Wish I had cocktails, instead of wasting my time on  this book
346328
It has taken me months to read this book.  I would read a chapter one night & let it sit on my nightstand for two months before I felt the need to pick it up again.  I really could not relate to the characters.  There were no exciting events in the book.  The main character Gemma begins a website called allmenarebastards.com & the website takes off, creating her a new career.  She deals with a struggle of an ended relationship & the ups & downs of several friendships.  It has a happy ending, but I must warn you: there was no exciting climax, along with no plot.  It was not the most boring book I've read, but not very interesting.  I don't recommend.
4757564
This book is ok, and I have the other "do this not  that" books, so it rounds out the library.  I wish he spent more time on cocktails - he covers a few in the last chapter, and a couple in the restaurants.  Most of this book has been covered in the other books, especially Starbuck's and its related beverages.
1563319
I can't recommend this book at all.  While there are a lot of recipes in it, you'd be hard-pressed to find a particular drink you wanted since there is no index of drink names.  Although divided into general categories (Tropical Drinks, etc.), within that chapter the drinks are not organized in any logical way (like alphabetically).  The index only lists ingredients, mainly types of alcohol, so you could look up "vodka," and then check the 88 pages listed if you were trying to find, say, how to make a Devil's Torch.
2044216
I'm not sure if it was because I haven't been in high school in ... well I won't go there, but I was lost in translation a few times or maybe it was the lingo from the writing style and my Cali roots or heck all the characters. There were times I could not keep up. Other than that, I liked this book. It was the first book in a long time that I wanted to keep reading and not read a chapter and go to sleep. I did have issues with the underage drinking. Not the part about high school kids drinking. I get it, they do. What I didn't get was a part where they were at a bar and Tijan said something along the lines of they were allowed to drink because a father owned the bar. Ummmmmmmmm what???? I understand this is fiction, but it what world are we living in that this is acceptable? That bar would be shut down in a heartbeat and that dad would be thrown in jail if a cop walked in and saw all those underage kids drinking. There were so many. Not just one, not just two. Hell, not even three. A beta reader, Tijan's editor, someone should have changed that part IMO. Okay, sorry. Moving on to book 2 ... after I read Mason because I didn't know there was a book 0!
188736
I was really looking forward to reading "Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood" by Koren Zailckas.  This nonfiction story follows Koren from her teenage years until her twenties, and her experiences with excessive drinking.  Koren is not an alcoholic, but she has definite alcohol issues, drinking in excess mainly to overcome her anxiety and shyness.

Koren is an extremist.  Everything that she does is in excess.  She goes from excessive drinking and partying, to being an anti-social hermit, to being obsessed with a new boy, and back to excessive drinking.  Koren says, "I already need alcohol, not physically but certainly emotionally; my relationships, self-image, and ability to cope fluctuate with my blood alcohol content" (p297).

While the book is interesting, unfortunately, it was also long and wordy.  I thought "Smashed" would be similar to the other one-worded titles of "Wasted" and "Madness" by Marya Hornbacher, a journalist/author whose eating disorder and bipolar disorder dominated her life.  Marya's stories in both novels were easier to read, less wordy, and, at the risk of sounding insensitive, more interesting.

If you are going to read a book about a woman's battle with a disorder, I'd start first with "Wasted" and "Madness" by Marya Hornbacher.

Have you read any of these three books?  Check out my blog and let me know what you think!
3753116
Within the first few pages, I was feeling swamped in too many details.  The author throws out endless names of people that Will (the heroine) encounters.  A good writer introduces people at a decent pace and with appropriate events to warrant it.  You will meet and know these people and places without effort.  Not here.  Will is running a bar restaurant owned by (insert 2 names). A waitress walks by (insert one name). Best friends at a table (two names), best friends love interests (two names), hero of the story, reporter and photographer, plus the names of the restaurant, island, magazine, place where the owners went to vacation, hero's business, etc.  Most of the information and events are irrelevant.  Occasionally it is just jarring (when is the last time you saw a brown-skinned girl with bright green eyes?)

I read the book until the reporter and photographer left (about 25% I think) and then I just flipped through the rest.  Too many pages of wedding angst, friendship angst and lover angst, punctuated with unsatisfying love scenes, and a brief resolution to the "terrible event" that is the explanation behind the drama.  All boring.  I was thankful I didn't waste the time to slog through the whole book.
3919892
The author wasted no time in saying anything that was mixed to drink prior to the last twenty years us swill, and worse yet, the people who consumed it had a completely unrefined pallet. I was go smacked when I read that. Some of the finest recipes were made between the wars..that's one and two... Does wine not become vintage and good whisky age gently? Young folks this is rude. I suppose the recipes might be alright, but I wish you would just go find a vintage cookbook and bar guide! So sad they didn't truly give the book what we were looking for.
4486311
She does make a few good points. But all in all, this is not a diet or even healthy eating book. It's a call for a revolution. She uses phrases like "eating a yoga mat sandwich". If you used this for a drinking game and had a shot every time she said "poison", you'd be hammered by the end of the first chapter. She uses a lot of fancy words but I don't agree with a lot of her conclusions.
3192208
What a disappointment! I feel I've wasted my time reading this. I love Sophie Kinsella's books and so was excited to find she'd written more. The review of Cocktails for Three was great; it looked like it would be a fun romp of a book. Instead, it was quite a slow read, the characters were not well developed, and I didn't really care about any of them. I felt the story ended rather abruptly. I'd never have known this was written by SK. That said, don't forego her Shopaholic series or the other books she's written. They are definitely fun! I have read and enjoyed all of them.
3535863
You got to be kidding me this is not a beer expert, but a opinionated person who wrote a book on beer.... skimming info and ideas from one piece to the other with only moderate factual backing or an extended trip to Bevmo, which I feel will garnish more info and a couple of six packs to try.  I am glad I did not buy or get this book as a gift as I would have felt cheated. Yet, to be fair I did borrow the book from a buddy because of the clever title, which caught his eye and interest as well as mine, but a clever title does not a good book make.
2405015
There is a kind of reverse snobbery to this book, something along the line of, How can I make people who don't know much about wine and don't really want to know much feel as though they are just as good, or better, than people who actually want to learn about it?  Try and figure why someone who is supposed to be a wine expert would write a scratch and sniff book that maybe belongs at a wine tasting party after everyone has had too much to drink.  I cant even think of anywhere to rid myself of this book except the dump.  Such an injustice to anyone who is truly interested in educating himself about this topic.
2785587
This book was very meh. It was light on behind-the-scenes details of the Bachelor/ette world and heavy on Andi's thought process as she navigated the end of her relationship. In that way, I almost see it as a self-help book, with Andi giving advice (to some degree) for healing one's wounds during the various stages of the breakup process.

