What Readers Are Saying
So you happen to be “one of those” who got their hands on a copy of the original, self-published version of Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship
or –
You’ve managed to snag the new and improved Hyperion Voice’s Cheap Cabernet.
Either way — here’s your chance to post your reactions. Do so! This is a book meant to be shared and passed around and bought for your very best friends!
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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
I am lucky enough to have a bosom buddy with whom I am invincible. On the rare occasions we can get together (she lives on the other side of the country) we laugh riotously, drink too much wine, eat well, and solve both the problems of the world and of our own spheres. Together we are the most charming women in the world. We have had fallings out and reconnections, she knows my darkest and brightest sides and is a forever friend. Reading this book was like a visit with her.
Vivid imagery, witty writing, and poignant moments make this book not only wonderful in concept, but a delicious page-turning read.
Whether your bosom buddy lives next door, on the other side of the world or the flip side of the human experience, reading this book reminded me of the import of such relationships.
Normally in life we get thrown lemons and bust our butts to make half a pitcher of proverbial lemonade.
Leave it to a vivacious Cathie Beck and her free-spirited sidekick Denise Katz to find a whole new approach to life. For the entirety of their four-year friendship—from Chez Universalle Natural-Beauty Training to the illegal trip to Cuba to the redneck bars and Horace Bros. Prosthetics and Ambulatories—these two laughed, cried and even had the courage to despise one another, all the while trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
Readers who have a taste for lemonade or fruit of the vine will savor every drop of this affecting memoir, Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship. It’s huge. It’s magnificent. It’s priceless.
I was able to read through half of the book in a few hours. The ups and downs of life and friendship are portrayed in an eloquent, open way and made me consider other’s lives and the paths they’ve taken to become the person they are today. Just when I thought I had read the most shocking or interesting part another one came along. Cathie’s life story shows how you can truly make a rich, full bodied wine out of the sour grapes of youth with the help of a powerful friendship and a new, free-spirited perspective.
Cheap Cabernet is a book which I had difficulty putting down. When I did, I could not wait to pick it back up. I felt that I was on a journey along with two women whom I found to be down to earth, fun loving and inspirational. I laughed often and sometimes cried. My heart welled up with love and appreciation for all of the wonderful women in my life. This is certainly a book that I will read again.
I feel fortunate to have read the orginal version of Cheap Cabernet – and I am intrigued to read it again in the new version – not really sure how it could get much better, but I am hoping to get more details!!!
A book has made an impact on me when I find myself missing the characters at the end and not only did I feel that way – I wanted to know MORE about what happened back then, and what is happening now…………..will there be a sequel?!
Cathie Beck’s Cheap Cabernet is that book you read front to back and realize you never left your seat. If you try and put it down Beck’s loud, real, mesmerizing voice beckons you back to read another chapter, and another, and another… The story of Cathie and Denise pulls the reader in by capturing the essence of a friendship that we’ve all had in our lives. Anyone—young, old, male or female can see a bit of themselves in these two characters, whether or not you want to see yourself there, you are drawn and held in. You come for the wine but stay for the real laughter and smiles created.
When I sat down to read Cheap Cabernet, I didn’t put it down or leave my seat once! In the life stories portrayed I was not only able to bond with but I laughed and cried with as well. It brought back memories of my long time friendships, memories I have not thought of in a long time.
Cheap Cabernet is a true testament to making the best of lifes ups and downs and the relationships we hold dear to our hearts.
I just finished “Cheap Cabernet” today, very much unable to put it down. Thank you, Cathie, for sharing your story and for paying such a wonderful tribute to your friend Denise! Amazing. Powerful. And so very thought provoking. I have several friends/aquaintances with MS, and it is a very difficult disease to manage. As a friend, it’s often so very difficult to know what to do, what not to do, and what to say. What we can offer, as Cathie did, is friendship, laughs, love, and deep, deep compassion. Keep writing, Cathie!
I finished Cheap Cabernet today and I am blown away. Cathie I was so emotional while reading the last several chapters, perhaps imaging my future. I love this book. As I closed the cover, the first word that came to mind was WOW. Thank you for writing such a touching and honest book. Your new fan, Brenda
Clear your calendar before you open the cover of Cathie Beck’s memoir “Cheap Cabernet: a Friendship”; you won’t get anything else done until you read the last page. But don’t miss a word, you will want to savor her beautifully descriptive narrative.
Cathie tells the story of her struggles as a young single mother, reflects on her dysfunctional family as a young girl and lets us into her world as a still-young empty nester searching for friendship.
