266. Food Cures: Breakthrough Nutritional Prescriptions for Everything from Colds to Cancer (MCO book #12)

BOOK REVIEW: Food Cures - Breakthrough Nutritional Prescriptions for Everything from Colds to Cancer by Marianne Wait

Let's face the facts. Although clinics and medical establishments are open during this MCO period, travelling out is more of a hassle than ever. How about if cures can be found around the house for easy relief? This book maybe your best bet. 

The concept of food as medicine is thousands of years old, and this book is packed with hundreds of practical hints and tips to treat the most common ailments naturally, safely and deliciously. 

Based on hundreds of studies and backed by a prestigious panel of experts, this science-based nutrition handbook brings healing right to your plate. Forget about wonder drugs - we're living in a time of wonder foods.

Inside, you'll discover mind-blowing issues such as the truth about the most common food myths and misconceptions as well as food cures from common conditions, from acne to yeast infections.

Health has always been on our plate but in the modern day, it's masked with additives and richness that modifies cures into diseases. Let us go back to the roots of our food and eat healthy to stay healthy. Stay safe at home and flatten the curve during this COVID-19 period!

265. Magic Foods: Live Longer, Supercharge your Energy, Lose Weight, and Stop Cravings by Robert A. Barnard, Christine L. Pelkman and Densie Webb (MCO book #11)

BOOK REVIEW: Magic Foods - Live Longer, Supercharge your Energy, Lose Weight, and Stop Cravings by Robert A. Barnard, Christine L. Pelkman and Densie Webb

With the depressing MCO period, many of us would have given in to food as a source of comfort. Stop right there! Eating can definitely be comforting and healthy at the same time. This book by the Reader's Digest group is bound to get you on a healthier track in no time.

Based on the latest nutrition science but designed for regular folks, this book gives readers 57 foods that will help you shed excess pounds, lower your blood sugar, and help prevent diabetes.

You won't have to look up numbers before you choose a food. Inside you'll discover recipes, meal plans and tips to make every meal work for you, with dishes like Moroccan Spiced Carrots and Cherry-Raspberry Crumble.

Hopefully this book is able to give you a health boost if not a mood boost during these troubled times. Stay healthy and flatten the curve!

264. Creatures of Near Kingdoms by Zedeck Siew and Sharon Chin (MCO book #10)

BOOK REVIEW: Creatures of Near Kingdoms by Zedeck Siew and Sharon Chin

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Adored the branch-off of Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them? Here is a Malaysian version with some true facts interspersed in each of the fantastical flora and fauna depicted.

The prose of this book is eveocative, and its rich descriptions leave a lingering presence long after reading. The linoprint and pattern illustrations will definitely pull you in to be appreciated time and again. 

Malaysian folklore and iconographies are brought to life - exquisitely rendered, making references to woodcut, shadow play and the like. It is playfully entertaining, a wonderful blend of form and context.

This is one locally written book that shines bright among Malaysia's many works of literature. Highly recommended by me for an exquisite read, use this MCO period to consume this book in heart and mind. Flatten the curve and stay safe at home!

263. Eating for Beginners: An Education in the Pleasures of Food from Chefs, Farmers and One Picky Kid by Melanie Rehak (MCO book #9)

BOOK REVIEW: Eating for Beginners - An Education in the Pleasures of Food from Chefs, Farmers and One Picky Kid by Melanie Rehak

During this MCO period, families are subjected to home-cooked meals. Troubles abound when the younger generation start craving for certain foods or become plain picky. 

Now is the time for children and adults alike to be educated in the joys of eating by understanding where produce comes from and the lives behind them.

The author always loved cooking, eating and sharing food with loved ones. Like many of us, she read Michael Pollan and Wendell Berry and made an effort to buy organic and local foods.

But upon the birth of her son, Jules, she was suddenly responsible for feeding someone else, and she wanted to know more.

This book details a year of discovering what it means to be an eater and a parent in today's complicated world. 

The author harvested potatoes, milked goats, sorted beans, and worked in the kitchen of a small restaurant; she learned what to eat and why, that even the most dedicated organic farmers sometimes serve their children frozen chicken fingers, and that we really can make peace with our food.

The author's writing style is story-like, entwining her personal experiences as a mother of a picky eater with the roots of food unearthed. The next time you are out for groceries, spend a moment to thank those behind the scenes. Stay at home and stay safe from the COVID-19 pandemic!

262. The Three Miss Margarets by Louise Shaffer (MCO book #8)

BOOK REVIEW: The Three Miss Margarets by Louise Shaffer

Racial discrimination has been around for a long time and is very much evident abroad. Those who are fair-skinned have brushed the darker-skinned on many a negative side. This novel depicts how whites discrimination on blacks caused the lives of the characters to veer of course in ways they never imagined.

For as long as anyone can remember, the three Miss Margarets - Li'l Bit, Dr. Maggie and Peggy - have held a tiny Southern town in their velvet grip. Friends for almost a lifetime, the once unlikely trio are bemused to have become icons in their hometown. For almost 30 years ago these pillars of the community did something that changed their lives forever - something extraordinary, clandestine and very, very illegal.

The arrival of a stranger in town opens a floodgate of memories for all 3 women - and threatens to expose the dark secret they swore an oath that night to protect forever. As the 3 friends fight to bury a memory that haunts them all still, their loyalty and sense of honour are tested in ways they could never have imagined. 

And along the way a young woman whose life has become inextricably entwined with theirs finds the strength to reclaim her past. 

Featuring 3 of the most gutsy, unique and unforgettable women from the Old South you are ever likely to meet, this book is an irresistible tale of friendship, love and finding out who really counts. 

This book works well on a good mug of hot chocolate on a rainy day and a cosy reading nook. Warm and enlightening, this book has a slow storytelling that will envelope the reader's spirit. All we can do now is read and stay home to flatten the curve.

261. Off The Hook: Reflections and Recipes from an Old Salt by Roger Fitzgerald and Susan Volland (MCO book #7)

BOOK REVIEW: Off The Hook - Reflections and Recipes from an Old Salt by Roger Fitzgerald and Susan Volland

Food delivery services have been less than commendable during this MCO period as they are too overwhelmed to handle the high volume of deliveries. What better way to satiate cravings than to imagine food, especially the bounty of the sea.

Fish and shellfish are my particular favourites with the briny flavours and complexities that come with the ocean. In this book, seafood is at the forefront through the author's personal stories with useful hints and tips.

By turns a New England schoolmaster, captain of an Alaskan commercial fishing boat, and, for many years, journalist for the international seafood industry, the author has trolled the seven seas to net the inside scoop on seafood.

Want to learn how to know a nice fish when you meet one or the tricks to scoping out an excellent seafood restaurant? Curious to know how to pick the best salmon at your local fishmonger's? The author answers all these questions and many more, taking you on an insider's tour of seafood's greatest delights.

While the author charms and inspires you with tales of the sea, try out the mouth-watering dishes ranging from contemporary favourites to the classic. If you're looking for a salty story or a great recipe, this book will reel you in. Flatten the curve and stay at home! Happy reading!

260. The Secret of the Fortune Wookie: An Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger (MCO book #6)

BOOK REVIEW: The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee - An Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger

My mind and body are reeling from the stay-at-home order. Needing a fresh and fun breath from these moments, I relished a childish tinge by reading a children's book and boyyyy, was it fun! 

This is just one out of the books in the Origami Yoda series. With cute illustrations sprinkled throughout as well as instructions on creating Star Wars based origami, this book is really uplifting.

With Dwight suspended, McQuarrie Middle School is missing its most famous attendee: origami Yoda. And no Yoda means no case file mystery to solve. But just as Tommy wonders if he'll ever find anything interesting to write about again, something BIG happens. Something BIG and HAIRY.

It's Fortune Wookiee, a paper fortune teller in the form of Chewbacca. Sara brings it to school as a gift from Dwight, and it seems to give advice that's just as good as Yoda's. Mysterious it is!

Tommy, Kellen and Harvey are on the case. And when their classmates start having strange "Dwight Sightings" (sightings of Dwight in which he is Yoda-less and acting WAY too normal), the boys have TWO mysteries to solve. The closer they get, the more possible it seems that origami Yoda will be back...

