A Good Year

Entertaining, funny, superbly written, and superbly read. Mayle at his best.

This is a very well written book that's resulted in an excellent audiobook. The story is so well constructed and the details so well described that you become a part of it. The reader also does a great job.

Although not necessary, if you enjoy wine you'll find this story much more enjoyable. It centers around an inherited winery and some strange happenings.

A delightful listen with descriptions and dialogue that made me laugh out loud. Peter Mayle pokes fun at the English, French and Americans through his knack for creating characters that are both stereotypical and believable at the same time. You may not know people exactly like these characters, but by the end of the story you?ll wish you did.

My wife suggested I read this book so I did. It was an enjoyable listen. What I enjoyed most was listening about small town life, it could have been anywhere, this happened to be in France. Living in the city, dropping out and living a life like this is attractive. Not being a French speaker most of the French in the book went over my head but I still felt I knew what was going on. It protrayed the French in a friendly light, not something you always get. The wine perspective was interesting. I think mostly for me, I grew up in a small town myself, I understand all that goes with that and this book brought some of that out. It made me think a trip to Provence at some point might be quite fun!

I found this purchase completely worth while! I wasn't very keen on the narrator, but he does great accents and soon I was hooked. This novel took me away, as good books should. The movie seems like ridiculous fluff after having read and listened to the novel.

Very evocative of its setting - I could almost feel the sun on my back as I listened. A good little plot/mystery, interesting characters and fab narration.

I think my title says it all. Mayle continues to entice me to listen without too much adventure, though there is certainly some suspense towards the end of this novel. His works help clear away the realities and think about another, enviable life in Southern France. The characters are sympathetic and humourous, and though it's not too original I really enjoyed listening to this book.

Both my husband & I were captivated by the movie which inspired our purchase of the book. John Lee's wonderful voice added greatly to the book's ability to transport us into a delightful world of eccentric and lovable characters; we tasted the foods, delighted in the wines, felt the sun, and were cheered by the dry humour all the while commuting to work in a rainy and chilly Canadian summer. We are looking at ways to bring the tastes and experience of Provence into our own home. We will be certainly going back to this book again and again and when we get the opportunity, we will vote for John Lee as a favourite narrator (I enjoyed him every step of the way through the unabridged Pillars of the Earth as well!)

Yes, a nice inside view of the French countryside.

Yes, for light enjoyment.

Crisp easy listening

Possibly, the characters could be carried over in more depth.

Relaxing and fun.

The plan to trap the wine merchant.

I felt like I was listening to the character in the story.

Yes

I read anything with Peter Mayle on the cover. Fiction or non, he tells a great story.