"Well, there’s so much to read, and I’m so far behind." Wallace Stegner
Week 2: (November 8-12) – Book Pairing with Katie at Doing Dewey: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. It can be a “If you loved this book, read this!” or just two titles that you think would go well together. Maybe it’s a historical novel and you’d like to get the real … Continue reading Nonfiction November – Week 2
When my three children left home all at the same time thirty-five years ago. I decided to leave too and travel around the Mediterranean. I went alone, a l'aventure - without plans or arrangements. I'm never quite sure how to review a cookbook. Obviously I'm not going to read every single word or cook every … Continue reading Med: A Cookbook | Claudia Roden
There are lots of ways to start a story, but this begins with a chicken. One of the many strings to Risbridger's bow, is food writer. She has written a children's book, edited a poetry anthology as well as numerous other journalistic efforts, but food writing seems to be the things she keeps going back … Continue reading Midnight Chicken | Ella Risbridger
Back in 2013, Mr Books and I embarked on the original 5:2 Fast Diet. It was easier and harder than we thought. We both lost the weight that we wanted to, we enjoyed the fasting days (weird but true) and we ate a much healthier diet throughout the whole week as a result of what … Continue reading The Fast 800 | Michael Mosley #Health
Don't let me mislead you into thinking that In the Gardens of the Fugitives is a book about gardening, food and recipes, even though I'm going to start with a recipe. Apparently one of the food items uncovered during the excavations of Pompeii, was a medallion of ham flavoured with bay leaves and fig slices. Normally … Continue reading In the Garden of Fugitives | Ceridwen Dovey
Le Ventre de Paris (also known as The Belly of Paris - a direct translation, or The Fat and the Thin referring to one of the main ideas explored in the story) is not only an extremely visual story, but a visceral one too. Zola's descriptions of the food markets at Les Halles are colourful, … Continue reading The Belly of Paris | Émile Zola
Thankfully Jane Lawson's book, Tokyo Style Guide is more of a walking tour of Tokyo than a pure style guide, as my interest in shopping is minimal. Unfortunately, it's also a hardback book, so it didn't get to come on holidays with me. I browsed it a little before leaving, but have thoroughly enjoyed going … Continue reading Tokyo Style Guide by Jane Lawson
The Broke and the Bookish host a weekly meme called Top Ten Tuesday.Each week they nominate a topic to encourage those of us who love a good list to get all listy.This week it's all about food.My Top Ten Foodie Books I've been on a healthy food journey for most of my life.Trying to find the balance … Continue reading My Top Ten Foodie Books
Earlier on in the year I attended an author event with Thuy and read Ru. I adored it. It was beautiful, heart-felt and poetic.Last week I was in need of some beauty and picked up Thuy's latest book, Man in anticipation.Once again, Thuy explores the immigrants story. The search for self, family and belonging is … Continue reading Man by Kim Thuy
What a surprise.This scrumptious, treat of a novel is full of evocative tastes, smells and textures. The language is rich with flavour and detail.Set in pre-revolutionary France we follow the life and times of Jean-Marie Charles D'Aumout from orphan to scholar to lover to zoo-keeper to spy to recluse and, last but not least, chef.The … Continue reading The Last Banquet by Jonathan Grimwood
I never thought I would find myself regaling my family and friends with tales of apple seeds, tulip mania and the merits of marijuana around the dinner table. I never thought I would chat with friends over a glass of wine about Prohibition, cider production and Johnny Appleseed. The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View … Continue reading The Botany of Desire | Michael Pollan
Love and Hunger caters to my current food obsession perfectly.It provides elements of the Slow Food movement, the common sense of Michael Pollan and the appreciation of good food and cooking as a way of living life to the full. Charlotte (notice I use her first name familiarly! Having shared a High Tea with her … Continue reading Love and Hunger (and High Tea) | Charlotte Wood
Last week I attended a night of Ideas at the House with Michael Pollan - the venue Sydney's beautiful Opera House - the topic 'How to Eat'. In preparation I read In Defence of Food, started The Botany of Desire and checked out his website. Thanks to my research I didn't really learn anything new … Continue reading Michael Pollan on How to Eat
Last Easter, I discovered Changing Habits Changing Lives by Cyndi O'Meara in a second-hand bookshop in Mornington. I've been reading stuff about food, where it comes from, how to eat properly, stay healthy etc for years and years. Where I can, I make changes in my daily eating habits. Some of these changes stick; some don't. … Continue reading Changing Habits Changing Lives | Cyndi O’Meara
This Reading Life 