Nose: A Novel

by James Conaway

In a gorgeous wine valley in northern California, the economic downturn has put a number of dreams on hold. But not so for wine critic Clyde Craven-Jones, a man whose ego nearly surpasses his substantial girth. During a routine tasting in advance of his eponymous publication's new issue, he blindly samples a selection of Cabernets. To his confounded delight, he discovers one bottle worthy of his highest score (a 20, on the Craven-Jones-on- Wine scale), an accolade he's never before awarded. But the bottle has no origin, no one seems to know how it appeared on his doorstep—and that's a problem for a critic who's supposed to know everything. An investigation into the mystery Cabernet commences, led by the Clyde's wife, Claire, and a couple of underdogs—one a determined throw-back to ancient viticulture, the other a wine-stained, Pygmalion-esque scribbler—who by wit and luck rise on incoming tides of money, notoriety, and, yes, love. The stage is set for this true theater of the varietals—where the reader joins the local vinous glitterati and subterranean enthusiasts hanging out in a seedy bar called the Glass Act. Soon Clyde Craven-Jones finds himself in a compromised position in a fermentation tank, a prominent family finds its internal squabble a public scandal, and a lowly vintner seeks redemption for a decades-old wrongdoing. James Conaway's Nose is a witty, delectable, and fast-paced novel that, like a good Cabernet, only grows truly enjoyable once opened.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Wine, Book Club

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

James Conaway is a former Wallace Stegner fellow at Stanford University, and the author of thirteen books, including Napa at Last Light and the New York Times bestseller, Napa: The Story of an American Eden. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Harper's, The New Republic, Gourmet, Smithsonian, and National Geographic Traveler. He divides his time between Washington, DC, and California.

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Received from Goodreads first reads

2.5 stars

I had a hard time getting into this book. It took me about 100 pages to decide if I liked it or not. I believe the main resons for this was that, like other reviewers, I did not find the characters to be likeable. They mystery was good. The writing was also very good. But I find that if I don't care that much for the characters, I don't care too much for the book. It is not a bad book, I can see it's appeal to others but for me it was good - not great.

[Les Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meandering

[Andria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it's a book about wine, it's hard for me to give that less than 3 stars 🥂 On the positive side, I found this book really easy to read, and the mystery behind the unlabeled wine - while predictable - did make a fun byline through the story. I also liked a lot of the physical descriptions of wine country, it was no surprise to find out that the author has written non-fiction works about Napa, and I'm interested in checking those out! I also need to find my own Glass Act to hang out at, though i don't want any part of Les' bar tab.

On the minus side, I don't think I ever clicked with the tone of this book overall. Depictions that we're supposed to be funny I'm sure, like that of critic Clyde Craven-Jones' weight, came off as mean spirited. Especially given where the story goes. The conflict between Sarah and her family didn't really get a satisfying conclusion to me. And I'll just say, both major romances to flower during this book felt unnecessary? And in one case, felt like it came out of nowhere?? Maybe my romance radar was off, but yeah, I side eyed that whole passage.

Fun if you like tasting wine, or reading about wine, or doing anything with wine!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Northern California, wine, and cozy mysteries, so when I found out about this book, it was an obvious read. I had to get it through interlibrary loan and was so excited when it arrived! I read the first page, a rather grotesque and gratuitous sex scene, and almost gave up on it. But the valley called and that mystery bottle beckoned, so I read with one eye shut past that first page and ah! So glad I did! The mystery is so easy to figure out, it shouldn't even really be called a mystery, but that didn't matter. The characters were unique and fun and the setting was Northern California, so it worked to have me eagerly grabbing the book any chance I had!

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember, one man's breezy summary is another man's hated spoiler.

This is a romance set in California wine country. The story is populated by big-time wine growers, small time wine growers, a big-time wine critic, an underground blogging wine critic, and miscellaneous others.

One track of the story traces the provenance of a wine submitted anonymously to "the nose," the prestigious critic.

Another track traces what developers want to do with the zoning of certain valuable hillside acres in the community.

