28.6.12

Book Review: The Boy in the River by Richard Hoskins

On 21 September 2001, the mutilated torso of a small child was found floating beside London's Tower Bridge, one tide away from being swept into the North Sea.
Unable to identify the victim, the Murder Squad turned to Richard Hoskins, a young professor of theology with a profound understanding of African tribal ritual and religion. , whose own past was scarred by a heartbreaking tragedy. Thus began a journey into the tangled undergrowth of one of the most notorious murder cases of recent years; a case which would reveal the horrific truth that innocent children are being ritually sacrificed in our capital city.
Insightful and grippingly written, The Boy in the River is an inside account of a series of extraordinary criminal investigations and a compelling personal quest into the dark heart of humanity. 
I bought this book after seeing Richard Hoskins being interviewed on This Moning, I am so glad that I did because The Boy in the River is a fascinating read.
I really appreciated how Richard Hoskins approaches his subject matter. He jumps between the investigations that he worked on ans his past personal experiences in Africa. He is brutally honest about what he witnessed and how it affected him and I think that it was this honesty that really touched me as a reader.
The Boy in the River does not make for comfortable reading especially as you know it is non-fiction. Hoskins describes scenes of child torture and the barbaric methods used plus the rituals and reasoning behind them. I felt terribly sad and disappointed and also extremely helpless that such atrocities are taking place in our capital city.
As I said, Hoskins is honest throughout the book and I was surprised at how non-judgemental he was. He describes African traditions and some of the religious beliefs behind child sacrifice and exorcism without bias. It is clear that he does not agree with the actions but he is trying to explain to the reader how they came about rather than criticising.
The Boy in the River gives you so much to think about. It made me question how I would react in certain situations and it also made me think about organised religion and the ways in which it can inform people's lives. The boy in the river suffered a terrible ordeal and untimely death; were his killers evil or did they truly believe that they were right to take his life in order to achieve something for themselves?
Richard Hoskins's writing is extremely accessible and I felt as though I learnt a lot. I was also left with many questions to consider but personally I think that is the sign of a good book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

23.6.12

Book Review: The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

On a summer's day in 1922, Cora Carlisle boards a train from Wichita, Kansas to New York City, leaving behind a marriage that's not as perfect as it seems and a past that she buried long ago. She is charged with the care of a stunning young girl with a jet-black fringe and eyes wild and wise beyond her fifteen years.  This girl is hungry for stardom, and Cora for something she doesn't yet know. Cora will be many things in her lifetime- an orphan, a mother, a wife, a mistress- but in New York she is a chaperone and her life is about to change.
It is here under the bright lights of Broadway, in a time when prohibition reigns and speakeasies with their forbidden whispers behind closed doors thrive, that Cora finds what she has been searching for. It is here, in a time when illicit thrills and daring glamour sizzle beneath the laws of propriety that her life truly begins. It is here that Cora and her charge, Louise Brooks, take their first steps towards their dreams. 
Laura Moriarty has written an extremely interesting book. The Chaperone is the story of Cora Carlisle who is charged with being a chaperone to Louise Brooks as she enrolls in a dance studio in New York. Laura Moriarty's books is fictional , however Louise Brooks was a real person, a famous silent movie actress who led a very dramatic life on and off screen.
The Chaperone is set in the 1920's and I loved how Moriarty really captured the feeling of change. Cora is the main character and she is taken out of a small town in Kansas and thrust into glamorous New York. Her perception, morals and values are constantly challenged and not just by Louise, but by the world around her.
Cora has another reason for visiting New York. As a young girl she was adopted and New York holds the key to the secrets of her past. What will she discover and will she ever be able to return to her old life after having her eyes thoroughly opened?
Laura Moriarty's writing is superb, she creates such vivid images in your mind and the pace of the book was excellent. The Chaperone is only 366 pages long but Moriarty packs so much in; racism, prohibition, sex, lies, love, loyalty and betrayal. If you like extremely well written historical fiction or if you are just after a really good story then have a look at The Chaperone, it is an excellent read.

Dot Scribbles Rating 4/5

Many thanks to Penguin for sending me a copy of the book to review, The Chaperone is out now.

