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Vintage
A humorous and evocative debut novel about a food journalist's desperate attempt to save his career--and possibly, his marriage--by tracking an extremely valuable bottle of wine stolen by the Nazis over half a century ago.
Ten years ago, Bruno Tannenbaum was a passionate food journalist with a respected newspaper column, a popular segment on the evening news, and a bestselling guide to relationships through food. These days, Bruno is a passionate 'has-been' living on his mother's couch, separated from his wife and daughters, eating his way through an ever-dwindling bank account, faced with the gnawing doubt that he'll never be the writer he once was.
Then Bruno stumbles on the secret to a 'lost vintage' of wine, stolen by the Nazis during the Second World War and presumed lost to the world for good. Recognizing his one chance at reviving his career, he scrapes together his last resources and sets off on an exciting food-filled quest that leads him from the rolling hills of Burgundy to a raucous wedding in Moldova, to a Beaune Bacchanal, and the greying walls of a Russian prison, as he attempts to find this extremely valuable wine and prove himself as the writer, father, and husband he knows he can be.
Vintage is an exhilarating debut that reads like a delectable food memoir combined with a comic travelogue, including mouthwatering recipes and wine pairings. It is a deliciously scintillating story.
Ten years ago, Bruno Tannenbaum was a passionate food journalist with a respected newspaper column, a popular segment on the evening news, and a bestselling guide to relationships through food. These days, Bruno is a passionate 'has-been' living on his mother's couch, separated from his wife and daughters, eating his way through an ever-dwindling bank account, faced with the gnawing doubt that he'll never be the writer he once was.
Then Bruno stumbles on the secret to a 'lost vintage' of wine, stolen by the Nazis during the Second World War and presumed lost to the world for good. Recognizing his one chance at reviving his career, he scrapes together his last resources and sets off on an exciting food-filled quest that leads him from the rolling hills of Burgundy to a raucous wedding in Moldova, to a Beaune Bacchanal, and the greying walls of a Russian prison, as he attempts to find this extremely valuable wine and prove himself as the writer, father, and husband he knows he can be.
Vintage is an exhilarating debut that reads like a delectable food memoir combined with a comic travelogue, including mouthwatering recipes and wine pairings. It is a deliciously scintillating story.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2015
29 people are currently reading
1406 people want to read
About the author
David Alexander Baker
2 books38 followersDavid Alexander Baker is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker. He's the author of the novel VINTAGE and the nonfiction title THE LOST CONTINENT. and his films include SAVING ATLANTIS and THREE DAYS OF GLORY. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in a range of publications. He lives in Oregon, and when he is not doing something outside, he is usually reading and occasionally writing books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 5, 2015
Bruno Tannenbaum, the lovable hero of this book, reminds me a lot of Don Freeman from The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect. (No idea what I'm talking about? Shame on you! Check them out. Graeme Simison is the author).
I just didn't fall head over heels in love with how things played out the last half of the book.
Up until the last 80 pages, they had me firmly at a five star rating. Then he did the thing that killed the book- and the character's joie de vivre- for me- he took the easy way out.
Bruno is a washed up former food writer (don't call him a restaurant critic!) for the Chicago Sun-Times. His marriage is in trouble, and he's sleeping on his mom's couch after he's busted messing around on his wife. His kids love and at times want to beat him. So, my dear, will the reader. Be warned. But you'll want to beat him with a goosedown pillow, not an anvil.
He's let go from his job with the Sun-Times, not only because print media is going the way of Atari, but also because he's gaining a reputation as a lovable, drinking, frustrated writer. Bruno had one monster of a book and he's not lived up to his potential, so the pressure is always on to repeat the runaway success of his debut book (There was a follow-up, but it's hugging remainder bins in bookstores). He gets a lead from a friend, about a doubtful missing vintage of wine from the war, and he's heading off (funded by his daughter's college fund, no less) overseas on the hunt of the missing vintage. He smells not only the wine and roses, but his next big bestseller- the book that will save him, resurrect his career, and make his wife and kids love and respect him again.
Bruno gets himself into all sorts of trouble, and this caper? Well, it could get him killed, if he doesn't stay on the right side of the Russians. I expected a little bit more cloak and dagger, but it ended up more like a Three Stooges short. That's not a bad move, especially with the tone of the book.
