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Приключение на миллион
Действие нового романа Питера Мейла разворачивается во Франции, где проживает элегантный, хотя и слегка поиздержавшийся джентльмен.
В поисках средств он решается на отчаянный шаг - размещает в газете объявление: "Одинокий англичанин ищет интересную и необычную работу. Рассмотрю любые варианты, кроме брака".
И вскоре ему поступает предложение за приличные деньги выполнить несложное на первый взгляд поручение - выдавать себя за некого весьма богатого Джулиана По.
Однако не все идет гладко. Из возникших осложнений Мейл строит увлекательный, искрящийся остроумием детективный роман, а описания Прованса и Лазурного Берега здесь столь выразительны, что после прочтения вы наверняка приобретете южный загар.
"Идеальная книга. Легкая, как суфле, и столь же вкусная".
Baltimore Sun
В поисках средств он решается на отчаянный шаг - размещает в газете объявление: "Одинокий англичанин ищет интересную и необычную работу. Рассмотрю любые варианты, кроме брака".
И вскоре ему поступает предложение за приличные деньги выполнить несложное на первый взгляд поручение - выдавать себя за некого весьма богатого Джулиана По.
Однако не все идет гладко. Из возникших осложнений Мейл строит увлекательный, искрящийся остроумием детективный роман, а описания Прованса и Лазурного Берега здесь столь выразительны, что после прочтения вы наверняка приобретете южный загар.
"Идеальная книга. Легкая, как суфле, и столь же вкусная".
Baltimore Sun
351 pages, Hardcover
First published December 12, 1991
121 people are currently reading
1113 people want to read
About the author
Peter Mayle
135 books1,285 followersPeter Mayle was a British author famous for his series of books detailing life in Provence, France. He spent fifteen years in advertising before leaving the business in 1975 to write educational books, including a series on sex education for children and young people. In 1989, A Year in Provence was published and became an international bestseller. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages, and he was a contributing writer to magazines and newspapers. Indeed, his seventh book, A Year in Provence, chronicles a year in the life of a British expatriate who settled in the village of Ménerbes. His book A Good Year was the basis for the eponymous 2006 film directed by Ridley Scott and starring actor Russell Crowe. Peter Mayle died in Provence, France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
February 5, 2017
3.5 stars for Peter Mayle's Anything Considered, a humorous mystery.
Bennett, an Englishman living in France, falls on hard times and places an ad, searching for employment, in a paper. He receives a response from a wealthy man by the name of Julian Poe. Bennett soon finds himself employed by Poe and in Monaco where things get off to a rough start. The stakes rise and Bennett finds himself in situations he could have never foreseen.
The characters, though I didn’t connect deeply with any of them, were thoroughly enjoyable to read. Bennett seems to be a guy who, despite some grievances at times, goes with the flow. He hasn’t planned his life very well and often has to improvise, which I would argue isn’t his strong suit. He did rub me the wrong way at certain times like . Poe and Shimo were interesting characters in their own right. As were Anna and Georgette.
The writing is just wonderful, reminiscent of Mayle’s A Year in Provence. It’s easy to read and the writing flows well. It’s not presumptuous or convoluted. If the first bit of the New Year hadn't been so busy I could have read this in a day or two.
I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely different than A Year in Provence but different can be good. By different, I mean darker, not very dark or mysterious. It still has the fun and humor of Mayle’s better known book but with a slight edge. I’m happy to recommend this book to those looking for a quick, easy, uncomplicated read. Fans of Mayle’s other works may find this one not as good, and while I agree, it isn’t terrible and is still worth reading.
Bennett, an Englishman living in France, falls on hard times and places an ad, searching for employment, in a paper. He receives a response from a wealthy man by the name of Julian Poe. Bennett soon finds himself employed by Poe and in Monaco where things get off to a rough start. The stakes rise and Bennett finds himself in situations he could have never foreseen.
The characters, though I didn’t connect deeply with any of them, were thoroughly enjoyable to read. Bennett seems to be a guy who, despite some grievances at times, goes with the flow. He hasn’t planned his life very well and often has to improvise, which I would argue isn’t his strong suit. He did rub me the wrong way at certain times like . Poe and Shimo were interesting characters in their own right. As were Anna and Georgette.
The writing is just wonderful, reminiscent of Mayle’s A Year in Provence. It’s easy to read and the writing flows well. It’s not presumptuous or convoluted. If the first bit of the New Year hadn't been so busy I could have read this in a day or two.
I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely different than A Year in Provence but different can be good. By different, I mean darker, not very dark or mysterious. It still has the fun and humor of Mayle’s better known book but with a slight edge. I’m happy to recommend this book to those looking for a quick, easy, uncomplicated read. Fans of Mayle’s other works may find this one not as good, and while I agree, it isn’t terrible and is still worth reading.
February 15, 2024
There are several reasons why I like Mayle's writing. He accurately captures the things that are important and different among cultures, tells a good story, and builds in enough plot twists to defy predictability. In this story, we learn about the biases of expatriate Brits in France (once again) and the nuances of differences among Italians, Corsicans, and the French. Throw in an American, season with the light and culture of Mediterranean France and you have a "ripping good yarn", as Mayle himself might say.
December 31, 2011
This is one of my favorite books ever. I've read it a dozen times since first breaking open the spine in 1996, and have lent it out so often that I had to buy a second copy last year. I re-read it while travelling for the holidays this year, and finished with a smile on my face, as usual. Light-hearted, quick, easy read. And who couldn't get into a character who's run through his money and is so desperate that he runs an ad in an international paper that suggests, "anything considered ... but marriage"?
April 14, 2015
Best quote from many from this book is "But what is champagne, after all? Nothing but grapes breaking wind. .." I loved this book from the very start and like all Peter Mayle books, I want to go to France and enjoy the food and wine.
May 21, 2014
Maybe because I still have a few dregs of salt water sluicing through my veins thanks to my ex-pat days in Provence, but I thoroughly enjoyed this romp through southern France with Peter Mayle. This Provencal adventure about an English man of diminishing means,vague future prospects and the criminal street smarts of a soggy baguette develops into a witty and wry frolic up and down the French Riviera and it's lavender-scented surrounds. Mayle's protagonist,Bennett assumed the appearance of a suaved-up Peter O'Toole in my mind for some reason. His unexpected side-kick, Anna Hersh wavered from Iraeli army-savvy competent to a sometimes sniping damsel in despair, but never annoyingly enough to distract from the sheer enjoyment of this opportunity-come-good tale. One could almost feel the cafe cremes glide down ones throat, smell the fragrant daubes wafting through the streets of the old towns and melt at the velvety caress of the Cote d'Azure breeze on ones cheek. Bon.
March 9, 2024
What a disappointment. I’ve always enjoyed Mayle’s books about Provence and was looking for a light read but this one is just silly - and “cringe” dated. A skirt-chasing slovenly bachelor who falls into a James Bond world where he gets to lead the life of a millionaire and eat and drink fabulously well. I put it down halfway through. Just don’t like the character or the ridiculously implausible plot!
April 26, 2023
I picked up this book from the little free library bc I liked the cover and it wound up being so silly and fun to read
December 30, 2018
"Anything Considered" - written by Peter Mayle and published in 1997 by Vintage Books, a division of Random House. As I expected from the pen of Mayle, this was a charming, light-hearted story full of small French villages and especially of their heavenly food and drink. Englishman Bennett is between jobs and tries a fresh approach - "He would take the initiative and make his own luck. He would advertise himself." A strong resemblance to a James Bond plot enters here, with the focus being a valise packed with a secret formula that will revolutionize the truffle industry. "The birth of a truffle is a very haphazard process." Bennett picks up a Gal Friday along the way and together they race through the French countryside, scheming along the way to avoid the bad guys and make some quick cash. This book was a thoroughly enjoyable romp with no deep meaning or objectionable content - a breath of fresh air.
June 26, 2024
A charming mystery set in the south of France. No big plot twists or shocking turns but a very enjoyable, light-hearted, and at times humorous read. Just a warning, the decadent descriptions of food will leave your mouth watering.
November 12, 2020
I mean... It really does exist, thats for sure...
May 24, 2024
This was fun! You can tell it was written in the 90s bc every girl character was described as supple or plump 😒. But the adventure was cool!
April 2, 2025
stumbled upon this gem at my great aunt’s house… I was intrigued enough to pick it up and then so pleasantly surprised! it was the perfect light, quick read and quite entertaining. quirky characters, witty dialogue, silly but captivating plot and cultural observations, and amazing descriptions! so vivid (food, clothing, scenery, ahh to be transported to the South of France)!
