Matthew Fort

Advantages: a good read aside from the recipes.
Disadvantages: I dont work there (boo hoo!)

..."Recipes per se are tedious stuff...Cooking and eating only become interesting when they intersect the human experience" Together Mathew Fort(writer for the guardian) and Paul Heathcote(northen chef of grand caliber)have recognised and enbraced this as the truth and in turn produced more than just a recipe book. Spending a year with the staff and patrons of Paul Heathcotes Resturant in Longridge Lancashire,Mathew fort gives us an insight into the day to day life of the resturant.We are taken through the year season by season. Starting with spring we're introduced to Paul,his style of food and then his veg supplier Eddie Holmes and the Duck man Reg Johnson.After these comes ther is a small recipe section on seasonal spring recipes like holandaise and chicken soup or the sublime sounding baked egg custard(sented with rosewater... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Incredible tales in here, very witty
Disadvantages: Style can lose some people

...Most people have never heard of Charles Hoy Fort. But he laid the foundations for something which we all like to dabble in now and then. This is Forts fourth book, and concerns the supernatural powers of people. This ranges from telekinesis to telepathy, fire- starters to levitators, and all the other bizarre wonders people can create. Fort collected notes on these 'wild talents', and this book is the product. People who can start fires with their minds, or with their breath. People who can swallow molten lead, and hold red hot pokers with no pain. Stigmatics, who show the wounds of Christ. These and moer are discussed in WT. The books also tells of other 'Fortean' phenomena- that is, phenomena investigated by Fort- such as ghosts, strange lights in the sky, fishfalls, fairies and little men and the countless other wonders which befoul... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Sympathetic characters,interesting story
Disadvantages: The ending is possibly a bit predictable

...Catherine Cookson is, of course, one of our best-known and best-loved authors. I have enjoyed many of her books, and “A House Divided” did not fail to please. The novel centres on Capt.Matthew Wallingham, who is blinded during the last days of the Second World War.He returns home to his wealthy family, but it is not a happy homecoming. His father is ill, his mother very unhappy and his younger brother, Rodney, resents having Matthew around. Matthew’s only ally is his strong-willed gtandmother. Also, Matthew cannot forget Liz, the nurse who cared for him in hospital, and knows that he is in love with her…but could she love a blind man…or is it just pity she feels for him? Liz breaks off her engagement to be with Matthew, with devastating results. And then, the rivalry between Matthew and his brother Rodney, sharpened by Liz’s presence... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful