en-US Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:40:57 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7359159855 Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:40:57 -0800 /review/show/7359159855 Cherry gave 4 stars to Big Vegan Flavor: Techniques and 150 Recipes to Master Vegan Cooking (Hardcover) by Nisha Vora
Pros: lots of herbs, spices and flavours. Variety: recipes to combine in endless ways to make meals, but also recipes that work alone.
Cons: ingredients and instructions on different pages, so much oil.

It's a huge book and I regretted walking to the library to pick it up. It's a combination of information and recipes. I've had the book for a couple of weeks and don't feel that I'll have got through enough by the time it's due back. There are recipes within the information sections. Some of the information sections have tables with combinations of recipes (a grain, a protein, a sauce, a vegetable). I really like how many options there are when various components are combined, but sometimes you just want a recipe, and some of the recipes are stand-alone, too. Fantastic.
Nisha really likes her oil. It's used very generously (measured in tablespoons in most if not all recipes; considering you combine recipes to make a meal, it adds up) and she encourages you to go with the upper end of the amount for the best flavour. I dislike the sticky, sickly feel of oil, so rarely cook with it. The recipes and meals I've made so far have been full of flavour without any oil except some sesame oil. So I can't review the recipes made 100% as written, but have really enjoyed the versions I have made.
Another quibble - probably more pertinent to a general review than my personal dislike of oiliness - is that the ingredients are very often on the page before the instructions, so you have to keep flipping back and forth. Then you have to be sure you know if you're on the ingredients page or the instructions page, or you'll be looking at the wrong recipe and wondering why it doesn't look familiar.

The illustrations are lovely. The range of recipes is great. The instructions can be quite particular (e.g. use whole tinned tomatoes and crush with your hands; use a good-quality tahini): this can be helpful and clear, but sometimes just seems unnecessary. And I don't think I'm convinced that 18 types of salt are essential for whatever different uses I might have. Normal iodised table salt has worked fine in the recipes so far, so while the kosher, Maldon, flaky, smoked, sprinkling, sea, crushed, rock and extraterrestrial salts might be even better, whatever you have will season the dishes.

I'll definitely be getting this out of the library again.

]]> Review7359148952 Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:30:22 -0800 /review/show/7359148952 Cherry gave 3 stars to Written In Blood (Chief Inspector Barnaby #4) by Caroline Graham
This one took a long time to get into. Don't get distracted as the characters are introduced, because there are a lot of them coming in at once. ]]> Review7260307268 Sun, 26 Jan 2025 16:17:01 -0800 /review/show/7260307268 Cherry gave 5 stars to Virtually Vegan: All-Vegan Recipes with a Non-Vegan Twist (Hardcover) by Heather Whinney
I've made quite a few recipes from this book, and each one has been delicious. I get recipe books from the library, because usually there are only a few recipes in them that I would continue to make regularly, but this one has a higher-than-average number of recipes that I've continued to make.

The animal products recommended for the recipes are at the bottom of the page, and I appreciate that the recipes are complete recipes without the animal products, rather than recipes saying you can leave out the meat/animal ingredients (which are often an important component of the recipe and would leave an incomplete meal). I haven't tried the animal additions, so can't comment on the recipes with them included.

I think this is a brilliant choice for someone cooking for a group with people who both do and don't eat animal products. No worrying about how to cater for both the vegan and anti-vegan of the group. It's also going to be a perfect choice for people like my mother, who want to eat more plant-based but can't fully do that because it's 'normal' to eat animal products. ]]> Review7212780866 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 18:49:06 -0800 /review/show/7212780866 Cherry gave 4 stars to Akin (Hardcover) by Emma Donoghue
Typical of what I've come to think of Emma Donoghue's style. In some ways, it seems like nothing much is happening in the story (in the sense that events are more downplayed than overly dramatic), but gradually I'm drawn in and it gets very difficult to put down. I like the way things were tied up at the end: not too little, which would make an unsatisfying ending, but not too much, which would make the ending trite and too happily-ever-after. This was just right. Rounded down to 4 stars because I don't think this one will leave as much of an impression on me as some of the author's other works. ]]> Review7182137937 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:37:53 -0800 /review/show/7182137937 Cherry gave 3 stars to A Flicker in the Dark (Hardcover) by Stacy Willingham
It's hard to rate and review this one because it's not a genre I usually read. There are more and less predictable 'surprises' but not exactly the 'twists you'll never see coming' as promoted by Karin Slaughter on the cover. I did find myself uneasy which I guess is the point, but not in a way I find enjoyable. Again, maybe just not my genre. However, still only 3 stars because the first 250-300 pages, while making me uneasy, was easy to put down and not particularly absorbing. I persevered and the last quarter of the book was more absorbing but the ending felt rushed. Either the ending was rushed or left too much to inference that I didn't infer. [spoilers removed]

The main character, Chloe, irritated me immensely but of course that doesn't mean other readers will find her annoying. Just her way of dealing with what was going on and the people that would affect.

