366. Great Modern Writers A to Z by Andy Tuohy and Caroline Taggart

BOOK REVIEW: Great Modern Writers A to Z by Andy Tuohy and Caroline Taggart

As readers, we have a certain inclination to lean towards one author or the other. Writing styles, the subject written about and the emotions of each story drag us to read a book. This book allows us to delve into the world of writers.

Defining modern 'as flourishing in the 20th century', this book is about writers that have influenced readers for decades. The writers are all-inclusive ranging from African-Americans to Indians to Japanese and Europeans. 

The 'works to read' are perfect suggestions for those who want to read more of an author's books or intend to start on them. The books range from famous ones like George Orwell's Animal Farm to less famous ones like Chinua Achebe's Anthills of the Savannah.

This book is the one to blame if your bookshelf starts growing like mad! Wonderful addition to any bookaholics reading quota.

365. Must Eat Paris: An Eclectic Selection of Culinary Locations by Luc Hoornaert

BOOK REVIEW: Must Eat Paris - An Eclectic Selection of Culinary Locations by Luc Hoornaert

When we travel overseas, we tend to hunt out awesome dining spots to pamper our taste buds. Paris is a destination that has picturesque attractions and lovely food to boot. If you travel to Paris and can't think of where to eat, bring this book along with you for Paris's best eats.

This book is one in a series of books that have covered dining destinations in New York, Amsterdam and London. The book is full of unique stories, gastronomic facts and a list of unconventional culinary addresses. 

The author not only shows readers the best places for tasting the local products, but also for enjoying the culinary melting pot that Paris harbours. In spite of the multifaceted selection, all the locations have several things in common: authenticity, devotion, genuinely top ingredients and a no-nonsense attitude.

At every address, you will discover the specialty of the house and its history. Whatever your food mood, this guide will point you to the perfect place.

This book is a solid 10/10 and makes me yearn for the cuisine that Paris has to offer. Must Eat Paris makes for a great gift for traveling foodies or even for yourself.

 

364. Mind Over Matter by Nora Roberts

BOOK REVIEW: Mind Over Matter by Nora Roberts

Gifted as a token of appreciation by the founder of a book club, my heart overflowed with joy. With over 200 novels under her belt, the author, Nora Roberts is evidently the master of whirlwind romance novels and this isn't an exception.

Hollywood agent Aurora Fields kept her personal life strictly separate from her professional one, until she met TV producer David Brady.

He might be working with her biggest client on a documentary, but that didn't mean Aurora trusted him. She'd be on hand to protect her celebrity star from exploitation and if that meant spending more time with David then so be it!

David had always considered himself a good judge of character, so why did each moment he spent with Aurora leave her as enigmatic - and enticing - as before?

With a hotness scale of 100/10 (yes, it exceeds the scale of 10 as the scenes are super hot!), you'll be sweating from emotional instability! Supernatural elements such as ESP and the give of "sight" are thrown in for a more magical feel.

Though I abruptly quit reading romances some time back, this novel makes me want to delve into a few more for the hope that love truly exists in this world.

 

363. The End of Food by Paul Roberts

 

BOOK REVIEW: The End of Food by Paul Roberts

Food security is a highly debated issue, more so in Asian countries where supply exceeds demand. Transgenic foods, rotational farming and subsidies are just some of the numerous methods that conglomerates and government are coming up with to solve this issue. But at what cost is food being harmed in the process? Is it economically viable in the first place?

Salmonella-tainted peanuts, riots and skyrocketing prices are only the latest in a series of food-related crises that have illuminated the failures of the modern food system. In this book, the author investigates this system and presents a startling truth - how we make, market and transport our food is no longer compatible or safe for the billions of consumers the system was built to serve.

The emergence of large-scale and efficient food production forever changed our relationship with food and ultimately left a vulnerable and paradoxical system in place.

High-volume factories create new risks for food-borne illness; high-yield crops generate grain, produce and meat of declining nutritional quality; and while nearly a  billion people are overweight, roughly as many people are starving.

In this vivid narrative, the author presents a clear, stark vision of the future and points out the difficult decisions that must be made if we are to survive the demise of food production as we know it. 

I've been reading a lot of books on the future of food recently and what I've read seems bleak in the near future. Food insecurity and the methods food is being produced today seems scarier than ever. A highly recommended book for those who are interested on what the human food chain actually looks like.

362. The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King

BOOK REVIEW: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

As most of you who have been following my reviews already know, I'm a mad fan of Stephen King and have devoured most of his books for their unique take on horror. If you're just starting out on the journey of Stephen King, I suggest you read this book as it's a compilation of short stories with varying degrees of horror to keep even the most jaded satiated. I will just give a brief rundown on what each of those stories are so you'd actually know what to expect.

1. Mile 81: Alien van that eats humans. Two kids vanquish the alien van into outer space.
2. Premium Harmony: A husband rethinks his long marriage life. When his wife enters the supermarket to get a ball, she dies of heart attack.
3. Batman and Robin Have An Altercation: A guy takes his Alzheimers-stricken father out for a meal from the care home. They meet with an accident. Both drivers end up in a bloody fist fight on the road The father takes a knife stolen from the restaurant and stabs the negligent drivers neck.
4. The Dune: A dying lawyer is obsessed with a sand dune which keeps displaying names of those going to die.
5. Bad Little Kid: A demon kid taunts a man who then murders the said kid and enters jail. The body of the kid goes unidentified and is found missing on the day of the man's execution. The kid then returns to taunt the detective investigating the case.
6. A Death: A man who rapes and murders a girl keeps claiming innocence until the day of his execution. When his bowels go loose after the hanging, they find the murdered girl's silver locket in his poop.

There are still many more stories and it'd be a little draggy for me to continue. One last story I would like to touch on is Ur. It's about a Kindle that is from the underworld and not Amazon. It can predict the future as well as provide books never heard of that are written by famous authors like Edgar Allan Poe. 

This book to me was definitely a bazaar of bad dreams as some of the stories were downright disturbing and macabre. However, it's Stephen King we're talking about here. Obviously you're going to be shaken to your core with his version of horror.

361. The Taste of America by Colman Andrews

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Taste of America by Colman Andrews

Anyone who has been to US will know that it's a foodie paradise. All sorts of food from snacks to main meals will leave you in a food coma. A comprehensive guide to America's favorites, this book is an awesome addition to your food reading.

What does America taste like? All is revealed in this irresistible celebration of the best food made in the USA. From hot dogs to boiled peanuts, from maple syrup to whoopie pies, the writer handpicks 250 of the nation's most exceptional food products.

Giving full and fascinating detail on how the product is made, its unique history and flavor, this book is a must-have guide for the American food lover.

Delicious reading, those who are hungry should be cautious. Hunger pangs are sure to increase!