PageFiftyNine

Did you know Zinfandel is also known as Primitivo ? Guess what else is primitivo ... Dinosaurs. The Pairing Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and Predator Old Vine Zinfandel Some pairings are meant to be light and easy, but not this week's- instead, it packs a punch. Or a bite. If you have not read the book that started the Jurassic Park universe, then stop reading this blog and get to it. Michael Crichton is one of my favorite authors of all time because of his ability to combine science and imagination and great writing, and Jurassic Park is Exhibit A. (It still blows my mind that this story of DNA manipulation, chaos theory, and computer hacking was written in 1990.) I can vividly remember reading this book for the first time- I was in 6th grade and, even though I didn't understand everything I was reading, I could not put it down. Actually, I got in trouble in class a few times for literally refusing to stop reading. But who has time for social studies when th...

PageFiftyNine has been deep in the trenches lately, with suspense and death and dialogues on society and saving the world. This week, we take a breather with some good old Science. Luckily for all involved, it's the science of music, which is basically the coolest topic you didn't know you wanted to know more about. Also, we continue to drink wine. The Pairing This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin and Notable California Chardonnay This week I want to talk about the wine first. Notable wines only has two out so far that I can find: California Chardonnay, which is oaky and buttery, and Australia Chardonnay, which is cool and crisp. Their division by style and taste, denoted clearly on the front of the bottle by a little slider scale, make them seem much more scientific in their approach than artful. Don't be totally fooled, though: these wines are delicious and clearly made with love. For the pairing with This is Your Brain on Music , I went with the C...

This post is brought to you live from the dregs of Hurricane Florence. Here in Durham we- very, very luckily- have escaped the worst, our impact from the hurricane coming mostly in flickering lights, broken branches, and endless drizzly rain. I had a different pairing planned for this week, but in honor of just how miserably wet it's been, I instead reached for this hurricane-inspired duo. The Pairing The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware and Rainstorm Pinot Gris There is something to be said for being dry and warm under some blankets with rain pouring outside, your book and wine close by. There is something more to be said when your book and wine are also reminiscent of pouring rain. It brings your personal coziness to a new level. That was, at least, my experience. Ruth Ware's novel will have your heart pumping and the pages turning, all the way to the end. There were a few slower parts in the middle, but all you have to do is pour a fresh glass of wine and hunker...

Welcome. In case you didn't realize it, we are now in the year 1996. Princess Diana and Prince Charles are in the middle of a divorce, the Olympics are chugging along in Atlanta, Dolly the Sheep got herself cloned, and a new internet service called "Ask Jeeves" has just been announced. Just as monumental, in a little town called Durham, North Carolina, I have discovered the first book of a series called Animorphs. This is the moment I  became a 100%, full-time Nerd. Fast forward to 2018 and I'm still a Nerd, but now I'm a Nerd who is often tipsy off of wine. The Pairing The Animorphs Series and No Curfew Cabernet Sauvignon In case you hadn't heard, the world was under attack for like three years by these aliens and a handful of kids saved us (secretly) by turning into animals. Their bravery was documented in 54 books, with the narrator of each going through a rotation of our heroes. And. I. Own. Them. All. (Thanks Mom and Dad!). I still vividly re...

This pairing crosses years and miles for me, but ends up the same as all the other: a good wine to sip on while you read a good book. The Pairing On Beauty by Zadie Smith and La Fea White Blend I picked up On Beauty years ago from a hallway table with a little "Free Books" sign. I had no idea about Howards End or On Beauty and Being Just or any other inspirations, so it was one of those great reading experiences where I simply stumbled upon a book and enjoyed reading it, then got to dive into the layers later on. But, no matter how many layers I find, I still want to strangle Howard. "La fea" translates to "ugly." I was a little taken aback to see a wine called ugly, especially since it's very tasty. But as soon as I started to think about a book that deals with ugliness (and, naturally, beauty), Zadie Smith's book came to mind. Throughout the novel there are discussions not only around physical beauty, but the beauty within art a...