Hotel Pastis

Mayle's Hotel Pastis is the perfect treat when one is wanting something light, but not unintelligent or poorly written. Let's think of it as the thinking reader's bon-bon. Light and sparkling as a glass of Dom Perignon ( not a little of which is quaffed in the novel), Mayle spins an engaging story of middle age, top of his game ad exe who is tired of the racquet. Simon chucks it all and with the help of his natty aide de camp, Ernest and his savvy new girlfriend Nicole, he restores an old police station in Provence with the intention of opening a small hotel. Ah, that life was that simple. Before long he is caught up in the not quiet life of the countryside. He finds himself fending of Mafia types, involved in retrieving a kidnapping show more victim and buffeting an expat neighbor's attempts to discredit the hotel. Not to mention there is a bank robbery with some of the most delightful petty criminals in fiction. Witty dialogue, wry insights, pleasing descriptions of setting, marvelously funny characters. Much fun. show less

Hotel Pastis was not a page-turner, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Fantastic really. I loved the writing and the humor; it was sharp, but not biting; there was a noticeable absence of malice, it was just funny.

I thought the characters and their lives were perfectly portrayed, even the adorable Mrs. Gibbons.

Central to the story was Simon Shaw's "Man Friday" Ernest (aka Ern aka Airnest aka Ernie). Ernest was a total stud, definitely the best of those "four" people rolled into one (or any four really). Smart and impeccably dressed, his abilities to assess and analyze situations, and then institute frighteningly workable results in a flash worked great in the story.

I found the writing clever in the way Mayle made you think that possible show more events and directions were about to play out, but then surprised you with something else entirely. So I liked the way the story progressed along certain lines, but some others not so much. That came down to the story winding down very quickly, it wrapped up without really wrapping up. And while mostly satisfying, it left a number of unfinished threads; it was those story lines I questioned from the beginning, but gave the author the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he wanted to leave those hanging so we could use our imaginations and draw our own conclusions, or he left them out there for a future sequel. I don’t know, but that was a bit of a letdown.

Here are a couple of the exchanges in the book that happened to like:

Ernest looked at Simon and rolled his eyes upwards as he listened to Liz's reply. He cut her short.

"I know, I know. We'll deal with the little man from Goodman's tomorrow, when we're feeling more like our old self. Do something diplomatic, dear. A tiny white lie. I know you can do it when you want to. I've heard you talking to that boyfriend of yours."

********

[Simon] "What's he called?"

[Ziegler] "Boone, after his grandpa. Boone Hampton Parker. Weird goddamn names they have in Texas." show less

Mayle's Hotel Pastis is the perfect treat when one is wanting something light, but not unintelligent or poorly written. Let's think of it as the thinking reader's bon-bon. Light and sparkling as a glass of Dom Perignon ( not a little of which is quaffed in the novel), Mayle spins an engaging story of middle age, top of his game ad exe who is tired of the racquet. Simon chucks it all and with the help of his natty aide de camp, Ernest and his savvy new girlfriend Nicole, he restores an old police station in Provence with the intention of opening a small hotel. Ah, that life was that simple. Before long he is caught up in the not quiet life of the countryside. He finds himself fending of Mafia types, involved in retrieving a kidnapping show more victim and buffeting an expat neighbor's attempts to discredit the hotel. Not to mention there is a bank robbery with some of the most delightful petty criminals in fiction. Witty dialogue, wry insights, pleasing descriptions of setting, marvelously funny characters. Much fun. show less

Mayle's Hotel Pastis is the perfect treat when one is wanting something light, but not unintelligent or poorly written. Let's think of it as the thinking reader's bon-bon. Light and sparkling as a glass of Dom Perignon ( not a little of which is quaffed in the novel), Mayle spins an engaging story of middle age, top of his game ad exe who is tired of the racquet. Simon chucks it all and with the help of his natty aide de camp, Ernest and his savvy new girlfriend Nicole, he restores an old police station in Provence with the intention of opening a small hotel. Ah, that life was that simple. Before long he is caught up in the not quiet life of the countryside. He finds himself fending of Mafia types, involved in retrieving a kidnapping show more victim and buffeting an expat neighbor's attempts to discredit the hotel. Not to mention there is a bank robbery with some of the most delightful petty criminals in fiction. Witty dialogue, wry insights, pleasing descriptions of setting, marvelously funny characters. Much fun. show less

Rich English advertising executive falls for a French woman and starts a hotel in Provence. They get tangled up with criminals robbing the local bank. Pretty light weight but charming vignettes of locals and expats living the Provençal life.

As others have suggested, Peter Mayle books can be an acquired taste, like a nice bottle of Provence Rose wine. However, Hotel Pastis works on a number of literary levels and should be an enjoyable read for all but the most severe Francophobe. It is a vaguely creepy mystery surrounded by the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and joie-de-vivre of Provence. The romance between the two main characters is sensual but believable in that their relationship does not automatically solve their conflicting career paths or personal differences. Pleasantly paced and attentive to detail, Hotel Pastis, is a lovely, passionate tale of romance, intrigue and haute cuisine.

A light read that is deeply satisfying. Newly-divorced man and his valet/butler take off to Provence to relax and recover, only to open up a hotel and restaurant. Mayle's writing is very evocative ~ I immediately wanted to book a flight and stay in the region that Hotel Pastis is situated.