A Good Year – Peter Mayle

A Good Year – Peter Mayle

I was in a lovely little French village, the sun danced over the lush fields of grapes, I sat and savored my glass of local wine in the shade outside a little cafe as I watched old men playing boules on the village green despite the heat. At least this charming little story made me feel that I had been.

As the story begins Max Skinner is a young up and coming go getter in the London business scene. When he unexpectedly loses his job Max wonders what he will do now and then he gets his second big surprise of the day, his uncle has died and left Max his farmhouse and vineyard in the south of France. At first all Max could think was that he could take a short break, sell the property and land another London job but after a short time in the quiet little village Max finds his thoughts of his London life fading and the absurd idea of his former brother-in-law about going into the wine business growing more appealing. Too bad the wine his vineyard produced was terrible. Max found himself growing more enchanted with the quite little village and the lovely relaxed life he found there. Now if he could just figure out how to stay there…..

This is a charming little story, not serious literature meant to reveal great truths but nice diversion to pass a few hours. There are holes in the plot big enough to drive a truck through, the reader will probably figure out the ending at least halfway through and most of the characters are rather one dimensional stock characters.

A must read !!