Bel Canto and Catacula Zin 2000

Catacula Zin 2000
Originally uploaded by thegreatplotnik.

It's been a long time since The Great Plotnik read a book that grabbed him from first word to last word. Most of the books he starts end up under the bed within 40 or 50 pages, and of those infrequent ones that he actually finishes, almost none have endings as beautifully crafted as the starts and setups.

It's no different than writing songs -- Plotnik has always preached in his classes to write songs backwards -- get the chorus, the most important part first, then make sure your verses and bridges relate only to that chorus. Of course, he violates his own rule constantly. It's far easier to stumble upon an idea and just run away with it, and end up stalled later, than it is to use craft from the beginning.

Ursula Hegi's almost wonderful 'The Vision of Emma Blau' has one of those bad endings, and then, of course you've got the terrible conclusion to 'The Life of Pi.'

Now comes 'Bel Canto.' Yes, Plotnik knows everyone else in the world read this book a long time ago, but Plot just got to it. WHAT a tale! Exciting, involving, philosophical, political, with a great beginning, a profound middle and a fantastic ending. (Duck didn't care for the Epilogue, Plot did.)

The Great Ducknik had been trying to get Plot to read Bel Canto for months -- I mean, music, Spanish, Japanese, travel, it had everything Plot should like. She was right.

So to celebrate the very rare occasion of an exceptional book, last night Plot and Duck broke out their bottle of 2000 Catacula Napa Valley Zinfandel. It had been given to them by their friends Jim and Karen Martin, and was waiting for the right moment.

Plotnik and Ducknik even drank the Catacula the way Jim would -- they opened it, let it breathe for half an hour, tasted it slowly, ran it around the tongue and mouth, drank a bit, ate a little food, drank a bit more, ate a little more food, kept drinking.

Those hostages in Bel Canto -- you never know when your life is going to change, so drink the great wine while you can. Thanks to Jim and Karen for the Catacula, and profound thanks to Ann Patchett for Bel Canto.