The Christmas Baking Cookbook by Editors of Cider Mill Press

Rating:

5 Stars

Themes:

Cookbook, Christmas, Non-Fiction

Thoughts:

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book provides a broad collection with things from cookies and pies to breads and cakes and also a diverse collection including bakes such as baklava, challah, and babkas. Also the icings and such in the appendix were helpful as I haven’t got a trusty recipe for royal icing yet. The steps of the recipe are easy to follow and the conversion table saved me so much time as I usually have to keep swapping apps to google the conversion. I personally appreciated that the active and total times were split at the top of each recipe as it helps me determine if I am medically strong enough to be on my feet for that long before rather than starting a recipe and struggling. The photographs provided are beautiful and appetising. However, there are no calories and/or macros provided which can be helpful if you're struggling with body image or eating but makes it more difficult if you're actively food tracking or on a specific diet.

Comments

Vincent: A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Comic, Non-Fiction, Biography Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great little book on Vincent van Gogh. It is very detailed containing pieces of his life such as changing careers and failed love interests that are often not considered when we think of van Gogh, instead favouring his art and mental health. The illustrations were really well done and at times helped to bring levity to the story which isn’t often the happiest of lives.

The War of Sober by Edward Rand

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Addiction, Psychology Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book not just for addicts trying to establish and maintain their sobriety but also psychologists, counsellors and the people working with them. It approaches the experience of addiction from the perspective of going to war and may help those who can’t get along with the 12 steps, contingency management or other forms of therapy traditionally used. It’s also helpful to have Edward detail his own experiences and approaches throughout so it feels less clinical and shows he does know what he’s talking about when he mentions the difficulties so it comes across less patronising than some self-help addiction books. Favourite Quote: "It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Win or lose, if we are still alive, we must decide to be different today and then make the correct choices today, because friends, ...

Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

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