some people don't seem to understand...

Haha, this book seems to have spilt all the reviewers in half. But people don't seem to understand, Delia and every other cook/nutritionist want you to make the healthiest possible food from scratch, but they understand that with modern day living people don't always have time. So isn't it better to 'cheat' than to buy a ready meal? If you watch the video then you'll see that delia states who this cookbook is for. Real cooks won't need this book, but real people will.<br /><br />The question is how good are the recipes?

Lovely, and Effortlessly powerful.

I have been a fan of Marian Keyes since I picked up a copy of 'The Other Side of the Story' that someone had left lying around, and couldn't ever put it back down. (Not as bad as it sounds- was at school and obtained permission to keep it.) As the books have gone on, they have certainly become darker in some ways; I cried when reading 'Anybody Out There', and this newest book has its dark notes. But at the same time it is perfectly balanced with humour and hope. The end is beautiful, both at the same time wonderfully hopeful and happy, and yet tinged with the knowledge that not everything can be perfect. Marian Keyes goes from strength to strength, and this book is possibly one of the best in an outstanding set of books.

Count your blessings.

This is a wonderful book that took me on an emotional journey.<br />It tells a story of two very young women with different upbringings, dealing with the loss of loved ones and being left alone and vunerable in a country in the midst of a war.<br />It is a heartbreaking story with only brief glimpses of happiness, but the womens devotion to each other make this a must read book.<br />I have been waking up earlier in the morning before work just to read it!<br /><br /><br /><br />

A superb novel-it worries itself back into the mind

I thought A Quiet Belief In Angels was a suberb, atmospheric and gripping novel. Told in the first person by Joseph Vaughan, we see him grow up from a talented but tortured childhood into an even more troubled adulthood. Although one can view the book as a whodunnit, it offers far more than that genre can, and concerns the effects of the series of murders on many other characters' lives. I could not put this novel down and yet I didn't want it to end!

I love this book!

I love this book! I like the fact it is not the same as every other bestseller! I particulary like interesting and original layout of the book including the notes. I disagree that they are a tedious addition slowing reading down, they are thinking points and are important to what you take away from the story. But then I see reading a book as an enjoyable adventure - not a race! I love the style of writing and clever use of words and will definately re-read this book, something I rarely enjoy a book enough to do , and I think I will pick up something new with each reading. An excellent book well worth the money and deserving of 5 stars plus.

Wonderful Short Story

This book is set around 35 years before the events depicted in His Dark Materials. It gives us a wonderful background of Lee Scoresby, the aeronaut Lyra meets in Northern Lights. In this new story a young Lee sets out to find adventure after a fortuitous win at poker finds him the proud owner of a balloon.<br /><br />The fact that Lee is greatly under-prepared for flying a balloon adds to the excitement and amusement of how the tale unfolds. It also is the predominant reason for his crash landing into the middle of a confrontation between a Dutch sea-captain and a mining company! Never one to easily be distressed, Lee leaps into the thick of things. The story has all the essential elements of 'good' versus 'evil', as do all of the Pullman books, but it is far from repetitive.<br /><br />For those who enjoyed the trilogy that this prequels I think you will be very interested in this short story. The echoes that resound between this and some of the events in His Dark Materials merely add to the charm of it. The good thing is that there is plenty of scope for other tales to be woven, as Pullman has many other characters that could be explored equally well.<br /><br />My only criticism is that it is too short! Other than that it is a fantastic prequel to the trilogy of His Dark Materials, and this edition is beautifully decorated. The fold-out board game is a nice extra, as are the elegant illustrations. A truly adorable little book! If you are a fan of His Dark Materials, I highly recommend adding this to your collection.

The Good Life Starts Here!

Having watched the excellent and informative TV series I decided to part with my cash and buy the book of the series.<br /><br />I have not been disappointed, the dishes I have tried taste wonderful, in particular potatoes and onions roasted in half a bottle of balsamic vinegar! Awesome!<br /><br />The combination of grow it then cook it works well.<br /><br />This is one of the most honest, unpretentious"celebrity" cook books you could find, full of easy recipes bursting with flavour.<br /><br />The book would make an excellent present to both an experienced cook and novice alike.<br /><br />Absolutly superb.<br /><br />The only drawback, I now want an oven in the garden!

Lacking small details

All this guide seems to have is a main mission walkthrough and a few handy maps at the back. Which is great, but I feel it should contain more.<br />I would've like to see a complete vehicle list and good locations to find them. <br />The profiles on the main characters are a bit thin on details.<br />There are no maps showing the locations of the 'Easter Eggs' (Heart of Liberty City etc.) and secret details.<br />I do like the mini guides to help you find all the stunts and flying rats though.<br />On the whole a good purchase, but it seems to have been rushed through to come out in time with the game.<br />I bet Prima could've have done better.

Brilliant

Just finsished reading this book today, and all i can say is its fantastic!!!! Loved it loved it loved it!<br /><br />If you are looking for a good read then get this book!