Regardless of your upbringing or circumstances you will be drawn into Cathie’s emotional roller coaster ride through life; her gutsy attitude that leads to jobs, home ownership and a crazy friendship with an unlikely woman, Denise. The give and take of the women’s relationship is really what friendship and love are all about. Her message resonates that life is short: take chances, make the most of any opportunity and never have regrets.
I did not know what to expect from this book when I started reading it. After about the 3rd chapter I got really sucked in. I started to really care about Cathie and Denise (the author and friend whom she writes of). These are truly the greatest stories, when you cannot stop reading because you care about the ending, or how the author leaves us. This book will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. It’s happy, funny, sad, and makes you think about your own life and the people in it. I give the author props for spilling her heart about a close friend whom she eventually has to say good bye to. She is a strong character who brings power to the story, and the reader. I highly suggest this book, especially to women. It was one of my favorite summer reads!!
I loved this book, not for the enjoyable, hilarious and tragic friendship at its core, but for the personal revelations of its author. It is in these chapters of reflection on poignant moments of her own life and daunting past that occurred before this catalyzing relationship where the “meat” happens, where we truly understand the urgency and importance this experience carries for her self-realization and growth from circumstance. The delicate brevity of this story is heartbreaking. Bravo, Cathie Beck. Lee Daniels would really make it sing.
Cathie Beck’s wonderfully told and achingly poignant memoir will
remind every woman to call her best friend right away to tell her how
important their relationship is, and how she couldn’t survive without
it And, by the way, to run out and buy the heartbreaking book, “Cheap
Cabernet.” An Awesome book!
In Cheap Cabernet Cathie captures the essence of what women’s friendships can be. It is a well written, painfully truthful look into the depths friendship can reach. The absolute joy, the horrifying pain, the truly surreal connection women can share when they are blessed enough to meet on the same step of the staircase of life. My heart soared for Cathie and Denise as they connected in such a wonderful relationship–time and again, reminding myself of my own strong friendships. My heart broke in two as Denise’s battle with MS became more and more difficult eventually ending with her departure from this staircase of life long before Cathie (or Denise herself) was ready. Cathie may you always know how truly blessed you and Denise are to have such a vulnerable connection—a soul connection–I used the present tense rather than past because you still have that connection you are just one different staircases now. But never fear–they converge at the top and one day you will meet there. Thank you for sharing your life with us. As you have been forever changed by the gift of that friendship–so have we.
This is a beautiful, powerful memoir which I enjoyed from beginning to end.
Cathie Beck was lonely for companionship. With her 2 children away at college, she was lonely. She put an advertisement in the newspaper, announcing the start up of a women’s group she called WOW (Women On The Way). She meets Denise, who becomes her best friend, confidante and sister in sorrow. Together, they enjoy hours of girl-talk, and drink wine….preferably “Cheap Cabernet”. Although they couldn’t be more different than night and day, they both desperately need something from each other. Denise is brash, outspoken and assertive. Cathie is quiet, reserved and cautious. They become inseparable. When Denise tells Cathie that she has “the good kind of MS”, Cathie’s worry is only slightly minimized. That is, until she begins to witness the physical signs of Denise’s heart-wrenching illness. As Denise gets sicker, she begins to push Cathie away, while Cathie tries to remain close to Denise and help her any way that she can.
Cheap Cabernet is more that just a memoir about friendship between women, it is a statement made by the author to live each day to its fullest, enjoy each and every moment and never take for granted anyone or anything in your life~
FIVE STARS!!!
Cheap Cabernet is a wonderful book! It tells the very poignant story of a lifelong friendship that had to be lived in just a few years. It spans the gambit of emotions between laughing hysterically and shedding tears. Every woman wants to have the same type of friendship that Denise and Cathie had, but few are lucky enough to experience it. Neither Denise nor Cathie were perfect, but none of us are and Cathie didn’t hesitate to write about what happened, warts and all. Cathie doesn’t shy away from providing details from her past that most people would keep hidden. It’s these very details that made her friendship with Denise so special. Denise knew about her past, but never judged her. Cathie knew about Denise’s present, but didn’t judge her either. As with many friendships, they didn’t always like each other, but they always loved each other. Their’s was truly a special friendship that was cut tragically short. Even through the sadness, this is still a very inspirational book and well worth reading!
I would like to thank you, Cathie, for writing a wonderful, inspiring life story for a bunch of total strangers. It always amazes me how human beings can endure such horrible ordeals and end up triumphing over them. A wonderful tribute to a truly lovely friendship. I believe Denise would be proud.
