Auchincloss is an inheritor of the territory once handled by Henry James and Edith Wharton, territory that is sometimes dismissed without the understanding that it remains an important literary and social realm. Marginally observed, the rich are rarely discussed with…
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Buxom Cakes and Homemade Sin: A Review of Death By Chocolate Cakes by Marcel Desaulniers
Desaulniers’ prose is nearly as seductive as his way with chocolate. No pedantic, chef-on-high stuff here: Desaulniers writes about baking with a wayward grin, assuring us that cake is not only food for the gods, but that it is, after all, just cake. Made in kitchens just like ours, with chocolate bought in the local grocery, using “conventional” bake ware and regular (not restaurant) ovens, Desaulniers’ cakes are ones we really can bake ourselves.
A Review of the Describer’s dictionary by David Grambs
The reason I like this reference so much is that if I don’t find exactly what I’m looking for, I may very well find something I like better. Further, this is the kind of reference you can actually read. Open this book to any chapter (segment) on, say, “hair”. You’ll find several quotes about “hair” that are entertaining and may stir your own creative juices before you even get to the part that that lists adjectives for all kinds of– ahem– tresses, locks, strands, shocks, hanks, coils, tendrils, curls, ringlets or swirls.
A Review of Killing The Food Monster by Jason Stanley
What is a food monster, and why do you want to kill it? According to Dr Jason Stanley, the Food Monster is the compulsion to overeat, and it stems from deep psychological needs arising from early childhood. Approximately 95% of chronically overweight people have a food monster (and some normal weight folk too). If you do have a food monster, Dr Stanley says that most of the control type programs which weight watchers go on will be ineffective or will only work for a short while, because they deal with the symptoms of weight gain, not the cause.
A Review of Ultimate Visual Dictionary
I can’t promise that the Ultimate Visual Dictionary published by DK Publishing, Inc., New York, will cure you of yelling to anyone within hearing distance, “Do you remember what those little petals that sit on the top of a strawberry are called?” but I can tell you that when no one in the house comes running to your aid, you will be really glad to have this reference sitting right on your desk.
Weight Loss for Dummies: A Review of The Ultimate Weight Loss Book by Rob Brinkman
If you have read a lot of diet books, and are looking for the magic cure, don’t waste your money. You already know how to lose weight. Eat less, exercise more, and don’t go on fad diets. There. Hundreds of dollars of totally free advice, all in the space of one sentence!
A review of Father Lands by Emily Ballou
Throughout the book, the intensity of the emotions are coupled with the tight ‘coming of age’ plot and the very rich details which strongly evoke Milwaukee Wisconsin in the 1970s. Ballou is a poet and her writing is strongly poetic,…
Interview with Michael Meanwell
The author of The Enterprising Writer talks about making a living with writing, setting up a business, obtaining clients, self-publishing, e-publishing, commercial writing, his online store, and his books in this very detailed interview. Interview by Magdalena Ball Magdalena: Tell me…
Superlative Haute Cuisine: A Review of La Cuisine De Joel Robuchon: A Seasonal Cookbook
Superlative Haute Cuisine: A Review of La Cuisine De Joel Robuchon: A Seasonal Cookbook Joel Robuchon is considered to be one of the best chefs in the world. His Paris restaurant Jamin, from which he has recently retired, has been…
Stirring the Senses: A Review of Christine Manfield’s Stir
Most of the recipes are either quick or fuss free, most are simple, and all involve strong spices, the freshest ingredients, and full use of the olfactory glands. Few home (or professional) cooks have Manfield’s dedication to detail, skill, or…