217. The Flavour Thesaurus: Pairings, Recipes and Ideas for the Creative Cook by Niki Segnit

BOOK REVIEW: The Flavour Thesaurus - Pairings, Recipes and Ideas for the Creative Cook

Relishing food and preparing meals are my life's greatest passions after reading. But as fellow chefs would have encountered, certain food pairings work like a gem while others make you turn green in the face. This book is a lifesaver for both the kitchen rookie and the iron chefs.

Divided into 16 flavour profiles, this book denotes almost all the flavour pairings you will ever need to know, leaving you craving for more of a certain dish. Quirky and fun to read, flavour affinities of one ingredient to another is light-heartedly explained for ease of comprehension.

If the food pairings are not enough to pique your interest, then maybe the recipes would. Some recreated from the golden days to even haute cuisine from the biggest names in the food industry, the recipes are shared by the author to test flavour affinities in the best possible way.

A delicious (pun intended) read, it left my stomach rumbling from all the worthy food descriptions and food imagery. For those culinary aficionados out there, this is certainly a page turner. Keep a bite on hand in case you get too peckish.

216. The Million Pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton

BOOK REVIEW: The Million Pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton (courtesy of Times Reads)

Death is a debilitating feeling, harsh and cold in delivering its blows of misery to those affected by the demise of a loved one. Without a strong support system, many fall victim to mental illness that often leads to bitter endings. 

Neena Gill is a Pakistani-Christian girl born and raised abroad. Desperate to fit in with her peers and parents after the death of her elder brother, Akash, she stumbles around dangerously in life as a 15-year-old teenage girl.

This story relates teenage angst at its best and how not coping with the death of a loved one in a proper channel could lead to disastrous consequences. The author has also brought up a much hushed topic of mental illness, particularly psychosis.

Psychosis is a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality. Hallucinations and hearing of voices are the norm of the day in the life of such patients.

A sad and empowering story of how true love and support of family and friends could patch back all the broken pieces, it's a trembling read. The book was extremely relatable to myself as I still roil through the bubbling emotions since the demise of my dad in September last year.

I personally give this book a 10/10 and recommend that you hunt down a copy in your nearest bookstores ASAP.

215. Disgraced by Saira Ahmed

BOOK REVIEW: Disgraced by Saira Ahmed

Women discrimination is still rampant in many third world countries and Pakistan isn't an exception. In Pakistan the men far outnumber the women and many of them have an extremely prejudiced view of women, viewing them as objects of sexual pleasure and money bags for the family. In 'Disgraced', a strong Pakistani woman weaves her story of anguish wnich would chill you to the bones.

Brought up in a violent Muslim household in England, where family honour is all, Saira is watched 24 hours a day. When her innocent friendship with a boy is uncovered at the young age of 17, Saira is sent to Pakistan, punished for dishonouring her family.

There, the nightmare really begins. Forced to marry an older stranger who rapes her repeatedly and makes her his round-the-clock sex slave, she eventually plots her escape but, destitute, has to return to the family home in England.

Once there, she discovers that one of her brothers has run up huge drug debts and Saira must earn money in the only way she can by selling her body through the moniker of 'escort services'.

This book is the true story of an innocence ruined and a life shattered. But it is also a tale of survival told by a woman who has finally discovered her true voice. The terrors described by herself were so terrifying, no woman should ever have to endure such physical and emotional trauma. A heart-wrenching read, 'Disgraced' will open your eyes to a whole new world of pain and suffering endured by women outside the circle of safety.

214. Daily Life in Ancient India by Jeannine Auboyer

BOOK REVIEW: Daily Life in Ancient India by Jeannine Auboyer

As a fellow Indian, I have always wanted to explore my roots, far as they may seem. The Indians are rich in culture and heritage with more to be unearthed by fellow archaeologists and historians alike. One such book that has left me in awe is this historical account of ancient India.

Unlike many Western countries, life in vast areas of India is still conducted according to patterns and traditions that have remained unchanged for thousands of years. The author therefore chose a period covering nearly a thousand years in this tome.

The nine centuries described in this book, ending with the political upheavals of the 7th century AD, coincide with a golden age of Indian civilization. The Brahmanic and Buddhist religions flourished side by side; artistic creation was at its height and India's most beautiful monasteries and shrines were founded.

Throughout this book, Auboyer evokes the fascinating complexities of India's ancient epoch, with its caste system, its endless rituals and the ceremonial nature of human relations even in matters of love.

Personally, this was a perfect introduction to one of the world's most noble and refined civilizations. If you are a history buff and keen on raving through a book on ancient history, I thoroughly recommend this book.