July 4, 2025
I have read one of his other books and loved it...this one was okay.
June 8, 2025
kind of cliche, predictable, nothing outstanding
January 20, 2018
Luciano Bennett, a British ex-pat known simply as Bennett, loves his stress free life as a house sitter in the small French village of Saint-Martin. He once had a career in film production, but he is a man without ambition and does not look forward to giving up his present easy going life and returning to that cut throat world. It is all too tiresome. But after a failed investment scheme in which his partner disappeared with his savings, his credit has dwindled precipitously so he must find a way to generate a revenue stream to continue his current lifestyle.
Bennett places an ad in the local paper offering his services and is soon contacted by a man name Julian Poe. Poe is a wealthy man who is determined to avoid the heavy French income taxes he is forced to pay. He offers Bennett a job impersonating him, living at his high end penthouse in Monaco overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean. The job allows him to use Poe’s luxurious Mercedes and provides him with a generous account to dine at high end restaurants. The idea of an all-expense paid life in Monaco is very appealing and Bennett quickly accepts. As Poe points out, the scheme is no worse a crime than the many creative financial adjustments practiced everyday by big corporations to increase dividends and satisfy shareholders. Poe convinces Bennett that it is a harmless deception, the only one to suffer would be the taxman.
Bennett is not aware of Poe’s secret plans to use him as the drop off man for the arrival of a secret package to be delivered to his door. The package contains all the information required to cultivate black truffles, an item considered to be France’s national treasure, a market which reaps millions every year. The truffle is a sensitive plant that grows at random on the roots of hazelnut or oak trees and so far every effort to cultivate it and guarantee a consistent supply has failed. But for years Poe has invested in the research which he believes will now allow him to grow this sought after gourmet ingredient, allowing him to wrestle control of the truffles market from the French, produce tons per year and reap an annual income in the millions.
When Bennett arrives in Monaco, he easily assumes the role of a rich loafer. He smiles secretly to himself as motorists easily give way to Poe’s Mercedes in heavy traffic. It was a very different experience when he was driving his dusty Peugeot, when the same drivers fought his little car every inch of the way when he tried to cut into traffic. But Bennett’s wonderful new life comes to a halt when the delivery of the package containing the information required to cultivate the truffles is interrupted and seized by the Sicilians. Poe then forces Bennett to retrieve it, devising a plan to ensure the package ends up in Bennett’s hands and ultimately in his own.
Bennett begins a chase across France pursued by gangsters and the French police. He is assisted by Anna Hersch, a former girlfriend of Poe’s who is assigned to Bennett to make sure the job gets done. As they run from their pursuers, there are constant reminders that they have been caught up in a rough game involving mean tempered men with guns who are not afraid to use them. And Anna is beginning to make her own plans for the secret case, plans which do not involve Poe and which she is reluctant to share with Bennett.
Anna and Bennett begin living a life on the run. At times they are forced to sleep in a stolen car while at the next turn they sample a delicious gourmet meal. And Bennett gradually evolves from an amiable, uninvolved companion to a true partner in crime, enjoying himself as he morphs from an unwilling fugitive to a man with a mission.
Anna and Bennett gradually begin a relationship, ultimately finding a way to subsidize a new life for themselves.
This is a charming and amusing story with an outrageously predictable plot. It is a light, enjoyable read filled with the details of French life, food and the landscape that have helped make Mayle’s other novels so successful. The reader cannot help but cheer Bennett on as he tries to get away from his angry pursuers. And one cannot help but think it would all make a good light film, with its amusing characters, Peter Sellers-like comedy chase and the wonderful landscape of France and Monaco as a backdrop.
Bennett places an ad in the local paper offering his services and is soon contacted by a man name Julian Poe. Poe is a wealthy man who is determined to avoid the heavy French income taxes he is forced to pay. He offers Bennett a job impersonating him, living at his high end penthouse in Monaco overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean. The job allows him to use Poe’s luxurious Mercedes and provides him with a generous account to dine at high end restaurants. The idea of an all-expense paid life in Monaco is very appealing and Bennett quickly accepts. As Poe points out, the scheme is no worse a crime than the many creative financial adjustments practiced everyday by big corporations to increase dividends and satisfy shareholders. Poe convinces Bennett that it is a harmless deception, the only one to suffer would be the taxman.