Then it went south- in the last 80 pages of the book. I had such high hopes that Bruno would throw caution to the wind, and live---meaning, to become one with who he really was and what life was throwing at him. Instead, the book took another turn and he went the safe route. There's nothing I hate more than the safe route. So yes, the ending really disappointed me. But, dear reader, don't let that keep you from dipping into this book. It's funny, it's full of great ruminations on exotic fare and wine, and the characters are a hoot. If you threw Michael Scott from the office into wine country, this is what would happen. A fun book, although the ending lost the five star rating for me.
I just didn't fall head over heels in love with how things played out the last half of the book.
Up until the last 80 pages, they had me firmly at a five star rating. Then he did the thing that killed the book- and the character's joie de vivre- for me- he took the easy way out.
Bruno is a washed up former food writer (don't call him a restaurant critic!) for the Chicago Sun-Times. His marriage is in trouble, and he's sleeping on his mom's couch after he's busted messing around on his wife. His kids love and at times want to beat him. So, my dear, will the reader. Be warned. But you'll want to beat him with a goosedown pillow, not an anvil.
He's let go from his job with the Sun-Times, not only because print media is going the way of Atari, but also because he's gaining a reputation as a lovable, drinking, frustrated writer. Bruno had one monster of a book and he's not lived up to his potential, so the pressure is always on to repeat the runaway success of his debut book (There was a follow-up, but it's hugging remainder bins in bookstores). He gets a lead from a friend, about a doubtful missing vintage of wine from the war, and he's heading off (funded by his daughter's college fund, no less) overseas on the hunt of the missing vintage. He smells not only the wine and roses, but his next big bestseller- the book that will save him, resurrect his career, and make his wife and kids love and respect him again.
Bruno gets himself into all sorts of trouble, and this caper? Well, it could get him killed, if he doesn't stay on the right side of the Russians. I expected a little bit more cloak and dagger, but it ended up more like a Three Stooges short. That's not a bad move, especially with the tone of the book.
Then it went south- in the last 80 pages of the book. I had such high hopes that Bruno would throw caution to the wind, and live---meaning, to become one with who he really was and what life was throwing at him. Instead, the book took another turn and he went the safe route. There's nothing I hate more than the safe route. So yes, the ending really disappointed me. But, dear reader, don't let that keep you from dipping into this book. It's funny, it's full of great ruminations on exotic fare and wine, and the characters are a hoot. If you threw Michael Scott from the office into wine country, this is what would happen. A fun book, although the ending lost the five star rating for me.
May 19, 2015
Bruno Tannebaum, an author whose 2 previous books dealt with food and wine, has hit rock bottom. His writers block has continued for 10 years. He has lost his job as a columnist at a newspaper in his hometown of Chicago. His wife has thrown him out and and he is ls sleeping on the sofa in his mother's apartment.
So when an old friend, a Russian restauranteur, offers Bruno an opportunity to clean out a wine locker for a fee, Bruno jumps at the chance. However Bruno is followed to the locker, assaulted and passes out. When he recovers, Bruno notes that some of the valuable vintage wine has been stolen. He also finds a cork from a legendary vineyard for 1943, a year that no one believes that any French wine it was bottled.
Bruno decides to find out if the cork is real or a fake and also to find any remaining bottles of that wine, if it really exists. He thinks that the story of adventure would make a good book. The search tokes him from Chicago to France, Germany and Russia.
The author's knowledge of the wine business here and abroad is displayed throughout this book. There are also interesting recipes scattered in the book. Unfortunately most of the ingredients for those recipes are expensive and difficult to find.
So when an old friend, a Russian restauranteur, offers Bruno an opportunity to clean out a wine locker for a fee, Bruno jumps at the chance. However Bruno is followed to the locker, assaulted and passes out. When he recovers, Bruno notes that some of the valuable vintage wine has been stolen. He also finds a cork from a legendary vineyard for 1943, a year that no one believes that any French wine it was bottled.
Bruno decides to find out if the cork is real or a fake and also to find any remaining bottles of that wine, if it really exists. He thinks that the story of adventure would make a good book. The search tokes him from Chicago to France, Germany and Russia.
The author's knowledge of the wine business here and abroad is displayed throughout this book. There are also interesting recipes scattered in the book. Unfortunately most of the ingredients for those recipes are expensive and difficult to find.
