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Jamie's Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours

A pretty tasty time, 2008-10-03
This is something a bit new from Jamie Oliver. in the past he's aimed at readers who take food seriously, who already eat well. This book though is for people who can't cook at all. He kicks off with the easiest, most tempting things: number one is a steak sandwich. Everything comes with an exact timing that's around 20 minutes ("18 minutes"). Variations on the sandwich theme follow, like chicken fajitas. This is good easy territory I think for non-cooks. Then he introduces salads, which he "evolves" by adding different ingredients, starting with a pile of grated carrot and ending with something that looks like a meal.

Progressing through pasta dishes, so by halfway through the book, there's beginning to be substantial cooked meals like lasagna and chilli con carne. And then roast lunch! When you first learn to cook, you never imagine you'll ever be able to cook roast chicken, but he gives his usual careful instructions, and off you go.
Finally there's pudding.. cheesecake mmm... though I'm not totally sure how that fits into healthy eating. It doesn't have many exciting new recipes for the long-time JO fan - but on the other hand, even for the experienced cook it's interesting to find out how he gets his roast lamb perfect, or how he makes a quick snack bowl of thai chicken noodles.

Actually thinking about it is making my mouth water. I'm sure the book'll sell millions but anyway, that should give you a rough idea of what you're getting if you order here. And actually, if you just ate out of this book for the rest of your life, you'd have a pretty tasty time.

Nation

Wow!!!, 2008-09-30
What a book this is. So different from previous books by Terry P, but a real tour de force. This may well be his best ever, it certainly marks him out as a writer of substance rather just a prolific author.I absolutely love this book, nobody but nobody borrows it and keeps it. I suspect that in a month or so I'll reread it and find things I missed the first time. Well done and many thanks for such a great book Mr Pratchett.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition

The Private Patient (Adam Dalgliesh Mystery)

An Unusually Upbeat Ending, 2008-09-19
This latest Adam Dalgliesh mystery is up to P.D. James' usual standard. Once again there is a world filled with unhappy people from dysfunctional families. But some of those involved do live lives less bleak than often portrayed in her books, and the ending (more of an epilogue, placed half a year after the events in the rest of the book) is actually filled with a whole series of relatively happy couples.

The first murder victim is a freelance investigative journalist, and what bothers me a little is the depiction of her profession. First of all, I don't know if there are that many investigative reporters working freelance. But more important is the image of investigative journalism. To me this conjures up memories of Watergate, and hardworking reporters exposing polluting companies, corrupt politicians, and similar scandals. To the people in this book, in the world that P.D. James portrays, investigative journalists dig up dirt on little people, ruining their lives, just so they can earn a lot of money.

When you watch British mystery shows, the journalists are usually a flock of nuisances, irritating everyone else as they get in the way and ask less than helpful questions. So in this P.D. James seems to be faithful to a British media tradition. But I don't think it reflects the real world at all.

Other than that minor niggle, this is a very good read.

Brisingr (Inheritance Cycle)

I waited so long..., 2008-10-03
I waited so long for this book, and my expectations didn't go unfulfilled.
I really liked the book.
I think that all the characters had more to them - had matured, especially, Eragon and Seraphina, which of course is only natural, however not something you can depend on...
Eragon has so much more to struggle with and I think he fares fairly well considering. I love the dramatic twists the story takes, even though you think know something about a character, suddenly that information disappears with a stroke of Paolini's capable pen...
If you haven't read the other two books recently, then I guess it's quite hard to understand and link everything together. If you can't remember a name or a place then you get kind of lost in the story. It's one of those books where they just do not make sense if you can't remember certain facts.
Even though the Eragon's world is fantasy I believe that there's so much more to it. With all the grandeur of epic happenings, fairytale beings etc. the characters have real issues and they play just as much of an important part as everything else AND it makes the story so much more interesting for the reader. Besides there's plenty of "JUST" fantasy...

I think the book deserves 4 stars, it wasn't the best of the three, BUT definitely worth reading more than once - AND an important peace in the Inheritance Cycle pussle. It's not finished yet, so everything that happens in Brisingr is crucial for the big finish, so NOTHING is irrelevant...
Read it! :)
And if you haven't read the first two - go do it, you're missing out on something huge.

At My Mother's Knee ...: and Other Low Joints: And Other Low Joints

HES THE MAIN MAN, 2008-09-28
Cant say much more than anyone else as it has all been said. I just want to say Paul has started his second book and that's the best news I have had since hearing about the first one. It has been a briiliant read and the second one should prove to be just as good with his days as Lily in it

IEE On-site Guide; BS 7671 : 2008 IEE Wiring Regulations 17th Edition

usless review, 2008-08-03
The main 17th Edition book was out in Febuary.
if you are that worried, either bring it with you, or get the Amicus red book, it is more or less the on-site guide

Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities

Wonderful Christmas book!, 2008-10-03
This is a great, great book by Nigella. I am a fan of her other books and love this one just as much. There are lots of excellent photos; delicious, inventive recipes; and clear and easy to follow directions. There is even a drinks section, which I know I will be putting to good use! This would make an excellent Christmas gift for the foodie in your life, and while I too ordered this on pre-order (see above review), my copy was in perfect condition with no mis-prints. Don't let the title of the book fool you, while Nigella may have meant these recipes for the holiday season, you can easily make them all throughout the year when you want something a little indulgent.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Definitions)

A parable that will stay with you..., 2008-09-13


I'm sure that this is a book that most people have now heard of, especially with the film now released. However, it's probably approached with as least pre-information as possible. I prefer the synopsis that the book originally had..

"The story of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is very difficult to describe. Usually we give some clues about the book on the cover, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the book. We think it is important that you start to read without knowing what it is about. If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence. We hope you never have to cross such a fence."

It is listed as a children's book, but it's not for younger children, and it's certainly an adult book aswell. If you haven't yet read it, don't go searching the reviews, just pick up the book, and read it in the way it was intended.

The book is told in a simple manner, reflecting the innocence and naivety of Bruno. I believe it's meant to be read in the same way as a parable or fable, it's not meant to be a historically accurate text. To me, it was a simple, very effective piece of story telling, which brought me to a stand still, made me cry, and has stayed very much in my thoughts.

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life

A Lesson Not To Be Missed in Difficult Times, 2008-09-29
Warren Buffett is one of the most important and successful people in the business world. His life is a story of success - not a single lucky hit but a career going from one victory to another. One would be very irrational to miss an opportunity to have a glimpse of what made him the person he is and what made his success so huge. This book offers more then just a glimpse - it is a full scale portrait of the man. Full scale in more than one sense - this is a book of almost a thousand pages.
Alice Schroeder has done a marvelous job putting together this biography - it is insightful and thought-provoking. People pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for the honour of lunching with Buffett - you can get to know him (inasmuch as he was ready to reveal himself, obviously) for much less so why not give it a try?