Nevada BarrI have read many Nevada Barr novels - in particular those in the Anna Pigeon series. She is a New York best selling author though here in New Zealand few seem to have heard of her. I came across her books in the days when I was homeschooling my son and frequently visited libraries. For the uninitiated, she writes mystery stories set in the various different national parks of America. I love books set in the wildernesses of the world and if there is a mystery to keep me glued to the pages, all the better. Her heroine is a park ranger and each book is set in a different park so the readers learn heaps about each park while trying to solve the murder. Nevada herself was a park ranger for many years so knows her stuff and it shows. I have read many of them but there was a gap in her writing after her home town of New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina and I guess I wandered away from her to other authors while waiting for the next book because I am only just getting back to … [Read more...] about Favourite Author No. 3 – Nevada Barr
Favourite Place in the World No. 9 – Isle of Pines
A few years back, our family took a cruise around the Pacific Ocean. We saw beautiful beaches with white sand and crystal clear waters but then we landed at the Isle of Pines at the southern end of the islands that make up New Caledonia and it overshadowed all that had come before. The island is populated mainly by the Kunie, its Melanesian inhabitants, and they protect it fiercely – it has become an indigenous reserve and the land is neither for sale nor for rent. It is rather unusual to see a tropical island with so many pines, and right along the water’s edge too. It has a few small resorts and a small shopping centre but is basically unspoilt and so delightful. The photos say it all. … [Read more...] about Favourite Place in the World No. 9 – Isle of Pines
Young Adult – a black comedy which is more black than comedy
Director: Jason Reitman Running Time: 1 hour 30 mins Cast: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser Movie Review: I hadn't read anything much about Young Adult before I went to see it and so was rather taken aback at how dark it was considering the film poster depicts a grumpy but fluffy young woman. This was definitely not a fluffy film. In fact, discomfort is the predominant emotion on the part of the viewer. The main character, Mavis, played by Charlize Theron, is newly divorced and determined to get back her high school sweetheart despite the fact that he is happily married with a young baby. Her attempts to do so are awkward and he seems quite oblivious to her seduction attempts, which just makes it even more awful. She is exceedingly beautiful and was in the popular set at school but life has not turned out the way she had hoped and she hides her despondency with copious amounts of alcohol. She is seriously damaged and hugely unlikeable. Charlize is … [Read more...] about Young Adult – a black comedy which is more black than comedy
Favourite Author No. 2 – Tess Gerritsen
Tess Gerritsen is a usurper on my list. Until I met her at the last RWNZ conference, she wasn't even on my top 10 list. But we got a free book of hers in our goodie bags and, of course, I read it. It was "The Killing Place", a Rizzoli and Isles novel. I was hooked, not just by Tess's voice but by the Rizzoli and Isles partnership so I downloaded onto my Kindle and read every other book in the long series. That's why you can only see the one book on my bookcase shelves. That is certainly a disadvantage of a kindle but there are too many other advantages to sway me. In fact, I stored and read five new books on it while in Europe recently for ten days. Reading is a great way to pass those interminable hours waiting around in airports. Tess fills her books with a ton of research and her own considerable knowledge, which enriches what are already great and often gory stories. By the way, I have also read some of her stand-alone books and have loved them too but I miss Rizzoli and … [Read more...] about Favourite Author No. 2 – Tess Gerritsen
Thai Beef Salad
Cooking Recipe: We all have a version of a Thai beef salad and I made one of mine tonight. It is so simple. Here are a few of the ingredients - I do like to assemble things before I start. The first thing is to put a couple of sirloin steaks on the grill and cook until still pink inside but not bloody or it will taint the salad. While they are cooking, chop up chives, red chillies and coriander. Then throw a mixture of salad leaves in a bowl and add chopped up tomatoes. Next step is to mix the dressing: 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp fish sauce 2 tbsp lemon or lime juice 1 tbsp sugar 1 tsp garlic-infused oil Once the meat is cooked, slice it up into bite-sized pieces and throw into the dressing and mix. Now everything gets chucked in together and mixed to coat all the leaves with the dressing. Eat it with a bread of your choice - it's yummy scrummy. … [Read more...] about Thai Beef Salad
Bacon, Feta and Hazelnut Salad – a quick and complete meal
Yesterday I saw a bit of a Jamie Oliver programme on TV and he was in France roughing it in the country following a hunt for wild boar. Anyway, one of the dishes he cooked looked simple and full of strong flavours so I tried it tonight. I love all-in-one salad-style meals which cover each of the food groups and I make them often. I must admit, I substituted a few ingredients out of preference and it still turned out just fine - more than just fine actually. So to the ingredients: Bacon, Feta and Hazelnut/Walnut Salad Mixed salad leaves Bacon chopped into squares - the thicker the better, not finely sliced Spring onions - sliced Ciabatta or a similar loaf of bread cut into crouton-type hunks. Fry in olive oil with the bacon until crisp. Roasted hazelnuts or walnuts chopped up roughly - Jamie used walnuts. Chives or coriander snipped up with scissors Feta cheese crumbled up - Jamie used a French blue cheese and I'm sure it would work well if I could stand the taste of … [Read more...] about Bacon, Feta and Hazelnut Salad – a quick and complete meal
