The Oenophiles

By Joshua Lorenzo Newett

The Oenophiles is a dark comedy which investigates Americanness in the new millennium. The processes of socialization and culture creation have changed; information can be shared, and created, across borders instantaneously. An autocatalytic process of norm and culture creation, interpretation, and reinterpretation has begun which affects everything from self-identification to international politics. Former Commander Kang once served as an officer in the navy but was forced to move to the US with his son after he failed to adapt to civilian life in the Republic of Korea. He resents America and takes umbrage with his son's American ways. Wine for him represents salvation. Janis Gould was one of the preeminent critics and tasters in the wine world until she read an article entitled "Wine Tasting is Bullshit", which sent her into an existential tailspin. She comes to despise her circle of friends after she passes off a one-hundred-dollar bottle of champagne as 1907 Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Diamant Bleu "Shipwrecked" Champagne, the rarest, and most expensive, wine in the world. Mark is a depressed megastore employee( who fell into depression after the loss of his mother in high school) reinventing himself through martial arts, gem hounding, building miniature Victorian houses, and wine. His obsession with Ray Bradbury's "The Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse" leads him to a botched attempt at losing a finger in order to gain local notoriety. In the wake of his botched attempt, and magnified depression, he stumbles upon an old VHS tape of Janet Gould's Vino, Vino, Vino! Wine Tasting for All! and becomes infatuated with her. Wine brings them to the Newport Wine and Food Festival where a strange, and violent, turn of events leaves them doubting if they'll ever leave.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 154972133X
• ISBN13: 9781549721335
• Release Date: September 2017
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 299 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.7" x 6.0"