[spoilers removed] ]]> Review7136682676 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:56:12 -0800 /review/show/7136682676 Cherry gave 4 stars to Rescued (Andy Carpenter, #17) by David Rosenfelt
I enjoy this series as light, easy-to-read lawyer mysteries. You can put in more or less effort to notice and piece together clues, and enjoy the story either way. If you enjoyed one, you'll probably enjoy them all. I like that the quality of the stories is remaining about the same throughout the series.

[spoilers removed] ]]> Review7136553505 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:29:12 -0800 /review/show/7136553505 Cherry gave 4 stars to The Pull of the Stars (Hardcover) by Emma Donoghue
The subject matter is very grim and unpleasant, but once again Emma Donoghue's writing makes it very readable and absorbing. I started the book some time ago, got to where she arrives at the hospital, then gave up. I'm so glad I tried again. When I finished reading, it was hard to pick up something else. I've rounded down to 4 stars, not up.

Things happen in the story in a fairly limited way, so rather than being action-packed you have time to get to know the characters fairly well and get invested in their lives. I liked the pace of the story as it unfolded, and it drew me in so I wanted to read on and find out more about the characters.

I really wasn't sure how the story would resolve for Julia, Bridie, or the various characters whose stories needed resolving towards the end. While I absolutely loved being in the middle three quarters of the book, I wasn't mad keen on the ending. Being the story it was, [spoilers removed]

So, the first few pages didn't draw me in, then I was completely drawn in, then the ending didn't quite fit how I had understood the main character. ]]> Review7126245075 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:40:32 -0800 /review/show/7126245075 Cherry gave 1 star to Pink Lemonade Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #29) by Joanne Fluke
I've only just finished the Caramel Roll Murder and here I am starting this one. I'm a glutton for punishment. Maybe Joanne Fluke's memory has returned because Page 1 has Hannah remembering to look through the keyhole before answering the door (after being berated about it), which she completely forgot to do in the last book. The peephole thing is a recurring theme with Andrea and Hannah, so look forward to that entertainment.

Mike doesn't just like eating in this book, he actually needs a holiday. Hannah has to go out there and cook for him. Mike seems to have no friends in Lake Eden apart from Norman. Imagine your best friend also proposed to your non-girlfriend on the same day you did, and Grandma Knudson suggests that if she married both of you, she would have three days for each of you (wink, wink) and one day of rest. Then Hannah rings Mike to see if he's got cable when she just told Andrea to ring, because it's important to know from two sources.

The investigation begins, and it's Bill, Lonnie and Rick representing the police. Obviously, they are out of their depth, being only trained detectives (or whatever they are), but they know it. They approach the only one capable, Hannah (and Norman), and arrange to have the official interviews in the kitchen of her bakery with her sitting in to make sure they don't mess up the interviews. Hannah, far from being the meddling amateur who usually struts around officiously until she stumbles on the killer, is a consultant and running this investigation.

So, it's no surprise who gets murdered once the character is introduced. And some suspects are set up. One is Delores. She is furious that, some time ago, the victim dunked her when she was volunteering to do a dunk tank. How dare someone participate in the event Delores chose to do! Did this person not see that Delores was wearing a Very Good Dress and that you are not supposed to actually dunk the people who sit above the tank. I'd have got water balloons to throw at Delores as well, for old times' sake. Another suspect is an old rival who is there. Lonnie spends about four pages droning on about the beef while Hannah begs him to hurry up with the story. I suspect the book fell short of the word count and this got added in. Later in the book, Hannah spends half a page reminding him of this story.

The victim had picked up teenage girls and had them riding on the back of his car. He was rather frowned upon for doing this, but wow, those girls ruined their whole lives, besmirched their families' reputations and offended the Lord permanently, because they did this - are you sitting down? - in crop tops and skirts. I'd understand if they'd got in trouble with their families for sitting on the car like they did because it's dangerous, or got talked to about older men, but refusing to talk to your granddaughter or effectively calling your daughter a hussy because she wore something that showed her midriff - well, congratulations, you won Terrible Parent of the Year. Get that attitude out of modern fiction. Those teenagers are separate humans to you and might have different ideas about clothing.

On the topic of scandalous behaviour, Hannah is back living at Norman's (IN A SEPARATE ROOM) but there's no mention of the notifying the gossip hotline or damage control this time.

