Shot of Tequila by J A Konrath

Set in the early 1990's, Shot of Tequila is a witty, self-effacing and fast-paced thriller full of twists and turns. Our hero, the eponymous Tequila Abernathy, is a former gymnast who works for the mob as a debt collector, which he justifies to himself because it enables him to pay for live-in care for his older sister who has Down's Syndrome.

But his world is turned upside down when he is accused of stealing $1,000,000 from his boss, Marty the Maniac. Tequila knows he's been framed and sets out to prove it. Dead bodies follow him around and as a result, as well as avoiding his former colleagues, he also needs to hide from the police, including our policewoman heroine, Jack (Jacqueline) Daniels.

Shot of Tequila  is the best form of escapist reading I know: it's so outlandish and outrageous that I can confidently sink into it, understanding from page one what kind of story I'm reading. The author clearly knows this and as a consequence, the book doesn't take itself too seriously; that would have been the death knell for this crime/humour/thriller genre. But the author's light touch and insightful sense of entertainment ensures that the reader is gripped but not weighed down by the novel.

I am a voracious reader and not particularly fascinated by any single genre: I flit from historical fiction to science fantasy and psychological thrillers. What draws me in is the writing style of the author. I adore authors who (apparently) effortlessly inhabit their characters and make me believe - and like - them, even when they are ostensibly unlikeable.

Could the book have explored the challenges of living with Down's Syndrome? Could it have lamented the lack of career opportunities for retired gymnasts? Could it have moralised about the risks of borrowing money from loan sharks?

Yes of course it could. But that was never the intent. One almost feels that the book was simply an avenue for the author to share his own effervescence with us.

And thank god he did.

Learn more about J A Konrath and his other novels at http://www.jakonrath.com/ or follow him on twitter @jakonrath. I read this book on my kobo (www.kobobooks.com)

Belgo's: A Taste of Belgium in London

I recently went to Belgo's Centraal in Holborn for the first time. I had no real preconceptions about what Belgian food would be like but I suspected it would be quite dull. France occupies the fine dining arena; Germany is known as the down-to-earth beer and sausage expert; so what space is there for Belgium? Isn't it just the culinary poor cousin?

Actually, no! From the moment I descended into the basement restaurant area, atmospherically decked out as a deutsche Bierhalle, I had a good feeling.

A kilo of mussels

The house speciality is mussels, available with a variety of sauces from the traditional white wine, celery, garlic and onion to the unusual Thai (lemongrass, chilli, ginger, Kaffir lime, coconut and coriander) and familiar and earthy Provencale with rich tomato, herb and garlic.

My companion had not had mussels before and was unsure whether to take the plunge; after all, they come by the kilo so you have to be quite dedicated to even make a dent in the portions.

With a menu including rib-eye steak, duck breast and crisp pork belly, she wasn't worried about finding something she'd like, but was also keen to get the full experience.

Belgian waffle with chocolate sauce

Our server (who incidentally, like his colleagues, was dressed as a Belgian monk - very random!) could not have been more helpful: after we told him our dilemna, without hesitation, he brought out a small dish of mussels for my companion to try before she made her decision. She plumped for the mussels in classic sauce (the traditional sauce with added cream) - need I say more?

What could we do next but follow our mussels with a warm Belgian waffle smothered in ice cream and chocolate sauce! Deliciously stodgy and rich, with a much-needed lightness from the vanilla ice cream, this dish effortlessly combined hot and cold.

Ninkeberry beer

The other thing about Belgo's that I want to mention is the unbelievable range of Belgian beer on offer. We had great fun sampling and sharing a wide variety of beers - possibly too many! With a choice of white, blonde, dark and amber beers, among others, my recommendation would be to take advantage of the more unusual beers available: have you ever tried chocolate flavoured beer? What about honey, or raspberry? Or - my favourite - ninkeberry, which we later learned was passionfruit?

Whatever you like to eat or drink - in this convivial atmosphere with friendly service - I guarantee you will have a great time.

Predictably Irrational

Have you ever wanted to better understand your colleagues, customers, family and friends? Or even - dare you admit it - yourself?

Subtitled "The Hidden Forces that Shape our Decisions", Predictably Irrational is a work by behavioural economics professor Dan Ariely. Despite his impressive and somewhat intimidating resume, which includes MIT and Princeton, Dan's writing style is chatty and easy to follow.

Andrew Lloyd Gordon

I was introduced to his theories during a training course at the IDM (Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing) in London by Andrew Lloyd Gordon.

And what a revelation! Although Dan Ariely's field is behavioural economics, there's a strong psychological resonance to his work as well.

Addressing questions like "why does recalling the ten commandments reduce our tendency to lie - even when we KNOW we can't get caught?" and "why do headaches persist after taking a cheap painkiller but disappear when we take an expensive one?", the book explores the idea that, in the modern age, we believe we are enlightened, rational beings in control of our own lives (Nietzsche and Richard Dawkins anyone?).

But are we? From choosing to pay £3+ for a cup of coffee to the obesity epidemic and choosing a romantic partner, we are consistently willing to overpay, underestimate and procrastinate. We fail to reconcile the impact of our emotional responses with our choices. Dan Ariely systematically analyses our decision-making process and reveals the pervasive and predictable irrationality that informs it.

