Book reviews

BOOK OF THE WEEK with Linda Jennings. From Venice To Istanbul, Rick Stein, 9781849908603 (BBC Books) BD 13.900 (for Gulf Weekly Book Club Members)

From the mythical heart of Greece to the fruits of the Black Sea coast; from Croatian and Albanian flavours to the spices and aromas of Turkey and beyond – the cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean is a vibrant melting pot brimming with character.

Accompanying the major BBC Two series, Rick Stein’s latest cookery book From Venice to Istanbul includes over 100 spectacular recipes discovered by Rick during his travels in the region.

Amongst the 100 delicious recipes he shares are an ultimate mezze spread of baba ghanoush with pide bread and keftedes; mouthwatering garlic shrimps with soft polenta and a heavenly Dalmatian fresh fig tart.

Packed with stunning photography of the food and locations, and filled with Rick’s passion for fresh produce and authentic cooking, this is a stunning collection of inspiring recipes to evoke the magic of the Eastern Mediterranean at home.

This is a memorable food odyssey not to be missed; journeying through an ancient landscape discovering great food, and creating dishes from recipes that have lasted the course of time.

Read it now in paperback

Summer At Tiffany’s, Karen Swan, ISBN 9781447280194 (PAN)
BD 4.500 (for Gulf Weekly Book Club Members)
A wedding to plan. A wedding to stop. What could go wrong?

Cassie loves Henry. Henry loves Cassie. With a Tiffany ring on her finger, all that Cassie has left to do is plan the wedding. It should be so simple but when Henry pushes for a date, Cassie pulls back.

Henry’s wild, young cousin, Gem, has no such hesitations and is racing to the aisle at a sprint, determined to marry in the Cornish church where her parents were wed. But the family is set against it, and Cassie resolves to stop the wedding from going ahead.

When Henry lands an expedition sailing the Pacific for the summer, Cassie decamps to Cornwall, hoping to find the peace of mind she needs to move forward. But in the dunes and coves of the northern Cornish coast, she soon discovers the past isn’t yet finished with her.

This is another immensely enjoyable read for all the romantics amongst us and the latest in the ‘Tiffany’ saga, following on from the best seller, Christmas at Tiffany’s (although all the novels can be read as stand-alones).

My favourite read of the week

An Unquiet Mind, Kay Redfield Jamison, ISBN 9781447275282 (Picador Classic)
BD 5.600 (for Gulf Weekly Book Club Members)

I was used to my mind being my best friend. Now, all of a sudden, my mind had turned on me: it mocked me for my vapid enthusiasms; it laughed at all of my foolish plans; it no longer found anything interesting or enjoyable or worthwhile.

Dr Kay Redfield Jamison is one of the foremost authorities on manic depression (bipolar disorder) - and has experienced its terrors and cruel allure first-hand. While pursuing her career in medicine, she was affected by the same exhilarating highs and catastrophic lows that afflicted many of her patients. From her jubilant childhood to the disquiet that has dominated her adult life; she charts a journey through her own mind, and those of others.

An Unquiet Mind is a brave and helpful definitive examination of manic depression from both sides: doctor and patient, the healer and the healed. It is a classic memoir of enormous candour and courage and has received much praise since its publication earlier in the year.

This extraordinary book teems up the wit and wisdom of its creator with the soul of a poet and is a compelling, must-read for anyone suffering from or with an interest in depression or bipolar disorder and comes with an introduction by Andrew Solomon.