Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last by Wright Thompson

3.76 AVERAGE

amy614's review against another edition

4.5
emotional informative reflective medium-paced

psyco12_2000's review against another edition

3.0
emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

tygaribay's review against another edition

2.0
I am a big fan of bourbon, so I was looking forward to reading this book to find out more about the history of my favorite drink and especially its most famous brand, Pappy Van Winkle, which I have never had the joy of trying. Instead, this book mixes ruminations on the author's life, relationship with his father, stress over his coming first born, etc. with some very good stories about the history of bourbon and the Van Winkle family. Given that the book itself is very short, the amount of interesting content is limited. On top of all that, the author is a newspaper columnist by trade, and the florid prose shows through. Not recommended

jclayhuston78's review

4.0
emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced
jonathancliff's profile picture

jonathancliff's review against another edition

2.0
This is a teeny bit interesting, but honestly feels more like a Wright Thompson memoir with Pappy Van Winkle family facts thrown in to make appeal to whiskey fans.

I’d believe this fits better as a long form magazine article than a short book.
jentayva's profile picture

jentayva's review against another edition

2.0
I wish the book was more about the bourbon and less about the author ;however the writing was good.
riccochet32's profile picture

riccochet32's review against another edition

2.25
informative lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
erichultgren's profile picture

erichultgren's review against another edition

4.0
If you like bourbon this is a must read.
marissaddillon's profile picture

marissaddillon's review against another edition

4.0
If you love bourbon, this book is fantastic; but, it’s also not just about Pappy Van Winkle. It’s about the myth and majesty, but also hardship and hard truths of the south (specifically Kentucky and where the author is from - Mississippi). It also is about a son’s relationship with his father, and how that parallel’s with Julian Van Winkle’s relationships. Wright Thompson is a beautiful writer and I was laughing or smiling through the explanations of the whiskey business, but then crying in another chapter when he talks about his dad or about his future daughter.
sll_the_1st's profile picture

sll_the_1st's review against another edition

3.0
emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced