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14 December 2014
Title
| Silver Kings and Sons of Bitches |
Author
| Michael McGranahan |
Publisher
| Michael McGranahan |
Publication Date
|
June 2014
|
Pages
| 394 |
Genre
| history, novel |
Blurb:
Based on the true story of a man who sacrificed everything for a city - San Francisco - and his dream that it would one day be the most beautiful city in the world...and all for the love of a woman.
The year is 1854 and William Ralston’s fiancée has just died. She, the granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, was to help Ralston transform the squalid Gold Rush town into a beautiful, modern city; now, alone, he will take up the quest in her memory. When the Comstock Lode is discovered, the dream seems suddenly plausible: Ralston, a banker, will funnel the wealth of the silver mines into his fledgling city - build magnificent theaters, hotels, museums, and finance businesses.
Jessalyn Ohhlson (Jessie) is a prostitute with a startling characteristic: she bears an uncanny resemblance to Ralston's deceased fiancée. Ralston, entranced, finds her irresistible. Finnian Gillespie, an Irish street fighter, has seen Jessie, and he too is smitten. Soon the star-crossed lovers will be swept up in Ralston’s grand scheme, and with dire consequences, while the true identity of Jessie remains a mystery to both men.
Prussian immigrant Adolph Sutro wants to help Ralston; he proposes to build a four-mile auxiliary tunnel beneath the Comstock. Ralston, however, sees Sutro, and his tunnel, as a threat. Thus begins a decade-long battle, a battle that Ralston, the most powerful banker in California, should easily win. Except that Sutro proves to be very resourceful and incredibly stubborn. The battle rages from California to Washington D.C., and even Europe, while the fate of San Francisco, and innocent lives, awaits the outcome.
The year is 1854 and William Ralston’s fiancée has just died. She, the granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, was to help Ralston transform the squalid Gold Rush town into a beautiful, modern city; now, alone, he will take up the quest in her memory. When the Comstock Lode is discovered, the dream seems suddenly plausible: Ralston, a banker, will funnel the wealth of the silver mines into his fledgling city - build magnificent theaters, hotels, museums, and finance businesses.
Jessalyn Ohhlson (Jessie) is a prostitute with a startling characteristic: she bears an uncanny resemblance to Ralston's deceased fiancée. Ralston, entranced, finds her irresistible. Finnian Gillespie, an Irish street fighter, has seen Jessie, and he too is smitten. Soon the star-crossed lovers will be swept up in Ralston’s grand scheme, and with dire consequences, while the true identity of Jessie remains a mystery to both men.
Prussian immigrant Adolph Sutro wants to help Ralston; he proposes to build a four-mile auxiliary tunnel beneath the Comstock. Ralston, however, sees Sutro, and his tunnel, as a threat. Thus begins a decade-long battle, a battle that Ralston, the most powerful banker in California, should easily win. Except that Sutro proves to be very resourceful and incredibly stubborn. The battle rages from California to Washington D.C., and even Europe, while the fate of San Francisco, and innocent lives, awaits the outcome.
My review:
I like a book is that it teaches me something without having to read an academic book and is very entertaining at the same time. McGranahan has taken real events and people from history and told us their story. He keeping pretty much close to the original stories (I've looked it up as I became interested in the subject whilst reading) and has interwoven it with fictional characters whose story would have been typical of the time and place.
What I liked here is that the author introduces us to a time in history which is not very well known and not extensively covered (at least not to my knowledge). The time is mid 1800's and the place is San Francisco and the side of the Cromstock Lodge Silver Mines in Nevada. The gold and silver rush - what a fascinating time in history that must have been. There was money to be made, there were the banks who had to hold all the deposits, the engineers who planned and build the mines and of course the common people who worked in the mines and made the new towns which sprang up. This is what this book is all about.
The book is essentially the story of several characters, and all of them are beautifully drawn and very distinct. Firstly, there is banker William Ralston. I didn't actually take to him too much, though I can understand the pressures he was under. But he was just a tiny bit to sly for me to really feel for him. Than there is Finn Gillespie, Irish street fighter and later helping with the mine. Both his and banker Ralston's life are intertwined with Jess who has a few secrets of her own. My favourite character was Prussian engineer Adolph Sutro with his heavy German accent (I could actually 'hear' him talking). Gutsy and enterprising, he didn't give up in his dream to build a tunnel to reach the mines. I think we need more people like this today. Don't forget to read the appendix which tells us a bit about the characters and their real-life counterparts.
Anything I didn't like? I think I would have chosen a different title...
Anything I didn't like? I think I would have chosen a different title...
The story flows easily and never stalls. I'm glad I picked this book up, a very entertaining and educating read.
About the author:
Michael McGranahan was born in San Diego and earned degrees in the earth sciences from San Diego State and Stanford Universities. He now divides his time between Modesto and Santa Cruz, California. Silver Kings & Sons of Bitches is his first novel.
8 December 2014
Title
| Fifty Shades Darker |
Author
| E L James |
Publisher
| Cornerstone Digital |
Publication Date
|
May 2012
|
Pages
| 188 |
Genre
| Romance, Erotica |
Blurb:
Daunted by the dark secrets of the tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Ana Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a US publishing house.
But desire for Grey still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, she cannot resist. Soon she is learning more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades than she ever thought possible.
But while Grey wrestles with his inner demons, Ana must make the most important decision of her life. And it's a decision she can only make on her own ...
My review:
So, I'm back for more on the Fifty Shades. After reading the 1st book on holiday, I took the 2nd book in this trilogy with me on my visit to my mum's.
Luckily, it's easy to pick up where we left with Ana and Christian. And I probably won't spoil too much of the story for you readers who haven't gotten round to book 2 yet if I tell you that Ana decides she can't do without Christian and is back with him. (after all, there is a book 3!!).
Again, this was an easy and quick read, but unfortunately, I did find that book 2 did get a bit more tedious. It was a bit same old, same old, and the intimate scenes were always the same, apart from the last few chapters. There wasn't enough to keep me interested I think. Fans of the books have told me that book 2 does get much more interesting and the story really picks up, but I have to say I do not agree. And even worse, I found that I really stopped caring for Ana halfway through. So, she's got her millionaire with issues ... poor Ana eh? Maybe I wanted to know more about Christian than just the fact that he was abused as a child and grew up with a crack whore mum. It was all a bit too obvious.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is a 'bad story' as such - a simple romance/erotic story for sure - but just not over 2 / 3 books and over 500 pages each. Saying all this, the book provided me with an entertaining read on my holiday.
Again, this was an easy and quick read, but unfortunately, I did find that book 2 did get a bit more tedious. It was a bit same old, same old, and the intimate scenes were always the same, apart from the last few chapters. There wasn't enough to keep me interested I think. Fans of the books have told me that book 2 does get much more interesting and the story really picks up, but I have to say I do not agree. And even worse, I found that I really stopped caring for Ana halfway through. So, she's got her millionaire with issues ... poor Ana eh? Maybe I wanted to know more about Christian than just the fact that he was abused as a child and grew up with a crack whore mum. It was all a bit too obvious.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is a 'bad story' as such - a simple romance/erotic story for sure - but just not over 2 / 3 books and over 500 pages each. Saying all this, the book provided me with an entertaining read on my holiday.
About the author:
E L James is a former TV executive, wife and mother of two based in West London. Since early childhood she dreamed of writing stories that readers would fall in love with, but put those dreams on hold to focus on her family and career. She finally plucked up the courage to put pen to paper with her first novel Fifty Shades of Grey.
7 December 2014
Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer
~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~
It’s a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. This is your news post, so personalize it! Include as much as you want or as little. Be creative, it can be a vlog or just a showcase of your goodies. Link up once a week or once a month, you decide. Book haul can include library books, yard sale finds, arcs and bought books..share them!
Anyone can participate as long as you:
- Enter your link on the post- Sundays beginning at 12:01 am
(CST) (link will be open all week) - Link back to this post or this blog
- Visit others who have linked up
What did I do in the last few weeks and -
Why my blog has gotten a lot quieter...
Sure, I did not want to fall into that big 'blogger' hole full of enthusiastically started and abandoned blogs. And yes, I did make the classic mistake: posting as often as I can, accepting almost all review requests, taking part in as many meme's as I could.
There is nothing wrong with that, nothing at all. If you have the time for it and if you still enjoy it 6 months down the line. I didn't (have the time) and I didn't (enjoy it any more) as it was becoming a chore rather that a joy for me.
So, this post from Ashley at Nose Graze was just what I needed.
We blog for ourselves. Not to please anyone.
- I blog for myself to share my love of reading and to keep a log of the books I read
- If people do read my blog and like it - that's great, but I just don't have to time to keep it up to encourage loads of traffic
Here are the changes:
- I don't write up old reviews for books I read a while ago (not to the extend I did anyway)just to fill the blog
- Maybe only 1 or 2 posts a week of books I read during that week or if I bought a book
- no memes - again, no time :(
- I don't accept any review books at the moment at all, as I can't possibly read that much, unfortunately. And there are many books in my TBR pile (purchased, not review books) which I really really reallynlike to read. It may change after a while, but for the time being....
The downside of it is that I do miss all the lovely bloggers I 'met' and have been in regular contact with - so I try to remedy this by hopefully visiting their blogs and commenting a bit more regularly. So apologies for not being a very good friend.
I have also finally fully utilised Goodreads and made a list of my 'Books to Read' 122 at present - and I fully intend to read through this list. Oh, and I bought my own Christmas present - a Kindle Fire. I LOVE it!! I had Kindle Paperwhite, but this is something all together different ahhhh
The other important change in my blogging life is that I finally made a serious start at writing. I am currently compiling a kind of 'my life story' for my children with special emphasis on growing up in East Germany and experiencing the fall of the Berlin Wall. Way to early to think about possible publication, and I know it is much easier these days with self publishing etc. But I'll see where it takes me and if that's what I want to do, or whether it will only be for my family. I certainly did have quite a bit of interest from colleagues and friends. So watch this space. Oh, and I do have a separate blog for my writing http://thepegster-writes.blogspot.co.uk
I will still be around and post :)
Here is a little re-cap of my recent reviews and posts (most of them are books received in return for a review)
Cats, Scarves and Liars by Kathryn White
Bengali Five Spice Chronicle by Rinku Bhattacharya
Here is a little re-cap of my recent reviews and posts (most of them are books received in return for a review)
Cats, Scarves and Liars by Kathryn White
Bengali Five Spice Chronicle by Rinku Bhattacharya
(I have finally bitten the bullet and read it!
And here are books I bought recently and put them on the TBR pile
Donna Tartt The Goldfinch
Jilly Cooper Riders and Rivals
(hooray for ebook bundles!)
Hera Lind Das Superweib
( a German author I like, she is probably like the German Sophie Kinsella)
So, I'm still around and doing what I love doing best - reading.
Happy Reading everyone
Peggy xxx
5 December 2014
Title
| Fallen on Good Times |
Author
| Rewan Tremethick |
Publisher
| Paddy's Daddy Publishing LTD |
Publication Date
|
May 2014
|
Pages
| 188 |
Genre
| Paranormal, Detective |
Blurb:
America, 1920. The city of Pilgrim's Wane. The people on the street can be dangerous, the ones in the shadows even more so. Private Detective Laslo Kane is giving up. But then a brutal murder drives a terrified investor to offer Laslo a life-changing sum of money to solve the case.
The fee could set Laslo up for the rest of his life, assuming he still has one when he's finished going up against the most dangerous crime family in the city.
My review:
I enjoyed this quick and quirky read. And with only 188 pages, it's quick and ideal for a commuter read.
Laslo Kane is your arch-typical private detective and I could picture him perfectly from old detective movies. Broke, girlfriend left him and he is still longing for her. He is not a very successful detective and has to take on almost any job. And there is a special twist with Laslo, as he finds he is more successful when investigating crimes with a supernatural twist in his home town. Werewolves, vampires and other strange creates are at work.
But Laslo's luck is about to change. He seemingly rich client Darius asks him to investigate a bank robbery. But the bank robbers don't steal money - they put money into his account. Who are they, and, of course, why would they do this? The fee Darius offers him is a lot of money which would sort out most of Laslo's problems. Laslo get's to work with the help of his journalist friend. He quickly finds out that the local crime lord and mob is involved. And than the mob makes him the proverbial 'offer he can't refuse". Can Laslo take on the mob or does he even want to? And than his ex girlfriend Kitty get's involved.
The story certainly moves quickly, and as it is not a very long book, it certainly has to. There is no time for boring passages, and I like that in a book. I like both the characters of Laslo and Kitty. Laslo has a very dry sense of humour and as the narrator of the story, this is very nicely executed. Even more interesting where some of Laslo's contacts in the spirit world which were like good friends to him and I had the feeling that I would like to have friends like these! But with Darius I kept thinking there must be more to him than just Laslo's client, and was waiting for a follow up story on him. I understand that there may be more books based in the town of Pilgrim's Wane, so there may be more to come. The story certainly leaves room for more.
For a quick read, you can't go wrong with this quirky story. I had to look up a few of the old 1920's gangster slang words but as someone with an interest in language I found this particularly entertaining and interesting and with a Kindle, researching words is quite easy. As most of the paranormal stories on the market now are pure romance, I thought a detective story with a paranormal angle adds a nice new twist to both genres.
About the author:
30 November 2014
Title
| Fifty Shades of Grey |
Author
| EL James |
Publisher
| Cornerstone Digital |
Publication Date
|
March 2012
|
Pages
| 530 |
Genre
| romance, erotica |
Blurb:
When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind – until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out.Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Christian keeps hidden away from public view …
My review:
So, I finally read this book during a beach holiday. And you know - it actually made the perfect beach read. Why? Easy language, didn't need to think too much, just enough to keep me interested.
Essentially, for me this is more of a romance novel with erotica thrown in rather than the other way round. The story follows the well-trodden path of many romance novels where two people who are very different fall in love and have obstacles to overcome. Will they - won't they get together and be happy ever after? And the difference could be anything, and here we have: socio-economic status, character, life experiences incl sexual.
Anna is a very sweet character and I think there can't be a lot of woman who do not identify with her, at least in parts. Tripping and falling into the office during an interview - that would be me! Not knowing what to wear and not having the right clothes anyway - yep, me again. I think her sweet innocence in all matters 'made' the book for me. Christian's devotion to her I found, in parts, a bit unrealistic. But than again, this is typical of romance novels. And that is exactly what lovers of this genre want.
As for the erotic... I was expecting more explicitly after all the furore this has caused. To be honest, I have read books much more explicit than this. And no, I don't buy 'porn' books, but just normal novels with erotic content from your usual book store or Kindle. I thought the author actually managed the erotic scenes here quite well and it does not come over awkwardly.
I summary - a great beach read, something for romance lovers who are not afraid of a bit of erotica and also for those who have never read erotica and want a bit of an introduction into this genre.
About the author:
E L James is a former TV executive, wife and mother of two based in West London. Since early childhood she dreamed of writing stories that readers would fall in love with, but put those dreams on hold to focus on her family and career. She finally plucked up the courage to put pen to paper with her first novel Fifty Shades of Grey.
29 November 2014
Title
| Darsky's Resistance |
Author
| Michael Rudnicki |
Publisher
| Hoxton Books |
Publication Date
|
Sept 2014
|
Pages
| 286 |
Genre
| spy, WW2 |
Blurb:
It’s September 1939.
Germany and Russia have invaded Poland and secret agent, Ian Darsky, wants to fight for his country.
But which country?
Darsky’s father is Polish, his mother English. He works for the British Secret Service. But his family home in Poland is under threat.
As war descends, loyalties are tested, friends turn into enemies and an old adversary spins a complicated web of deceit and destruction. Will Darsky’s resistance prevail?
Whose side is he really on?
Germany and Russia have invaded Poland and secret agent, Ian Darsky, wants to fight for his country.
But which country?
Darsky’s father is Polish, his mother English. He works for the British Secret Service. But his family home in Poland is under threat.
As war descends, loyalties are tested, friends turn into enemies and an old adversary spins a complicated web of deceit and destruction. Will Darsky’s resistance prevail?
Whose side is he really on?
My review:
At it's heart, this is a good old-fashioned spy novel. The twist here is that it is set during World War II and mainly in Poland.
Ian Darsky is a very loveable hero. He likes booze, he likes women. But we don't scold him for this, it is an essential part of his release from the horrors of war, from fighting for the British Secret Service in Poland and being torn between his loyalty to Britain and his love for the land of his Polish father.