February 6, 2019
4-1/2 Stars
No time for a review just now as I’m off on a family-filled weekend of birthday celebrations and snow-skiing.
Let me take a moment to say this, though: more people should read this book. It’s gorgeous, witty, touching, cinematic, and thoroughly entertaining. Just a delightful read. And the foodgasms! Good God. You’re going to want to tie on a bib for this one, or maybe keep a hanky on hand for the drool. You’ve been warned. ;)
No time for a review just now as I’m off on a family-filled weekend of birthday celebrations and snow-skiing.
Let me take a moment to say this, though: more people should read this book. It’s gorgeous, witty, touching, cinematic, and thoroughly entertaining. Just a delightful read. And the foodgasms! Good God. You’re going to want to tie on a bib for this one, or maybe keep a hanky on hand for the drool. You’ve been warned. ;)
January 7, 2016
I adored this book! I loved all the food and wine descriptions-and the mystery adventure as it evolved along the way,it was a pleasure to read.
January 6, 2016
To be honest, the reason I was first attracted to this book was not the cover, the title, or the description but rather by the name of the author. My Father's name was David Baker so I knew I had to read this one.
I enjoyed the concept of this book and the descriptive writing made me want to rush to the kitchen to make a delicious meal or uncork a bottle of wine. The mystery was intriguing, the journey enticing, but the ending felt a bit rushed to me.
I hope to see more works by Mr. David Baker, possibly even a sequel.
I enjoyed the concept of this book and the descriptive writing made me want to rush to the kitchen to make a delicious meal or uncork a bottle of wine. The mystery was intriguing, the journey enticing, but the ending felt a bit rushed to me.
I hope to see more works by Mr. David Baker, possibly even a sequel.
July 29, 2017
"Bruno thought through the final few pages of his book as they all bustled around him, feeling that he had finally arrived at a sort of wisdom. He wasn't a brilliant writer, or perhaps he was. Either way, it didn't matter much because of this meal that was coming together: five people from three generations with complex interrelations, rancor, love, desire, disappointment, hope, were all about to commune and enjoy a few moments of harmony amid the maelstrom of life. This is what food can do. This is what wine can provide. It gives you a moment, a fleeting instant that you can live within, if you choose."
Such observations about food and wine, and descriptions of meals, are truly the highlight of this book. The main character is a man easy to dislike (or at least be disappointed in), and it was easy--for this reader, anyway--to lose the thread of his quest amid his adventures along the way. But if you can get past the character's flaws and just relax into the flow, it's an enjoyable read. And it will make you want to cook and drink good wine.
Such observations about food and wine, and descriptions of meals, are truly the highlight of this book. The main character is a man easy to dislike (or at least be disappointed in), and it was easy--for this reader, anyway--to lose the thread of his quest amid his adventures along the way. But if you can get past the character's flaws and just relax into the flow, it's an enjoyable read. And it will make you want to cook and drink good wine.
October 30, 2015
Review originally posted at
All Books Considered: TWO AND A HALF STARS
The concept of this book is great and I do not even have many qualms with its execution -- it was a truly culinary adventure. Each chapter was tied into a specific ingredient and/or recipe from the MC's other books and/or columns and the descriptions of food and wine were exciting. I also loved the travel and the mystery of the book. All of this being said, you are probably looking at my rating and thinking WHY?! Unfortunately, despite the great parts of this book, the entire thing was weighed down (and dare I say, ruined?) by Bruno, the MC. Bruno was the type of guy that traipsed around the world, being a glutton and a total lush on other people's dime, while managing to cheat on his wife numerous times. Despite the fact that he had seemingly no redeeming qualities, every woman in the book fell in love with him and he skated by on his "charm" while everyone else was hard at work. My dislike of Bruno ultimately made this book not work for me -- he was so selfish, hedonistic, chauvinistic and unlikable. If you could get over Bruno, and love food and/or wine, you will really like this book.
I would recommend this to fans of the film Bottle Shock or other culinary books such as Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen: How One Girl Risked Her Marriage, Her Job, and Her Sanity to Master the Art of Living or The Coincidence of Coconut Cake.
