ¼Ò¼³ÀÌ'Ù. <J.B.PARK>
Rating:  Summary: What a Good Book! Review: It is really fortunate to read Peter Mayle for the first time while you are visiting Provence for the first time. Such was my good fortune this summer. This book is charming, funny and a great joy to anyone with an interest in London and Provence. Mayle is simply superb.
Rating:  Summary: Total delight Review: It is really fortunate to read Peter Mayle for the first time while you are visiting Provence for the first time. Such was my good fortune this summer. This book is charming, funny and a great joy to anyone with an interest in London and Provence. Mayle is simply superb.
Rating:  Summary: Phoning It In Review: Obviously, my fellow reviewers have been seduced by the warm breezes blowing through the Luberon, into failing to notice that the plot here is flatter than a pissaladiere, the characters have less than one dimension, and many of the plot lines simply fade into the fragrant air of Provence. This is a nothing book, mindless twaddle. Mr. Mayle is competent at non-fiction, but as a fictionalist he has all the talent of, well, a former adman.
Rating:  Summary: A Relaxing Read in Provence Review: Peter Mayle escorts the reader to the Provence countryside in this easy to read, relaxing novel. The story is not complicated enabling the reader to create a mental image of the surrounding scenery. Seated comfortably in a garden setting during a clear Spring afternoon with a glass of wine is how this novel is best enjoyed. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing read in Provence. "A Year in Provence" is another exceptionally written and highly recommended Peter Mayle novel.
Rating:  Summary: A Relaxing Read in Provence Review: Peter Mayle escorts the reader to the Provence countryside in this easy to read, relaxing novel. The story is not complicated enabling the reader to create a mental image of the surrounding scenery. Seated comfortably in a garden setting during a clear Spring afternoon with a glass of wine is how this novel is best enjoyed. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing read in Provence. "A Year in Provence" is another exceptionally written and highly recommended Peter Mayle novel.
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