[Marc Cullison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect from this book, and that’s probably what motivated me to purchase it. It wasn’t a thriller or detective story, or anything that might be exciting. However, I found it to be exciting in a different kind of way. It gives the reader a look inside California’s wine industry and the people who drive it. Even without a large cast of zany and unique characters, the story was enlightening, provocative, and humorous. The book has one of the best collections of clever metaphors I’ve seen, imaginative and spot on. A delightful read.

[Lori Carmone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow getting into this. Didnt seem to pick up for me until about 100 pages or so into it. I love the wine lifestyle woven into the story but overall it was very slow moving and much of the ending predictable. I bought it at a winery in Napa thinking it would be a fun read. It was good but not great and not one I'd pass on.

[KK]

A quick read, and very entertaining. Yep, there are some odd bits, but it mostly flows along just fine. Passé in 2020, that too, or maybe historical is a better descriptor, but still a mystery with benefits, 'specially if you're interested in California Wine Country.

[Rochelle Kantrud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nose

Extremely entertaining, if not exemplary of the human condition. in all its ugliness and beauty. I recommend, as a light read.

[Brooke Banks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nose: One Part Slow Wine Tour, One Part Family Drama Mystery, All Blah I won a copy through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
 
 
 
I’m giving this book two stars because despite good elements I didn’t particularly enjoy it, even though those elements are usually what I like. There’s hardly anything particularly wrong or irritating but I find it slow and uncompelling.
My big problem was indifference. Apparently it’s simply not my kind of book. I think this will be different for people who are more into wine, Napa Valley and those who relate more with the characters.
I originally entered to win Nose because the blurb certainly seemed interesting and I wanted to explore an area I hadn’t before. The family saga mystery drama intrigued me. I admittedly went in knowing nothing about wine and unfortunately my only tasting experience was with a cheap port that I didn’t like.
Nose is very informative in all things wine - from the making, the environment, the marketing, and the sensations. It wasn’t hard to follow or understand. It gave me a different perspective and appreciation for wine. The details didn’t bog me down and it was very interesting. This is one of the best parts of the book.
 





Pros


Cons




Detailed and informative about wine yet very approachable. I’m a total n00b on the subject and was able to understand it and found it fascinating


Figured out the mystery behind the bottle quick enough




Second half ramps up and I enjoyed watching the characters scramble to deal with the consequences


Thought the first half was too slow




Descriptive writing, which mostly worked


The writing was sometimes a miss—my eyes just drifted off the page as sentences rambled on




Characters are very dynamic, interesting and flawed people


Didn’t connect or care about the characters




Ending was appropriate, caused me to smirk, and I can’t see it ending any other way


Didn’t feel the impact of the ending, causing me to just shrug it off




 


Wanted more of the promised drama, which was sparse at first until the second half




 
The Characters
This is where the big disconnect happens for me. The characters aren’t bad. They are realistic, flawed, and dynamic. I didn’t find them unlikable or unpleasant to read about. But I didn’t connect with them and couldn't care about what happens to them.
I couldn’t even rise to hating the antagonists. Sure, there were moments I disagreed with (I think Sarah was just going through grief and her breakdown wasn’t about being in love, though I saw the attraction) and some moments where I didn’t like them (particularly the antagonists), but overall they were...fine. Wine is probably the best character but I don't have a connection with that either.
 
The Writing
Nose is written in a very descriptive with long sentences full of details. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it droned on and broke immersion. It’s flowery but fits the tone, perspectives and character narration so it’s not excessive to the point of being purple prose. (I don’t think...) I was torn between appreciating the slow, ponderous writing (mostly) and itching for the story to finally go somewhere.
 
The Plot
 
I didn’t personally find it fast paced like the blurb said. The first part is all about setup and build up, which I’m usually all for but, again, this didn’t win out for Nose. It was just too slow and I didn't have a reason to continue besides being stubborn. Figuring out the big mystery in that section before the characters certainly didn't help matters.
The second act's turn of events was much better. I enjoyed watching people struggle to deal with the aftermath. It also fulfilled the family drama promise and that's part I didn't figure out before its reveal.
The ending felt circular and not very satisfying. I smirked but that's it. The main conflict is resolved and it’s realistic. I’d probably be disappointed if it did the “sappy and ecstatic” ending. Well, I am already but at least, it makes sense and I can't gripe about it. I simply didn't like it.
Once we have the whole scope of things, the character’s internal meanderings finally start having an effect on the story. Unfortunately, it's harder to enjoy a character driven novel when you can't be bothered to care about the characters. It leaves a lot to be desired, which holds true for every part of Nose, sadly.
Bottomline:
 



 
Full of pros and cons but in the end, I couldn't enjoy it.
 
Recommended for:
wine lovers, those interested in wine or Napa Valley, or if you want a character-driven mystery novel.

[brettlikesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

california wine scene + a story as tangled as grape vines
•
instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nose, a novel by James Conaway is a light, often humorous read centered around the wine industry in California. Conaway does an excellent job of smoothly integrating explanations into the story, so that the uninformed reader understands some of the workings of the business. The book begins with a focus on Clyde Craven-Jones, a wine critic, who has just encountered a wine worthy of a perfect score. However, the wine came anonymously, and there are no clues as to who made the wine or where it came from. The rest of the events in the novel stem from this mystery. Once we begin to meet some of the other characters though, it is fairly easy to guess where the wine came from; it is not so much a mystery, but an enjoyable portrayal of the lives of various men and women in this wine valley.
The characters are interesting, and manage to represent the multiple types of people involved in the wine world. They face everyday challenges from family to love to money, and Conaway's framing of these common issues in the context of wine country is a refreshingly new depiction that holds the reader's attention. Conaway brings to light some environmental issues through one character, which is a perspective probably not too often considered. At times it seems that there are a few loose ends that could be developed a little more, and the characters could have been developed more deeply. As the story progressed, some events seemed a little unbelievable, which may have taken away from the overall story slightly. Nevertheless, Nose was a good, easy read, even for those who know nothing about wine, and it keeps the reader engaged throughout.

**I Received This Book In A FirstReads Giveaway**

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in a non-specific California wine valley, James Conaway's Nose follows journalist-turned-private-eye Les Breeden in his case to uncover a mysterious bottle of wine that was given a perfect score by the world-famous and ultra-corpulent wine critic, Clyde Craven-Jones. The plot thickens like a botrytis-enhanced desert wine when Craven-Jones is found dead, bottoms-up in a fermentation tank.

With this setting in mind, the reader can expect a hedonistic slew of sexual interaction and pretentious use of vocabulary. Some characters (Esme) are only half-baked, with the reader having only a vague impression of who they are and how they fit in the story, like waking up after a wine-soaked evening. The plot itself is quite unstructured - after the introduction of the mystery bottle the story breaks into the downfall of a cult winery. The resolution of the mystery bottle (they hired a scientist, who went away for 200 pages and then came back with the result), seems a hackneyed last minute add-on.

The ultimate irony is that Conaway's disdain for professional critics can also be applied to Les' independent blogging. Conaway brings up the ways that ego-centric professional critics overestimate their contribution to the wine world, and are driven by self-interest and shady supplier and advertising relationships. But Les uses his blog as a launchpad for his own interests, using it as a sounding board to further the popularity of the Craven-Jones newsletter, which he now has a role in producing.

The novel is a short guilty-pleasure of a read, but like even a good cult cabernet, the effect is fleeting.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing more lovely than a good glass of wine shared with family and friends during a succulent meal. I am French; I was practically raised on wine. I am not one of those fancy critics or connoisseurs; I just enjoy wine for my own pleasure... keep it simple and affordable. I was so happy when I was selected to pre-read this book which will available in bookstores in March. The short description of the book made me curious and I kept my fingers crossed in hope to be selected... I was thrilled when I found out that I was.

James Conaway's writing style is sophisticated and educated. I enjoyed his beautiful phrasing and descriptions of people, places and events. One of the book praises described it as "A funny and suspenseful... and evocative story" (Tracy Kidder). I thought when I read this praise that the book would provide a few laughs... I am yet to find them. But that does not matter too much; the story remains well written and presented. I enjoyed the ecological nuggets planted here and there among the pages. A reminder that unless we are careful with nature, we might see it disappear too soon.

I think this book would be great for book clubs and would provide great discussions and maybe a few arguments. So pour yourself a good glass of wine, settle into your favorite chair and give this book a try. You might be surprised at how well this mixture works together.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waffled between 3 and 4 stars. I'd definitely give it 4 for anyone in the California wine country. There are so many things about this book that would probably ring so true for anyone in that area!

The story is about a mysterious bottle of wine anonymously left on a prestigious wine critic's porch to evaluate. The wine is fantastic, but the critic does not know what wine it is. He pens a wine newsletter, and decides to put out a news item calling for the wine-leaver to fess up. The story then revolves around this mystery--who left the bottle, why anonymous, etc. Brought into the story are tons of local, colorful characters: snooty winery owners, environmentalists, journalists, wine lovers, etc.

Unfortunately the mystery I didn't find all that intriguing, so that was a negative. I enjoyed the characters, but like I said, it might ring a lot more true for someone involved in the world of wine in Napa Valley.

I did love the wine critic character, though. Egomaniacal, corpulent, snobbish--how I love me some eccentric gourmands (see: "A Debt to Pleasure", "Gourmet Rhapsody")! But he was not in much of the book.

I enjoyed it, I just didn't love it.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first encounter with the work of James Conaway, thanks to a Goodreads Giveaway. He has the capability of imparting knowledge while embedding it in an engrossing tale. His style of writing is informative, enjoyably entertaining, though at times the use of 'wine' terms can be a bit overwhelming. As a result, I've learned more about wine from this book, than from any wine tasting events or articles read over the years.

The characters are sympathetic, reprehensible, humorous, and totally human, with weaknesses and strengths. You'll find yourself rejoicing at small triumphs over evil.

Relating to the setting of the story was easy, due to a summer driving vacation from Vancouver, British Columbia to Los Angeles... right through the wine country. Now I'd like to go and actually visit all the 'fictional' locations and meet the people that inhabit them. Too bad they're only in his wonderful imagination!

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quintessential "summer read". A lightweight romance+whodunit that takes place in the wine industry of a barely-disguised Napa Valley.

The industry bits are important to the story, but they're not heavy-handed, superfluous, or distracting. If anything, some of the mistakes in detail even take you out of the illusion (such as putting a magazine online at *.blogspot.com, with the publisher calling in to register a third-level domain over the phone - why not just buy the second level domain?). Generally well-paced, though some of the exposition sections would have benefited from some editing.

Any wine country novel will inevitably be compared to Sideways, and while these stories are much different, the latter is far more evocative of wine country with a far deeper grasp of its characters.

If you love Northern California wine country and want a book to while away the afternoon, Nose will do just fine.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

You'd think this book was written expressly for me: a mystery novel about wine!

The problem is it doesn't really succeed on either front.

On the mystery front, you're in trouble if your most interesting character is the one who dies. The book never really recovers, especially given that the mystery really isn't mysterious. There's a bunch of people scrambling around, but the answer is given to the reader along with the mystery, which saps a lot of the fun.

On the wine front, I just can't believe that a bunch of young hipsters are sitting in an underground wine bar drinking napa cab. Trousseau gris from the true Sonoma coast, maybe. But it just didn't ring true.

Alas, it had such promise.

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I never finished the book. I didn't get far into it. Actually, I think I got no further than page 80 before I closed the book for good. I"m pretty sure this is the only second book I've never completed. Even when it's bad, I keep reading. This one, I just couldn't go on. I don't even think I'll even want to pick it up and try again for a later date.

I enjoy drinking wine, but this was not enjoyable even learning about it. I found myself skimming over sentences, and what I was reading wasn't even soaking in. As a result, I wasn't sure if there were new characters being introduced, or these were the same characters and by then I wasn't keeping track of who was who or what exactly was going on.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nose came of as haughty. It really felt as if the author was trying far too hard to convey a sense of prestige and culture. It starts off this way but you soon realize that is exactly the intent. You soon meet many other interesting and diverse characters.

The picture of the small town that is painted, surrounded by rich sprawling vineyards and the ocean on the horizon almost elicits rich homey smells from the pages.

The storyline keeps you interested. I enjoyed the read. I would read more from James Conaway.

