Plum Wine Bottles of homemade plum wine link two worlds, two eras, and two lives through the eyes of Barbara Jefferson, a young American teaching at a Tokyo university. When her surrogate mother, Michi, dies, Barbara inherits an extraordinary gift: a tansu chest filled with bottles of homemade plum wine wrapped in sheets of rice paper covered in elegant calligraphy—one bottle for each of the last twenty years of Michi’s life.

Why did Michi leave her memoirs to Barbara, who cannot read Japanese? Seeking a translator, Barbara turns to an enigmatic pottery artist named Seiji, who will offer her a companionship as tender as it is forbidden. But as the two lovers unravel the mysteries of Michi’s life, a story that draws them through the aftermath of World War II and the hidden world of the hibakusha, Hiroshima survivors, Barbara begins to suspect that Seiji may be hiding the truth about Michi’s past—and a heartbreaking secret of his own.
Customer Review: Very Disappointing
I didn’t like this book from the start, but I continued to read it because I’m in a book club and we meet monthly to discuss the chosen book. I’ve been in the book club for 7 years and this book is on my bottom 10 list for sure (maybe bottom 5). Anyway, the story dragged on and on. The characters weren’t terribly interesting or well developed. Serji was completely unappealing - why any woman would give this man what Barbara gave (and offered) is beyond my comprehension - he was a self-obsessed, arrogant, chain-smoking, thoughtless little man. I don’t know what the author thought his appeal would be to any woman, and since the book is primarily a love story (?) it’s even more baffling.

Anyway, I definately don’t recommend this book and I’m quite confused about all those who gave it 5 stars. I believe they must be strong enthusiasts of Japanese culture in the 1960’s and/or very interested in the sad history and aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima. If these topics aren’t your “cup of tea” this book is not for you.
Customer Review: Exquisite writing
The only problem I had with this book was that at least two of the haikus were not written in the traditional format of 17 syllables….but I suppose something could have been lost in translation. That criticism aside, the book was beautifully, believably, written and captured the time, the place and the characters perfectly. Simply put, it is an exquisite story.

Michelin Red Guide 2008 San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country (Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country) The Michelin Guide to San Francisco 2008 is the latest title to be updated in a world-renowned series of hotel and restaurant guides. Each listing is recommended by Michelin’s team of anonymous, independent inspectors based on a process that has stood the test of time. Michelin awards select restaurants stars for culinary excellence. The guide is organized by neighborhood and detailed descriptions of each listing provide the reader with a picture of everything from the ambience to the cuisine. This guide celebrates the culinary diversity San Francisco and is perfect for locals and visitors alike.
Customer Review: It makes your mouth water!
I visit the San Francisco area a couple of times a year (actually, I spend most of my time in the Wine Country, where I have family), and it’s always great to have reliable recommendations for dining there. The Michelin San Francisco, Bay Area and Wine Country Guide has the imprimatur of the Michelin name, and I can vouch that its reviews of the dining establishments I’ve “vetted” myself (Spinnaker’s, Brix, Kenwood, Cafe Citti, Wolf House) are absolutely spot-on, which makes me eager to try more of Michelin’s recommendations. I might quibble about the exclusion of a few of my favorite places (particularly the superb Italian cuisine and cozy, old-California ambience of the Swiss Hotel in Sonoma, which I urge the Michelin raters–and whomever is reading this review–to consider), but in general this guide gives readers a cornucopia of excellent restaurants and hotels to choose from.
Customer Review: I’ll sound like a cheapskate but…
the Michelin Guides in Europe, for the most part, are thousands of pages long (2,010 for France, 1,300 for Italy) and are similar in price to the individual guides for San Francisco/Napa, LA, and Las Vegas, none of which are more than 350 pages. I’d really like to see a combo California-Nevada guide. Come to think of it, an “East Coast” (Bos-Wash) guide would be great too. Geographically the populated part of California + the more populated parts of Nevada are about the same size, though only about 75% as populous, as France. The Northeast corridor is similar in population and even smaller geographically, so why not give us a comparable deal? I’d feel a lot better about shelling out the dough every year or two if the US guides had expanded coverage.

Anyway, the guide for San Francisco is well done and worth buying if you live there or get there often. The LA guide I found to be lacking in review quality and to some degree writing style. I don’t know anything about Vegas restaurants.