Reviews

  Reviewed by Angela Marie Is it Christmas? It must be because The Japanese Larder by Luiz Hara is a gift. Long-awaited by this lover of (eating) Japanese food. Is there another cuisine that balances so exquisitely appearance and taste? You are delighted by your dish before tasting and take a (scant) moment to appreciate the presentation

The Librarian of Auschwitz Reviewed by Ian Lipke This book has an interesting history. The subject of the book Dita Kraus tells its readers of the request that came via her internet address from the Spanish author Antonio Iturbe for details about the books on the children’s block in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Correspondence followed

  Reviewed by Angela Marie Shaun Tan has a rare talent; in reality, many rare talents. Most obviously he is a superb artist and illustrator. Within his works, as we take in the page, our eyes are drawn to the essence of the illustration, whether this be to focus on a point of colour or

Reviewed by Angela Marie “He knew that they weren’t all cruel people. It was the drink and the fact that they were anonymous, part of the gang, changed by the flickering light into one monstrous, shouting whole.” Welcome to Deltaness, a small Shetland community seemingly devoid of purpose, aside from the routines of work and

Reviewed by Clare Brook Dinosaur Roar! It has been twenty-five years since the first publication of Dinosaur Roar!  This large (28 cm x 25 cm) children’s book has been in print every year since 1994, so, unsurprisingly, is now hailed as a modern classic. In this celebratory edition the original artwork has been re-scanned, vibrant

Reviewed by Antonella Townsend No other building marries scale, convenience, usefulness, affordability and charm, in quite the same way as this humble little outbuilding. In the early twentieth century Virginia Woolf popularized the idea that every women should have a room of her own, now it seems the idea has taken off – with style!  

Reviewed by Ian Lipke Making up my mind just where to begin an analysis of this book was a challenge. It is the first book in a new series, it has a setting that reeks privilege with school characters who have long lost touch with the ordinary man in the street, it has an obnoxious

  Reviewed by Angela Marie      “I love this city. Built upon the ruins of the past, every square foot of it has been used, re-used, flattened, bombed, dismantled, rebuilt and flattened again until the layers of history are like sediments of rock that one day will be picked over by future archaeologists and

Reviewed by Wendy Lipke The Review section of The Times in September 2018 had the heading: Review: A Keeper by Graham Norton — a celebrity who can actually write. So who is this celebrity and why this statement? Graham Norton (born Graham William Walker) is a well-known Irish television and radio presenter, comedian and actor

Reviewed by Rod McLary It is now almost 231 years since the First Fleet sailed into what is now known as Sydney Harbour on 26 January 1788 to claim the east coast of New Holland for Great Britain – and to establish a penal colony to take the overflow from the British penal system. The

Reviewed by Ian Lipke The editors of this book have generated a hard cover, handsome publication of 200-odd pages that is fit to grace the shelves of prince or pauper. It sports a dust cover featuring Christina’s likeness while the text in five chapters appears on very high quality paper supported by lush coloured photographs,