I have to admit that war-themed books are usually not my favourite genre, but this is because they often contain lengthy battle scenes which I don't seem to be able to follow and I often don't understand the technicality of warfare. However, in this book, the spy element is in the foreground and the story easily flows. And at the same time, I have to say that I did learn a lot about the Second World War which I did not know, for example the massacre of Katyn. It was also good to hear some of the stories from the point of Polish resistance fighters. Again, I had not realised the part they played in defeating Hitler's army.
I also enjoyed that the book tells about the horrors and bravery of those fighting in this war without constantly having to tug on your conscience. To my (pleasant) surprise, there was also a 'good' German. I personally would have like it if he had been given a more central role - I would have liked it if he'd come back towards the end of the story, I would have loved to know what became of him.
Ian Darsky is a very loveable hero. He likes booze, he likes women. But we don't scold him for this, it is an essential part of his release from the horrors of war, from fighting for the British Secret Service in Poland and being torn between his loyalty to Britain and his love for the land of his Polish father.
I have to admit that war-themed books are usually not my favourite genre, but this is because they often contain lengthy battle scenes which I don't seem to be able to follow and I often don't understand the technicality of warfare. However, in this book, the spy element is in the foreground and the story easily flows. And at the same time, I have to say that I did learn a lot about the Second World War which I did not know, for example the massacre of Katyn. It was also good to hear some of the stories from the point of Polish resistance fighters. Again, I had not realised the part they played in defeating Hitler's army.
I also enjoyed that the book tells about the horrors and bravery of those fighting in this war without constantly having to tug on your conscience. To my (pleasant) surprise, there was also a 'good' German. I personally would have like it if he had been given a more central role - I would have liked it if he'd come back towards the end of the story, I would have loved to know what became of him.
About the author:
Like my novel's hero, Darsky, I spend a lot of my time in the UK even though I live in Warsaw. In fact my day-job takes me all around the world so I have first-hand knowledge and experience of how Poland is perceived, politically, economically and culturally. I’ve become an unofficial ambassador for my country and Darsky is an extension of this. The word 'legacy' in Polish carries an implied meaning of obligation. I’m obliged to talk about my country’s history. Also, my grandfather fought in the Polish Resistance in the Second World War and his diaries were a great source of material for my first book, Darsky's Resistance. Darsky’s Legacy, a trilogy, is about Poland first and foremost. Where it sits in the modern world and how it got there. I’ve always loved the popular Polish books by Alfred Szklarsky, particularly those featuring Tomek Wilmowski, an Indiana Jones-esque adventurer, and these influence my writing along with Ian Fleming’s Bond and the cynical John Corey created by Nelson DeMille. Darsky is a mixture of all of these with a bit of me thrown in. I’ve never killed anyone but I am an accomplished musician! www.darskylegacy.com
22 November 2014
Title
| Pegasus to Paradise |
Author
| Michael Tappenden |
Publisher
| Hippocrene Books, Inc, New York |
Publication Date
|
May 2014
|
Pages
| 374 |
Genre
| family history, WW2 |
Blurb:
Florrie is relieved to have her Ted back where he belongs, but like many of her neighbours, she sees a distance in her husband where once there was joy and passion. Neither husband nor wife can explain their suffering to anyone, least of all each other, and they soon find themselves inhabiting different worlds under the same roof.
Based on the true lives of Ted “Ham and Jam” Tappenden and his wife Florrie and spanning three generations of the Tappenden family, Pegasus to Paradise is an ode to both the extraordinary efforts of ordinary men and women during the Second World War and a moving portrait of trauma, survival and the power of love in post-war Britain.
My review:
I was particularly excited to read a book which is set mainly in my local area. There aren't that many around. Even though I was not born in Kent, I do feel very much settled here and couldn't image living anywhere else.
This is the story of Ted and Florrie. They are young couple when World War II breaks out. 2 sons are born during the war years, and Ted is of of the lucky ones who does return. But he is not the same Ted. Still, lives goes on and the couple will have to cope.
In the early chapters, the book tells us about Ted's war adventures. I am usually not one for war and battle descriptions but here, it is firstly necessary for the story, and I also found myself quickly getting into it and rooting for the boys. It does not get too technical and easy to read and understand what actually went on. Ted returns, but after the initial euphoria he finds he now faces a different world, very different from the battlefield where he exactly knew what to do: 'Just kill the enemy and stay alive'.
What I really enjoyed about this book is relationship of Ted and his wife Florrie. Both are very different persons, and Florrie is certainly a real character. In later chapters, Florrie and her passions in life take the centre stage. But Ted is always there. Typical of a man of his generation, he just gets on with it, even when it does get difficult and both are facing physical and psychological problems as they get older. It was a very moving read, and certainly made me think about how a couple copes when they get older, maybe if one if the partners is not any more as able as the other.
I also enjoyed that Ted's mates from his war years a re-visited in later chapters during a veteran's meeting.
This is the story of Ted and Florrie. They are young couple when World War II breaks out. 2 sons are born during the war years, and Ted is of of the lucky ones who does return. But he is not the same Ted. Still, lives goes on and the couple will have to cope.
In the early chapters, the book tells us about Ted's war adventures. I am usually not one for war and battle descriptions but here, it is firstly necessary for the story, and I also found myself quickly getting into it and rooting for the boys. It does not get too technical and easy to read and understand what actually went on. Ted returns, but after the initial euphoria he finds he now faces a different world, very different from the battlefield where he exactly knew what to do: 'Just kill the enemy and stay alive'.
What I really enjoyed about this book is relationship of Ted and his wife Florrie. Both are very different persons, and Florrie is certainly a real character. In later chapters, Florrie and her passions in life take the centre stage. But Ted is always there. Typical of a man of his generation, he just gets on with it, even when it does get difficult and both are facing physical and psychological problems as they get older. It was a very moving read, and certainly made me think about how a couple copes when they get older, maybe if one if the partners is not any more as able as the other.
I also enjoyed that Ted's mates from his war years a re-visited in later chapters during a veteran's meeting.
About the author:
16 November 2014
Title
| Spices & Seasons |
Author
| Rinku Bhattacharya |
Publisher
| Hippocrene Books, Inc, New York |
Publication Date
|
May 2014
|
Pages
| 374 |
Genre
| cookery, non-fiction |
Blurb:
This cookbook combines her two great loves -- Indian cooking and sustainable living -- to give readers a simple, accessible way to cook seasonally, locally and flavourfully. Inspired by the bounty of local produce, mostly from her own backyard, Rinku set out to create recipes for busy, time-strapped home cooks who want to bring Indian flavours to nutritious family meals. Arranged in chapters from appetisers through desserts, the cookbook includes everything from small bites, soups, seafood, meat, poultry and vegetables, to condiments, breads and sweets. You will find recipes for tempting fare like "Mango and Goat Cheese Mini Crisps", "Roasted Red Pepper Chutney", "Crisped Okra with Dry Spice Rub", "Smoky Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Puree" and "Red Harvest Masala Cornish Hens", to name a few. As exotic and enticing as these recipes sound, the ingredients are easily found and the instructions are simple. Includes: Over 15 recipes, mostly gluten-free and Vegetarian / Vegan; Gluten-free / Vegetarian / Vegan recipes are clearly labelled; Helpful sections on spices, ingredients and utensils; Tips and tricks for getting the best results and "green tips" for making your kitchen eco-friendly; Colour photographs for each recipe.
My review:
First impression: I like the sturdy look of this book. I know we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but let's face it, if you are going to use your cook book a lot, it can't be too flimsy. A quick browse through the pages (as you would do if you were to pick the book up in a book shop) reveals pictures with ever recipe, and that for me is what a good cook book is all about, as essentially presentation in cooking is very important.
The emphasis in this book is on sustainability, and at the beginning, the author provides a short paragraph, taking her back to her grandmother's and mother's kitchen which were often much more efficient and less wasteful than our modern day variety. I do like this, and my grandmother was exactly the same. In fact, where I grew up in East Germany, we did not always had many ingredients available, so often it was about 'making do' but with the use of the right spices, it always tasted nice.
Also in the introduction the chapter 'Learning the essentials' teaches as the 'Indian approach to cooking'. Even if you are an experienced cook, give this one a quick read. I found it very interesting, particularly the benefits of the spices, green tips and how to set up a 'Starter Kit' with spices. Not as difficult as you might imagine.