19.6.12

Book Review: Recipe for Love by Sasha Wagstaff

Summer in a luxurious villa in Sorrento and a rare interview with an amazing Italian chef should be a taste of heaven shouldn't it? For Cassia Marini it looks more like being a recipe for disaster...
Cassia should be excited about her trip to Italy, Rocco Disanti is one of Italy's most talented chefs, and the trip gives her the opportunity to research her own Italian heritage. But she's in the midst of her own wedding plans and handing this over to a frosty mother-in-law doesn't seem like the greatest idea. It gets worse as she arrives and realises that Rocco is less than thrilled about the interview, her summer break in Sorrento is looking less than promising. But maybe the unlikely ingredients of a hint of romance, a chance to find out more about her past and space from her own relationship, will combine to make an altogether more convincing dish!
I have really enjoyed Sasha Wagstaff's previous books so I was excited to receive her latest one, Recipe for Love. Sasha did not disappoint, Recipe for Love is a great read and would base the perfect book to take on holiday. The vast majority of the book is set in beautiful Sorrento. I went on holiday there myself a few years ago and it is the perfect location to set a book like this; glamorous, beautiful and very romantic.
Cassia Marini is passionate about food and is highly respected as a writer for Sumptuous magazine. Her latest assignment is to shadow Rocco Disanti, chef extraordinaire at his family's estate in Sorrento. It will also give Cassia the chance to look into her dead father's past; he was Italian and adopted but never got the chance to discover the identity of his birth parents. Spending the summer in Sorrento would be perfect but the problem is that Cassia has just got engaged to Finn and going away means leaving the wedding planning to her awful mother-in-law. The other problem, which Cassia is less than happy to admit is that she thinks that being away from Finn might be a good thing as it will test whether she is making the right decision or not but what happens if absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder?
Sasha Wagstaff packs so much into her books and they are always highly glamorous from start to finish. Recipe for Love has romance, lust, family secrets, passion, lies, curses and of course lots of lovely food. I loved that aspect of the book but I have to say that it made me very hungry when reading it!
Cassia is a really good character and I enjoyed her interactions with Rocco Disanti. My other favourite character was Diana, Carissia's mother. She is a successful actress struggling to come to terms with getting older plus protecting her daughters from past events that she she has tried to shelter them from.
I apologise if this review is a little scatty but there was so much that I enjoyed about this book. Sasha Wagstaff has a knack of grabbing your attention at the beginning and then continuing to hold it with a fast paced story full of plot twists and turns.
I would recommend any of Sasha Wagstaff's books, they are pure escapism.

Dot Scribbles Rating 4/5

Many thanks to Headline Review for sending me a copy of the book to review, Recipe for Love is out now!

13.6.12

New to Dot Scribbles Shelves

I have once again received some great books recently! Here's just a few, as usual, let me know your thoughts good or bad!

Love Virtually by Daniel Glattauer (Quercus, 21st June) While trying to cancel her subscription to a magazine, Emmi e-mails Leo by mistake. A few brief exchanges are all it takes to spark a mutual interest, and soon they are sharing their innermost secrets, desires and passions. It seems only a matter of time before they will meet in person. But they keep putting off the moment and after all, Emma is happily married...
I really like the sound of this and it was read on Radio 4 recently with David Tenant and Emilia Fox!


The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (Simon and Schuster) Meet Julia, an ordinary teenager living through extraordinary times. A time when the future became a thing of the past. One morning Julia and her parents wake up in their modest suburban home in California to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth is noticeably slowing. The enormity of this development is almost beyond comprehension. Some panic and try to flee but there is literally no where on Earth to escape to. Noticeable changes begin to occur. The birds start to fall from the sky. The whales become beached on the sand. The astronauts are stranded in space. And yet, even with the world appearing to come to an end, day-to-day life must go on. Julia, an eleven year old girl, experiencing the loneliness and despair of an awkward adolescence, witnesses and documents the impact of this phenomenon on the world, on the community, on her family and on herself.
This sounds so good, really looking forward to it.

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan (Canongate) For two centuries Jacob Marlowe has wondered the world, enslaved by his lunatic appetites and tormented by the memory of his first and most monstrous crime. Now, the last of his kind, he knows he can't go on. But as Jake counts down to suicide, a violent murder and an extraordinary meeting plunge him straight back into the desperate pursuit of life.
I read a review for this over at the wonderful Savidge Reads and thought it sounded brilliant!

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt (Piatkus, 26th June) When society widow Lady Isabel Beckinall, becomes involved with the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children, she soon clashes with its manager, Winter Makepeace, whom she finds severely monastic, terribly solemn...and quite distractingly intriguing. And Winter does have a secret: at night he transforms into the masked avenger, the Ghost of St Giles. After the infamous Ghost of St Giles is wounded while rescuing a notorious pirate from the gallows, Isabel has no choice but to hide him from a raging mob, though she doesn't discover his identity. Winter-for his part- is haunted by this glimpse of the tender- and sensuous- side of Lady Beckinall, though he knows that they are far too apart socially ever to be together. But when a relentless dragoon captain begins hunting the Ghost of St Giles, Winter must decide if he can trust his secret, his life- and his heart- to Isabel's hands?
I think this sounds very good and I haven't read any historical fiction for ages.

A Humble Companion by Laurie Graham (Quercus, 14th June) Meet Nellie Welche- companion to royalty and keeper of secrets... Nellie Welch is the daughter of a high-ranking steward in the household of Prinnie, Prince of Wales. In 1788, at the age of twelve, she's proposed as a suitably humble companion to Princess Sophia, one of George III's enourmous brood of children. Nellie and Sofy become friends for life. From the first rumblings of revolution in France to the exciting, modern times of gas light and steam trains, from poor mad George to safe and steady Victoria, Nellie is the sharp-penned narrator of a changing world and the unchanging, cloistered lives if of Princess Sofy and her sisters. Nellie proves to be a more hawk-eyed witness than a Humble Companion, as her memoir lifts the lid on the House of Hanover's secrets and lies.
This book says that it is for lovers of Jane Austen so hopefully it will be perfect for me! 

7.6.12

Book Review: Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

When Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged entrepreneur Christian Grey, it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably.
Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy, and being together poses challenges neither of them had anticipated. Ana must learn to share Grey's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity or independence and Grey must overcome his compulsion to control and lay to rest the horrors that still haunt him.
Now, finally together, they have love, passion, intimacy, wealth and a world of infinite possibilities. But just when it seems that they really do have it all, misfortune and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true...
I began Fifty Shades Freed feeling a little sad as I knew that I wouldn't want Ana and Christian's story to end. Fifty Shades Darker is definitely my favourite of the trilogy but Fifty Shades Freed finished the story off brilliantly.
Ana and Christian are starting a new life as newlyweds and this means really getting to know each other. Ana has to get used to having extreme wealth and the lifestyle that affords them. Meanwhile Christian has to curb his controlling behaviour; he fell in love with Ana's headstrong and independent nature so he needs to learn to love her without suffocating her.
Added to this is a serious threat to both of them. Christian's helicopter was sabotaged in the last book and Fifty Shades Freed begins with an arson attack on Christian's offices. Who is out to hurt them and how will Christian ever keep Ana safe?
This book explores even further how the relationship between Christian and Ana develops. They love each other so much but they still have a huge amount to learn and share.
E.L. James has created a terrific trilogy and one I know that I will read again and again. I think that the author has created two fantastic characters and as a reader you just want to know more and more about them. I appreciate that these books might not be to everyone's taste, however if you strip everything back what you have is a wonderful and completely absorbing love story and what could be better than that?

Dot Scribbles Rating 4/5

Many thanks to the lovely people at Random House for sending me a copy of the book to complete my Christian Grey addiction!

6.6.12

Carole Matthews Competition Winner

I put all of the names into a mixing bowl this morning and asked Dr S to pick a winner of Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews and the name picked was...

Congratulations Nadia! Can you please email me or DM me on Twitter with your postal address and I can get the book out to you. Thanks to everyone who entered, there will be more give aways soon!!

3.6.12

Recipe Book Review: Bake and Decorate by Fiona Cairns

Baking has never been more popular. And if you thought cake decorating was costly and difficult, then this book will change your mind forever. Fiona Cairns is bursting with new ideas for making delicious, beautiful cakes and biscuits easy, even for the novice cook, and for much less money than you thought. Choose from more than 30 delicious recipes for large cakes, small cakes and biscuits in the first part- BAKE- and over 50 fabulous decoration schemes formed from them in the second- decorate.
Dazzle and indulge your friends with modern, magnificent treats, that taste divine, using very simple decorating secrets to create impressive cakes that possess great warmth and charm. Here, finally, is the baking book where every recipe is a keeper and each stunning creation made easy to achieve. 

Fiona Cairns has become even more well known recently after creating William and Kate's wedding cake. Bake and Decorate is her book from 2010 and I think it is simply stunning.
I love Fiona Cairn's approach to baking; in her introduction she says: 'Baking and eating cakes and biscuits is all about home, comfort, pleasure and luxury.' I couldn't agree more, sometimes you want something simple and comforting and other times you want to bake something a little more decadent, this book covers all areas.
At the beginning of the book there are two pages of baking and decorating tips. These are extremely useful and range from advice about colouring sugar paste, hiding flaws and disaster management. Fiona Cairns is reassuring throughout the book and offers ways of making each project as simple as possible.
There are some gorgeous recipes in this book; a few of my favourites are the battenburg cake which was a lot easier than I ever thought it would be and one of my childhood favourites. The surprise fridge cake is so tasty and always a crowd pleaser and the classic shortbread is perfect each time.
Each recipe is accompanied by a picture of either the finished product or the recipe in progress. The recipes themselves are clear, precise and easy to follow. The decorating part of the book is split into three sections; big cakes, small cakes and biscuits. Fiona refers you back to the recipe in the bake section and then details the decorating process. Some of the decorating ideas are very precise but many of them can be easily adapted to suit different occasions.
I love baking but I definitely lack confidence when it comes to decorating. This book has really helped as it is so accessible and the results are achievable without a huge amount of practice. Bake and Decorate will be sitting on my shelf for many years to come; I have been very pleased with what I have made so far but I am really looking forward to trying more of Fiona Cairn's ideas.


Dot Scribbles Rating 4/5

All change here!

I have made the decision to stop doing written reviews on here for a little while. I shall keep this page open but for the time being I sha...