May Books

Due to having lack of internet for a few days I've read 5 books this month!

The Hairdresser of Harare as reviewed here.

The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff.  I loved her previous books - Kommandant's Girl, The Diplomat's Wife and A Hidden Affair.

The book is set in the past and present and jumps between the two.  Two American lawyers (who vaguely know each other) work together on the defence of a man accused of war crimes during WWII.  Roger, while at University lived with his brother Hans, who was working against the Nazis and his wife Magda who he falls in love with.  Magda and her daughter are arrested by the Gestapo and Roger has to choose between betraying his brother or saving the woman he loves.

I've not read a Joanna Trollope book in years but Daughters-in-Law was an easy enjoyable read.  It follows the main character, Rachel and how she copes when her beloved sons marry and her relationship with her daughters-in-law.  

Neal's Yard Remedies - a really interesting book on herbs and their history with recipes both edible and for the skin.  Lots of lovely pictures and advice.  Some recipes I want to try are - Lemon Balm and Rose Tea, Blackberry and Lime cordial, Rose Petal syrup, Four Fruits Power bars, Rose and Avocado Body Moisturiser, Cocoa Butter and Rose Body lotion, Cleansing Chamomile Hand scrub, Coconut and Lime Skin Oil, Honey and Rose Petal Face scrub, Apple and Cinnamon Face mask and Calendula and Mandarin Lip balm - they all sound good enough to eat!  There is also a chapter on growing your own herbs.

Spitalfields Life by the Gentle Author.  A fascinating read about people living and working in Spitalfields in London over the years.  The Gentle Author writes a blog and these stories in this book came from there.  The Gentle Author writes random stories about people he comes across.  For example, a 6th Generation Umbrella maker, Richard Lee a bicycle seller whose family has been trading from the same market stall off Brick Lane since 1880,  a fourth generation paper bag seller, a mudlark, to name a few.

What have you been reading this month?