Richard Goodman (1)

Charming story of an American's year in the south of France and his fledgling garden. Simply written with nice insights into the French character. Had a slightly rushed ending.

A quick read that leaves you half contented, half yearning. A pleasant little slice of life. Short chapters suit themselves well to the nightstand, but it might also make a good vacation read.

This was a charming memoir about an American spending a year in Provence who finds meaning in friendship through gardening. Definitely a light read that was entertaining, especially for a gardener. I picked up this book because we will be spending a week in Provence (Mais oui!) and I wanted a book to 'get me in the mood' for a week in paradise. Although there were a few cute anecdotes, I wish the book had more stories about the people he met and the friendships made.

Nice combination of formality (painstakingly annotated with end notes, and lots of quotations throughout the work) and a conversational tone. Especially enjoyed the chapter on "Finding a Great Title". Loved the idea that there is a Title Index, proving that this is a writer who reads (and who enjoys referring to what he's read and what he's found inspiring): reading writers write the best writing references.