Bennett is not aware of Poe’s secret plans to use him as the drop off man for the arrival of a secret package to be delivered to his door. The package contains all the information required to cultivate black truffles, an item considered to be France’s national treasure, a market which reaps millions every year. The truffle is a sensitive plant that grows at random on the roots of hazelnut or oak trees and so far every effort to cultivate it and guarantee a consistent supply has failed. But for years Poe has invested in the research which he believes will now allow him to grow this sought after gourmet ingredient, allowing him to wrestle control of the truffles market from the French, produce tons per year and reap an annual income in the millions.
When Bennett arrives in Monaco, he easily assumes the role of a rich loafer. He smiles secretly to himself as motorists easily give way to Poe’s Mercedes in heavy traffic. It was a very different experience when he was driving his dusty Peugeot, when the same drivers fought his little car every inch of the way when he tried to cut into traffic. But Bennett’s wonderful new life comes to a halt when the delivery of the package containing the information required to cultivate the truffles is interrupted and seized by the Sicilians. Poe then forces Bennett to retrieve it, devising a plan to ensure the package ends up in Bennett’s hands and ultimately in his own.
Bennett begins a chase across France pursued by gangsters and the French police. He is assisted by Anna Hersch, a former girlfriend of Poe’s who is assigned to Bennett to make sure the job gets done. As they run from their pursuers, there are constant reminders that they have been caught up in a rough game involving mean tempered men with guns who are not afraid to use them. And Anna is beginning to make her own plans for the secret case, plans which do not involve Poe and which she is reluctant to share with Bennett.
Anna and Bennett begin living a life on the run. At times they are forced to sleep in a stolen car while at the next turn they sample a delicious gourmet meal. And Bennett gradually evolves from an amiable, uninvolved companion to a true partner in crime, enjoying himself as he morphs from an unwilling fugitive to a man with a mission.
Anna and Bennett gradually begin a relationship, ultimately finding a way to subsidize a new life for themselves.
This is a charming and amusing story with an outrageously predictable plot. It is a light, enjoyable read filled with the details of French life, food and the landscape that have helped make Mayle’s other novels so successful. The reader cannot help but cheer Bennett on as he tries to get away from his angry pursuers. And one cannot help but think it would all make a good light film, with its amusing characters, Peter Sellers-like comedy chase and the wonderful landscape of France and Monaco as a backdrop.
March 10, 2009
Anything Considered tells the story of Bennett, an Englishman who enjoys living a luxurious life in France, but unfortunately is running out of money to do so. Bennett puts an ad up in the International Herald Tribune looking for a job. He gets a response from Julian Poe, an extremely wealthy man. Poe is asking Bennett to live in an all expense-paid Monaco apartment and watch a very important case containing a serum that would make truffles, an extremely decadent and expensive mushroom, grow faster and in larger quantities. Bennett thinks that the job doesn't require much work so he decides to take it. Complications arise though with the case being delivered into the right hands. Because of this, Poe feels that Bennett needs a partner, so he chooses Anna, a former lover of his. Readers follow the many illegal and dangerous adventures that Anna and Bennett uncover as the book progresses.
Quote:
"But Bennett suffered from Optimism, and he was unwilling to leave France. And so, with scanty qualifications, other than a good amateur eye for property and a pressing need for sales commissions, he had joined the roving band of agents immobiliers-some of them no better qualified than he-who spend their lives rooting through the Provencal countryside." (Pg. 1)
I chose this quote because I think it shows how Peter Mayle made negative situations light and airy, which is seen throughout the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys or knows French, because even though the book is written in English, there are sometimes French sayings put into the text. I would also recommend Anything Considered to anyone who enjoys a story with a lot of adventure but can handle many characters that play similar roles, because I found that was often the case with this book.
In my opinion the genre is mainly adventure and two themes addressed in Anything Considered are desire for money and betrayal.
Quote:
"But Bennett suffered from Optimism, and he was unwilling to leave France. And so, with scanty qualifications, other than a good amateur eye for property and a pressing need for sales commissions, he had joined the roving band of agents immobiliers-some of them no better qualified than he-who spend their lives rooting through the Provencal countryside." (Pg. 1)
I chose this quote because I think it shows how Peter Mayle made negative situations light and airy, which is seen throughout the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys or knows French, because even though the book is written in English, there are sometimes French sayings put into the text. I would also recommend Anything Considered to anyone who enjoys a story with a lot of adventure but can handle many characters that play similar roles, because I found that was often the case with this book.