I remember thinking as I read the “welfare office” passage of the book, this has to be a true story.
I loved the book. I read it again as soon as I finished it. I did not want it to end.
Cheap Cabernet (the book that is) consumed my weekend and left me crying for the better part of an hour when I was fininshed. I love, love, love it. Thank you Cathie for sharing your touching and inspiring life. The book touched my life on so many levels – connecting me to my own feelings of powerlessness and reminding me of my true powerfulness! Cheap Cabernet sends waves of gratefulness over me for the amazing and everyday women in my life who illuminate my path.
Sara Greenlee, Registered Massage Therpist and Yoga Instructor
Denver, Colorado
Absolutely LOVED your book! What a great story about the ups and downs of a true friendship. I laughed at parts and cried at other times while reading this book. Your characters are so well-described, I felt like I knew them. I have a few friends with MS and this book made me realize some of the things they go through dealing with that disease. I couldn’t put the book down…it was such an enjoyable read! And it definitely reminded me to appreciate my closest friends…even though some of them are on the other side of the world. Thanks so much for sharing this story!
This is the type of book that you don’t just buy a copy for yourself, but the kind that you buy another to share with your best friend. I just finished reading the book and I loved it. It’s amazing to find that once in a lifetime friend where everything just silently connects and leaves you forever changed. The friendship between Cathie and Denise is amazing and the story left me not wanting the book to end. The writing is funny, uplifting, sad, inspiring and thoroughly entertaining. I think any woman can identify with fate’s twists & turns and life’s unexpected circumstances. Living in Colorado where part of the story is centered, gave me the added pleasure of “Oh, I’ve been there!” or “I know that place”. I can’t wait to send a copy to my Best Friend for over 20 years, since 7th grade, because after reading this book, it compels you to pop open a bottle of vino, reminisce and cherish the friendship you have!
wow…loved your book Cheap Cabernet! i hope there are more books coming?!?
I don’t like to read non-fiction. There. I said it. Judge me oh you finger pointers, you. I’m in a doctoral program, cut me some slack. I spend oh so many hours a week reading non-fiction that sometimes, I will dramatically swear, make my eyeballs fall out of my noggin. Therefore, I usually pass when I see that someone is offering a biographical novel. However, when I read online that Cathie Beck was offering up Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship for review, I couldn’t pass on it.
Something compelled me towards this story. It may have been the storyline. Lonely woman finds dynamo friend who changes her life for the better. Don’t we all want a little firecracker sidekick in our lives who drastically changes it for the better? Maybe it was the secret sense of foreboding? From the first page you get the sense that Cathie’s friendship with Denise is doomed. Why is that? Maybe I just wanted to know what made this book so special.
Whatever it was, it was special indeed. For a week, I was wrapped up in the friendship of Cathie and Denise. I found myself taking sides when something went wrong, agonizing over decisions both of them made and reading the book like a work of fiction. It’s rare to have true life read so well. Overall, you know what is going to happen from the start and it doesn’t stop you from wishing it isn’t so and that the book can go on and on and on. The writing is superb, though there are times I wished this book was a novel so I could know more about Denise’s thoughts and feelings. It’s just not meant to be and it makes the story that more poignant. This is a well-written novel on the ins and outs of an imperfect friendship. It was a beautiful read.
Cathie Beck’s memoir, Cheap Cabernet, is a beautiful, poignant work of art that portrays a life blessed with a friendship of raw familiarity and unquestioning acceptance.
Each page is filled with brilliant talent that unselfishly reveals a precious glimpse of a life, and a friendship, that will make you laugh, cry and reflect upon your own place in this world. It reminds us that we are sometimes presented a friendship, if for only a season of our lives, to show us who we are or what we can become.
If you have ever haunted your thoughts with “if only I would have, should have, could have…”, Cheap Cabernet reminds us that things are exactly as they are meant to be.
Enjoy the read!
~Donna V
Captivating, Wonderful, A Great Read!!!, December 5, 2010
By Audrey Krebs – See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship (Paperback)
Cathie Beck has written an auto biography in a captivating storytelling form, which made me want to continue reading from the first page. She captures the essence of friendship, in fact I’m buying this book for two of my best friends as a gift. I won’t tell them why I loved it but they will know after they read this wonderful book. In fact my friends will know how I feel about them and why I believe we are such good friends. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read about an amazing friendship and two really cool people.
