Best books of 2023Best books of the yearReviewFrom life-changing recipes to a Caribbean journey: five mouthwatering favourites
The Rice Book
Sri Owen, Bloomsbury
Born in 1935, Sri Owen grew up among Indonesian rice fields and has spent much of her adult life in London. The Rice Book, first published 30 years ago and reissued with a new foreword, is her masterpiece, a profound work based on years of travel with her husband, Roger, and their examination of rice’s cultural, historical, economic and culinary significance all over the world. Read More...
Country This article is more than 10 years oldKeith Richards: 'George Jones has left us ... I can't express the emptiness I feel'This article is more than 10 years oldThe Rolling Stones guitarist has penned a heartfelt tribute to the country music legend, who died last weekKeith Richards has penned a poignant farewell to George Jones, calling him "pure American music". While thousands convened in Nashville for the country legend's funeral, the Rolling Stone published an open letter to a man he says he " Read More...
FictionReviewPlain, awkward Mary steps out of her siblings’ shadow in this engaging addendum to AustenJanice Hadlow’s first novel explores the predicament of Mary, the overlooked middle daughter of the Bennet household in Pride and Prejudice. Mary doesn’t have a story of her own in Austen’s novel – she’s there to serve as a foil to her sisters’ charm, and a temporary obstacle to their happiness. Bookish and gauche, Mary is the one who can be relied on to give an ill-judged performance on the pianoforte or deliver a sententious comment at exactly the wrong moment. Read More...