In my opinion the genre is mainly adventure and two themes addressed in Anything Considered are desire for money and betrayal.
January 23, 2015
It starts with a personal ad: Unattached Englishman. Mid Thirties, personable, fluent French, seek interesting and unusual work, preferable in the Aix/Avignon area. Anything considered except marriage.
With the placing of this add Luciano Bennett, a down on his luck and down to his last franc ne’re-do-well living in France changes the course of his life. Before long he has a response from the ultra-wealthy Julian Poe. Poe’s proposal is very simple and simply irresistible. Bennett must impersonate Poe in Monaco for six months, leaving enough of a paper trail to convince the French authorities that Poe’s legal residence is in Monaco, not France, so Poe can avoid France’s exorbitant tax structure. It is a simple tax dodge that will allow Bennett to live in the lap of luxury for six months and get paid to do it.
But when things look too good to be true they usually are. Before long Bennett finds himself between a rock (Poe and his killer henchman, Shimo) and a hard place (the Mafia). Both want Bennett’s hide or his life or both, whichever is easiest. Along the way Bennett teams up with a beautiful side kick, a former sergeant in the Israeli army, seeks solace from a group of gay corporate ex-pats masquerading as winemaking monks, and learns that the French Police, a Corsican hitman, and the French Army have all joined in the hunt to bring him down.
The antics are rollicking, the ride is delightful, the dialogue spins off the page and the wrap-up is neat and tidy and the whole of the cast descend on a tiny Provencal village much to the entertainment of the bored locals.
©2015 M. Romeo LaFlamme
https://secondpot.wordpress.com/2015/...
With the placing of this add Luciano Bennett, a down on his luck and down to his last franc ne’re-do-well living in France changes the course of his life. Before long he has a response from the ultra-wealthy Julian Poe. Poe’s proposal is very simple and simply irresistible. Bennett must impersonate Poe in Monaco for six months, leaving enough of a paper trail to convince the French authorities that Poe’s legal residence is in Monaco, not France, so Poe can avoid France’s exorbitant tax structure. It is a simple tax dodge that will allow Bennett to live in the lap of luxury for six months and get paid to do it.
But when things look too good to be true they usually are. Before long Bennett finds himself between a rock (Poe and his killer henchman, Shimo) and a hard place (the Mafia). Both want Bennett’s hide or his life or both, whichever is easiest. Along the way Bennett teams up with a beautiful side kick, a former sergeant in the Israeli army, seeks solace from a group of gay corporate ex-pats masquerading as winemaking monks, and learns that the French Police, a Corsican hitman, and the French Army have all joined in the hunt to bring him down.
The antics are rollicking, the ride is delightful, the dialogue spins off the page and the wrap-up is neat and tidy and the whole of the cast descend on a tiny Provencal village much to the entertainment of the bored locals.
©2015 M. Romeo LaFlamme
https://secondpot.wordpress.com/2015/...
July 7, 2011
Effervescent fun. Here in NC we have summer storms and rain, so it was nice to embark on a caper in with a book set in the sunny south of Fra
nce with Luciano Bennett. Bennett, an Englishman with a taste for the good life and a dwindling bank account, finds what seems to be the dream job that will more than tide him over until his ship comes in (his yacht for hire has gone missing with his business partner at the helm). However before he can say truffles and foie gras, he is embroiled in the escapade of a lifetime, one with all the amenities- mobster, both Italian & Corsican, a murderous Karate expert, a variety of policeman, a collection of questionable monks, a Yorkie on an 18th century plate (you'll just have to read it) and a very pretty girl.
As usual, Mayle's descriptions of people, landscapes, clothing, furnishings, food, wine and, of course, pretty girls is perfect. The humor is crisp, the mood buoyant, despite dicey moments. Some might find Bennett's ogling of the ladies, and the ensuing descriptions a tad sexist or even louche; however, Mayle balances this out by ensuring that Bennett gets his comeuppance and saddles him with girls who are more mind and mettle than make-up.
