The Billionaire's Vinegar
Author: Benjamin Wallace
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: May 13th, 2008
isbn: 9780307338778
This is a fascinating story about the world of wine collecting, particularly several bottles believed to have been owned by Thomas Jefferson. The reader doesn't need to have any background knowledge to enjoy this book, or really even much previous interest in wines. The author gives a very understandable history of the 18th century wine industry and Jefferson's attempts to bring vineyards into the US. The book is great at filling us in on the history of this discovery of 200 year old wine or fraud at the same pace as collectors at the time. It's an intriguing mystery that leaves the reader unenlightened about the truth of the Jefferson wine until all the arguing and testing has been completed. A great nonfiction book that will keep those who generally prefer fiction interested until the last page. - Lisa
June 2008 Book Sense Pick
Benjamin Wallace has uncorked an absolutely fascinating account of the world's most expensive bottle of wine. This is an intoxicating read with the complexity and nuances of a great vintage. As your book 'sommelier' I recommend that you drink deep of this heady narrative concerning world-class connoisseurs, deep-pocketed collectors, extremely costly crushed grapes and -- quite possibly -- a diabolically clever con man. Joe Drabyak, Chester County Book Co. Inc. (West Chester, PA)
Coming in August
Tomato Girl
Author: Jayne Pupek
Publisher: Algonquin
Published: August 1st, 2008
isbn: 9781565124721
This is a truly great book. Eleven-year-old Ellie Sanders reminded me of Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. Ellie is young girl in the midst of a situation completely out of control, and which she only vaguely understands. Unfortunately, Ellie doesn't have Atticus for a father. Ellie's life is more like Tom Robinson's; unjust, undeserved, and much too cruel. Despite her awful family life, Ellie remains a loving daughter and I think it's this innocence and ability to locate goodness in the people around her that most reminded me of Scout. Absolutely read this one! - Lisa
The Front
Author: Patricia Cornwell
Publisher: G P Putnam's Sons
Published: May 20th, 2008
isbn: 9780399154188
I picked this up thinking it was a Kay Scarpetta novel. I hadn't realized that Cornwell had begun a new series. Cornwell fans won't be disappointed by these new characters. This is the second book in the series, so you might want to start with At Risk (isbn 9780425214763). - Lisa
"At Risk featured Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano, a shrewd man of mixed-race background and a not in considerable chip on his shoulder; District Attorney Monique Lamont, a hard-charging woman with powerful ambitions and a troubling willingness to cut corners; and Garanoas grandmother, who has certain unpredictable talents that you ignore at your peril.
And in The Front, peril is what comes to them all. D.A. Lamont has a special job for Garano. As part of a new public relations campaign about the dangers of declining neighborhoods, she is sending him to Watertown to come up with a drama, and she thinks she knows just the case that will serve. Garano is very skeptical. He senses a much deeper agenda here, but he has no idea just how deep it goes. In the days that follow, he'll find that Lamont's task, and the places it leads him, will resemble a house of mirrors, everywhere he turns, he's not quite sure if what he's seeing is true.
This is the master writing at the absolute top of her game."
The Billionaire's Vinegar
