My recent beverage book tags made me nostalgic for alcohol.
Hey! Alcohol! I used to drink that stuff!
Finding Jasmine’s Wine Book Tag made me miss the Good(ish) Old Days.
I thought about creating prompts for riesling and moscato (my favorites), but that required a deep dive into wine culture I couldn’t stomach.
ENJOY THESE DRY, SERIOUS WINES INSTEAD.
Box Wine
A book people will judge you for liking…but you like it anyway!
I, like many teenagers in the 2000s, had a werewolf phase.
After Twilight sullied both vampires’ and werewolves’ reputation, male readers rejected both beasts as GIRLY.
Yes, how pathetic and silly to read about violent immortal creatures..
Raised By Wolves is probably the worst title for a werewolf romance…
…that happens to be THE best werewolf romance.
“Pack” is another word for “family of choice.”
Bryn’s pack supports her interspecies love and fight other wolves to let it happen.
THOSE ARE SOME GOOD FRIENDS.
Organic Wine
A book that doesn’t have any added crap in it and is just written perfectly
Criss Cross is one of the purest books I’ve ever read.
There’s a hint of romance, but the story mainly focuses on friendship.
And you know I believe FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC.
I LOVE A COMING-OF-AGE STORY.
Gluehwein
A really spicy, wintry read
What’s more wintry than Winter?
Honestly, though.
(Hm…are there seasons in The Lunar Chronicles? I don’t recall.)
Bonus suggestion: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. (Hey, more werewolves!)
Much of the action takes place during Mercy Falls’ unforgiving winters.
Don’t forget bacterial meningitis!
Sauvignon Blanc
A really sharp, aggressive read you couldn’t put down
Women can’t win.
According to American culture, they’re always doing something wrong.
Anne Helen Petersen honors transgressive women in her book Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud and forced me to give certain female celebrities a second chance.
Women aren’t “too” anything. Give them a break.
Pinot Noir
A book you didn’t expect much from but ended up blowing you away
(CW: rape, trauma, assault)
I read a lot of Laurie Halse Anderson in junior high and high school.
At the time, I didn’t love reading sad books in verse about kids who SWORE and DRANK and STOLE.
Stuck on her books’ supposed immorality, I’d missed Anderson’s honesty and talent.
After reading and loving Anderson’s memoir Shout, I gave her book Speak another try…this time, in graphic-novel format.
Knowing what I know now about rape and trauma and the myth of perfect victims, I experienced a different story.
I stepped out of the role of Melinda’s accuser and tried to be her ally.
Investing in survivors instead of judging them hurts more but it’s worth it.
Really.
Chardonnay
A good summer read that was super zesty
How do you feel about bug cuisine?
I didn’t feel great until I read Meal by Blue Delliquanti and Soleil Ho.
I had no idea bug consumption was an important part of Cambodian heritage.
I also didn’t know eating bugs was such a common practice.
I’m most curious about cricket tacos.
Rosé
A book that has a little bit of everything in it
Throughout elementary school, I saw the Heartland series listed in every Scholastic book catalogue.
This series had EVERYTHING: ROMANCE! HORSES! MEAN GIRLS! MORE HORSES! ACCIDENTS! MEDICAL DRAMA! And…TRUCKS! (To be honest, I only read a few of the books.)
I ditched the series after the main characters excused an instance of animal abuse because the practitioner had a rough childhood.
The characters took the stance of, “I feel bad for him,” but also…didn’t stop him??
HELLO. THE HORSE. TAKE IT AWAY FROM HIM.
OH, AND PERHAPS DON’T LET HIM CONTINUE TO ON YOUR RANCH.
Shiraz
A full-bodied book that is dark and juicy
The Merry Spinster was a twisty, turny read.
I don’t fully understand WHAT I read, but the story about Frog and Toad DISTURBED me.
Also, I can never read The Wind in the Willows again.
THANK YOU, DANIEL MALLORY ORTBERG, FOR RUINING CHILDREN’S ANIMAL LITERATURE FOR ME FOREVER.
(If you explore the Frances the Badger series in your follow-up, I will riot.)
Merlot
A smooth, easy read with a soft finish
Some research-heavy books, while fascinating, take time and effort to finish.
Not Text Me When You Get Home!
Kayleen Schaefer made research readable again.
Light, soothing, and informative – my favorite.
Champagne
Your favorite book
I hate this question.
I also hate champagne.
This time, I’ll share my favorite ever graphic novel, Lucy Knisley’s Something New.
I think I’ve reread it twice this year.
Not sure if another reread would help or hurt at this juncture.
I derive SO MUCH COMFORT from Knisley’s wedding journey.
Her book gives me hope.
I could go for a glass of wine some days.
What’s a good, non-alcoholic substitute that will make me feel classy?
And DON’T say kombucha.
This is a fun tag, so I invite drinkers and non-drinkers alike to participate.
RAISE. YOUR. GLASS.
Narrative Paradise 