Can't say to much more than that without giving too much away.
nce with Luciano Bennett. Bennett, an Englishman with a taste for the good life and a dwindling bank account, finds what seems to be the dream job that will more than tide him over until his ship comes in (his yacht for hire has gone missing with his business partner at the helm). However before he can say truffles and foie gras, he is embroiled in the escapade of a lifetime, one with all the amenities- mobster, both Italian & Corsican, a murderous Karate expert, a variety of policeman, a collection of questionable monks, a Yorkie on an 18th century plate (you'll just have to read it) and a very pretty girl.
As usual, Mayle's descriptions of people, landscapes, clothing, furnishings, food, wine and, of course, pretty girls is perfect. The humor is crisp, the mood buoyant, despite dicey moments. Some might find Bennett's ogling of the ladies, and the ensuing descriptions a tad sexist or even louche; however, Mayle balances this out by ensuring that Bennett gets his comeuppance and saddles him with girls who are more mind and mettle than make-up.
Can't say to much more than that without giving too much away.
September 13, 2016
The first 115 pages set the scene, the rest were the story and I didn't want to put it down.
February 1, 2017
Really enjoyable story! This is classic Peter Mayle, entertaining and charming. It is a fun adventure story with a clumsy but lovable main character who finds himself in way over his head. Definitely recommend! It is a quick read.
June 23, 2012
Very fun! Quick and easy but well written.
August 2, 2015
Very enjoyable light romp through Monaco and the south of France. REALLY made me want to be sitting on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, having a glass of chilled white wine.
September 8, 2025
British man writes about how much he loves France: USA saves the day. 3/5 for presentation its super cute!
October 21, 2025
Terrible book, and surely had to be seen as terrible even when it was published 30 years ago, but it's aged horribly. If Peter Mayle was alive, I'd like to think he would have disavowed this one.
How's this for a clinker of a line that rings off-key in the Epstein-Trump era: "He liked young girls and old wine." And this is said with a nod to the charm of both the subject of the comment and the narrator, who feels the same way. There's also the narrator's dog-like obsession with women's butts; he's practically sniffing at the heels of the women in the novel when they bend over. And he's keen on the young model who bounces into the room braless. These are observations made by a 35-ish male, not by a 14-year-old, but this book is deeply rooted in adolescence that was never escaped by the author as well as the narrator. I can't imagine a woman reading this novel to the end.
Peter Mayle apparently an advertising guy in NYC. This book is like he lived in Mad Men days and wished that world never ended. He must have used his NY contacts to get this book published, likely by the wife of one of his business colleagues or clients, because it's hard to imagine anyone taking this book on its merits.
Just for the record, the plot goes something like this. Bennett is 35-ish and British, but living in southern France. He loves it there, but is having trouble making a living. He'd given up being a producer of TV commercials and likes the slow life, though he misses sex with all the young actresses he'd apparently met and wooed with his power and money. Desperate for work, he places "will work" ad, and it's answered by a mysterious guy who tells him to impersonate him by living in Monte Carlo, all expenses paid. This will save the guy taxes by making him seem like a Monte Carlo resident.
But there's a catch. The guy is crooked, and not only does he want to save on taxes, but he wants Bennett to be the go-between for a briefcase with a secret formula and fertilizer to grow truffles. Up to this point, truffles are only grown wild, and there are never enough of them to meet demand. If you could grow them intentionally, you'd make a fortune. Bennett is unwittingly caught in an intrigue when a girl he has induced to come to Monte Carlo gives the briefcase to the wrong thieves. A series of preposterous maneuvers follows, led by a a gorgeous 25-year-old Jewish (exotic!) New Yorker who is the jilted girlfriend of the original con man. She's also a former Israeli army sergeant, able to disable a man in 10 seconds, hot-wire cars, and detect detecting devices. And she has a great butt, so obviously she's going to fall for Bennett's charm and wind up as his new girlfriend. And obviously, they get away with re-stealing the briefcase, getting $1 million to return it, and then are saved by a shooting and the police, who let them off with no charges. Terrible, terrible, terrible.
I read books for a book festival. Sometimes, these are self-published, and you can tell with 10 pages that they will not make the grade. If I review them after the festival, they get 1 star because they really are unbearable to read (and I don't finish them). This book deserves the same 1-star grade, and the only reason it gets 2 stars is because it is made up of competent sentences and has a plot that moves forward sort of logically, if stupidly. It's not incoherent like the worst-of-the-worst of self-published books, but it's as bad as an accredited book can be.
