Books

With him all interested in baking bread, I have a sudden urge to pick up baking cakes too! My cake baking experience is an embarrassment of the century. I’m mortified by my edible but slightly lumpy Oreo Cheesecake (I call it Chunky Cheesecake), slippery strawberry cheesecake (that never set and turned into yogurt once I removed the cake tin) and my recent fruit cake episode (which was all burnt on the top).

But I am still determined (at least for a short while) to try my hands on baking again!

After a quick research online through various forums and top cake recipe authors, I’ve a list of authors who are popular among cake bakers. The “+” means the number of people who said it is good in a forum I read. After I read the reviews in eBay, Amazon and a few others, these authors are mostly good. If there is 1 person who said it is bad, I will strike it off my list. So what’s left is here, some of them gave a specific book title that is good some just listed that the author is good.

I have top 4 books which I am really interested (which I have included the pictures) but I should check it out at Kino before buying them, some of the books are really old so I got to see if the language is easy to understand. Haha.

Nick Malgieri – Perfect Cakes (+ 5) Someone called him King of Cakes

Tish Boyle – The Cake Book (+ 4)

Dorie Greenspan (+3)

Carole Walter – Great cakes / Perfect cakes (+ 3)

Marcel Desaulniers – Desserts to Die for / Death by Chocolate (+ 2)

Maida Haetter (+ 2) The someone also called her the queen of cakes

James Mcnair (+ 1)

Rose Levy Beranbaum (+ 1) She wrote The Cake Bible which is well received by experience cake baker.

Anyone tried their recipes? Any other recommendations?

I love the fact that my office is so near everything! Including a library! During lunch I popped in and grabbed these two!

(1) A Vintage Affair. Isabel Wolff is well known in the chic flick readers but what really caught my eyes was the book cover! I’m half way through this book and so far it has been good! I love vintage and this book made me appreciates vintage even more! I think it’s really romantic to know that every piece of vintage has a story to tell and yes, I do wonder if the person wearing it was happy, married, or in love.

(2) How to be Married – by Polly Willams - was witty and oh so true! I picked this book immediately because Sophie Kinsella agree that it’s good! (Inferred from a note she wrote at the back of the book!) While reading this book, it makes me wonder if I really have to be the perfect wife (a little like the Stepford wife) to gain his attention and reduce the daily frustration! Even though the book ended with (spoiler alert!) the man telling his wife that he loves who she is (including all her mess and spontaneity), I think in reality, some man do love their wife to be just a little like the Stepford wife. Perhaps, just a little more domesticated. BOO!

You cannot imagine that in all the messiness in my life right now, I read a book in three days. I’m an escapist. Becky’s life with Minnie in tow makes my life seems all peaceful and chill. If I have a child like Minnie, I’m sure I’ll put a leash on her!

I read a lot of books recently! Even though he frowns upon these chick lit titles and would possibly throw them out when we move into our new place, I’ll stand guard my bookshelf fervently defending against his evil plans! HAHA. Here are some quick reviews of the titles!

Lipstick Jungle – Candace Bushnell

This book is better than 5th Avenue and Trading Up; and I’m eager to watch the TV series! I think my feminist self has shrunk in size over the years. All women in this novel are aggressive, competitive, powerful, and career minded; and they sounded like me or who I aimed to be a couple of years back! But because of these strengths, their married life suffered. I am reminded to strike a balance and to not lose focus in life!

The Wedding Girl – Madeleine Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella)

At the age of eighteen, Milly who was up for anything married a gay guy – Allan – so that he and his partner – Rupert – can stay in the country. Ten years later, Milly is a different person who is engaged to Simon – wealthy, serious and believes her to be perfect to complete his dream marriage. She hid her secret history well and has almost persuaded herself that it doesn’t exist – until, only four days before her wedding.

Sophie Kinsella is my favourite writer and I was thrilled to find her other works! All Kinsella fan will feel at home reading Wickham’s work! The intensity of finding out the truth behind her secret in the mist of planning for a lavish wedding is definitely a page turner!

The Gatecrasher – Madeleine Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella)

Fleur Daxeny is beautiful and utterly irresistible. She is tactical in sizing up her preys. She prowls at funerals to find wealthy men and she is no doubt a gold digger. This novel is predictable but I love how it ends. Everyone loves a happy ending unless you are a sadist of course.

Because She Can – Bridie Clark

If you love Devils Wear Prada, you will surely love this! The plot is yet again predictable but the way she writes excites me! I’m trying to find her other books but it seems like there is only 1 title under her name. If you have an evil boss, read this and you will either be (1), grateful that your boss does not call your home number or in the middle of the night, scream vulgarity at you, physically abuses you, and leave you feeling unappreciated every second you are in the company; or (2) gets a kick scolding the said boss (Vivian Boss) in pretence of scolding your own boss. HAH. Please don’t ask me which camp I belongs to.

I bought lipstick jungle from eBay! With $5 I got a book in good condition and I just saved a tree! Reduce, reuse, recycle!

The seller is sweet to wrap it up in a nice gift wrapper! It feels like a belated birthday present!

I realized I’ve been spending too much waking hour surfing and playing games on my phone. I’ve decided to pick up reading again and am glad I work near a public library! It is a great time passing place during lunch! Picked up two books from Madeleine Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella!) and another one by Birdie Clark!

This is on my To Buy List but I heard my sister is also interested in buying them! I shall wait. Hehe. I want The Carrie Diaries by Candance Bushnell too!