I give up - I can't relate to this love story to drunkenness, and I can't bring myself to care enough to finish it.

Un livre zigzaguant, un peu énervant et totalement désarmant... beaucoup de candeur et de profondeur. ( )

Most of the time, a five star book. But sometimes, a one star book. ( )

Osborne is an elegant and intelligent writer, and I enjoyed this memoir and cultural exploration of drinking. The personal aspects of the story were more interesting to me than the more cultural aspects (like drinking in the Middle East). Also, there is some tedium in Osborne's tale of bar after bar and drink after drink. Perhaps the best way to enjoy this book is to slowly read it over time and mixed in with other reading so it doesn't feel so tedious. ( )

The book had quite a bit of potential. When discussing the history around drinks or certain spirits, the book was first rate. It was also a very interesting insight into underground drinking in countries which have a soft ban on alcohol. The book took a bit of turn though when the author discussed personal issues or made some pseudo political comment. It took away from what could have been an interesting book. It is also difficult to read in that he seems so pleased with his own self destruction via alcohol when it is a persistent disease in his family. ( )