How's this for a clinker of a line that rings off-key in the Epstein-Trump era: "He liked young girls and old wine." And this is said with a nod to the charm of both the subject of the comment and the narrator, who feels the same way. There's also the narrator's dog-like obsession with women's butts; he's practically sniffing at the heels of the women in the novel when they bend over. And he's keen on the young model who bounces into the room braless. These are observations made by a 35-ish male, not by a 14-year-old, but this book is deeply rooted in adolescence that was never escaped by the author as well as the narrator. I can't imagine a woman reading this novel to the end.
Peter Mayle apparently an advertising guy in NYC. This book is like he lived in Mad Men days and wished that world never ended. He must have used his NY contacts to get this book published, likely by the wife of one of his business colleagues or clients, because it's hard to imagine anyone taking this book on its merits.
Just for the record, the plot goes something like this. Bennett is 35-ish and British, but living in southern France. He loves it there, but is having trouble making a living. He'd given up being a producer of TV commercials and likes the slow life, though he misses sex with all the young actresses he'd apparently met and wooed with his power and money. Desperate for work, he places "will work" ad, and it's answered by a mysterious guy who tells him to impersonate him by living in Monte Carlo, all expenses paid. This will save the guy taxes by making him seem like a Monte Carlo resident.
But there's a catch. The guy is crooked, and not only does he want to save on taxes, but he wants Bennett to be the go-between for a briefcase with a secret formula and fertilizer to grow truffles. Up to this point, truffles are only grown wild, and there are never enough of them to meet demand. If you could grow them intentionally, you'd make a fortune. Bennett is unwittingly caught in an intrigue when a girl he has induced to come to Monte Carlo gives the briefcase to the wrong thieves. A series of preposterous maneuvers follows, led by a a gorgeous 25-year-old Jewish (exotic!) New Yorker who is the jilted girlfriend of the original con man. She's also a former Israeli army sergeant, able to disable a man in 10 seconds, hot-wire cars, and detect detecting devices. And she has a great butt, so obviously she's going to fall for Bennett's charm and wind up as his new girlfriend. And obviously, they get away with re-stealing the briefcase, getting $1 million to return it, and then are saved by a shooting and the police, who let them off with no charges. Terrible, terrible, terrible.
I read books for a book festival. Sometimes, these are self-published, and you can tell with 10 pages that they will not make the grade. If I review them after the festival, they get 1 star because they really are unbearable to read (and I don't finish them). This book deserves the same 1-star grade, and the only reason it gets 2 stars is because it is made up of competent sentences and has a plot that moves forward sort of logically, if stupidly. It's not incoherent like the worst-of-the-worst of self-published books, but it's as bad as an accredited book can be.
August 25, 2017
A tour de farce, typical Mayle. This book should be a movie! It has all the makings of the new Pink Panther. Bennett, from England, has settled happily in..., well, Provence, of course. This is Mayle after all. Unfortunately a bad investment relieved him of all his money. He is enjoying the life of leisure and has no desire to find a real job so places an ad offering himself for hire, "anything considered." He is immediately contacted by the very wealthy Poe, who only requires that Bennett pretend to be him and live in Monaco for long enough for Poe to escape paying French taxes. He will be given a place to live, credit cards, a fancy car, exactly the kind of life Bennett desires. Oh, yes, and one more thing. He will receive a briefcase. The brief case arrives while Bennett is out and an ex-girlfriend Bennett is trying to reinstate as current girl friend allows the case to be stolen. At which point the circus begins. Because Bennett is the one who allowed the briefcase to be stolen, he is the one who must recover it. Poe will send him an American, an ex-girlfriend of Poe's, to help. The ex-girlfriend decides she is not happy with the amount of money Poe is paying her for her services and persuades Bennett to help hijack the briefcase and hold it for ransom. The pair wind up the Corsicans, Scilians, Japanese, the French police all in pursuit of the stolen and re-stolen case. Where in the world did they think they could hide? Fortunately for them, the French police are the ones who capture them and arrange for the case to be turned over to the French. The case is to be placed in Bennett's house in Saint-Martin. The housekeeper is to leave the house, but of course she stays. All of the other players are informed where the case will be and all make way to the sleepy little village. The old ladies who watch the comings and goings of the village are puzzled by all the sharp young men who have taken tables at the cafe, all with newspapers. And every time a car drives by, all lower their newspapers simultaneously. Then a very expensive car pulls into town, and another. A shot rings out. All the young men and more from inside the cafe run in the direction of the Englishman's house. It just has to be made into a movie!!
