WINE GIRL The Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America's Youngest Sommelier

Author Victoria James, the youngest sommelier in the U.S., comes across as an earnest and persuasive narrator who is authoritative without being pretentious. Her pleasant voice and narrative style propel her audiobook forward. She does struggle with the "nt" sounds in words like "important" and in contractions. But hers is a story that needs telling. She provides background on her dysfunctional family and makes a serious indictment of male chauvinism and abuse in the fine dining world. Mainly, her audiobook tells the inside story of her remarkable rise to prominence in New York's high-end eateries. Despite exploitation--from insults to groping to rape--she perseveres and prevails. James is a prodigy: She was a sommelier at 21 and, while still in her twenties, is the beverage director at an award-winning New York restaurant. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2020]