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Mar 05, 2008

David rated it:

Peter Mayle writes about characters: Monsieur X, the truffle hunter; Massot with his metal detector; Boy, the dog, who ate the seat belt on his first car trip (and who apparently now has his own book, A Dog's Life). In Mayle's hands, the place of Provence and the French language become characters as well. From musing about Pavarotti's dinner to learning about the history of pastis, everything about this book is cheering. I've enjoyed all the other books by Mayle that I've read (A Year in Prov More...

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Jan 03, 2009

Anne rated it:

I meant to read Peter Mayle's memoirs of his transplanted life in Provence in order - but I misplaced A Year in Provence, and picked this one up from my mom. Mayle focuses generally on being an outsider in France (he is British), and how he and his wife go about becoming accustomed to French life, and the quirky adventures and misunderstandings they have along the way. Mayle has a wonderful sense of humor - and reminds me a great deal of Bill Bryson (though a little more refined). Each chapter More...

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May 20, 2011

Cyndy rated it:

After rereading A Year in Provence, my next logical book to read was Toujours Provence, Peter Mayle's follow-up to the wildly successful A Year in Provence. To be honest, while I could remember reading the first book, I had no recollection of reading Toujours Provence and now I remember why.

::: When a Sequel Isn't a Sequel :::

A Year in Provence dealt with Mayle and his wife's move to Provence, near the Lubéron, their struggles with the language, their interesting neighbors, a More...

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Apr 29, 2011

Maia rated it:

This book reminded me of Frances Mayes's Under the Tuscan Sun, another book about a sunny, beautiful foreign place I'd love to live in but unfortunately I'm not there yet. After reading both books, I've decided that I'm going to summer in France and winter in Italy. (That sounds so English upper-class and well-bred, LOL.) The landscape, the weather, the food...yes, definitely, France is the place for me.

Peter Mayle is an endearing narrator after the first ten pages, with a sharp sense More...

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Oct 24, 2009

Xirxe rated it:

Peter Mayle, Brite der seit vielen Jahren in der Provence lebt, schildert in mehrseitigen Geschichten auf zärtliche und humorvolle Art und Weise das Leben dort im Besonderen und im Allgemeinen. Mit jedem Satz spürt man, wie sehr er seiner neuen Heimat verbunden ist: den Menschen, der Natur, dem Klima, dem Essen und Trinken. Bei soviel Liebe wird selbst der in Frankreich bestehende Bürokratismus mit einem zwinkernden Auge betrachtet. Und bei einem Besuch in 'Good Old England' wird klar, dass er i More...

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Dec 05, 2011

Victoria rated it:

Este libro es delicioso, y lo digo porque una de las cosas principales es la comida, habla de cosas que suenan demasiado bien y en verdad te dan ganas de estar en Provenza en verano probando los melones que han sido vaciados por dentro y bañados con jugo de uva y brandy por 24 horas y están en el refrigerador, Un vaso de Pastis: "El mesero vuelve con un vasito, quizá lleno hasta un cuarto si ha sido generoso, y una garrafita de agua. El liquido del vaso se enturbia cuando viertes el agua, s More...

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Jul 08, 2010

Belinda rated it:

I picked this book up from a second hand bookshop and read it mostly traveling to and from places on Sydney's often frustrating public transport system. "Toujours Provence" became a little holiday, or a lifestyle change without leaving everyday life. Less a novel and more a series of anecdotes, without reading A Year in Provence first, I did not know what I was in for. Luckily, I was charmed. Like "Lunch in Paris" by Elizabeth Bard, it wasn't preachy like a lot of books about More...

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Mar 20, 2011

Jaclyn rated it:

I just discovered Peter Mayle last fall when I traveled to Provence, but now I think it's safe to say that I'm obsessed and I simply can't resist anything he has written. (Okay, I haven't tried any of his fiction, although it's on the list.) While Toujours Provence isn't my favorite of his travelogues (that would always have to be A Year In Provence, it's still delightful. And who could say no to more Provence? More truffle-eating adventures, more wine, more silly local antics, more legendar More...

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Feb 19, 2008

Toria rated it:

I really enjoyed this book. Peter Mayle writes about his daily life in Provence. It continues where a A Year in Provence leaves off. It is a great read and really made me want to travel to that region of France. I definitely want to read his other books as well.

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May 31, 2008

Suzanne rated it:

Not quite as good as "A Year in Provence" but almost. Some of the same characters return and we are introduced to new ones. I learned about pigs and truffle hunting. Just a great fun read.

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Jan 10, 2011

Kristi rated it:

This book was loaned to me by my friend Frederique. This is about a English couple who transplant to France and their adventures. This is actually the second book he has written about their move. It is nonfiction and written very cleverly. I LOVED reading about the charactars that he encountered because they are reall and so French. I have read Bill Bryson, but enjoy Mayle a lot more if that says anything about the writing style. The truffle hunter is quite humorous as well as the securit More...

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Oct 22, 2011

Gosia rated it:

Ten sam co poprzednio klimat przesycony słońcem i zapachem wina i lawendy. Ten sam styl pisania - po francusku elegancki i po angielsku dowcipny. Tylko forma jest inna; to już nie powieść lecz zbiór historyjek o powolnym życiu prowansalskiej wsi i barwnych osobowościach jej mieszkańców. Ale nie tylko - jest tu również opis targu, po którego przeczytaniu człowiek zostawia w lodówce tylko światło. Książka bardziej do nieśpiesznego smakowania, niż do szybkiego pochłonięcia. Dla mnie cudo! More...

