Reviews in newspapers are usually very helpful although they do have an annoying tendency sometimes not to coincide with the publication or availability of the book. However this week the timing was perfect as The Times featured a very complimentary two page spread on ‘The Flavour Thesaurus’ the same day 2 copies arrived at the shop.

If you have ever wondered why one flavour works with another or lacked inspiration for what to do with a bundle of beetroot “The Flavour Thesaurus” is the first book to examine what goes with what, pair by pair. The book follows the form of “Roget’s Thesaurus”. The back section lists, alphabetically, 99 popular ingredients, and suggests classic and less well known flavour matches for each.

The front section contains an entry for every flavour match listed in the back section and is organised into 16 flavour themes such a Bramble & Hedge, Green & Grassy, and Earthy. There are 980 entries in all and 200 recipes or suggestions are embedded in the text. It covers classic pairings such as pork & apple, lamb & apricot, and cucumber & dill; contemporary favourites like chocolate & chilli, lobster & vanilla, and goat’s cheese & beetroot; and interesting but unlikely-sounding couples including black pudding & chocolate, lemon & beef, blueberry & mushroom, and watermelon & oyster.

Beautifully packaged, “The Flavour Thesaurus” is not only a highly useful, and covetable, reference book that will immeasurably improve your cooking – it’s the sort of book that might keep you up at night reading.

A Review By Keith Smith

I can’t think why I chose this book to read, maybe it was the cover, maybe a review, but I am very glad I did. It is very original. The way that Hyland gets inside her main character so that we almost become part of him, thinking and suffering with him, is truly astonishing.

The book is about Patrick who, jilted by his fiancee, leaves home to start a new life by himself in a boarding house at the seaside. He gets a job, and starts to build one or two relationships despite his inherent shyness. But then something goes disastrously wrong, almost by accident. And slowly, inexorably his life is changed as he ends up in prison. It’s not a place where he, or we, want to be.

Should one deed commit someone to a life of hell? Is there any redemption? We are made to think about big questions through the medium of the story.

In some ways the writing is reminiscent of David Peace who is a glittering star amongst Crime writers, or any writers come to that. We flow along with the character, experience his experiences, and think as he does. In other words we get intimately involved. Not only does it matter what happens to Patrick, it affects us too.

A brilliant book, very highly recommended.

This epic and heart-rending jungle adventure from the nation’s favourite storyteller is now available in paperback. For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia isn’t just a holiday. It’s an escape, a new start, a chance to put things behind them – things like the death of Will’s father.

And to begin with, it seems to be just what they both needed. But then Oona, the elephant Will is riding on the beach, begins acting strangely, shying away from the sea. And that’s when the tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run.

Except that when the tsunami is gone, Oona just keeps on running. With nothing on his back but a shirt and nothing to sustain him but a bottle of water, Will must learn to survive deep in the jungle. Luckily, though, he’s not completely alone! He’s got Oona.

A Review by Maddy Gralak

This book is a series of memories recollected by a WW1 soldier, Private Thomas, ‘Tommo’, Peaceful. They span from the very beginning of his life; from the death of his father, to where his brother, Charlie, and he enlist in the army and onwards. The whole books is a series of time shifts, gradually bringing the reader closer to the present ‘Tommo’ and the huge upheaval that is about to happen in his life.

Here is the book I thought should have won The Booker in 2009, and which I very much enjoyed….. High on a Czechoslovak hill, the Landauer House shines as a wonder of steel and glass and onyx built specially for newlyweds Viktor and Liesel Landauer, a Jew married to a gentile. But the radiant honesty of 1930 that the house, with its unique Glass Room, seems to engender quickly tarnishes as the storm clouds of World War Two gather, and eventually the family must flee, accompanied by Viktor’s lover and her child.

But the house’s story is far from over and, as it passes from hand to hand, from Czech to Nazi to Russian, both the best and the worst of the history of Eastern Europe becomes somehow embodied within the story of the house until events become full-circle in a dramatic ending.

Now, imagine my surprise when recommending this novel to a customer she revealed that she was a presenter from Czech television and had just done a television piece on the actual house on which the book was based. The house is in a dilapidated state, still very impressive, and a group of people are currently restoring it. Here is the link to the six minute tv programme. Do have a look.

http://vikend.nova.cz/clanek/novinky/video-vila-tugendhat.html

and here is the villa web page

http://tugendhat-villa.cz/

After viewing this you will want to read the book…I urge you to do so.