Welcome Alice,

Well, I think the first quandry you could put to rest is: Did your publisher choose your title (or sub-title as the case may be) or was it your choice?

Greg, I'd suggest reading the book (get it at a library if you don't want to pay for what you perceive as an attack on RP) before pronouncing judgment.

Well, to answer MorBorDo's question, it was indeed my title. My first title was a complete dud, Honest Wine or something equally dull. I was having a hard time selling the proposal. I went to ballet class. After 15 minutes I left, because I had the title and had to write it down before I forgot. Parkerization has got a wikipedia and it didn't come from me.

I am pleased to report that Alice F really is Alice Feiring, as she replied to me after contacting her at her website.

Welcome Alice!

Good to know. I must admit I was skeptical too. Welcome, Alice!

So Mark Squires has banned discussion of your book on his board.
Any reaction to that?

quote:

Originally posted by Old_Winyards:
Greg, I'd suggest reading the book (get it at a library if you don't want to pay for what you perceive as an attack on RP) before pronouncing judgment.

Maybe he doesn't want to start on a new book until he's finished colouring the one he's got.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong BBP:



Any reaction to that?

I'm thinking honored.

The banning is old news. I was shocked at first. It seemed so arbitrary. And it was pulled off like people disappearing into the night, very political, very scary. The other members didn't know why I stopped showing up. I think to be fair, they need to at least have a Banned By Bob board. It felt political like the Right going after the Left.

When I realized I was in grand company, it felt better. And when I picked up several refugee readers to my blog it felt even better.

I admit, it feels really odd that they can bash me and I'm defenseless. But I've realized I've a few champions over there and they come to my rescue.

By the way, the book comes out in May so you can't get it at the Library yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong BBP:

quote:

Originally posted by Old_Winyards:
Greg, I'd suggest reading the book (get it at a library if you don't want to pay for what you perceive as an attack on RP) before pronouncing judgment.

Maybe he doesn't want to start on a new book until he's finished colouring the one he's got.

That funny, Dave.

Here's the abstract from Amazon:

quote:

"I want my wines to tell a good story. I want them natural and most of all, like my dear friends, I want them to speak the truth even if we argue,” says Alice Feiring. Join her as she sets off on her one-woman crusade against the tyranny of homogenization, wine consultants, and, of course, the 100-point scoring system of a certain all-powerful wine writer. Traveling through the ancient vineyards of the Loire and Champagne, to Piedmont and Spain, she goes in search of authentic barolo, the last old-style rioja, and the tastiest new terroir-driven champagnes. She reveals just what goes into the average bottle—the reverse osmosis, the yeasts and enzymes, the sawdust and oak chips—and why she doesn’t find much to drink in California. And she introduces rebel winemakers who are embracing old-fashioned techniques and making wines with individuality and soul.

Old Winyards - As I said, I wasn't commenting on the book, just the title. If someone wants to discuss their opinions, or make a name for himself or herself, fine. If they do it on someone else's back, it relegates them to second string.

As far as attacking Parker, he willingly puts his opinions out there, so they're fair game. But by analogy, Siskel and Ebert offered you their own thumbs up or down. So we remember them. Had they only spent their time disagreeing with Pauline Kael or whoever, would anyone have cared?

quote:

Had they only spent their time disagreeing with Pauline Kael or whoever, would anyone have cared?

GregT - Alice posted this on page one of this thread:

I must warn you though, this book is not about Parker bashing though I might be pointing a few fingers. It really is quite a personal book.

It certainly doesn't sound like she's "only spending time" bashing Parker. And until you have actually read the book, it's patently unfair for you to allege that this is the case. Frankly, I think the title of the book is goofy, but I'm not losing any sleep over it either.

PH

quote:

If someone wants to discuss their opinions, or make a name for himself or herself, fine. If they do it on someone else's back, it relegates them to second string.

The book is a lot of angles, but it is mostly about how I perceive Parkerization has directly effected my wine life. The book is extremely personal. Personal to me and to those with similar palates. There will be others, like yourself, who will be offended and offensive before they give the book a chance. That's the world. But, perhaps you should be armed with a little more information before you let it rip?

The fact that people are criticizing your book before they have read it is no surprise. Many here criticize wines and wineries without ever having had the wines.

If nothing else, and intended or not, this thread is a great marketing move. Good luck with your book, Alice.

I guess by now we have a pretty clear idea of your opinion even though, as you say, it's the title you don't like rather than the book which you haven't read.

However I think your logic is faulty since all the title does is provide a recognition cue to the potential purchaser as well as a clear idea that this book will be about an alternative to the current "mainstream". That isn't about riding on anyone's back any more than e.g. a challenger is when the bout against a champion is billed. It is necessary never mind logical to give a clear idea of what is being presented and the title seems to do that rather well.

What will make the book worth reading [and not second-string] will be whether the author presents that alternative vision in a logical and persuasive manner and ideally without denigrating the personalities even though disagreeing with, to a greater or lesser extent, the philosophy and consequences of the "mainstream".

It is surely possible to argue about the reality of and then desirability of consequences resulting from the "mainstream" philosophy or "culture" without either side impugning the honesty and motives of the other.

IMO there are reasons to be concerned about globalisation just as there are benefits from improvements as well as information and advice that have come about through currently pre-eminent opinion makers and shapers like RP.

After all we are talking about individual taste and a connected vision of current and future outcomes not life and death or mathematical equations that are either right or wrong in any absolute sense.

I don't know how to make it clearer, so I guess people will simply think what they want because it makes them feel more comfortable than actually thinking, but my point wasn't about the book, which I said I hadn't read and had no intention of reading, although at this point, what the hell. My point was only that Alice could have picked a better title, rather than use someone else's name, which can't help but seem to be a play for attention based on someone else's reputation. Why? Because people who don't know what the hell a parker or a parkerization is, will consequently have little reason to pick up the book, while those who do, and are therefore more likely to pick up the book, will already have an opinion one way or another based on the work of Parker.

Moreover, the title title would seem to me rather counter productive in the long run, because rather than presenting a welcome new and fresh voice, it smacks of pettiness and simply aligned the author and potential audience on one side or another of that opinion divide, which is demonstrated by most of the posts on this thread.

Would love to hear your opinions/suggestions of alternative titles.

Alice, an interesting question for you here at the bottom:

http://forums.winespectator.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6826053161/m/166102984

If she's talking about how Parker has affected wine growing/production/pricing/styles/etc in ways that she finds has adversely affected the wine she enjoys, then perhaps the title is valid?

Alice, since most of us have not even heard of you, the title is beyond presumptuous. You haven’t saved me, or anyone I know let alone the world.

May be a good book, but the title...

I've only been a wine consumer for a short period of time, but I've heard from many different people that Parker has affected the way wine is grown, made and reviewed.

Hummmmm......

Interesting thread. Alice can her book anything she damn well likes; for God's sake its ONLY a title of book. Some people need to find the "Life Shop" and see if they can buy one!

quote:

Would love to hear your opinions/suggestions of alternative titles.

Looking Through the Wine Glass With Alice

Play on "Through The Looking Glass With Alice"

But if you have to explain it, probably not too good.

quote:

Originally posted by TORB:
Hummmmm......

Interesting thread. Alice can her book anything she damn well likes; for God's sake its ONLY a title of book. Some people need to find the "Life Shop" and see if they can buy one!

Just had my new book published; “How I Saved the World from Aussie Swill and the Torbidization of Wine”.
Hey, it’s only a title.