Audrey Krebs
Dine & Opine – a bookclub in Charlotte NC just finished reading Cheap Cabernet. It is a very easy read that speaks the truth regarding every day relationships and the ups & Downs that they go through. The book is well written and I believe speaks about the truth as to why some friendships last and others do not. We were also able to enjoy a conversation with the Author herself, Cathie Beck via Skype and being able to ask her questions and talk to her added a whole new dimension!
This is a wonderful best female friend book. I have given it to several of my girlfriends. The story is very compelling. We get a wonderful insight in to the author’s life through a friendship. We are also able to see that life can be hard and funny and fun all at the same time. Nothing is really black and white. This book makes us thankful for all of the good things that we have and enables our hearts to become more open and compassionate. I highly recommend this book for men and women. I can’t wait for Cathie Beck’s next book!
The male friend who gave me the book sent a comment to Cathie Beck along the lines that the book is a bit “girlie” and needs some “maleness”. Now he was playing with Cathie, but I replied back that Cheap Cabernet is not a girlie book. It’s not a book about girls. It’s about a journey; it’s about relationships. Yes, there are strong women in the book, and the main characters are girls–still doesn’t make it a a girlie book!
Where to begin….So much has transpired since the selection of this book for our book club read. We selected it in November, read it and met on it December 29. Not only did we meet to discuss the book amongst one another, we had a very special guest join our meeting this night via Skype! Yes Cathie Beck, the Author of Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship gave us ONE FULL HOUR of her time to answer ANY question our club had. And trust me you, we held nothing back…We met a new friend, we met a wonderful woman with a sensational sense of humor.
Ohhhh… to see life through the eyes of Cathie Beck….Those eyes appear to me to be always seeing the good, the positive the happy ending even when things are not looking so positive. But we never knew this in the way Cathie tells her story. Never once did we hear “Oh poor me” NEVER…
In reading this book we learned Cathie Beck is a human being. Shall I say it’s a MUST read? ABSOLUTELY, I will say that reading this book has added something very special to mine and my friends lives in a way that we cannot even begin to explain. Would you like a book to make you say that same thing? Then maybe you should read it.. I am on my second time reading it…:)
A wonderful real life memior of two women who were lucky to have found one another at that stage of their lives. You feel while reading that maybe one friend may have helped the other more, but by the end of the book you see how they each helped each other in their own very BIG way.
I met Cathie Beck at a book signing and thought she was a remarkable lady. Her memoir only confirms this. I naturally bought my BFF a signed copy. I can’t wait her to read Cheap Cabernet since there are similarities in Cathie & Denise. Next time I visit my BFF in California, I know we’ll share a bottle of wine and discuss it.
Cheap Cabernet: A Friendship
This book is a wonderful read about a very special friendship between two strong, independent women. Like any true friendship, it has its share of ups and downs. As I followed Cathie and Denise, I experienced a gamut of emotions as they dealt with many challenging obstacles.
From the very first page I became immediately invested in Cathie’s quick wit, colorful prose and strong dialogue. Cheap Cabernet has a “Thelma & Louise” feel to it. The reader cannot help but sit back and reflect upon her own friendships and truly appreciate how each one has made her a stronger person.
I highly recommend this book!
I loved this book – I am a sucker for a good autobiography anyhow – and “Cheap Cabernet” had me staying up past my bed time, turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. I can so relate to Cathie’s thoughts and descriptions of her life and how she was trying to find her real passion. But mostly this book is about finding out who your real friends are – and how important they are in shaping who we become. Read this book!
I was made aware of this book by driving down the street and seeing the book cover on the authors truck. I wrote down the title, came home and ordered it on Amazon. I got in touch with the author – Cathie Beck and she agreed to join Literary Ladies at our book club meeting. Ok, back to the book – what a well-told story this was. Cathie made you feel as if you were on the crazy trips with Cathie and Denise. You can almost compare this to a “Thelma and Louise” story. Denise is the type of woman you too would become friends with right away, and even though she was suffering and in pain, you still felt her strength. I don’t have just one “best friend” and I never have, so what I learned from this story is the beauty of having that “best friend”. Cathie deserves all the praise for creating a masterpiece-friendship story that will never go out of style.
Wow! I have dived into this book & never want to surface. The way Ms Beck puts words & thoughts together is inspiring. I wish wish wish I could write like this! I am so grateful I can share in the experience of these wonderful characters Ms Beck so expertly places in our lives. I feel as if I lucked into a real treasure & hope there are many more of these gifts to come from this wonderful author.