Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Home is Where the Wine Is - Laurie Perry


As some of you know, I have a good friend who owns a wine store. It's a most excellent wine store, that also carries exotic beer and imported cheeses. He even has a small library of wine-related movies that he loans out to his customers. Somewhere along the line, I had this bright idea that I would get my hands on some wine-related books that he could loan out as well, and started it off with a Christmas gift of Peter Mayle's new book "A Vintage Caper". So when I was offered an opportunity to read "Home is Where the Wine Is" for the TLC Blog Tour, I jumped! Maybe it would be a good candidate for my friend's current one-book wine library.

Turns out, this book really doesn't have much to do with wine, except that the author/main character of the books likes to drink it, especially during stressful moments. Instead, I think this would be the perfect book for my single, friend from high school Kim (through whom I live vicariously). I think she could relate well to the author's trials and tribulations.

This is the diary/memoir of a thirty-something writer, divorced with cats, lover of wine and beer, avid knitter, who is searching for her place in life. She has decided that enough time has passed since her divorce, and it is time to get her act together. She makes a list of New Year's resolutions, eight to be exact, then, with a chapter dedicated to each one, tells us how she fared. She takes a trip to Rome by herself, and grows some monster-sized zucchinis in her backyard. Success! She also crashed and burned at meditation, therapy, riding an elliptical machine, bikini waxing and online dating.

When you first meet Laurie, you automatically know her. She is your hapless but earnest best friend, who tells a great story, makes you laugh, and has a heart of gold. She is cards-on-the-table honest about her foibles, and truly wants to fix them. The journey to fix the foibles is what will make you laugh out loud. You will also appreciate her pearls of wisdom, whether it be about merits of people-watching at the gym or about not always having to please everyone else at the expense of yourself.


Laurie's first book "Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair" was released in 2007, not long after her divorce. Based on an interview of Laurie on YouTube, she wrote this tell-all memoir to comfort other divorced women, and let them know that if they found themselves drunk-dialing friends, wearing the same clothes two days in a row, or running out of a grocery store to avoid talking to someone they knew, they weren't alone.

Laurie also has a blog (where she calls herself Crazy Aunt Purl) which is full of her bubbly, self-deprecating wit.

You don't have to be single or a wine-lover to enjoy this book, but it will hit closer to home if you are. You also don't have to be a knitter to enjoy this book, but Laurie includes a little bonus at the end of the book with some projects. For a fun, quick diversion from the serious stuff, pour yourself a glass of red and give this book a try.

Now here is the exciting part...Laurie's publisher has generously offered five copies of her book for giveaways (US/Canada only). Simply let me know you are interested, with your e-mail address, by Monday 2/15 at midnight, and I will choose five winners.

Stay tuned for a little chit-chat with Laurie this coming Thursday!

3.5 out of 5 stars




24 comments:

Alice said...

I'm a wine lover although I'm not very well versed in the types of wines. Too bad I don't live in the US otherwise, I would love to enter for the giveaway.

caite said...

did you say "exotic beer and imported cheeses"....be still my heart. I know I should appreciate wine more, but at heart I am a beer person (good beer, not the popular American trash beer)....with cheese.

rhapsodyinbooks said...

This sounds like fun! Please count me in!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Serena said...

I love wine, but I don't knit. I've heard so much about Laurie from Anna, who has been reading her blog for ages. I'd like to give this one a try!

savvyverseandwit at gmail

Nikola said...

This sounds amazing. And wine is amazing too. :) What a great combo.

Don't enter me though, I'm international. :)

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Sounds like a fun read--please include me!

Kimberly said...

Great review! The title caught my attention quickly! :) I didn't know you had an "in" at a good wine/beer store! Lucky girl!!

Kathleen said...

This book had me at its title but not sure I fit the demographic! However, the author sounds hilarious...I'm going to check out her blog!

bermudaonion said...

I love the sound of a lending library in a wine store! The book sounds like a lot of fun!

Anonymous said...

The title alone means I've got to read this :)And I love the idea of the wine store loans. I'll have to mention that to my local wine shop.

Julie P. said...

I have this one to read in the next few weeks too! I love wine and knitting so I should be set! :)

Frances said...

Wine? Did you say wine? That puts this book onto my list of fun, in-between reads. That with the self-deprecating wit and crash and burn doses of reality.

LisaMM said...

Thanks for the review! Too bad it's not a good fit for your buddy with the wine store, but maybe it will be just right for your friend!

Thanks so much for the time you put into reading and reviewing Home is Where the Wine Is! We really appreciate it.

Kim Frazier said...

You know I always seem to be late in reading your blog. Glad I did not skip this one! I feel very honored to be mentioned. Right now my life is nothing to live vicariously by. Nothing but crummy weather and grouchy people! I will definitely put this book on my list unless I wind up being selected!!! Take care!

Jenners said...

Well it just sounds like a fun book so please enter me! : )

Though I don't like wine or knitting!

jfligster(at) gmail (dot) com

HeatherinSF said...

I would live to read her book. She's a genuinely nice gal, I read her blog regularly.

Anna said...

I'm so glad you really enjoyed this book, too. And you're right...as you're reading, Laurie really does feel like a friend. I hope to try some of the knitting patterns at some point.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

ANovelMenagerie said...

No need to enter me... I just wanted to say that I, too, really liked the book and I reviewed it today. I can TOTALLY relate!

Darlene said...

Well this definitely sounds like a book that would be perfect for me! I'd love to enter.

bj19662001 (at) yahoo (dot) ca

Anonymous said...

I'm a huge fan of Crazy Aunt Purl's blog and loved her first book. Sign me up!

songbird_31_78ATyahooDOTcom

Ana S. said...

Memoirs are very much hit or miss for me, but this sounds like a fun and honest one. (Just saying, though, not entering the giveaway!)

Zibilee said...

This sounds like a great book, and the author sounds very cool and down to earth. Please include me in your giveaway, and thanks for offering it!

zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

FrankSandy said...

I'm interested. walkerd@primus.ca

Anonymous said...

I would love this book.

dsandyboy@gmail.com