Chooks and Books
February 6th 2008 10:44
On Wine:
The Black Chook Shiraz Viognier (South Australia).
I bought this wine in memory of the black chicken that last week got eaten by a fox, and because chooks remind me of my animal mad mother. I was also thrilled and amused by the picture of of the rather feisty looking black hen stomping down the label toward me, and the rather poetic little description of the wine and its naming on the back.
It was sweetish and full bodied. I wanted to swirl it over my tongue for minutes before I swallowed. Very drinkable, with not much tannin, but perhaps not as complex as I would have liked. It would go nicely with anything meaty and flavoursome, but was very nice as a sitting-on-the-balcony-drinki ng-as-we-gossiped drop.
On Books:
I am reading this book. Wally Lamb’s I know this much is true. It’s one of those stories that grips and depresses simultaneously. My reactions to it are almost physical. Like when you wake up from a particularly vivid dream. I was loving this book, until I found out: It was one of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club books! Oh no! What has happened to my judgment? I can no longer claim to be the literary snob I thought I was. Oh well. Onwards and upwards. This site, and this book snob, will promise to review all books it is enthralled by, highbrow and lowbrow all!
So, back to Wally Lamb. What has me so captivated is the depth of characterisation. The main character, Dominick, is written in such a way that I am all at once repulsed by him, a little bit in love with him, appalled by his misogynism, and utterly in sympathy with him. I am riding the highs and lows with this guy! The supporting cast is pretty well fleshed out too, and includes the Domanicks paranoid schizophrenic identical twin, the twin’s female, Indian psychiatrist cum philosopher, a blonde gym-bunny girlfriend, and many beautifully written ghosts from the past.
Central to the story is the relationship between Dominick and his mentally ill twin brother. The plot twists and turns and goes back and forth in time, weaving a web of relationships and observations about life and all it contains. At times it is a bit melodramatic and Lamb puts the main character through so many trials it becomes a little implausible.
The Black Chook Shiraz Viognier (South Australia).
I bought this wine in memory of the black chicken that last week got eaten by a fox, and because chooks remind me of my animal mad mother. I was also thrilled and amused by the picture of of the rather feisty looking black hen stomping down the label toward me, and the rather poetic little description of the wine and its naming on the back.
It was sweetish and full bodied. I wanted to swirl it over my tongue for minutes before I swallowed. Very drinkable, with not much tannin, but perhaps not as complex as I would have liked. It would go nicely with anything meaty and flavoursome, but was very nice as a sitting-on-the-balcony-drinki ng-as-we-gossiped drop.
On Books:
I am reading this book. Wally Lamb’s I know this much is true. It’s one of those stories that grips and depresses simultaneously. My reactions to it are almost physical. Like when you wake up from a particularly vivid dream. I was loving this book, until I found out: It was one of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club books! Oh no! What has happened to my judgment? I can no longer claim to be the literary snob I thought I was. Oh well. Onwards and upwards. This site, and this book snob, will promise to review all books it is enthralled by, highbrow and lowbrow all!
So, back to Wally Lamb. What has me so captivated is the depth of characterisation. The main character, Dominick, is written in such a way that I am all at once repulsed by him, a little bit in love with him, appalled by his misogynism, and utterly in sympathy with him. I am riding the highs and lows with this guy! The supporting cast is pretty well fleshed out too, and includes the Domanicks paranoid schizophrenic identical twin, the twin’s female, Indian psychiatrist cum philosopher, a blonde gym-bunny girlfriend, and many beautifully written ghosts from the past.
Central to the story is the relationship between Dominick and his mentally ill twin brother. The plot twists and turns and goes back and forth in time, weaving a web of relationships and observations about life and all it contains. At times it is a bit melodramatic and Lamb puts the main character through so many trials it becomes a little implausible.
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