The concept of this book is great and I do not even have many qualms with its execution -- it was a truly culinary adventure. Each chapter was tied into a specific ingredient and/or recipe from the MC's other books and/or columns and the descriptions of food and wine were exciting. I also loved the travel and the mystery of the book. All of this being said, you are probably looking at my rating and thinking WHY?! Unfortunately, despite the great parts of this book, the entire thing was weighed down (and dare I say, ruined?) by Bruno, the MC. Bruno was the type of guy that traipsed around the world, being a glutton and a total lush on other people's dime, while managing to cheat on his wife numerous times. Despite the fact that he had seemingly no redeeming qualities, every woman in the book fell in love with him and he skated by on his "charm" while everyone else was hard at work. My dislike of Bruno ultimately made this book not work for me -- he was so selfish, hedonistic, chauvinistic and unlikable. If you could get over Bruno, and love food and/or wine, you will really like this book.
I would recommend this to fans of the film Bottle Shock or other culinary books such as Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen: How One Girl Risked Her Marriage, Her Job, and Her Sanity to Master the Art of Living or The Coincidence of Coconut Cake.
November 10, 2015
A food and wine road trip caper for armchair travelers. Bruno Tannenbaum has lost his wife, is unable to write his book, and has now lost his job with the newspaper. But he gets on the scent of a lost wine vintage--from 1943 France when the Nazis were shipping out all the good stuff--and he sees tracking this down as his way out all his problems--he's write the book, have money, and have proven his ability to be a good husband and supporter to his estranged wife. Of course nothing goes as planned, but he does have a delightful journey to Paris, the vineyards, Germany, Russia, Eastern Europe as he solves the mystery of the lost vintage. It's a good tale with lots of wine lore and good food. Unfortunately, the narrator's multiple mispronunciations put me off. It's likely a better read than a listen--witty, lighthearted, and it moves at a brisk pace.
February 25, 2016
Occasionally you find a book on shelf in the library, on a day of slim pickings, and think, "What do I have to lose?" I don't like wine, and have never indulged in travel, but the voluptuous food descriptions and the mystery driving the story--a lost vintage of World War II--hooked me completely.
"Vintage" isn't quite a must read, but as my life is less full without travel, your life will be less complete without reading this novel.
"Vintage" isn't quite a must read, but as my life is less full without travel, your life will be less complete without reading this novel.
August 15, 2016
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I have enjoyed this book, although I had a hard time getting into the story. There's a lot of wine, food and travel. It became really interesting to me once Bruno got to Europe. I thought the mystery of the missing wine and how it tied to Nazi Germany was interesting. I was kind of disappointed as to were the wine really was, but in a sense, relieved. I loved the theme discovered in the end and how it relates to the vin ordinaire.
May 10, 2016
A refreshing and evocative debut for David Baker. A loveable loser down on his luck entwined in the intricacies of food and wine with a decades old mystery thriller to set the plot. I have a bias towards debut novels as I always find them to be a bit more interesting as though you can feel the raw nerves of a new writer as you read their words. Great impulsive buy
April 27, 2016
You don't have to be a foodie or a wine geek to enjoy this novel, but it doesn't hurt. Vintage is a thoroughly enjoyable story about a fading food writer who stumbles into the search for a missing WWII-era wine. Rarely has the world of satisfying food and good wine been so lovingly conveyed. A fun vacation read. Thanks, M.
September 19, 2016
This book was indeed a very interesting and inviting read. It fascinated me in different ways. The love of food, wine, family this book has it all from good or bad. This book is a must read.
Read
May 11, 2023I finally finished! My slowness is on me not the book, but I’m glad to be done reading it.
It’s a charming book. I thought it would be a mystery, but it isn’t really. It’s more of a coming of age story of a middle-aged man who loves and appreciates wine and food. Bruno is a lovable rogue.
I could see this made into a movie or TV show.
It’s a charming book. I thought it would be a mystery, but it isn’t really. It’s more of a coming of age story of a middle-aged man who loves and appreciates wine and food. Bruno is a lovable rogue.
I could see this made into a movie or TV show.
August 7, 2018
Entertaining romp through the world of wine with great descriptions of people, places, food, and the wine we drink with it. Love the message about family and forgiveness.
