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to drink or not to drink
Oct. 11th, 2011 11:35 pmI don't read a lot of nonfiction. You'll find me more often in the fiction section of a bookstore or library, usually science fiction or mystery. But occasionally (actually more often than usual in the past year) I'll pick up a nonfiction book and read it.
One such book that I just spent the past twelve hours reading from start to finish was The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine.
The "world's most expensive bottle of wine" refers to a bottle of wine sold on auction at Christie's of London in 1985. The bottle was supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson, and that fact alone brought the final price to be $156,000. However, doubts rise about the authicity of the bottle of wine. Who do you believe, the German wine collector who has a knack for finding extremely old and rare vintages? The British auctioneer whose expertise in wine tasting is highly regarded? The American tycoon who wants to know the truth behind the supposed "Thomas Jefferson" bottles of wine he bought? It will two decades of suspicions before long wondered questions about the wine get answered.
Woven within the narrative was a history of wine, since wine and its drinkers is what the book is mostly about. It was really interesting and informative, despite the fact that fact that I'm not a wine drinker and don't really like wine.
I think what really helped me enjoy the book was the narrative fashion of it. That, and the mystery and intrigue. Are there any other narrative nonfiction books that have some sort of mystery to them that you big readers out there can recommend? Thank you kindly in advance, if you know of any.
One such book that I just spent the past twelve hours reading from start to finish was The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine.
The "world's most expensive bottle of wine" refers to a bottle of wine sold on auction at Christie's of London in 1985. The bottle was supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson, and that fact alone brought the final price to be $156,000. However, doubts rise about the authicity of the bottle of wine. Who do you believe, the German wine collector who has a knack for finding extremely old and rare vintages? The British auctioneer whose expertise in wine tasting is highly regarded? The American tycoon who wants to know the truth behind the supposed "Thomas Jefferson" bottles of wine he bought? It will two decades of suspicions before long wondered questions about the wine get answered.
Woven within the narrative was a history of wine, since wine and its drinkers is what the book is mostly about. It was really interesting and informative, despite the fact that fact that I'm not a wine drinker and don't really like wine.
I think what really helped me enjoy the book was the narrative fashion of it. That, and the mystery and intrigue. Are there any other narrative nonfiction books that have some sort of mystery to them that you big readers out there can recommend? Thank you kindly in advance, if you know of any.
