360. Culinaria Hungary: A Celebration of Food and Tradition by Anikó Gergely

 

BOOK REVIEW: Culinaria Hungary - A Celebration of Food and Tradition by Anikó Gergely

A country's cuisine says a lot about its history and culture. Hungary has been strongly influenced by eastern and western traditions. Cooking in kettles, which produces such typical Hungarian specialties is a legacy of the nomadic Asiatic Magyars, and its baking has been adopted from western European settlers.

Over the centuries, Hungarians learned everything they could about the cuisines of both their peaceful neighbors and their foreign conquerors. Culinary expertise was also exchanged between social levels. 

Some of the topics you will encounter in this book include:

• Spices in Hungarian cuisine then and now.
• Pörkölt, paprikás and tokány - the goulash family.
• Cheeses from all over Hungary.
• Popular strudel variations.
• Classic Hungarian cakes and pastries.
• Wine from Lake Balaton.
• Transylvanian cuisine and many other delicacies.

If you get severe hunger from reading this book, don't blame me! The mouthwatering pictures and food writings will have you yearning for a taste of Germany.

359. The Magical Unicorn Society Official Handbook by Selwyn E. Phipps

BOOK REVIEW: The Magical Unicorn Society Official Handbook by Selwyn E. Phipps

Unicorns are the creatures of dreams and fantasy. The majestic beauty of these horse-like creatures have been used as tattoos for its symbol of a free spirit. This book's illustrations are too beautiful to resist and will make you read till the very end.

The Magical Unicorn Society has existed for centuries, dedicated to studying, understanding and protecting unicorns. The secretive society has been shrouded in mystery - until now.

This official handbook documents decades of research and exploration, and provides the ultimate guide to these fantastical beasts.

At last, here is the proof that unicorns, and their spell-binding magic, are real. From unicorns' favorite food to habitats and unicorn types, I completely fell in love with this book.

358. The Fate of Food: What We'll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World by Amanda Little

BOOK REVIEW: The Fate of Food - What We'll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World by Amanda Little

Agriculture has now been replaced with permaculture and technology-enhanced agriculture. But how does this affect food production in the future? The author's ambitious, dynamic and thought-provoking foray into the future of food will leave you mesmerized.

This book unveils startling innovations from around the world: farmscrapers (tall 'skyscrapers' of aeroponic planting), cloned cattle and even super-bananas. The author meets the most creative and controversial minds changing the face of modern food production, and tackles fears over genetic modification with hard facts.

In a nutshell, this book is a fascinating look at the threats and opportunities that lie ahead as we struggle to feed ever more people in a changing world.

On a personal level, I loved the chapter on lab cultured meat, meat tissue being divided in petri dishes to become a 'slab of meat'. It's currently happening in Singapore and it's not long before our country does it too. 

Wonderfully written, you won't be dissapointed by the raw facts of the current food situation in the world.

 

357. The Outsider by Stephen King

BOOK REVIEW: The Outsider by Stephen King

Have you ever peeked under the bed for the boogeyman or pushed aside clothes in your cupboard thinking someone is hiding in there? The goosebumps definitely appear and it will only get worse by reading this horror ride of a book about El Cuco.

An 11-year-old boy's violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City's most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband and father of 2 girls.

Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. The case seems ironclad, especially when Anderson and the district attorney are able to add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses.

But Maitland has an alibi, and it turns out his story has incontrovertible evidence of its own. How can 2 opposing stories be true? What happens to a family when an accusation of this magnitude is delivered? When must reason or rationality be abandoned in order to explain the inexplicable?

As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, the author's propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face?

I don't want to give too much away but basically the story revolves around the legend of El Cuco. This boogeyman captures children, drinks their blood and rubs their fat on its body. Be prepared for gruesome details that can make you retch in this book. King's writing style horrifies and excites at the same time!

356. MARVEL: Absolutely Everything You Need To Know by Adam Bray, Lorraine Cink, John Sazaklis and Sven Wilson

BOOK REVIEW: MARVEL - Absolutely Everything You Need to Know by Adam Bray, Lorraine Cink, John Sazaklis and Sven Wilson

I loved the movie Venom so much that I wanted to know more about these Marvel characters. I've never read any Marvel comics but it seemed really interesting, so I picked up this book that brought me closer to the Marvel universe.

For Chapter One, all the characters are revealed, both heroes and anti-heroes. You can even read up on famous clashes betwewn these two opposite poles!

In Chapter Two, famous superhero teams like the Avengers are explained. The S.H.I.E.L.D. operations are broken down for us to understand. The bad guys aren't complete without the super villain teams! 

Chapters Three to Five talk about the characters powers, possessions and key events that altered the universes in the comics. 

Now that my interest has been sufficiently piqued, I really want to watch Thor, Avengers and even Guardians of the Galaxy (even if it's only for the cute Groot!).

355. Almanac of the Uncanny by Readers' Digest Association

BOOK REVIEW: Almanac of the Uncanny by Readers' Digest Association

Seances, human levitation, out-of-body experiences. These are just some of the weird and unexplainable happenings in our world. You may have experienced some yourselves but how do these things happen and why? These and more questions is explained in this informational book by the Readers' Digest Association.

For centuries people have wondered at so many unexplained phenomena in the world around us. How did early humans view life after death and does it actually exist? Have UFOs visited our planet and is there proof?

This book's more than 500 illustrated stories take the reader back in time to be entertained and intrigued by mysteries from the earliest recorded time to the present. 

Thoroughly researched by experts, and including comprehensive findings, this unique volume gives a compelling account of realms as yet not fully explained. 

Personally, I enjoyed this book for its scientific approach. Most of the unexplained circumstances are somewhat debunked by the rigorous research done. For example, the levitating table trick is due to a contraption that is stepped on during seances instead of ghosts lifting it.

At some points, if the situation is unexplainable, it is left to the reader to make it out for themselves what is fact from fiction. This book is great for those who want to delve into the unknown instead of scaring ourselves silly!

 

354. Behind the Gates of Gomorrah by Stephen Seager

BOOK REVIEW: Behind The Gates of Gomorrah by Stephen Seager

We all have seen movies and sometimes read of mentally incapable (a more polite way of saying insane) people. The way they behave sometimes amuses us and sometimes frightens us till our core.

The author, who's a psychiatrist, was no stranger to locked psych wards when he accepted a job at California's Napa State Hospital, known locally as 'Gomorrah', but nothing could have prepared him for what he encountered when he stepped through its gates.

Napa State is one of the US largest forensic mental hospitals, dedicated to treating the criminally insane. Unit C, where the author was assigned, was reserved for the 'bad actors', the mass murderers, serial killers and the real-life Hannibal Lecter's of the world.

Against a backdrop of surreal beauty - a campus-like setting where peacocks strolled the well-kept lawns - is a place of remarkable violence.

Lone therapists lead sharing circles with psychopaths, homemade weapons and contraband circulate freely and patients and physicians often measure their lives according to how fast they can run.

At first, i was merely touched by how psychiatrists never judge patients no matter what they did. The book slowly became horrifying as patients kept hidden shanks (everyday items sharpened into weapons like eyeglass stems) and faeces were flung at medical staff.

It also happened to show the situation of security on standby to keep trouble at bay. This book affords an eye-opening look inside a facility to which few people have ever had access.