This book is a good way to enliven children's imagination and instill a love of origami, which is a wonderful art form to learn. A great book to keep the young ones and even the bigger ones (like myself, ehem) occupied and in a happy state. Stay safe, flatten the curve by staying home!

259. The White Wine Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide by Godfrey Spence (MCO book #5)

BOOK REVIEW: The White Wine Companion - A Connoisseur's Guide by Godfrey Spence

No tipsy readers were involved in the reading and reviewing of this book! Haha! The MCO has me reading this from book end to book end to further feed my curiosity on wines.

Written comprehensively, this is an authoritative directory of the world's top white wines. Provided are expert notes on tasting, serving and storing white wine in optimal conditions.

The author goes to great lengths to explore the vineyards of the world - from the Rhône to the Napa Valley, the Mosel to the Stellenbosch. A select directory of the best wine producers are included.

Tasting notes on a featured white wine from each producer such as berry notes and oak flavours are deeply featured in this informative tome.

A pleasure to read with exceptional pictures of the bottles, labels and vineyards, I feel I have gained an appreciation on white wines as they are seldom given the love needed compared to the bold red wines. This book makes a wonderful gift for those who are into enology or are just interested in the subtleties of wine.

258. Last Fantasy 1 by Creative Hon and Yong-Wan Kwon (MCO book #4)

BOOK REVIEW: Last Fantasy 1 by Creative Hon and Yong-Wan Kwon

Yes, it's still MCO period fellow readers so I thought of giving graphic novels a chance this time around. For fans of manga and anime, you will be familiar with Tokyopop's vast array of graphic novels which are endowed with detailed drawings which are attractive, even if they are in black and white.

In the first of the Last Fantasy series (for those familiar with the MMORPG Final Fantasy, yup, this is a spoof foolks) readers will be pulled into a comical world of unwieldy characters and ferocious monsters.

Drei Von Richenstein and Tian, two unlikely heroes, embark on an adventure filled with excitement, intrigue and a bit of comic relief! They have quite the talent for making allies into new enemies. 

Their misadventure pits them against ferocious ogres, vengeful red dragons, an army of soldiers, and even an age-old rival. But leave it to Tian and Drei to make sure that this adventure isn't their Final Fantasy...

In this laugh-out-loud parady of all things RPG (not "Really Powerful Guys"), no gaming franchise is safe. 

Though I found the storyline slightly confusing to follow, the illistrations more than made up for it. What I loved most was the snippets of the behind-the-scenes actions by the authors themselves in creating this graphic novel. Stay safe, stay home and let's flatten the curve.

257. Culinaria China: A Celebration of Food and Tradition by Katrin Schlotter and Elke Spielmans-Rome (MCO book #3)

BOOK REVIEW: Culinaria China - A Celebration of Food and Tradition by Katrin Schlotter and Elke Spielmans-Rome  

It's been quite a number of long days to fill with the MCO in Malaysia. Acquiring food is not a trivial matter with stringent measures in place by the proactive government to curb the spread of this silent enemy. 

The matter of food cravings are best left untouched as, being a foodie nation now restricted to eat what we have cooked without the pleasures of dining out, it has become a sensitive issue to ponder upon. My strong craving for a steaming plate of prawn siaomai is not in sight so what better way than to read about the pleasures of it and imagine the sights, sounds and smells of a country reknown for its culinary delights.

China (and please don't get touchy on the subject of their country being the precursor of the COVID-19) is a country with a rich culinary heritage with many different cooking styles according to regions. In this book, the authors embark on a journey till the farthest parts of China to divulge it's culinary gems and lesser known dining delights.

Besides the food, informative write-ups on history are shares of each region and also on its culture, ethnic groups and minorities as well as the traditions that the people of China are steeped in.

There is no way I could resist this book which was informatively written with numerous colourful pictures peppering the book, both of food and places. Those of you who are in possession of this gem, please give it a go as it will definitely lift your spirits in these droll times. Stay safe and stay home to flatten the curve!