The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf |
- Eggstatic Easter offerings in the latest issue of Flavours
- Mysteries and secrets
- Goosebumps grown up
| Eggstatic Easter offerings in the latest issue of Flavours Posted: 08 Mar 2013 02:22 AM PST WAKE up and smell the coffee! Coffee culture – and everything that entails, from premium, single-bean brews to artisanal coffee outlets and coffee machines that cost as much as a small car – has definitely arrived in Malaysia. This month's Flavours magazine, the country's premier food and lifestyle publication, dives deep into the scene, speaking to connoisseurs, cafe owners and, the rising stars of the scene, the baristas, five of whom grace the cover of the March issue. Read about these passionate coffee makers and you'll be surprised not only by their passion but also by their interesting backgrounds. With Easter coming up soon, on March 31, you must check out the Eggstatic agar-agar feature. Even if you don't celebrate the festival, you'll love the delicately gorgeous jelly in eggshell moulds that recipe developer Debbie Teoh made. Also in keeping with the season, artisanal bakery The Carpenter's Daughter shares the secrets of divinely flavourful and fluffy hot cross buns. In the Rah-rah ramen feature, Flavours writer Ooi May Sim hits the noodle trail to uncover the long and short of Japan's second-favourite staple (behind rice). She delves into how to make fresh ramen – illustrated with step-by-step photos – the signature flavours from different parts of Japan and the different toppings, as well as some of Klang Valley's best ramen outlets. The celebrity chef featured this month is the irrepressible Chef Sam Leong of Singapore's Forest Cooking School, who held a masterclass in Kuala Lumpur, often having participants in stitches with sallies like "the Chinese teaspoon is different from a pastry teaspoon" and "The ladies in my classes like to take the opportunity to get closer to me ..."! He also shares three tasty receipes on pages 51-53. While Thai food is almost common in Malaysia and Vietnamese cuisine is fast becoming just as popular, the food of Myanmar is much less well-known. In All souped-up, Mohana Gill shows readers how to make the country's national dish, Mohinga, or rice noodles in fish soup. She shares not only the traditional recipe but also an easy version using canned fish that is just as tasty as the flavourful original. The Design section looks at the very hip new nightspot The Establishment, which brings a little Melbourne style and cocktail culture to KL while the Travel section explores Nepal's tasty food among the mountain peaks. Look out for this month's beautiful, coffee-influenced cover of Flavours at all good newsagents and bookstores nationwide. Flavours is published by Star Publications (M) Bhd. |
| Posted: 08 Mar 2013 01:52 AM PST Husband, Missing GINA married Rex just six months after meeting him, believing that she had found her one true love, her soulmate, the love of her life ... yada, yada. But then, the soulmate goes missing while on a holiday abroad and Gina's perfect little world comes crashing down. Certain that Rex is still alive and hasn't abandoned her, Gina goes on a mission to bring back the man of her dreams, but her frantic search only unearths troubling secrets from her husband's past. This is when Gina starts to question just how much she really knows the man she married. The Midwife's Daughter VIOLET Dimond is a midwife and has delivered many children. Now she's delivering the children of those she had brought into the world a generation before. Also known as the Holy Terror, Violet is one of the last people practising the traditional ways at the turn of the last century, as medical advancements threaten to end her profession. The story also follows the changing lives of women as they prepare for the World War I, including Violet's adopted daughter Grace, who is endlessly fascinating to the townsfolk because she possesses a skin colour they are not accustomed to. Things are set to change with the war, but will it be a change for the better or worse? Violet and Grace themselves see nothing but more disruption to their already difficult lives. Notes On The Crucible THIS comprehensive "Notes On" volume is intended to help students better understand Arthur Miller's renowned play, The Crucible, which is often a part of English language and literature courses. The play is a fictional retelling of events surrounding the real-life Salem witch trials of 17th century America. This book also includes information about the life and times of Miller, commentaries on each act, as well as questions and activities at the end of each chapter. The Last Frontier: Exploring The Afterlife And Transforming Our Fear Of Death ALWAYS wanted to know what happens after we die? Well, so did Julia Assante. In this book, she not only probes what happens after death but also looks into near death experiences as well as after-death communication. She brings together scholarly facts, religious theories and the personal accounts of people who claim to have touched the afterlife in some way. She even claims to offer ways – albeit not scientifically proven – to make contact with departed loved ones in an attempt to heal, overcome guilt and maybe even find out who gets to keep the house. The Body Language Of Dating CAN'T seem to snag the guy or girl of your dreams? Maybe the problem isn't your BO (although investing in deodorant has done no one harm) but the way you "read" your potential life partner. While everyone reacts differently in various situations, knowing how to read body language, especially when it comes to dating, could prove to be useful. The Body Language Of Dating begins with the basics, about anatomy and how various body parts of the two genders developed over time, and discusses communication differences, all backed by scientific studies and personal experiences. The book also offers practical tips that are explained with scenarios and explores conversation skills and dressing to impress. The Tombs THIS is the fourth book in the Fargo series featuring rich treasure hunting husband and wife team, Sam and Remi Fargo. They are roped into this latest adventure by an archeologist friend who asks them to help excavate a top secret historical site. They soon realise that they have in their hands clues to the location of Atilla The Hun's hidden tomb that is rumoured to be filled with gold and other valuable possessions. When there's this much treasure at stake, though, you just know that the bad guys are going to come out of the woodwork ... |
