Customer Comments

Of all the sci-fi I've read recently, this is the most unique in its vision and one of the most thought-provoking. A little like Philip D Dick meets Margaret Atwood, with a little early William Gibson thrown in, this steam-punk meets cyber-punk dystopic vision still haunts me.

A fascinating blend of social, political and economic history with a bit of fashion and below-stairs gossip thrown in, this is a highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable account of England on the brink during one hot, long summer. Those of us who live in Portland may never have known such a sultry time, but 1911 was a time of social and political unrest that cut across all strata of society - and these Edwardians could barely guess at the horrors of World War I that were looming just around the corner. Told through the eyes of young debutantes, society mavens, a new queen, and even a young Winston Churchill, this is summer reading that will still engage the brain.

This is a very pretty book - lovely design, gorgeous photographs. If, however, you are actually looking for a book to bake from, this is not your book. After going on about how "less is more" Meg Ray then includes recipes that are ludicrously large (she claims they can't be cut down). So, if you want to look at the pictures, by all means, go ahead. If however you don't want to bake 12 dozen chocolate chip cookies, I'd suggest moving on to a book more suited to the home baker.

Part Neuromancer, part BladeRunner, part Oryx and Crake, this is a wonderfully interesting and unique on a not-too-distant future. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, you'll love this. I couldn't put it down.

even a year later, this is the first cookbook I reach for when I want to make something seasonal and wonderful as a dessert. The gingered pear and raspberry pandowdy is the most-requested dish in our house! It actually makes me excited to watch the seasons turn because I know that this book will get me inspired about what to cook and how to entertain.

Thinking back over which books have really made an impression, I think no book scared me so completely or reflected so well the fears, horrors, hopes and fascinations of living at the beginning of the 21st century.

What a disappointing book. I read the reviews online and was so eager to get and cook from it - only to find out that the recipes are, in fact, very meat heavy. The title is completely misleading - in fact, the book should be titled almost veggie-less. Perhaps for middle America, this book actually does represent some sort of shift in thinking about food and the centrality of meat, but for those of us fortunate enough to live in a city with excellent vegetarian and vegan cuisine, this book just doesn't even come close.

Kate Atkinson does it again - this smart, savvy novel -part mystery, part coming-of-age story, part love story is at times poignant, at times laugh out loud funny - always with Atkinson's sharp British wit and excellent eye for character - another great chapter in the story of Jackson Brodie. If you liked Case Histories or One Good Turn, you'll love this one - maybe the best of the bunch.

What a wonderful collection - what's great is the depth and breadth of it - there are old favorites, if you love food writing, like MFK Fisher, but there are other folks too, who you aren't going to find in your average collection of food essays, but who you'll be glad to read. Literally, something for everyone - so buy it in hardback and enjoy it for a long, long while.