Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Book Review - Cheap Cabernet by Cathie Beck


From Amazon.com:

I didn't know that people come into our lives, and sometimes, if we're terribly lucky, we get the chance to love them, that sometimes they stay, that sometimes you can, truly, depend on them.

Cathie Beck was in her late thirties and finally able to exhale after a lifetime of just trying to get by. A teenage mother harboring vivid memories of her own hardscrabble childhood, Cathie had spent years doing whatever it took to give her children the stability--or at least the illusion of it--that she'd never had. More than that, through sheer will and determination, she had educated them and herself too. With her kids in college, Cathie was at last ready to have some fun. The only problem was that she had no idea how to do it and no friends to do it with. So she put an ad in the paper for a made-up women's group: WOW . . . Women on the Way. Eight women showed up that first night, and out of that group a friendship formed, one of those meteoric, passionate, stand-by-you friendships that come around once in a lifetime and change you forever . . . if you're lucky.


My Thoughts:

This is a beautiful, powerful memoir which I enjoyed from beginning to end. Cathie Beck was lonely for companionship. She put an advertisement in the newspaper, announcing the start up of a womens group called WOW (Women On The Way). She meets Denise, who becomes her best friend, confidante and sister in sorrow. Together, they enjoy hours of girl-talk, movies, yard sales, and drink wine....preferably "Cheap Cabernet". Although they couldn't be more different than night and day, they both desperately need something from each other. Denise is brash, outspoken and assertive. Cathie is quiet, reserved and cautious. They become inseparable. When Denise tells Cathie that she has "the good kind of MS", Cathie's worry for her friend is only slightly minimized. That is, until she begins to witness the physical signs of Denise's heart-wrenching illness. As Denise gets sicker, she begins to push Cathie away, while Cathie fights to remain close to Denise and help her any way that she can. Cheap Cabernet is more than just a memoir about friendship, it is a statement made by the author to live each day to its fullest, enjoy each and every moment and never take anyone or anything in your life for granted~

Photobucket Outstanding!

Please visit www.cathiebeck.com


  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Voice; 1 edition (July 20, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1401341543
  • ISBN-13: 978-1401341541
**Book received from Librarything's Early Reviewers Program**

4 comments:

Faye( Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm) said...

This one sounds great! I'll check it out :D

Marce said...

Missy you have completely intrigued me with reading memoirs. I am excited to read them next year, that is my goal. And only you and another blogger get me excited from reading your reviews on them.

Thank you

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

I'm kind of on a memoir kick right now, so this really intrigues me. Great review! :)

Cathie Beck, Author "Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship" said...

Missy! You've made one Colorado author VERY happy -- thanks for MAKING MY WEEK!

It's SO sweet to read how you truly "get" "Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship."

Hey -- we're going a HUGE Book Club Special ParTAY -- I send autographed copy of book to club leader, send wine to the club's meeting where they discuss Cheap Cabernet -- and we SKYPE it! It's way, WAY fun :) !! email me directly at cathie@cathiebeck.com

MANY thanks!!!!

xo

www.cathiebeck.com

Cathie Beck

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