A gripping read - but annoyingly error-strewn

I think this is a big improvement over 'Sovereign', which I found very laboured. <br />There's no doubt this is a gripping read, even though it's a rather improbable Tudor serial killer story. Once again, it was also pretty easy to work out mid-way through whodunnit - think Mr Sansom needs to get a bit better at keeping us guessing, but this doesn't detract from the read overall. You certainly want to get to the end, and the characters are generally well drawn and involving.<br />What's really annoying is that the anachronisms and silly errors persist from the earlier books in the series.<br />At one point, Shardlake (the hero) describes the killer as 'a sadist'. How can a Tudor person 250 years before de Sade, possibly use the term 'a sadist'? It just spoils the otherwise generally authentic flavour.<br />Someone else (Sir Thomas Seymour, a rather pantomimic figure) describes the type of young man he favours in his household as 'sporty'. This is just so comically Blackadderish ('well, young Bob, you're a sporty young feller and no mistake') that it screams inauthenticity. <br />These occasional gaffes take the shine off what should otherwise be a well written novel.<br />Worse still are major plot bungles: at one point, the killer is nearly apprehended and has to abandon something - a very large item - I won't spoil it by saying what - in the street. And yet several chapters later, when the killer's lair is eventually found, said large item is found there. How? <br />Seems the author forgot the killer had already legged it and abandoned the item concerned in the street several chapters earlier.<br />There were similar boo-boos in the previous books. Are these down to the author, or to lazy, over-hasty editing? <br />Or are these books, clearly commercially successful, just getting churned out a little too fast?<br />It's a shame, because these could be great books. As it is, they're are undeniably enjoyable, but spoiled by odd little mistakes and a lack of attention to detail. A good read nonetheless, but I wish Mr Sansom's editor would raise his or her game a bit.

Colourful Fun with Pants and Aliens what could be better???

This book is great fun suits boys and girls and great for reading aloud!!! The artwork is fantastic - a real classic kids book, and with reference to pants this is always going to be a winner!!!

Truly Inspirational

I really enjoyed reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Bringing awareness to my own life, I could see how many of things Rhonda writes about has happened to me. What stood out for me is the very first chapter. It is summed up on page 25 in Secret Summaries."Your current thoughts are creating your future life. What you think about the most or focus on the most most will appear as your life. I can see that when I believe I can do something I do and when I think I can't I don't.<br /><br />The chapter, The Secret to Relationships, was also an eye opener. Dr John Gray says"You become the Solution for you" It was an eye opening idea that if my relationship isn't working the other person is not to blame and that I need to look at me. This brought to mind another book I've read and highly recommend:How To Create a Magical Relationship" Ariel & Shya's book is brilliantly written and guides the reader in how to have a Magical Relationship and how having a magical relationship is up to you and not your partner.<br /><br />Thinking of both these books makes me smile. I highly recommend them both!

superbly written book

a well written and touching story that kept the pages turning. I'm not going to go into the tale because you will already know the basic tale just give it a go !!

My first Ian McEwan

What an interesting read! As many of the reviews have said before, McEwan has handled this sensitive situation with a fantastic amount of understanding from both parties of the main characters points of view. A beautiful piece of writing but also an opportunity to relate this to our lives.

easy to understand one stop guide for your food and health concerns

This is probably the most useable book that Gillian McKeith has written so far. It is essentially a complete compendium that provides a thorough guide to the direct relationship between food and health, looking in detail at the effects we can have on our bodies and our general well being by taking some simple steps. Not only does the book lend itself to being a useful resource to dip into when you need to find out about a condition or illness, it is also immensly readable and has already expanded my knowledge on many areas I was not aware of. <br /><br />Be prepared though - if you are planning on just dipping in here or there, you may well be sucked into a whole new world and then find yourself clearing the store cupboards of the usual junk and hitting the shops to restock with far healthier alternatives. The advantage being this time you know why your buying certain foods and what the benefits are that will follow. <br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a one stop bible for all food and health issues - and that might just be most of us!<br />

If you love a `Full English Breakfast'

