QUESTIONS ABOUT A GOOD YEAR
By Heather Dever and Jenifer Dever
What wines and/or foods would you pair with this book? Do particular scenes call
for particular foods or wines?
Most of the book takes place in France, in Provence. What tools did Mayle use to
evoke the experience of being in Provence? Whether or not you have been there,
do you think he succeeded?
It could be said that this story is a modern fairy tale. Do you agree? What about
the story seems like a fairy tale? What does not?
E. M. Forster said that a “round character” is one who is capable of “surprising in
a convincing way.” Are the characters in the book “round” according to Forster’s
definition?
What works by other authors have you read remind you of this book? How were
they similar?
Have you seen the 2006 adaptation of A Good Year starring Russell Crowe and
Marion Cotillard? How did it compare to the book? Who would you cast in an
adaptation now? What songs or music would you use on the sound track?
In your experience, how accurate is Mayle’s portrayal of the different aspects of
the culture around wine?
Imagine that this story was set in the Livermore valley wine country. What would
be similar and what would be different?
If you knew nothing about Peter Mayle, what would you deduce about him from
his writing (apart from his obvious love of wine)?