THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins
paperback $16.00
Riverhead Books, New York, 2015
This was on President Obama’s reading list last week when he was on holiday.
The book is described as Every day the Same….Until today. Rachel, the central character sees something from the train she takes every day. She goes to the police and becomes entangled in the lives of everyone involved. Good read, first novel by this journalist.
*********************
LAB GIRL by Hope Jahren
hardcover $26.95
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, Toronto, 2016
This is a book about an acclaimed scientist and her treatise on plant life. I especially chose this book because I rarely read a scientific book and I wanted to be inspired by someone’s love of science. Also my love of trees compelled me to have a look at this book. Trees are one of my great sources of spirituality and this book reinforced the great love I possess for my tree kingdom.
Read this book and you might fall in love with science.
*********************
THE DRUNKEN BOTANIST:
The Plants that Create the World’s Great Drinks by Amy Stewart
$19.95
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2013
This lovely book joins the passions of gardening with the pleasure of imbibing. I loved reading about the plants, their uses and history and the botanists who have scoured the world to find them. There are also some fifty drink recipes and a description of syrups, infusions and garnishes.
Part I: Fermentation and distillation
Part II: Herbs and spices, flowers, trees, fruit, nuts and seeds
Part III: in the garden
Fun to read about gin and pastis, anise, sweet woodruff, fennel and so much more. There are also many gardening tips. Have a look at this marriage of botany and booze!