this is still the book for you......but if a `Herb Omelette with Cherry Tomatoes' is more your scene.......the good news is.....`Healthy Appetite - Recipes from the f Word' is unlikely to disappoint many!<br /><br />`After all, a big part of living a good life is the enjoyment of food' .... and you can't say fairer than that! <br /><br />Gordon isn't the first and he won't be the last to quote:-<br />`What you are is what you eat' or words to that effect...<br /><br />From the introduction:-<br /><br />`Healthy eating is a topic close to my heart.<br />I've been passionate about leaving a healthy lifestyle for many years now...<br /><br />Now let me clarify: this is not a diet book. <br />Those who know me know that I don't believe in faddy diets. <br />I do, however, believe that I can prepare and serve healthy food without jeopardising taste and flavour, or drastically changing my style of cooking. Whether it's an elegant dinner party or a simple mid-week supper, a few simple adjustments are all that's needed to make our favourite meals that bit more balanced...lower in fat and calories yet rich in energy-giving nutrients.<br />Choosing the right ingredients is the core of healthy eating. It's not just a matter of selecting the leanest cuts of meat and reducing the amount of fat we consume, it helps to know which ingredients are at their peak at any given time, both in terms of flavour and nutrition.........<br />When it comes to putting a healthy dish together, balance and moderation are key. It's not simply a matter of putting the right types of food on a plate. How the food is cooked and seasoned and how the whole menu comes together are just as important. <br />And I don't advocate cutting out butter and cream completely, just using a little here and there where it will really enhance the flavour of a dish....'<br /><br />An eye-catching book in its own right with bright lime green covers and white titling.....(if you would rather not have GR peeking out over the top of his leafy greens on the dust-jacket!).....opens to 256 high quality matt pages split over 9 chapters:- <br /><br />Healthy breakfast<br />Healthy brunch/lunch<br />Healthy working lunch<br />Healthy Sunday lunch<br />Healthy barbecues<br />Healthy suppers<br />Healthy kids<br />Healthy entertaining<br />Healthy desserts<br /><br />plus an introduction, which includes a `Healthy Cooking Techniques' section, a `Healthy Basics' section, finishing with a concise index and a page of acknowledgments.<br /><br />Over 125 recipes laid out in the familiar GR format as seen in his other best sellers, `Fast Food' and `Sunday Lunch', where this book follows on from. <br />The useful `5 ways with' sections are here, e.g. :-<br /><br />`Oats'<br />`Tomatoes'<br /><br />along with useful information sections, e.g.:-<br /><br />`Omega-3 boost' <br />`Avoid the bad fats'<br />`Getting the right balance'<br /><br />Each recipe is clearly laid out with the, the number of servings, a list of ingredients and the clearly presented method. <br />The majority have a photograph(s) and more often than not a useful note or two, e.g.:- <br /><br />`Melon and Berry Salad'<br />`Rich in Vitamin C to boost your immunity'<br /><br />There are a number of `on location' shots, also.<br /><br />A taste of the other recipes within:- <br /><br />Berry and yoghurt smoothie<br />Seeded honey loaf<br />Cod and tomato chowder<br />Smoked trout, orange and wild rocket salad<br />Spinach and goat's cheese soufflé<br />Spaghetti vongole<br />Borscht<br />Mango, avocado and smoked chicken salad<br />Roast chicken with baby vegetables<br />Sticky baked chicken drumsticks<br />Spicy beef curry<br />Venison pie with sweet potato topping<br />Glazed gammon with pineapple salsa<br />Lamb kebabs with peppers and tomatoes<br />Four cabbage coleslaw<br />Glazed ling with sweet `n' sour shallots<br />Steamed prawns with black bean sauce<br />Vietnamese beef and noodle soup<br />Braised pork with leeks and pak choi<br />Calves liver with caramelised onions<br />Penne primavera<br />Lunchbox dips and dunkers<br />Stir-fried duck in lettuce cups<br />Mixed fish sashimi<br />Pot-roast sirloin of beef with root vegetables<br />Vanilla pannacotta with blueberry sauce<br />Spiced apple cake<br />Pavlova with roasted rhubarb fool<br />Poached pears in mulled wine<br />Lime mousse<br />Chocolate mousse - `a lighter version of my cook-along recipe'<br /><br />My only criticism is that I do miss the quick reference recipe list at the front, but this is just habit from my very regular use of `Fast Food'!

amazing

i read the back of this book in shops... convinced it wasn't my type of thing (i'm not that into war etc). when the film came out and everyone wanted to go, i thought..... i need to read the book first. so i gave in and bought the book. i ended up having it finished in days.... the book is truly amazing. i adored every moment of it, the flow throughout keeps you begging for more! I actually learnt a lot through its content. I advise anyone to give it a try and i promise you will enjoy it. ps the film is good too.

Express Success!!

This book is a hit! I bought it when I was having guests for the week-end. I wanted to spend more time with my guests than time spent over a hot cooker. It worked, I prepared ahead where I could like Nigella's tip of storing your ready made pancake mix. My guests loved everything I made from the tasty Quesadillas Tortilla wrap Page 240 to the hugely popular Smoked salmon potato cakes page 198. with the exquisite Flourless Choc brownies page 51 and my absolute top favourite of Cherry cheesecake page 81. If I have any critisism, it would have to be the several pounds I piled on over the weekend. You do need to be aware that many of the recipes should carry a high fat warning. Right now, there's just time to make a Mocha choc smoothie whilst the TV adverts are on. Thats what I call an express success!!<br />P.S. Such was it's popularity that two of my friends have since made me order a book for themselves....Is nothing sacred?

Made me cry....

I bought this book after reading so many good reviews on this site. I couldn't even get through it without crying!!! That may have been an over-reaction but it really is a wonderful story and the illustrations are beautiful. Definitely my favourite book in my daughter's collection (and let's face it, it's just as important for the parents to love the kid's books as they're the ones reading them out loud every day of their lives!).