January 7, 2022
I picked up this book at a library sale; the beautiful dust jacket was faded, but the synopsis drew me right in. Bennett is an Englishman living in France. He has caviar taste but a beans-and-toast budget, until he puts an ad in the newspaper looking for work, 'anything considered.' He is drawn into a tax evasion scheme by a mysterious and vaguely threatening millionaire, and the adventure is off. Before long, the Italian mob, an all American girl turned Israeli drill sergeant, and a whole lot of truffles are in the mix - and Bennett must keep one step ahead of all if he wants to survive this comedic romp across the South of France.
The book was a fun read, with a droll sense of humor and plenty of antics. Bennett was the kind of character that you want to see succeed, but who keeps ending up in the most ridiculous situations. The resolutions came a bit too easily, but in the way that I think this would translate well to an action-comedy movie. That being said, "Anything Considered" and I were both published in 1996. And while I'm certainly not showing my age (!), the writing here unfortunately is. There are several off-color remarks about women and one Asian character that have aged badly. I would enjoy this book more in a modern rewrite, with more respect shown for diversity.
The book was a fun read, with a droll sense of humor and plenty of antics. Bennett was the kind of character that you want to see succeed, but who keeps ending up in the most ridiculous situations. The resolutions came a bit too easily, but in the way that I think this would translate well to an action-comedy movie. That being said, "Anything Considered" and I were both published in 1996. And while I'm certainly not showing my age (!), the writing here unfortunately is. There are several off-color remarks about women and one Asian character that have aged badly. I would enjoy this book more in a modern rewrite, with more respect shown for diversity.
September 4, 2024
I read "A Year in Provence" years ago. True story of Peter Mayle, who up and quits the advertising biz so he and his wife can relocate to the south of France to drink good wine, eat good food and write a book now and then. The main character in this book sounds like Mayle. English, in the south of France, but single and down on his luck. He puts an ad in the paper telling the world that as far as work is concerned, anything considered...except marriage. The "anything," involves a meeting with a fellow Englishman, also single, also living in the south of France, but definitely not down on his luck. They hatch a scheme, involving dual identities, a Corsican tycoon, a Neapolitan crime boss, a femme fatale, late of the Israeli Army skilled in delivering a West Bank handshake, and black truffles.
Mon Dieu!
Mon Dieu!
December 11, 2020
Read the paper book. It’s really 3.5 stars, but I went up since it was such an enjoyable read in these heavy times. It is a delightfully silly romp that does not pretend to be high literature. I felt there was some not-so-subtle “bragging” about the expensive tastes acquired and luxury places enjoyed during the author’s stint as an expense account man disguised in the main character. But since the story is so far-fetched, it does not annoy and fits in rather well. This would be a perfect beach read (if we ever get to have those again).
March 31, 2022
I've been reading Peter Mayle books lately, and read this one following Hotel Pastis and A Good Year. Mayle likes to fashion his main male character as a laid-back, affable sort of fellow who gets caught up in unexpected events. However, this time around, his main guy, Bennett, is a bit TOO laid back. He's just not interesting enough to carry the weight of the book, and he really needs to, since the plot is barely plausible. I really do enjoy reading Peter Mayle books, but this one is a bit 'meh'.
September 26, 2023
It’s been a long time since I’ve read any Peter Mayle’s books and I had forgotten how witty his writing is.
This was a fun caper, set in Provence, of course. Bennett, an English expat vacationing in France, finds himself out of money, and looking for a job that will enable him to stay in France. He posted an ad in the paper:
“Unattached Englishman… seeks interesting and unusual work. Anything considered except marriage.”
Little did he know what he would get himself into!
A quick and fun read.
This was a fun caper, set in Provence, of course. Bennett, an English expat vacationing in France, finds himself out of money, and looking for a job that will enable him to stay in France. He posted an ad in the paper:
“Unattached Englishman… seeks interesting and unusual work. Anything considered except marriage.”
Little did he know what he would get himself into!
A quick and fun read.
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