The Vineyards of Champagne

I found this story to be beautiful and haunting. I finished this book few days ago and have read other books since then but the story is still resonating in my mind and heart.The book explores the Champagne Region of France during both present time and World War 1 where women, children and families hid in the caves.I loved the dual timeline to see how the region has dealt with the tragedies of the past from a historical view point as well as a personal view point. The main characters are dealing with feelings of grief in the present time from personal tragedies as well as the grief of a nation from past tragedies. However, they are all navigating through the darkness and fighting to find happiness and looking towards the future.Quick Summary:In the present time, Rosalyn works for a Napa Winery and is on her way to France for a work trip. She meets a woman named Emma on her flight and finds herself making conversation. She learns that Emma has a great aunt who wrote letters to a Soldier who fought for France in World War 1. Emma is looking for the other side of the correspondence which consists of the letters that her great aunt wrote and she would like Rosalyn to help her find them and catalogue the historical letters for a book she would like to get published. The story of the past is told using 2-3 different view points through letters.

Look, I'm not an avid reader, so it takes a lot to get me interested in story. This was an easy read and continuously captured my attention. As I speak very little French, it would have helped if she included a translation each time rather than making the reader make assumptions. Editing could have been better. Too many names, so I lost track of who was who. Timelines, of course, are always tricky. Things seem to occur in a blur, but maybe I read it too fast. I totally did not understand the last lines of the book. Was Emma inferring to her own immediate next chapter? Things of course were neatly tied in a bow super fast at the end which can be annoying, but I do like closure. There were a few surprises, which is unusual because most books like these you can guess the twists and plotline. I didn't get the end. seemed like a weird way to end it.Even with all these criticisms, I loved the book. I enjoyed learning about how champagne is made, and the history of the region during WWI. I only wish I had drank some champagne while reading it (I read at night). I'll have to toast to it and the people of the Champagne region with a glass some other time.

One of the things I love about historical fiction is how it can teach me something. There’s a lot of books out there on WWII but I haven’t read many that take place during WWI. I had absolutely no idea that some people actually lived in caves to stay safe.This story is about Rosalyn and Lucie, told in dual timelines.In the current day, Rosalyn is a young widow. Her boss sends her to Champagne to sign some smaller champagne sellers to his label. Rosalyn doesn’t like her job much. She doesn’t like drinking champagne, she’d not comfortable as a buyer, and she doesn’t want to travel. She wants to stay home. She’s been completely lost since her husband Dash died.She meets a woman on the plane that tells her about a stash of letters she’s trying to research. They are a connection to her family. The letters are written to a distant relative of hers by a young soldier during WWI.The other timeline is about Lucie. She had lived an easy life until wartime. Then her family had no choice but to move into the caves to stay safe from the outside world.What a crazy existence this would be.There was a whole society of people living there by the time the war ended.Rosalyn finds herself getting pulled into the stories about the people in the caves. She much prefers researching this than her actual job.Really interesting story. Great characters.I learned a lot too. I even taught my friend what veuve actually means. I had no idea!

This gem of a book is so much more than a riveting piece of historical fiction! Juliet Blackwell takes the genre to a new level by weaving in the powerful themes of redemption and legacy, searing loss and unresolved grief and the resilience of humans to transform harsh realities which come their way. The method the author uses to go back and forth between the decades of World War One and present time is a clever approach to that technique. It doesn’t follow the standard chapter-back and chapter-forward routine. This makes the story more cohesive and cerebral and brings the themes and events together in a clear way.The story of the women and children cloistered in the caves of Champagne was fascinating. For me, it was new information that only affirms my belief in the resilience of the human spirit to survive among the imperfections of life. The imagery from the scenes in the trenches from Emile’s letters were powerful to read and also referenced the theme of humanity and survival. In fact, much of the imagery in the book is breath-taking whether it be from the sodden trenches or a dusty attic or an amazing French dinner. Later in the day, the imagery turns up in after-thoughts for the reader to visit once again.Every once in a while, the author inserts a bit of the quirkiness of French culture! There are little tidbits about eating while in France, excessive holidays and work closures, mannerisms and ways of talking. Although Juliet Blackwell clearly loves the French culture, she doesn’t mind a loving, gentle poke now and then.Here’s to more books from the author with strong friendships and the ability to reinvent one’s self, fascinating historical backdrops and, of course, a love story with a compelling man that partners with, not encompasses, a woman!

France 1916, the German’s fought hard to take the town of Reims, when the French army push them back, the German army start shelling the town nonstop and they totally destroyed it. The town’s residents have no choice but to take shelter and live in the chalky caves that are used to store the areas famous bubbly champagne. Lucie Marechal, her mother and father are all living in the caves, their beautiful home has been destroyed and they have nowhere else to live and its safer underground. The women and children venture out at night to harvest the grapes and they need to stay very close to the ground or they risk being shot at by the German snipers.In present day, Rosalyn Acosta travels to Champagne to speak to grape growers for her Napa based employer and friend Hugh. Hugh is not just her boss, he was her late husband’s best friend and he has been her rock since her husband Dash passed away. Rosalyn doesn't drink champagne, she’s a red wine girl, she’s not very keen to visit France again and she reluctantly boards the plane. Much to her horror, she’s seated next to a very chatting Australian woman called Emma Kinsley, who’s traveling to France to try and solve the hundred year old mystery of why her great aunt wrote letters to a young French soldier during the Great War?Emma quickly offers Rosalyn a job translating the letters after she discovers she hates her job, but she refuses, she can't let Hugh down and while Emma is sleeping on the long flight she can’t help but start reading and translating them. She and Emma both end up staying in the same village called Cochet in the Champagne region, they set out to solve the mystery of why Doris a widow living in Australia would be writing to a much younger man Emile fighting in WW I in France?While walking one morning Rosalyn meets a very grumpy local man called Jerome Comtois, he could be the one to help put the clues enclosed in the faded letters together, Emma thinks so, she needs to gain his trust and then access to his library? As the story develops, Rosalyn’s walls she has created around herself begin to crumble, you start to see glimpses of the happy young woman she once was, a newly married artist and a talented painter.The Vineyards of Champagne, has a dual timeline, it works well and it’s easy to follow. It’s a story about war, grief, loss, love, making new friends and solving a hundred year old mystery. I’m a chatty Australian woman, I loved clumsy Emma and she made me laugh. I enjoyed reading about the French countryside, the yummy food, the never ending varieties of bread, wineries, how champagne is made, stored, age old traditions and celebrations. I gave the book five stars and I highly recommend reading it.

Loved the Champagne region, been there a few times, learned a lot through this book. I belong to a group of women called " The Champagne Sisters ". Bubbles in a glass spells happiness.

trying to start reading the book always take me to chapter54. I cannot start reading until I am able to start from beginning/