February 27, 2017

Book Review - 'Turkish flavours: recipes from a seaside café' By Sevtap Yuce


Written by Turkish chef, Sevtap Yuce, who grew up in Turkey and now lives and owns a restaurant in Australia, 'Turkish Flavours: recipes from a seaside café' consists of classic Turkish dishes with an inspired modern feel.



The book is organised into chapters according to dish type, and include chapters on Mezze and salads. The recipes are easy to read and simple to follow. The book also contains beautiful images of food that will make you want to start cooking right away.

You will find traditional dishes such as koftes, menemen and dolmades as well as yummy sweets such as baklava and yoghurt and olive oil cake. This is for anyone interested in Turkish cooking, or simply tasty food.

February 20, 2017

Book Review - 'The Lake' By Banana Yoshimoto


A novel of tender love and slow, unfurling mystery, Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto folds readers into the lives of Chihiro and Nakajima.
The Lake is narrated by Chihiro, a painter who was born out of wedlock and raised by her unorthodox parents in a small country town. When her mother dies, Chihiro moves to the city. It is here that she meets Nakajima, her neighbour.  The novel courses the two as they fall in love, however Nakajima hides a secret—a secret that Chihiro needs to know if they want to continue their relationship.
 
 

Yoshimoto’s characters are vivid and nuanced, and the prose is strong in its observant nature, for instance, “Of course, it’s true that sometimes the pink at sunrise somehow seems brighter than the pink at sunset, and that when you’re feeling down the landscape seems darker too – you see things through the filter of your own sensibility. But the things themselves, out there, they don’t change.”
For a relatively short novel there is a great sense of emotional depth at play here.
 

February 13, 2017

Book Review - A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled By Ruby Wax

'A wonderful book full of passion, verve and humor'
Mark Williams, author of Mindfulness : A practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World.

Ruby Wax is a comedian and TV writer who holds a Master's degree in Mindfulness- based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University. She has recently been awarded an OBE for services to mental health.

Outrageously witty, Ruby Wax gives out mindfulness advice about relationships, for parents, children and teenagers. A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled contains a six week course based on her studies of Mindfulness- based Cognitive Therapy with Mark Williams at Oxford University. Containing nine chapters and filled with humor, a great read. Anne

February 06, 2017

Book Review - You got this : Unleash your awesomeness, find your path, and change your world By Maya S Penn

"Discover the magic inside you. Read this book!"
Gabrielle Bernstein

You got this! Addresses questions we all have at times in our life like-
What will I do with my Life?
What makes me unique?
Can one person really change the world?



Maya offers inspiration and a hands on guide to help you find your passion. You are shown how to turn your passion into action, and how to find your place in the world.
Maya Penn has done a lot in her first 15 years. Starting a company, being an award winning designer, philanthropist and animator. She has also given Ted talks and been a guest on the view. An inspiring read Anne

February 03, 2017

Movie Club - Magnolia


This month the Movie Club will be screening ‘Magnolia’, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring an ensemble cast that includes Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, John C. Reilly and Julianne Moore.
‘Magnolia’ tells the story of multiple characters living in LA over the course of one day. These characters each have their own problems but the overarching schema of the film is that their lives coincidentally intertwine. The connections between these characters provide space to deconstruct universal themes of forgiveness, regret, death, fear of failure and failing relationships.
The film opens with a series of coincidences and it is this which sets the tone for the entire film; as the film states: ‘…These strange things happen all the time.’ Characters are caught up in their own lives and their own problems, this is highlighted by the episodic rhythm of the film—moving from one character to another—and seeing how unaware each is of the people so near to them.

The film plays with the idea of coincidence—how we can never really plan or prepare for anything in life. Director Paul Thomas Anderson is making a statement here, the epic-ness of the everyday.
‘Magnolia’ was nominated for two Golden Globes and three Academy Awards.
The film will be screened on Wednesday 8 February at 6pm at Narellan Library, Corner of Queen and Elyard Street, Narellan. Tea, coffee, and biscuits provided, BYO snacks are more than welcome. Stay after the screening for a short discussion about the film.
 *Please note this film is rated MA15+ and contains strong coarse language and themes.