| Posted: 07 Mar 2013 10:42 PM PST A children's horror writer sits at the adult's table, with mixed results. Red Rain WHEN I was a kid, Goosebumps books were the coolest things ever. Yes, looking back, most of them were cheesy, and all adhered to a formula more predictable than a weather report from the South Pole. But I was absolutely enchanted by them. What 10-year-old 1990s kid in Malaysia wouldn't be? Their bright, colourful covers, with "Goosebumps" written in an awesome, blood-dripping font at the top and a creepy picture underneath. The kid-friendly writing. The stories which, honestly, were never that scary but were always entertaining all the way to the final page, where some incredible twist would occur. Yes, R.L. Stine, often called "the Stephen King of children's literature", was one of the teenage me's favourite writers. My childhood was vastly enriched by his captivating tales of monster blood, haunted masks, and evil ventriloquist dummies. I even tried my hand at R.L. Stine-esque fiction (oh God, why) and while the results may have been awful, it first got me interested in writing, and eventually shaped how I am today. You can see, therefore, why I was excited to read Red Rain, widely publicised as Stine's first adult novel. I wanted to like it. Honestly, I did. But I have to admit, I found myself disappointed with the book, mostly due to its weak writing and over predictability. Red Rain is the tale of travel blogger Lea Sutter, who finds herself caught in a deadly hurricane while exploring the mysterious island of Le Chat Noir. While struggling through the devastation, Lea discovers two boys, Daniel and Samuel, who she falls in love with and decides to adopt. But when she gets them home, it slowly becomes clear to Lea's husband Mark, and her two children Ira and Elena, that there is something supernatural about the twins. Possessing dark powers beyond imagination, Daniel and Samuel plan to "rule the school" – and woe betide anyone who stands in their way. What is most remarkable about the plot is how unremarkable it is. How many times have we seen horror stories about creepy children who are more than they seem? Stine's novel, sadly, offers nothing new to the genre. Daniel and Samuel also come across as more annoying than frightening most of the time, and their accents (which seem to be some strange Caribbean-Scottish sounding mix) are amusing at first but slowly become grating. Stine's writing is competent, although his dialogue occasionally feels stilted or unnatural. Goosebumps fans may feel a tinge of nostalgia, as much of the novel is written in a style similar to his bestselling book series, complete with his trademark twist ending. Red Rain's characters are generally unremarkable, with the only interesting character being Pavano, a troubled police officer who finds himself drawn into the investigation. Another character I liked was Harrison, a medical officer with a twisted sense of humour; sadly, however, he only appeared in one chapter. For those wondering about how "adult" Stine's adult novel is: there is some sex and lots of violence. Red Rain is heavy on gore, with one particularly memorable chapter depicting a gruesome discovery in a vehicle outside the Sutters' house. Unfortunately, most of the over-the-top violence seems gratuitous, almost as if Stine was trying to prove himself, the literary equivalent of the former child star turning to sexually charged roles hoping to cement a transition to "serious films". Of course, Red Rain also has its good points. There are some genuinely creepy parts, and one particular twist, revolving around the true nature of Revenir, a disturbing ritual carried out on Le Chat le Noir, is cleverly developed. Indeed, Stine's novel is most effective when it moves away from the standard horror cliché of creepy children and focuses on one of its more adult themes: the breakdown of a family. Through Red Rain, Stine explores the nature of parenting, mostly through a subplot involving Kids Will Be Kids, a controversial parenting book written by Mark. How far do you go when supervising your children? Where do you draw the line between innocent play and unhealthy behaviour? Another inspired touch is the twins using their supernatural powers to influence the town's children, changing their personalities and causing them to act out against authority. This metaphor for peer pressure is cleverly explored and executed well. All in all, maybe Stine is not entirely ready for the grownups table yet. I had hoped Red Rain would take me by storm but it turned out to be more of a drizzle. Stine has always been a good storyteller, though, so I hope to enjoy his next adult novel more than I enjoyed this one. In the meantime, however, I will take a walk down memory lane and dig up my favourite Goosebumps. I don't suppose anyone out there has a copy of Say Cheese And Die, do they? I recall it being one of my favourites. What was yours? |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan