Release Date: 12/09/13
Publisher: BBC Books
SYNOPSIS:
Murder - a dark, shameful deed, the last resort of the desperate or a vile tool of the greedy. And a very strange, very British obsession. But where did this fixation develop? And what does it tell us about ourselves? In A Very British Murder, Lucy Worsley explores this phenomenon in forensic detail, revisiting notorious crimes like the Ratcliff Highway Murders, which caused a nation-wide panic in the early nineteenth century, and the case of Frederick and Maria Manning, the suburban couple who were hanged after killing Maria's lover and burying him under their kitchen floor. Our fascination with crimes like these became a form of national entertainment, inspiring novels and plays, puppet shows and paintings, poetry and true-crime journalism. At a point during the birth of modern Britain, murder entered our national psyche, and it's been a part of us ever since. A Very British Murder is a unique exploration of the art of crime, and a riveting investigation into the British soul by one of our finest historians.
REVIEW:
To be honest this was a book I ordered as I’ve always been fascinated with the British love of a murder story. Whilst I’m not saying that it’s a good thing, throughout our history, since Jack the Ripper, we’ve always been fascinated to read about the real macabre events in real life trying to find out who has the not only the latest news but also to see what details have been revealed within.
This title by Lucy, whilst Ok, feels a little short changes as she keeps referring to a title by Judith Flanders called The Invention of Murder. For me, if you’re going to keep doing that, perhaps you’d be better off not writing a book but point people towards that title to start off with.
Add to this a book that really isn’t that linear and has the reader jumping forward and backwards in time as well as focusing on perhaps the most well known murders (or rather the ones with the most details available) which all round leave the reader feeling a little cheated with nothing really startling revealed. All round I was a little disappointed with the title and whilst it was there to accompany the TV show of the same name it’s one that I feel that would be better borrorwed from a library rather than purchased with your hard earned cash.
Release Date: 05/01/12
SYNOPSIS:
Sophie Grigson's passion for vegetarian food shines through every recipe in this gorgeous collection. From light summery salads to root vegetable soups, Mediterranean pastas and Middle Eastern stews, this book will entice all readers, whether you are a vegetarian or not.
REVIEW:
To be honest as a meat eater there are times when I go off the whole idea and want something not only nutrious but flavourful and enjoyable. That usually tends to restrict what you can have as I’m not a fan of nut cutlets and some of the quorn range isn’t quite right for me. So when this title by Sophie landed it was a bit of a relief as she’s a vegetarian name to trust on the recipes and boy, was I thankful for it.
Within this book there are a lot of recipes that I wanted to try (which is half the battle) and I couldn’t wait to get into the kitchen to begin preparation. There’s something for everyone and as a fan of Italian Cuisine, it was a joy to see some very wholesome recipes that not only played to my strengths (I worked in an Italian Restaurant for 8 years as my first job and picked up lots of tips) and left me hankering for some of the more rustic foods, such as Antonio Carluccio’s Garlic Soup which was not only filling but was a real treat.
All in this book will make it easier to get your five a day as well as helping to give you that special something different for when you’re not in the mood to mess with meat, or have to use up some of those vegetables then this will help you make the most of whats in the house and help avoid waste. Great stuff.
Release Date: 09/06/11
SYNOPSIS:
'I’ve wanted to make a series in Spain for a long time. I love Spanish food, I’ve been going there since I was a young boy – but until quite recently I don’t think people really took the food seriously. Thanks to a handful of really dedicated Spanish chefs and a growing enthusiasm for its rugged flavours, that has all begun to change. To me the underlying point of journeying to Spain would be to discover the ‘duende’ in the cooking. By that I mean a sense of soul, of authenticity. The word is normally used in flamenco but I think it could be equally applied to the art of Spanish cooking because to my mind, in really good food, there is a communication between the cook and diner that amounts to art.' Rick Stein
In his beautifully designed and illustrated cookbook to accompany a major BBC2, 4-part series, Rick has selected over 140 recipes that capture the authentic taste of Spain today.
Spain is a country that tantalises every sense with its colourful sights, evocative music, vibrant traditions and bold cookery. Spanish cooking has a rich history, with flavours reflecting a broad range of cultural influences. Rick samples his way through the specialties and hidden treats of each region, taking in the changing landscape from the mountainous northern regions through the Spanish plains to Mediterranean beaches.
With over 100 location and recipe photographs, this is an essential book for food-lovers as well as a stunning culinary guide to a diverse country.
REVIEW:
In a world where we tend to rush and miss things, it’s a real joy when you get chance to savour something not only healthy and delicious but something that you’ve made yourself. Whilst Rick is well known for his recipes that incorporate the freshest ingredients, it’s a wonder when you get the chance to try something a little different and a world away from Curry’s or traditional British Cuisine, so I was overjoyed at the chance to get to try something with a Spanish take on it. Not that I don’t like our own food, but there are times I yearn for something a little different with tastes and flavours that I can take my time to enjoy.
What this title does, is bring the taste of Spain, with its Moorish influences to the British table. It’s full of flavour, the recipes are easy to follow and to be honest, for someone who doesn’t eat as much fish as they should, it made more than a welcome addition to my own table. (So far my favourite recipe in here is a Rice Stew with Monkfish, Langoustines and wild mushrooms.) All in it’s a great book and one that I’ll definitely be using time and again, I just wish that these titles came laminated and ringbound so that they’d be easy to clean.