November 30, 2015
This book is going to appeal to a variety of people on a variety of levels. Like to cook? Check. Enjoy wine? Check. Love to travel? Check. Enjoy a bit of history with your mystery? Check. Know a slacker who just can’t seem to get their life together? Check, check, check.
This book is an emotional roller coaster. Just when you think you have David Baker’s main character Bruno Tannenbaum (an aging, self-described working class gourmet food writer with a distinct Peter Pan complex) figured out, a curve ball smashes into your left leg. Just when you wonder if this guy will ever grow up, a glimmer of productiveness arrives, just long enough for him to fall into another hole of self indulgence . Just when you think you know exactly where the ending is going, you trip over your own applause into a deep hole of “what just happened here?”
The best parts of the book are cleverly weaved into the novel, creating the theme and tone. The first is Bruno’s observations of life’s absurdities such as, “Wine didn’t usually make Bruno surly. But he didn’t like this waiter, who was wearing glasses worth more than a check from Condé Nast for a freelance article on squid salads.” Anyone who has ever started their own blog or is a writer in the food, wine, or travel business is going to do some head nodding and eye rolls as they digest that remark.
The second “best part” comes at the beginning of each chapter where an exert is shared from Bruno’s most cheeky and beloved novel, Twenty Recipes for Love. There’s some sexy classic stuff here, like his take on Bouillabaisse. “It is a comeback meal, and with a dash of cayenne and saffron, even the most battered hearts can be restored with enough vigor to again brave the turbulent and storm-ridden waters of love.” Who couldn’t be a hero with such inspiring thoughts? I am pretty sure readers will never look at a Bouillabaisse in the same way.
Set in the gritty heart of Chicago’s working class neighborhood expanding to France, Belgian and Russia, Vintage is filled with the fascinating details and tastes of life, wine, love, sex, aging, accountability and 21st century second chances.
Here’s a little extra “flavor” for you. Recipe for Liesbeth's Pflaumenkuchen Cake compliments of author David Baker. http://www.examiner.com/review/milest...
This book is an emotional roller coaster. Just when you think you have David Baker’s main character Bruno Tannenbaum (an aging, self-described working class gourmet food writer with a distinct Peter Pan complex) figured out, a curve ball smashes into your left leg. Just when you wonder if this guy will ever grow up, a glimmer of productiveness arrives, just long enough for him to fall into another hole of self indulgence . Just when you think you know exactly where the ending is going, you trip over your own applause into a deep hole of “what just happened here?”
The best parts of the book are cleverly weaved into the novel, creating the theme and tone. The first is Bruno’s observations of life’s absurdities such as, “Wine didn’t usually make Bruno surly. But he didn’t like this waiter, who was wearing glasses worth more than a check from Condé Nast for a freelance article on squid salads.” Anyone who has ever started their own blog or is a writer in the food, wine, or travel business is going to do some head nodding and eye rolls as they digest that remark.
The second “best part” comes at the beginning of each chapter where an exert is shared from Bruno’s most cheeky and beloved novel, Twenty Recipes for Love. There’s some sexy classic stuff here, like his take on Bouillabaisse. “It is a comeback meal, and with a dash of cayenne and saffron, even the most battered hearts can be restored with enough vigor to again brave the turbulent and storm-ridden waters of love.” Who couldn’t be a hero with such inspiring thoughts? I am pretty sure readers will never look at a Bouillabaisse in the same way.
Set in the gritty heart of Chicago’s working class neighborhood expanding to France, Belgian and Russia, Vintage is filled with the fascinating details and tastes of life, wine, love, sex, aging, accountability and 21st century second chances.
Here’s a little extra “flavor” for you. Recipe for Liesbeth's Pflaumenkuchen Cake compliments of author David Baker. http://www.examiner.com/review/milest...
February 8, 2016
Bruno is an unattractive main character. He's using a Smith-Corona manual typewriter, in a restaurant, while drinking its wine on the house and writing some horribly purple prose. When he's forcibly ejected (for being a jerk, mostly about the wine, but also about the table, the typewriter, and life in general), he goes home to his mom's house, where he's sleeping on the couch since his wife kicked him out for, among other things, sleeping around and binge drinking. The next day he gets fired for being more or less useless to the Chicago Sun-Times as a food writer.
With all of that, you'd think you'd be hard pressed to keep reading the book, let alone enjoying it, but Bruno is so awful, such a snob, and so completely lacking in self-awareness that you just have to keep reading. Or I did. Using a totally improbably combination of old Russian mafia pals, bookies, his overly trusting and severely naive 16 year old daughter, he ends up whirlwinding it to Europe in search of a 43' Trevallier Premier Cru-- one of the famed vintages stolen by the Nazis-- and a story to match. Something that will get all his many grooves back: writer, wife, kids, future. He goes from the Cote d'Or, to Alsace, to Moscow, stalked by unsavory characters and half-drunk on good wine and even better stinky cheese.
Baker's writing is decent, both as himself and in the excerpts from Bruno's well-loved, shticky cookbook. There are a few parts that are repetitive. The dialogue is realistic and well executed. All the guns are introduced in the right places, but their reveals tend toward cheesey (and not the good stinky kind). And, honestly, the book kind of made me hungry. Which is not necessarily what you want in a novel you finish at 11:00 p.m., but I think that takes it from good enough to really good.
Recommended when you want to live vicariously through a gourmand near-jerk and think of wine bacchanals and get ideas for fancy dinners.
With all of that, you'd think you'd be hard pressed to keep reading the book, let alone enjoying it, but Bruno is so awful, such a snob, and so completely lacking in self-awareness that you just have to keep reading. Or I did. Using a totally improbably combination of old Russian mafia pals, bookies, his overly trusting and severely naive 16 year old daughter, he ends up whirlwinding it to Europe in search of a 43' Trevallier Premier Cru-- one of the famed vintages stolen by the Nazis-- and a story to match. Something that will get all his many grooves back: writer, wife, kids, future. He goes from the Cote d'Or, to Alsace, to Moscow, stalked by unsavory characters and half-drunk on good wine and even better stinky cheese.
Baker's writing is decent, both as himself and in the excerpts from Bruno's well-loved, shticky cookbook. There are a few parts that are repetitive. The dialogue is realistic and well executed. All the guns are introduced in the right places, but their reveals tend toward cheesey (and not the good stinky kind). And, honestly, the book kind of made me hungry. Which is not necessarily what you want in a novel you finish at 11:00 p.m., but I think that takes it from good enough to really good.
Recommended when you want to live vicariously through a gourmand near-jerk and think of wine bacchanals and get ideas for fancy dinners.
September 28, 2015
I found this book on goodreads which enabled me to order it from the library as soon as it was released.
Bruno Tannenbaum is a washed-up food critic, or as he refers to himself, a food journalist. He has lost his wife and children through divorce, his job through technology and the inability to follow up after his world renown book from over a decade earlier. Now, he lives at home with his mother, sleeping on her sofa.
When Bruno stumbles on information which could lead him to the ultimate prize, a lost vintage of wine, stolen by the Nazi’s during world war two and presumed lost forever, he makes a plea to his ex-wife to believe in him by financing his excursion to unlock the mystery of the lost vintage. Unbeknownst to him, it is not his former wife that answers his plea, but his daughter who robs her college fund to send her father on an adventure of a lifetime.
This is a mystery, an adventure and a coming of age book (even though it is a 40 year-old man coming of age). It’s a wonderful story that I read so fast, I could not believe it last night when I reached the final page.
Bruno Tannenbaum is a washed-up food critic, or as he refers to himself, a food journalist. He has lost his wife and children through divorce, his job through technology and the inability to follow up after his world renown book from over a decade earlier. Now, he lives at home with his mother, sleeping on her sofa.
When Bruno stumbles on information which could lead him to the ultimate prize, a lost vintage of wine, stolen by the Nazi’s during world war two and presumed lost forever, he makes a plea to his ex-wife to believe in him by financing his excursion to unlock the mystery of the lost vintage. Unbeknownst to him, it is not his former wife that answers his plea, but his daughter who robs her college fund to send her father on an adventure of a lifetime.
This is a mystery, an adventure and a coming of age book (even though it is a 40 year-old man coming of age). It’s a wonderful story that I read so fast, I could not believe it last night when I reached the final page.
August 24, 2015
This was a cute little caper. From the character description, I imagine Bruno as the Chicago Jewish food writer version of Bill Bryson. Chipmunk-like, bearded, with a full belly. He is a terrible husband, not the best father, and the worst at saving money. After all, life is too short not to enjoy good food and wine. So while sometimes it's frustrating to follow him on his adventures when you want to smack him to knock some sense into him, it's also hard not to smile and go with his odd charm. The descriptions of food and wine included from Chicago and across Europe were absolutely mouthwatering and made me want to go straight out for a gourmet meal compete with fine wine. Maybe in Burgundy. Or Moscow. Or Chicago. Bruno's research to solve a decades old wine disappearance seemed a bit simply done, but it worked for this kind of book. A quick, easy, charming read that's just right for the wine and food lover in us all.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
December 12, 2015
Liked this read although the main character is not very likable and is driven by his love for wine, woman and fine food. Characters are interesting and the book moves at a good pace. The story line moves from Chicago, France, Germany and finally to Russia where the author has written about an unusual and improbable meal in prison. The mystery surrounding a particular wine and conclusion were a surprise.
Throughout the tale the choices he makes are always in conflict with his family which he tries to amend with wine and food.
Throughout the tale the choices he makes are always in conflict with his family which he tries to amend with wine and food.
October 18, 2016
" Great wine is the ordinary. It is the everyday. It is family. It's another meal. Another shot at grace. It's love. It is life. It is...forgiveness."
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A tale of a burnt out writer past his prime. A mystery leads him on a journey, hunting for a lost wine vintage from WWII. His quest for this legendary wine helps him turn his life around. His story will make your stomach grumble and is best enjoyed with your favorite glass of wine in hand.☕️☕️☕️☕️
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A tale of a burnt out writer past his prime. A mystery leads him on a journey, hunting for a lost wine vintage from WWII. His quest for this legendary wine helps him turn his life around. His story will make your stomach grumble and is best enjoyed with your favorite glass of wine in hand.☕️☕️☕️☕️
January 6, 2016
This was my first book if the year. It was excellent. I could hardly put it down. Now, for a glass of wine, and to decide on the next book adventure.
December 11, 2015
light hearted story of nazi wine. author really knows his stuff about wine and wine making
November 23, 2016
This book is about more than food and wine - it's about finding out who you are, no matter where you are in your life. I loved that it had a little mystery in it, too.
October 23, 2017
It's like one of Peter Mayle's mysteries set in France, but with an even more bumbling protagonist than usual. It's perfect for the foodies, and the dry humor and nonsense is sorta endearing once you get used to it.
I mean, what other protagonist would break into a Russian mobster's hotel room to see if he was the mysterious attacker and what he wanted, snoop around while said Russian mobster is in the *shower*, and then, on the way out, pause, consider, sneak back to the mini bar, steal a bottle of champagne, and THEN leave, all while the water is turning off and said Russian mobster is starting to open the bathroom door.
It's an exercise in the silly, made extravagantly dramatic due to our chubby, alcoholic lead's well-intentioned but entirely useless meandering through a plot. You begin expecting nothing out of this book, and then you start to suspect that there might be a rip-roaring good time of a thriller in your hands, and then you slowly settle back again realizing that it's more travelogue than thriller.
Our protagonist doesn't really have much of an arc until the last like, twenty pages, and by then there's not much left to go, so his development falls a little flat. The point is to read about fine locations and finer wines, but I need a little plot with my scenery.
Foodies are gonna be way into it, but I'm not a foodie. He describes culinary delights while I sit here stuffing my face with canned tuna and crackers.
I mean, what other protagonist would break into a Russian mobster's hotel room to see if he was the mysterious attacker and what he wanted, snoop around while said Russian mobster is in the *shower*, and then, on the way out, pause, consider, sneak back to the mini bar, steal a bottle of champagne, and THEN leave, all while the water is turning off and said Russian mobster is starting to open the bathroom door.
It's an exercise in the silly, made extravagantly dramatic due to our chubby, alcoholic lead's well-intentioned but entirely useless meandering through a plot. You begin expecting nothing out of this book, and then you start to suspect that there might be a rip-roaring good time of a thriller in your hands, and then you slowly settle back again realizing that it's more travelogue than thriller.
Our protagonist doesn't really have much of an arc until the last like, twenty pages, and by then there's not much left to go, so his development falls a little flat. The point is to read about fine locations and finer wines, but I need a little plot with my scenery.