Beyond that, I found the writing to be pretty bad/self-indulgent. There were far too many references to turning to wine for one's problems. I'm sure she meant to be funny, and hey, I like wine, but it just struck me as cliched.

Sorry Andi, it's not okay (hahaha couldn't resist).
2754494
Really only wanted to give this book two stars, but I really liked the information gleaned about New Orleans from the 'tours' given by the characters, but really, that was about it.  Now....sigh.  Is it truly possible to hate a fictional character?  I've read many of Graham's books and enjoy the Krewe of Hunters et al, but I have never detested a character in a book as much as I did that female Nikki character.  Most of Graham's leading female characters get on my nerves in the beginning ( rudely argumentative, boors and spineless ninnies) but this one took the cake!  I got really tired of the "I'm insane" "I probably need to be committed" crap and having herself forced to go talk to a psychiatrist by a supposedly best friend (Julian) really had me gritting my teeth.  Honestly, Blackhawk was okay, but I couldn't figure out what he saw in that main character (maybe it was her "aquamarine eyes"--sheesh).  Like another reviewer, I almost wanted to trash the book or wanted to read the ending to find out whodunnit, but stuck with it.  The "love" scenes turned my stomach for the first time in my recorded book-reading history and I just skipped those scenes.

Really love the genre Graham writes about, so yeah, I'll continue reading on.  She has the right idea, but she must have been having some deadline issues to submit this particular finished product.  I'd like her female lead characters to have more backbone, objectivity (where it comes to 'close friends' possibly being under suspicion) and accepting when it comes to the paranormal.  This book had me constantly wishing Nikki would get over the spinelessness and find out how to help her supposedly best friend; instead of having screams lodged in her throat!
738211
The book is just okay. I suppose it would be good for a drinking game....Take a shot every time she uses the word "Reckon". Of course, I reckon I'd be toasted after the first few pages.
3250340
I really can't rate this book higher than three stars. I hate books that let criminals go free.  I feel that's what happens in the real world.  Too much time spent describing the mixed drinks, and why was almost everyone an alcoholic or borderline one?  There where a couple of twists I did appreciate but the Zen thinking of the main character and lack of justice at the end left me feeling I wasted my time. t'm happy the book was free would have been really really ticked off if I paid for this book.
4165662
I picked up the book from the library after I read the reviews on this page and started reading it during my lunch break. After 45 minutes reading I brought it back to the library. I wanted to quit after 10 minutes already but I decided to give it a chance and read about 40 pages. Here are the reasons why I finally gave it back without finishing it:
1. It is more an autobiography than a scientific book. The author is not able to generalize his own personal experience in order to make his statements more abstract and therefore applicable. This is, btw, true for a lot of those psychological advice books and I find it very annoying to get drawn into the author's personal life instead of reading a scientific study based on thorough research.
2. I agree with "Concerned Citizen". The references to God in almost each chapter are redundant. I almost found myself pushed into Church in order to get rid of my control issue.
3. It does not make sense to me to start that book with the 12 step program for alcoholics. There may be a connection between alcoholics and control freaks but I don't think you should reduce the control issue to comparing it to addiction.
I am aware that my review reveals a good portion of the control freak in me but that's just evidence that the book is NOT "useful for everyone struggling with a spiritual malady" (as stated in one of the other eager reviews).
712589
There's "Setting the Table" by Danny Meyer, to learn about being truly hospitable. There's "The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks" by David Embury, to learn about the theory and practise of mixology. And now there is "Bar Book" by Jeffrey Morgenthaler*.
I've trained about 60,000 bartenders in 60-odd (sometimes very odd) countries in the last 15 years. I've founded Europe's largest bar school as well as an award-winning craft cocktail bar, and if I could go back in time I would give Jeffrey's book to each and every student I've ever had. As it is, I will give it to every student I have from now on.
Jeffrey's research, insight and experience have resulted in a book that will shave years off the time needed to master drink making, leaving more time for professionals to concentrate on creativity and hospitality, and for interested Cocktailians** to concentrate on seducing your neighbours' wives (and husbands) at the excellent cocktail parties you will henceforth be able to effortlessly throw.

This is where you click "buy now". Now!

* Disclosure: Jeffrey is a friend and contemporary of mine, but such a cheap, thoughtless bastard that not only did he not think to offer me a financial inducement in return for a positive review, I even had to buy my own copy of this annoyingly excellent book.

** Cocktailian = cocktail equivalent of a foodie.