The cooking chapters are divided in: Appetizers; Salads Condiments & Chutneys; Soups and Lentils; Protein: Eggs Paneer and Tofu; Vegetables; Fish; Meat and Poultry; Holiday Season cooking; Rice Grains and Pasta; Breads; Desserts and Sweets. The final chapter outlines the authors 'Spice Chest' - her mixed spices collection. I loved this and have never seen it before in a cook book. It has inspired me to make my own spice chest, indeed I was already using a few of my own spice mixes without realising it.
Importantly, and as with this author's previous cook book, all the ingredients for the recipes are really easy to find. Certainly here in the UK you will find them in the big supermarkets or in smaller Indian shops. Once you have a certain amount of spices in your larder, it really is only the fresh ingredients you have to get which is no different from your day-to-day cooking. My favourite recipes which I have cooked so far: Chicken Tikka Kebabs (page 39) - I have cooked this dish before but never with yoghurt. It turned out absolutely lovely and (apart from the marinating) took me no longer than 5 minutes to prepare. I further cooked the Creamy Coconut Egg Curry. I do love anything with coconut and also eggs, and the one thing about Indian cooking is that it uses eggs in 'proper' dishes as the main ingredient rather than just one of the ingredients. If you do like this - than there are plenty of egg recipes here. The one thing I have not tried but will finally do give it a go now is Kulfi, the delicious Indian ice-cream.
In summery - I did love this book and even though so for I have only cooked 2 of its recipes, I am sure I will use many more in times to come. If you are a fan of Indian cooking, you can't go wrong. If not yet, give it a try. I would say that it probably does help if you are a little bit experienced in the kitchen, but by no means do you need to be a kitchen goddess. I am not, believe me!
The emphasis in this book is on sustainability, and at the beginning, the author provides a short paragraph, taking her back to her grandmother's and mother's kitchen which were often much more efficient and less wasteful than our modern day variety. I do like this, and my grandmother was exactly the same. In fact, where I grew up in East Germany, we did not always had many ingredients available, so often it was about 'making do' but with the use of the right spices, it always tasted nice.
Also in the introduction the chapter 'Learning the essentials' teaches as the 'Indian approach to cooking'. Even if you are an experienced cook, give this one a quick read. I found it very interesting, particularly the benefits of the spices, green tips and how to set up a 'Starter Kit' with spices. Not as difficult as you might imagine.
The cooking chapters are divided in: Appetizers; Salads Condiments & Chutneys; Soups and Lentils; Protein: Eggs Paneer and Tofu; Vegetables; Fish; Meat and Poultry; Holiday Season cooking; Rice Grains and Pasta; Breads; Desserts and Sweets. The final chapter outlines the authors 'Spice Chest' - her mixed spices collection. I loved this and have never seen it before in a cook book. It has inspired me to make my own spice chest, indeed I was already using a few of my own spice mixes without realising it.
Importantly, and as with this author's previous cook book, all the ingredients for the recipes are really easy to find. Certainly here in the UK you will find them in the big supermarkets or in smaller Indian shops. Once you have a certain amount of spices in your larder, it really is only the fresh ingredients you have to get which is no different from your day-to-day cooking. My favourite recipes which I have cooked so far: Chicken Tikka Kebabs (page 39) - I have cooked this dish before but never with yoghurt. It turned out absolutely lovely and (apart from the marinating) took me no longer than 5 minutes to prepare. I further cooked the Creamy Coconut Egg Curry. I do love anything with coconut and also eggs, and the one thing about Indian cooking is that it uses eggs in 'proper' dishes as the main ingredient rather than just one of the ingredients. If you do like this - than there are plenty of egg recipes here. The one thing I have not tried but will finally do give it a go now is Kulfi, the delicious Indian ice-cream.
In summery - I did love this book and even though so for I have only cooked 2 of its recipes, I am sure I will use many more in times to come. If you are a fan of Indian cooking, you can't go wrong. If not yet, give it a try. I would say that it probably does help if you are a little bit experienced in the kitchen, but by no means do you need to be a kitchen goddess. I am not, believe me!
About the author:
Rinku Bhattacharya was born in Kolkata, India and currently resides in Westchester, New York. She teaches cooking classes, maintains a popular food blog, Cooking in Westchester, and writes a weekly column, Spices and Seasons, for the Journal News website.
I have received this book from the author in return for an honest review.
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