Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France

I give the book three stars because it is still informative, but I didn't have interest in the information given. A Year In Provence was more interesting and fun to read. This one and the second one are not in my eyes interesting and worth reading.I believe the author should have stayed writing about his life like he did in his first book on Provence. If you are looking to learn about life in France in Provence, the first book: "A Year In Provence," I believe it's enough on information.I wish I didn't buy the last two books.

If you have ever visited Provence, reading "Encore Provence" will ensure a flood of pleasant memories. Homesick for Provence, Peter Mayle leaves his home in America (he is originally from England) and returns to his true love, France.What really keeps the French trim and healthy? What prevents olive oil from quickly turning rancid? How can you ease a sore throat with lavender essential oil?Peter Mayle answers these questions and more. His writing has a rare warmth and his descriptions of restaurants makes you want to experience every nuance. Whether he is visiting a distillery or explaining the process of buying a house, he tells the story with a sense of adventure.Since Peter Mayle loves to watch people more than TV he provides some interesting descriptions of village inhabitants. He tells his stories with a sense of relish and he even made Marseille sound more exciting. This book made me wish for another bottle of olive oil I found in Cassis on a weekend trip I made to Provence. It also reminded me to buy another bag of Fleur de Sel.I can also recommend:  A Year in Provence ~The Rebecca Review

A Year in Provence literally changed my life. I took French in high school, but I was unaware of the French people, food, and lifestyle - until I read Peter Mayle's lively and enjoyable books. He must have the dream life of living in France, drinking French wine, eating fresh seasonal foods bought fresh from the growers, and then getting paid for telling about the experiences. Such a tough life! Encore Provence is a worthy follow up to A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence. Mr. Mayle writes in a humorous, tongue in cheek fashion, and never fails to convey interesting tidbits and experiences. I love his accounts of local characters, the French mentality, the local food and restaurants, and unexpected everyday occurances such as hornet's nest, fires, sheep herders, truffle poachers, etc. He tries to portray himself as a curmudgeon, but I feel that he has a good heart, and his bark is worse than his bite. I highly enjoyed this book. It is easy, hammock or seaside, reading fare. If you liked his other books, you will definitely love this one as well. Viva la France and viva Peter Mayle.

enjoyed it anthropologically speaking ... purchased and read the book,then checked out the audiobook from the library ... an English man's reader voice painfully supercillious and affected... unbearable to listen to more than a few minutes...whoever approved this particular reader should be moved to another department... lack of judgement, lack of taste and empathy which the original voice of Peter Mayle had in spades ... avoid audiobook at all costs...

Just finished reading this while spending a week in Provence on our thirtieth wedding anniversary. We spent a week in Provence on our honeymoon in 1984 and fell in love but as an engineer I did not return to buy a house and write a book. Life can be so unfair! Peter describes the region well and with humor and understanding. Hopefully we won't wait so long to return again. Our friends, 3 other couples from California, had never been here before and are even more captivated by the charms of Provence. Reading peter will bring back this experience as we all return to real life.

First of all, I always enjoy this author's work and "Encore Provence" is no exception. It is whimsical, funny, heartfelt, and it shows Provence in a way that most can enjoy. What I cannot understand is how the editor, or the person responsible for formatting the e-book could have allowed this mess to be published. I am only half through the book and already there are dozens and dozens of mistakes. The conversion to e-book format turned French words into an amazing assortment of indecipherable non-words and words with symbols like "?" inserted in the middle. This book should be immediately un-published and fixed. It is an insult to a wonderful author, and to any of us who purchased this poorly done work.

For those who have enjoyed Peter Mayle and his benevolent observations of his Provence co habitants, this continues the delicious wallowing in the slow paced but fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of the Provencals. I thoroughly recommend it to those addicts of french life.

PETER MAYLES BOOKS ARE HILARIOUS AND GREAT FUN TO READ I JUST FINISHED READING THE THRID ONE, I JUST LAUGHED MY FOOL HEAD OFF AND I CHEERED FOR THEM . I JUST LOVED ALL OF HIS BOOKS I AM READING HIS BOOK A DOGS LIFE NOW AND ENJOYING IT. I HPE HE WILL SOON WRITEANOTHER GREAT HILARIOUS BOOK LIKE HIS FRIST THREE BOOKS. I AM NOW I BIG FAN OF THIS CDELIGHTFUL MANS STORIES. AND HIS GREAT QUICK WITT. HES GREAT. I LOVE HIS BOOKS.

This is well worth reading if you've read the first two books in the series. In fact i prefer this one to the second one, Toujours Provence, which i found a bit boring as it seemed to be re-capping "A year in Provence". This one is more exciting as it's about Peter Mayle's return to Provence after 4 years in America. I recommend it!

Great book I have gone on to read the other books Peter has written about life in Provence. He really captured his life and it really makes me want to pack my bags and go and live there.

Compared to A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence this is a bit of a damp squib. Peter Mayles previous books were full of warmth, full of characters and provided an insight into the real France. Unfortunately Encore Provence fails to live up to the excellence of previous books, has no real characters, is short of story line and is probably a reflection of the authors absence from Provence for four years. A real shame.

"A Year in Provence" is a classic. The second volume was a collection of articles. This ... is rubbish. It reads like passages rejected for the first two books. It's simply uninteresting.

More of the same from Peter Mayle, an enjoyable and gentle ramble through the peculiarities of rural France.Worth taking on Holiday or sunny afternoons with a nice drink. Not as good as A year In Provence or Toujours Provence; but if you have read them to death and want more that is similar but new(Ish) its worth a go.