A GOOD YEAR by Peter Mayle

Reviewed by Heidi Immesberger

Peter Mayle’s A Good Year follows several months in the life of Max Skinner. After losing his job in London, Max serendipitously receives notice that he has inherited his uncle’s house in Provence, including a vineyard. Max travels to France to take over the estate and to plan how to best use it to eliminate his debts. What follows are Max’s attempts at relationships with two French women, an investigation into whether Max is the legal heir to the estate, and intrigue surrounding the vineyard’s wine.
Mayle writes a light, easy tale which moves at a pleasant pace. It provides a tour of Provence and allows the reader to get to know Max. Other characters are, sadly, not developed as well as they could be. Fanny, Madame Passepartout, and Christie Roberts are outlines of what could be captivating characters. At best, the novel lacks depth. At worst, it’s a story that has been told before. A Good Year is evocative of Sideways, with bits gleaned from Jerry Maguire and The Da Vinci Code. Mayle also relies on clichés about the differences between American, English, and French culture to propagate the story. There is little about the novel that reads as truly original, insightful, or profound. Those seeking a serious, complex novel should look elsewhere; A Good Year is a fine choice to quickly pass a few hours.