'A Year in Provence' by Peter Mayle

A Year in Provence, Peter Mayle (4.0)

I recommend reading this book prior to visiting Provence, France, as we did. Mr. Mayle’s thoughtful characters and descriptions put you in the mood to experience this relatively rural part of France. Apparently many people even tried to move to the area after reading about his experiences. This airy tale is a memoir concerning the first year of life for the author and his wife as they attempt to renovate an old house in a very small town in the Luberon area of Provence. It’s quite similar to Frances Mayes’ ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’, though with less pasta and more pastis (anise tasting liquor). While some will argue that better travel inspiring books have been written since, this is the one of the first. One regret I have is that I should have paid more attention to the seasons of the famous wind, the mistral, as it was definitely blowing in September when we visited!