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camilleisreading24's review against another edition
4.0
****4.5/5 stars****
Another delightful audiobook. In this one, Peter Mayle travels around France visiting various culinary festivals. He goes to a celebration of the frog and becomes a member of la confrérie des grenouilles. He attends a marathon in Bourdeaux where the runners drink wine rather than water and wear hilarious costumes. He eats escargots from the shell (no dainty forks to be found here; avid eaters must use their hands) and tries to sample every wine in Burgundy.
Another delightful audiobook. In this one, Peter Mayle travels around France visiting various culinary festivals. He goes to a celebration of the frog and becomes a member of la confrérie des grenouilles. He attends a marathon in Bourdeaux where the runners drink wine rather than water and wear hilarious costumes. He eats escargots from the shell (no dainty forks to be found here; avid eaters must use their hands) and tries to sample every wine in Burgundy.
rlevy_95's review against another edition
4.0
The book is really interesting. It takes you on a tour of sorts through France, all different food festivals. My only complaint is I thought the ending was out of place and the author speaks about women in a way that is less that satisfactory.
minty's review against another edition
4.0
This book, in hard copy, was given to me as a gift 19 year ago when it came out in paperback. I just never got around to reading it for some reason. I finally listened to the audiobook this week and it's so enjoyable! Definitely gets you hungry, and makes you want to go on a food-oriented travel adventure.
lasdald's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable read that added several new stops to my travel bucket list.
_dunno_'s review against another edition
3.0
Considering how much I enjoyed [b:A Year in Provence|40189|A Year in Provence|Peter Mayle|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1336967810s/40189.jpg|940715], I sort of expected to like this one a bit more. It wasn't bad, how can anything related to food and drinks be bad?, but there were (boring) moments when I wanted to put it down and be done with it.
kfish1829's review against another edition
5.0
I love this. I mean it’s literally a book about FOOD. Each chapter is dedicated to a different gastronomic event in France, and each is more unique and fascinating than the last.
Peter Mayle’s writing style is so so enjoyable. It’s funny, sometimes reverent, sometimes beautifully descriptive and poetic. Very similar to The Thursday Murder Club, so if you liked that, you’d probably appreciate the witticisms found here.
You will learn about the main French novelties like escargot and frog legs, but you will also hear about a church procession for truffles and my favorite, the French marathon (and much more). Runners overload on carbs and wine the night before and then wake up early to take on 26 miles in COSTUME. And the best part? The trail leads them through chateaus providing wine, oysters, wine, and more wine. Men literally dressed up as babies and women dressed up as nuns parade through the countryside, stopping to generously imbibe at each rest stop. As Peter says, it’s not about getting a good time-its about having a good time.
I really can’t say enough good things. I literally giggled to myself reading this. And I don’t even drink wine!
Tip: Make yourself a fancy little dinner reservation for one and bring this book with you. Eat good food, read good food, maybe look a little mysterious!
Peter Mayle’s writing style is so so enjoyable. It’s funny, sometimes reverent, sometimes beautifully descriptive and poetic. Very similar to The Thursday Murder Club, so if you liked that, you’d probably appreciate the witticisms found here.
You will learn about the main French novelties like escargot and frog legs, but you will also hear about a church procession for truffles and my favorite, the French marathon (and much more). Runners overload on carbs and wine the night before and then wake up early to take on 26 miles in COSTUME. And the best part? The trail leads them through chateaus providing wine, oysters, wine, and more wine. Men literally dressed up as babies and women dressed up as nuns parade through the countryside, stopping to generously imbibe at each rest stop. As Peter says, it’s not about getting a good time-its about having a good time.
I really can’t say enough good things. I literally giggled to myself reading this. And I don’t even drink wine!
Tip: Make yourself a fancy little dinner reservation for one and bring this book with you. Eat good food, read good food, maybe look a little mysterious!
danielmbensen's review against another edition
4.0
-- a funny, gentle waddle through a few of France's regional food festivals
Mayle guides us through his long affair with French food, notably his most recent bouts of gastro-tourism. He hits the major experiences - frog's legs, truffles, escargot, wine tasting - with a balance of wit that makes you wish you were there and feel a bit relieved that you're not.
Mayle guides us through his long affair with French food, notably his most recent bouts of gastro-tourism. He hits the major experiences - frog's legs, truffles, escargot, wine tasting - with a balance of wit that makes you wish you were there and feel a bit relieved that you're not.
brucehoward's review against another edition
2.0
It wasn't the worst book in the world, but after having read "A Year in Provence" and a "Good Year", this book was far thinner fare than I had come to expect of Mayle.
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
3.0
It seems fitting to have read this book during the week of Thanksgiving. Lots of appetite stimulation. Of course, I don't drink wine; I have never been interested in trying snails or frog legs; I was revolted by my only taste of truffles; and I will pass on the concept of blood sauaages. Still it was a lovely book to read, making me nostalgic for Europe, which takes talent in light of my opinion of most of the subject matter.