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hannahwinston's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
grahamlm86's review against another edition
5.0
What a great story! I was engaged in the story from the start, and I just loved the layout of the story and how the author included the diary writings from the past with the present story. Beautifully written! Finished this quickly because I was so hooked into the story!
tx2its's review against another edition
3.0
Reading 2022
Book 183: The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah
Read this book for my IRL book club.
Synopsis: In this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II.
Review: From the book teaser, I thought I would love this book. This book is told in dual timelines, I enjoyed the WWII timeline better than the current timeline. The current timeline characters were a bit flat for me. The book was slow to get to the good parts and not a lot to keep the reader on the hook until then. All in all this was an okay book. Should be a good discussion for book club. My rating 3⭐️
Book 183: The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah
Read this book for my IRL book club.
Synopsis: In this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II.
Review: From the book teaser, I thought I would love this book. This book is told in dual timelines, I enjoyed the WWII timeline better than the current timeline. The current timeline characters were a bit flat for me. The book was slow to get to the good parts and not a lot to keep the reader on the hook until then. All in all this was an okay book. Should be a good discussion for book club. My rating 3⭐️
serinde4books's review against another edition
5.0
This is another #OnceUponABookClubBox book. I devoured this book, and drank a glass of wine as I did so. I really enjoyed the twists and turns and the character development. I wouldn’t say this was as heavy as the Taster, but it was still great.
For more reviews see my blog: https://adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
For more reviews see my blog: https://adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
msnyderk's review against another edition
4.0
Really good book taking place in Burgundy, France. I am always pulled in by stories that take place in wineries for some reason. There is something about them that carry a sense of history and romance. This book had that as well as a unique historical story taking place during WWII. I loved the discovery of the hidden wine in Kate’s family’s home in Burgundy as well as Helene’s story. I think what I loved most about Helene was that she was a chemistry student. Such an interesting character. I also loved that she ended up in America teaching at a college level. That she survived and became such an admired professor. Kate’s story too was very fulfilling as well. I liked seeing her growth as well as her reunion with Jean Luc. It was a very real relationship and not overly romanticized. All around good story.
duepnerd's review against another edition
2.0
Really fun major plot line, but everything else was rushed.
joeybartusek's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STARS! Thanks to TLC Book Tours for this free review copy!
*
If you love WWII fiction + wine + France + dual timelines, this is a MUST-READ! I absolutely loved it and was so, so impressed with the story and the intricate detail regarding vineyards and the wine industry. The WWII narrative was a unique perspective that I haven't read before, even after reading MANY WWII stories. This is definitely on my list of favorite books of Summer 2018!
*
the .5 star deduction was simply because I thought the plot wrapped up a bit too quickly toward the end, that's all!
*
If you love WWII fiction + wine + France + dual timelines, this is a MUST-READ! I absolutely loved it and was so, so impressed with the story and the intricate detail regarding vineyards and the wine industry. The WWII narrative was a unique perspective that I haven't read before, even after reading MANY WWII stories. This is definitely on my list of favorite books of Summer 2018!
*
the .5 star deduction was simply because I thought the plot wrapped up a bit too quickly toward the end, that's all!
lashby2's review against another edition
4.0
Not the typical story line I read. I did enjoy it and was pulled in by the old and new family secrets. Could have done with a little less French lines in the book but overall kept my interest and had a good ending.
bookapotamus's review against another edition
5.0
I took a break from historical fiction for a bit and went on a thriller binge for awhile.. but oh boy am I back! I LOVED this book and I don't know why it took me so long to read it. It's historical fiction at its finest, with a really fun and intriguing mystery - so definitely incorporates 2 aspects I love to read about, while really heavy on another of my favorite things ... wine!
Kate's family has been making wine at their French vineyard for generations. And although it's been a long time since she has been back to visit, she still lives and breathes all things wine back home in San Francisco. As she prepares to take The Test to hopefully become a Master of Wine, she decides to return to France and help her cousins on the vineyard, enhance her skills to prepare, all while avoiding a life and love from the past.
When Kate unearths a secret room in the vineyard's basement, she uncovers more that just a few resistance pamphlets from the Nazi occupation, and rare bottles of wine from the WWII era. What she discovers is an aunt she never knew she had, and some potentially damaging secrets that could change everything she knew about her family.
I loved, loved, loved this book! It drew me out of a reading slump with it's elegant prose, it's layered storylines and fresh and endearing characters. The historical aspect was fascinating and so exquisitely detailed with aspects of the war I had no idea about. The mystery had me riveted and feverishly turning pages. And it was such a delight to learn about french culture, food, and of course the wine and winemaking. I felt transported to the vineyards in France and I never wanted to leave.
Kate's family has been making wine at their French vineyard for generations. And although it's been a long time since she has been back to visit, she still lives and breathes all things wine back home in San Francisco. As she prepares to take The Test to hopefully become a Master of Wine, she decides to return to France and help her cousins on the vineyard, enhance her skills to prepare, all while avoiding a life and love from the past.
When Kate unearths a secret room in the vineyard's basement, she uncovers more that just a few resistance pamphlets from the Nazi occupation, and rare bottles of wine from the WWII era. What she discovers is an aunt she never knew she had, and some potentially damaging secrets that could change everything she knew about her family.
I loved, loved, loved this book! It drew me out of a reading slump with it's elegant prose, it's layered storylines and fresh and endearing characters. The historical aspect was fascinating and so exquisitely detailed with aspects of the war I had no idea about. The mystery had me riveted and feverishly turning pages. And it was such a delight to learn about french culture, food, and of course the wine and winemaking. I felt transported to the vineyards in France and I never wanted to leave.