Review by atrigger -- The Champagne Tales by Michael Amon

atrigger · Post by **atrigger** » 06 Jun 2020, 09:22

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Champagne Tales" by Michael Amon.]

4 out of 4 stars

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The Champagne Tales by Michael Amon is a compilation of ten short stories ranging over a variety of dialogues, all revolving around champagne. Each story is simple with complex undertones, much like the first taste of champagne. It’s a fascinating tribute to Michael Amon’s flexibility and versatility of storytelling, his ability to change voices effortlessly between stories is uncanny.

The collection of tales presents diverse worlds, each exploring unique themes around the premise of champagne. The beautiful story of “The Treasure of House LeClerc” depicts champagne as a treasure to true champagne lovers, while “Prey the Gay Away” was an utterly shocking tale portraying the predatory practices of homosexual therapy and the freedom of champagne. Amon flawlessly changes narrative tones from story to story, executing formal and serious tones but also delivers dry sarcastic humour in “The Review”.

My favourite tale was “The Treasure of House LeClerc” as it was a beautiful story about the LeClerc Champagne House and the treasures of the estate. The tale begins in 1940 during the war and ends in 2019, reading about generations of LeClerc's in search of the family treasure. It was well told and had a perfect ending. It was a great choice starting this collection of short stories with this tale. However, I loved reading “The Rarest Bottle” this was a well-written story. It’s told from the perspective of Simone, an expert in champagne, as she procures one of the rarest bottles ever known, an 1820 Juglar, preserved from a shipwreck off the coast of Finland. The ending was absolutely unexpected, and truthfully, I gasped while reading it.

Overall, The Champagne Tales consists of ten tales each as mesmerizing as the last. The author does an incredible job creatively incorporating champagne into each story. I will admit, at times there were stories where I didn’t understand how they fit into the theme until the story was complete. Many of the tales come with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers on their toes. Also, it was incredible learning about the hard work and detail that goes into making a perfect bottle of champagne.

I rate it 4 out of 4 stars as the stories in this book are as unique as the champagnes found inside it. There truly is something for everyone. Each story depicts people from all walks of life, all who are captivating and are looking to appreciate a gift, wallow in heartbreak, or to celebrate good news. It’s an easy, delightful read that I would recommend to anyone. I suggest pouring yourself a large flute glass of bubbly before starting this collection as I doubt you will want to put it down to grab another. Whether you like champagne or not, I think you will enjoy reading this book. Cheers!

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The Champagne Tales
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