Act of Oblivion is upmarket historical fiction at its best. Harris has taken an interesting event from the past, used real historical characters who disappeared from the record and made up others, to craft a story that is gripping and thought provoking. Edward Whalley and William Goffe were real officers for the Cromwell side during theContinue reading “Book Review: Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris”
Category Archives: Tea Things
The Storm by Arif Anwar
The Storm is a beautifully woven tale that skips across time and geography to bring the reader into the life of Shar, a Ph.D student and policy wonk who has overstayed his student visa in the United States. Things are complicated. He has a daughter, but he is not married to her mother. If heContinue reading “The Storm by Arif Anwar”
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Fall is a time for Apple everything! This month enjoy a dark and slightly disturbing Academic thriller with a steaming hunk of Apple Up-Side-Down Ginger Cake and a cup of tea. There isn’t a lot left to say about this book. It was first published in 1992, and I have had it in my TBRContinue reading “The Secret History by Donna Tartt”
Make your own Tea Cozy
Tea Cozies can be hard to find on this side of the pond. Why not make your own, it isn’t too hard and you can make it as simple or as fancy as you wish. I made this one for my mother-in-law out of an old remnant that she liked from an estate sale. IContinue reading “Make your own Tea Cozy”
Tea Time Treat: Chocolate Loaf Cake
About a year ago, I embarked on a project to adapt a beautifully illustrated but dreadfully written cookbook, Maison Kayser’s French Pastry Workshop: a Step-by-Step Guide. You can read my review and those of many other disappointed home cooks, on GoodReads. Basically, the ingredient lists are a joke, containing things like, “1 ½ cups +Continue reading “Tea Time Treat: Chocolate Loaf Cake”
Why Loose Leaf Tea Matters…
If you love tea, you might wonder, what’s the big deal? Here it is in a nutshell: Loose leaf tea is generally a higher quality–they save the bits and ends to put in bags, so using loose leaf gives you a better flavor. If you don’t want to use a strainer, try getting a teaContinue reading “Why Loose Leaf Tea Matters…”
Need a tea time treat? Try this…
Tea Brack made from the recipe at King Arthur Flour, here. The only changes I made to the recipe were to add lemon zest from one lemon and use Jack Daniels Tennessee Apple Whiskey instead of Irish Whiskey. It’s delicious and a wonderful addition to your afternoon tea. The Harney & Sons Paris Tea fromContinue reading “Need a tea time treat? Try this…”
Welcome to Readerly!
There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. — Henry James If you enjoy the company of a great book with a cuppa, you have come to the right place. Having spent some time on a book selection committee, I have learned that life isContinue reading “Welcome to Readerly!”