I was lucky enough to win an advanced reading copy of Nose by James Conaway through a Goodreads first reads giveaway.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

About half of the book is completely character-driven, yet all of those characters bored me to tears. If Conaway had intertwined the plot-fueled second half with the slow-as-molasses, character-driven first half (or even given more atmospheric details to that first half to make me lose myself in beautiful descriptions), I suspect I might have cared more about Les, Sarah, Claire, and C.J. As it was, I didn't much mind what happened to anybody, which made it hard to care about the (rather paper-thin) mystery element. Those who know a lot about wine and Napa Valley culture may enjoy this book more than I did; I have only a passing understanding of wine.

[Rhi G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4

I received this book from goodreads giveaway!


This is the first book I have read by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed Nose. The characters were well thought out and captivating, even if I often found them unlikable. The story is full of twists, mystery, romance, wit. There is a lot of information for us wine drinkers to enjoy. Once I picked up the book I did not want to put it down this was a really good read and I will be sure to look up other books by this James Conaway. [I lent it to my sister, and she likes it so far.]

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from goodreads giveaway,
This was the first time I have read anything by this author.... I truly enjoyed this book. The characters were wonderfully though out and very interesting people. Even though not always that like able. The story is full of good twists, a wonderful balance of environmental concerns, mysteries, romance, wit, and evil-doings. There are lots of information for us wine lovers to enjoy. Once I picked up the book I didn't want to put it down this was a really good read and I will be sure to look up other books by this author.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I like wine & Napa Valley, so it was fun to read about some of the inner workings of that area. I enjoyed the politics of the big guy vs. the little guy, and the old school critic fighting against the internet and electronic age. My only complaint about the book is that I don't feel like I really got to know any of the characters. I learned some backstory, but then other things were alluded to, but never fleshed out. Altogether though, a satisfying read.

I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads first reads giveaway.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery that this book presented. It kept me interested and engaged with the story. The characters had lots of texture, although I didn't always agree with them and their points of view.

The book also had a nice balance if romance, wit, environmental concerns and mystery. For the wine lover, there is plenty of information and knowledge to enjoy throughout.

Overall nice pacing and a good story for wine lovers!

Reader received a complimentary copy from the publisher through the Good Reads First Reads program.

[Ampersand Inc. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel that pokes fun at the wine business in the Napa Valley. The main character is an unemployed reporter who is doing duty as a PI trying to find out the origins of an unlabeled bottle of wine left with a prominent wine critic who gives it the top score (20 points) of any wine he has reviewed. Meanwhile, said wine critic accidentally kills himself in a wine vat at an industry party at a winery (the locals wonder if it was murder…). You can tell while reading it that the author knows his stuff and there are a lot of real people in the book, thinly disguised. A fun read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious somewhat satirical romp through wine country, a whodunit if the appearance of a mystery bottle of Cabernet qualifies as a mystery. This is told through alternating viewpoints and you really have everything here: snooty wine reviewer, wealthy landowners, environmentalists, clandestine bloggers. I love that the town “dive bar” is a wine bar with a really good selection. They mystery isn’t super mysterious, but I sort of think that’s the point. Overall goofy and fun, but extremely well-written.

[Kent Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wine connoisseur friend of mine recommended that I read this book. I really enjoyed it, but I can see some drawbacks. I'm from Northern California, and have been to the wineries plenty of times in both Napa and Sonoma Valley's. You can barely move in Napa without hitting wine snobs and vintners pouring WAY overpriced wine. The book describes this turf pretty well, and I like the story. If you are not into wine, or haven't visited and seen how wine enthusiast act, then you may not find this book very entertaining, hence the reason it got lots of 2 star reviews.

[Nancy Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love wine (and who doesn't), this is a fun little fiction to read. Set in a fictional wine valley in Northern California, it follows the story of a renowned wine critic who receives a bottle of wine without a label. Upon tasting it, he rates it a 20--the highest rating on his scale and the first to ever achieve such a rating. The book chronicles the search for the bottle's provenance. The story is easy reading, a glimpse into the high-stakes wine business, and, even with death and a bit of gruesome mayhem, has a memorable finish.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a first-reads promotion.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are fully fleshed out, interesting people--not always likeable. Protagonists are endearing. The story full of good twists--a balance of environmental concerns, a couple of mysteries, love, and corporate evil-doings. Lots of wine-geek information to love. It sent me to the library list searching for more by Conaway. And a glass of red to go with.