Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking

“Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing” by Anya Von Bremzen

First of all this is a FANTASTIC book and probably deserves a longer, more detailed review..but I’m going to be lazy and just highly recommend it and give a brief description:

The author, born in the 1960s Soviet Union takes us on a journey through the 20^th century history of Russia and the Soviet Union using its food and the lives of her ancestors to illuminate several distinct periods. From the opulent last days of the Tsar, through famines, war, stagnation and eventual collapse. Von Bremzen and her mother emigrated to the US in the 1970s, and now they try and recreate the more famous or memorable dishes from each era. There are a lot of fascinating little details, facts and anecdotes in this book for anyone into history, Russia/The Soviet Union or just food. And yes, she even includes recipes at the back.

Fooling Houdini

“Fooling Houdini” by Alex Stone (Kindle Edition)

A fan of magic from an early age, writer and physics student Alex Stone gets the stuffing knocked out of him when he makes a disastrous appearance at a world magic championship in Europe. Later when he writes an insider’s guide to the skill and art of magic (in the process revealing a few secrets) he finds himself expelled from the magic society he’s been a long-time member of. After swearing off the tricks for a while he then plunges back into the field, travelling across America meeting magicians, con-men, psychologists and memory experts. Seeking the perfect illusion he almost abandons his career and close relationships in this single-minded pursuit. Most of the people he encounters are quite fascinating, and the book keeps the reader gripped with its humour and the author’s self-deprecating honesty.