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Nov 02, 2008

bookyeti rated it:

Surrender to the quintessence of Provence!

A Year in Provence and Toujour Provence, in respective order, chronicle Mayle’s real-life experiences following his family’s (wife and dogs) move from England to Provence. Their pages offer an entertaining and light-hearted narrative of everyday life — the people, the climate, the landscapes, and mainly the acclaimed Provençal art of eating! — from the perspective of a British “long-term tourist” (as Mayle puts it).

The Provence series is usually locate More...

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Feb 15, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

Not as good as 'a year in Provence' but still a very good book. Mayle elaborates on subjects he touched on briefly in his earlier work to the delight of the reader. The subject of truffle hunting is elaborated upon and the reader is introduced to a pig which makes more money in a year than many British corporate hotshots simply by searching for truffles. The subject of food is never far away, and Mayle describes his experiences in a restaurant for French truck drivers where the meals are three c More...

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Apr 06, 2010

Alana rated it:

This one picks up where A Year in Provence leaves off. Instead of going month by month like he did in the last book, Peter Mayle recounts the experiences he and his wife have had while living there. There's more to read about truffles and eccentric neighbours as well as finding gold in the garden and of course more food! It makes me hungry when I read these books! And not for something from a box either. If I can't live in France I have to bring a little bit of France here. I could not bri More...

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Jun 30, 2008

Tom rated it:

This book is an enjoyable follow-up to "A Year in Provence" and goes more into the details of daily life and life's adventures, and frustrations, in living in a Mediterranean country. I can understand the frustration of dealing with the seemingly unfathomable bureaucracy involved in getting anything accomplished and the difficulty for an Anglo in trying to adapt to the "C'est la vie" way of thinking. One drawback for me is what seems a pedantic overuse of French words and e More...

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Oct 03, 2009

Srisurang rated it:

อ่านเล่มแปลของมติชน ชื่อ แสนสุขเสมอในโปรวองซ์ โดย คุณงามพรรณ เวชชาชีวะ แต่ขี้เกียจใส่ข้อมูลหนังสือใหม่ค่ะ

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Sep 13, 2011

Heather rated it:

Another lovely book and fast read! Hurray for Peter Mayle!
each chapter is a short story about life & happenings in Provence.
If you love France or are curious about it I would put this on you must read list. It will want to make you eat, drink wine, take walks and wish that our American lifestyle was slower paced.

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Feb 06, 2009

Heidi rated it:

This was a very fun follow up to A Year in Provence, although it could stand on its own as well. Fun, easy book that is really more a series of mini essays on the author's life, friends, food, and experiences in his small town in the south of France.

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Oct 22, 2011

Gosia rated it:

The same spirit, the same style! These short stories give us a wide range of remarkable characters, appetizing meals and pleasant days in the French countryside. Marvellous!
More on http://lubimyczytac.pl/ksiazka/36919/zaw...

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Jan 27, 2009

Ellen rated it:

More of what made A Year in Provence such fun, but almost too much. He still writes with the same depth of humor and observation, but after hundreds of pages of it, you may find yourself getting a wee bit bored with it. The first book is the best.

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Nov 23, 2008

Sharon rated it:

A tour of Provence in 3 hours. I loved reading about people described as "French peasants": Haiti makes France seem like it should be well past having peasants, and it was good to remember that they're (we're?) alive and well in every country.

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Oct 05, 2009

nooshisooshi rated it:

tasty and delightful follow up of short stories based on Mayle's integration to the life in Southern France. a great read after his first hit A Year in Provence. also fun to read this while sipping rosé, chomping on olives and cheese and staring at the Provencal mountains :)

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Jan 05, 2009

Monique rated it:

Mr. Mayle takes us back to Provence for more of the same. It's a fun read, but because it's more of the same, it's not quite as exciting as the first book ( A Year In Provence). The last two paragraphs, especially, felt a bit like the author had run out of topics and was grasping for a way to close.

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Aug 10, 2009

Jen rated it:

Liked this one, too. It was more random in topic, but interesting nonetheless. Read through most of it before I knew what Toujours meant (thanks Larry!). A good vacation read for anyone interested in Provence!

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Jul 15, 2009

Louis rated it:

I really need to stop reading these travel books as we spent all our money on home renovations this year and wont be going anywhere (pretty sad for a travel agent).Anyhow, I enjoyed this second installment of Mayle's life in Provence.A very quick read (one day) with really enjoyable characters.Oh well, maybe we can make it to europe next summer.Recommended light read for anyone who enjoys other cultures and countries.

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Aug 02, 2011

Tucki rated it:

If you have spent time in Provence, or will spend time, this is a perfect book to read. You will better understand the natives and traditions. I am very fond of both A Year in Provence and this one.

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May 01, 2009

Allison rated it:

I read this book many years ago and thought it was fun. I have always wanted to travel to Provence and Peter Mayle's writing makes you feel as though you are actually there.

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Sep 22, 2011

Megan rated it:

Someone left a copy of this book in the share kitchen I'm using and I read a bit over breakfast or dinner or while waiting for something to cook. If it disappears and I don't finish it, I won't be overly sad but it is a nice light read.

Update: The book didn't disappear and I finished it tonight.

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Apr 16, 2011

Liz rated it:

I think it would have been a good idea to read A Year in Provence first. I enjoyed the book, but it felt like I was missing something. It didn't evoke in me a desire to go buy a house in a village, though.

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