Eventually, after writing in lots of eating and squeezing in a couple of suspect interviews, Joanne Fluke has to get the murderer found. She picks one of the characters out of a hat, so obviously [spoilers removed]

Moishe used to hate Delores (and rightly so), but now he's realised that he can get her to berate Hannah into overfeeding him. The 'feet up' game at the table is no longer, but now the cats are chasing ladybirds (BUT NOT KILLING THEM) in Delores and Doc's garden. Sometimes they tap them with their paws to make them fly (BUT DON'T KILL THEM), other times they watch the ladybirds (BUT DON'T KILL THEM). Doc buys ladybirds for them (NOT TO KILL). It's not quite as bad as the feet up thing.

I've read three of these in a row and that is a bad idea. At least the conflicted inner dialogue is gone. ]]> Review7126222426 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:34:47 -0800 /review/show/7126222426 Cherry gave 3 stars to Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, #28) by Joanne Fluke
OK! This one starts out with Mike at the scene of a car crash (multiple cars) and needs cookies. Hannah saves the day from The Cookie Jar by providing cookies and coffee (to just Mike, Mike and Earl & Carrie, or to everyone out there?? And why is Carrie going?). How will Hannah's business survive if she is providing free refreshments at an accident scene?

There's a fishing tournament and the participants are staying at Sally's inn. Her pastry chef is on leave, meaning Hannah leaves her small business to help out at the inn (unpaid) while her own business is run by her partner/colleague Lisa and Lisa's rellies (unpaid??). From the last book where Andrea needed applause for making a salad by herself, we now have Andrea also working (unpaid) out at the inn with Hannah. But never mind, the to-die-for dessert recipe is just premade canned cinnamon roll mix, which explains why Hannah's bakery can be run by Lisa's relatives and Andrea is now working at the inn baking.

You know how Hannah was living at Norman's place in the last book IN A SEPARATE ROOM? We now have them living at the inn IN SEPARATE ROOMS and Delores and Sally both have to go to great lengths to assure everyone that Hannah and Norman aren't staying in the same room, they are DOWN THE HALL. I have no idea how or why Sally would work that into conversation, but she will be informing everyone. The cats are staying with Delores, who has bought a whole pet shop's worth of junk for the cats to ignore. Hannah and Norman ARE NOT TOGETHER LIKE THAT, which is why she makes a comment in which Delores is Moishe AND Cuddles's grandmother. Wink, wink!

Mike likes eating.

Andrea used to be a somewhat vacuous and vain real estate agent with no interest in cooking. Hannah found her a bit/somewhat annoying. Now, her job seems to be going slowly with just one showing in a week, and she is, without pay, working as a cook at Lake Eden Inn, making up recipes, and being quizzed by Hannah about ingredients and the science of baking. She's staying at the inn with Hannah and sometimes getting up earlier than her (even though Hannah's job has her up at something like 4.30am and Andrea never surfaced until mid morning). She wanted to stay at the inn because Bill was away and she didn't want to be alone. We eventually find out (once the author remembers they exist?) that Tracey and Bethie are farmed out to Grandma McCann's place (did Grandma get a choice about being the sole carer for the whole week?). Andrea now acts partly like a needy child who doesn't know much (and needs Hannah to jump up and down, clapping, and saying BRAVO when Andrea gets a cooking question right), and partly like a responsible and capable adult who does the only (farfetched but correct) deducing in the murder solving. Meanwhile, Michelle has been sidelined to the other table to talk to another teacher, then is hurriedly brought back at the end for something else.

Hannah explains life as a detective and the sacrifices she and her fellow detectives have to make for the job. Andrea is horrified and glad that Bill is a sheriff and not a detective. Of course, it is a given that Hannah is running this investigation and Mike is the official helper, so what he asks her to do or not do is optional based on whether she wants to oblige or not. Mike is feeling jaded and kind of personifies the whole book series. Who cares anymore, going through the motions.

I thought Delores and Doc were looking after the cats at the penthouse with all the luxury cat toys, but then they're also staying at the inn. Have the cats ceased to exist?

The ending. Andrea saw [spoilers removed] Murder Book (Mike needs one of these if he wants to solve any murders) but I am not quite sure how Hannah knew who it was. Did I miss some clues? [spoilers removed] ? Anyway, as usual, Hannah ends up alone with the murderer and Mike saves her. If Hannah [spoilers removed] ]]> Review7126216526 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 14:33:14 -0800 /review/show/7126216526 Cherry gave 4 stars to The Killings at Badger's Drift (Chief Inspector Barnaby, #1) by Caroline Graham
An old woman, ex-teacher and known by everyone in the village, sees something and is soon after found dead. What or who did she see, and (how) did it lead to her death?

An easy read, and an enjoyable one. Barnaby and Troy seemed to hit dead ends, but then something else would come up. I'm not one who usually guesses the right culprit when I watch or read murder mysteries, but this time I fell neatly into what I suspect I was supposed to fall into. That's why I read rather than solve, I suppose. ]]>