Foodies are gonna be way into it, but I'm not a foodie. He describes culinary delights while I sit here stuffing my face with canned tuna and crackers.
April 1, 2018
This book's main character is a food and wine writer, and the author is apparently one as well. The book is overflowing with descriptions of meal preparations, wine samplings, and philosophical musings about the power of food and wine. While I fully understand the concept, I wasn't feeling it. I guess I'm just not into food and wine enough to join in the rapture experienced by the characters.
I ended up skipping many passages because I'd had enough rhapsodizing about the subtleties of different bottles and vintages. It was repetitious.
I enjoyed the quest taken on by Bruno, the main character. The plot is unique. Bruno is interesting because he is so very flawed. He's immature, selfish, self-indulgent, irresponsible, lazy, unrealistic, and a wine snob. He's also joyful and likes to spread happiness (even if he does it with other people's money). He does grow up somewhat during his quest, but the end result is nothing special; he only attains a small amount of maturity and insight. He still indulges in food and wine, but to a lesser degree. He thinks handing over one paycheque to his daughter makes up for years of financial neglect. Still, if characters were all perfect, there would be no good stories.
I ended up skipping many passages because I'd had enough rhapsodizing about the subtleties of different bottles and vintages. It was repetitious.
I enjoyed the quest taken on by Bruno, the main character. The plot is unique. Bruno is interesting because he is so very flawed. He's immature, selfish, self-indulgent, irresponsible, lazy, unrealistic, and a wine snob. He's also joyful and likes to spread happiness (even if he does it with other people's money). He does grow up somewhat during his quest, but the end result is nothing special; he only attains a small amount of maturity and insight. He still indulges in food and wine, but to a lesser degree. He thinks handing over one paycheque to his daughter makes up for years of financial neglect. Still, if characters were all perfect, there would be no good stories.
November 13, 2017
I had high hopes for this story of a washed-up food writer who is on the quest of a missing bottle of wine from WWII but I despised the main character. Everyone loves Bruno. He's a food critic, wrote a well-known book, 10 years ago, and spends his time eating, drinking and carousing on someone else's dime. Only the party is over. His wife threw him out. She still loves him but she's lost faith in him. He's staying on his mother's couch and working in her deli and trying to figure out how to get his life back together. He thinks he has convinced his wife to finance his trip to Europe to find this hidden vintage so off he goes, sleeping with every pretty woman, drinking to excess every night. Even when he finds out who really financed his trip, he felt bad but he didn't change his ways. I have no patience for people who take their marriage vows so lightly and are so narcissistic that they can't see past their own nose. The food descriptions were great and I loved Bruno's kids and his mother but he was a huge turn-off.
November 13, 2021
A surprising find on the library shelf. Bruno Tannenbaum is an overgrown man-child. He lives to drink delicious wine and eat fabulous meals - don't we all? - while refusing the accept adult responsibilities. After amazing success with his first book, he has been stuck in a year's long writer's block on the second book, and now it's cost him his family and his job. He's sleeping on his mother's sofa, and instead of trying to figure out how to grow up, he's trying to figure out how to buy his next good bottle of wine. But then he learns about the possibility that an extremely rare wine, believed to have been used up or even destroyed by the Nazis, may have survived. Bruno sets off on a trek through Europe trying to hunt down the elusive bottles and maybe even find himself in the process. Bruno is not a particularly sympathetic character, although Baker does try to make him loveable. Anyone who has known a Bruno will still want to slug him. But the descriptions of the wine, the meals, and places are excellent, especially in the epigraphs the begin each chapter.
December 7, 2017
Picked up this book based solely on the fact that it's wine-related, and was so pleasantly surprised. The story sucked me right in, and I really liked the characters, despite their many flaws. (Looking at you, Bruno!) This turned into an adventure that I wasn't expecting, and the fact that it was a wine adventure was just icing on the cake. I also really appreciated that this wasn't focused so much on the technical aspects of wine, but on the experience of wine, which is my preferred way to approach the beverage, and that made it even more enjoyable for me.
"Great wine is the ordinary. It is the everyday. It is family. It's another meal. Another shot at grace. It's love. It is life. It is . . . forgiveness."
"Great wine is the ordinary. It is the everyday. It is family. It's another meal. Another shot at grace. It's love. It is life. It is . . . forgiveness."
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