Dan Ariely

Let me share one example of the kind of question that Dan examines: suppose you go around to your mother-in-law's house for dinner. You have a good time. At the end, you pull out your wallet and say "Pam, I had such a great evening. What do I owe you?" Silence falls. You open your wallet and say "Would $300 cover it?" No one says a word and your wife looks daggers at you.


Now let's rework that scenario: suppose you go around to your mother-in-law's house for dinner. You give her the $10 bottle of wine as you enter the house. She thanks you warmly and leads you inside.

Think about this on a rational level: why would your greater gift be offensive? Surely it shows a greater appreciation for her hosting of the evening? But we all know that it would not be perceived that way. And we all know this; ergo, it is predictably irrational.

Described by the Financial Times as "unmissable", this work, published by Harper Collins, is accessible but powerful and will make you look at your life and your choices in a new way. Please, please read it.



Learn more about Dan Ariely at www.danariely.com, the IDM at www.theidm.com and Andrew Lloyd Gordon at www.andrewlloydgordon.co.uk. Harper Collins can be found at www.harpercollins.co.uk and the Financial Times at www.ft.com

A Jamaican/Nigerian Celebration

OK so it's not haute cuisine, and I didn't make it myself. But as I imagine most people have limited exposure to West African and Caribbean food, I figured the unusual and exotic nature of it might generate some curiosity.

I recently went to the wedding of a Nigerian/Jamaican couple. With over 200 of their extended family present, many of whom had travelled from the Caribbean and Africa, the event was by turns joyous, serious and humorous. But what did we eat? I hear you cry. The short answer is - a lot of food! Always a good start!

Although I live in London, righfully proud of being one of the cosmpolitan, multi-cultural capitals of the world, I have not eaten a lot of this kind of food so I was determined to try a bit of everthing.

From spicy curry goat (which was ever so slightly tough and chewy but instantly forgiven as it's also very tasty), I moved to caramelised, squishy sweet fried plaintain. Can you tell I adore plaintain?!

There were also two types of rice, which is typically fairly bland in the UK - but not here!
The traditional starchy, well-seasoned Jamaican rice and peas (despite the name, I've only ever seen it as rice and kidney beans although apparentlly the dish refers to any combination of rice and legume - anyone who knows why it's always called rice and peas regardless, please let me know!) was the more familiar. (see picture below)

However, I opted for the less well-known Nigerian Jollof rice (see picture above), which I am reliably informed was appropriated from neighboroughing Ghana (although are African national boundaries just a Western construct? A conversation for another time in another place...), and is also known as benachin, meaning "one pot" in the Wolof language. It is now a popular dish in many parts of West Africa, spread by the members of the Wolof ethnic group.

There are many variations of Jollof rice. The most common basic ingredients are rice, tomatoes and tomato paste, onion, salt, and red pepper. It is cooked by using oil to fry finely-chopped onions, tomatoes and ground pepper, combining with stock and cooking the rice in the stock so it becomes plump and flavoursome. The rice takes on a characteristic orange colour from the mixture.

There was also a choice of chicken: falling-off-the-bone chicken stew,made with thyme, garlic, pimento, scotch bonnet pepper and chicken stock or blackened Jamaican jerk chicken. Neither really need any further description except to say that the jerk had me reaching for my water glass! Almost tipped the balance from pleasantly tingly sensation into I-think-I've-just-killed-my-tastebuds - but not quite! I loved it!

There was also a Jamaica vs. Nigeria battle of the fish. Faced with a choice between Nigerian fish stew (fish seasoned with herbs and cooked with peppers, chilli, onions and tomatoes) or Jamaican Run Down (a mild fish curry cooked with herbs, spices and simmered in coconut milk), of course I had to try them both! I couldn't tell the type of fish used, except to say I suspect it was a white fish of more local origin, the sweet, delicate coconut milk won the day for me.

Overall verdict: spicy, sweet, robust. It's not fine dining, but it was a solid, satisfying and healthy meal and I can't wait to try it again.

Vive le Market!

Well I just love fresh food, don't you? I especially love other people making it for me!

Bring on the local market, which takes place in the nearby town centre on a regular basis. Marketed as a French market, in reality, there are stalls featuring produce from all over Europe, which only makes it more attractive as far as I'm concerned. From a variety of olives to a selection of meats and garlic cloves at every turn, whoever is responsible for coordinating and approving this event in Harrow deserves a medal. And did I mention the sweet, flaky pastries? Delicious!

Perusing the produce, I couldn't resist buying half a garlic sausage, which will apparently last two weeks in the fridge (not that I imagine I'll be able to verify that - half of it has gone already!)

For those with more adventurous tastes, you could even buy snails to cook at home - I didn't dare!

What I did do, however, was sample the various take-away foods available. Unsurprisingly, I loved the Normandie garlic prawns (or should that be prawnies?! See photo), which were succulent, fresh and juicy. I also loved the tarteflette, which combined soft sliced potatoes, cream, lardons of ham with garlic for a filling and totally satisfying dish that could be enjoyed while walking around the market.

I also want to give a shout out to the man working at Jacc's coffee; firstly, because having coffee as part of the market just makes so much sense and secondly, because it was good coffee - aromatic and strong - and thirdly because he was also selling various syrups to enhance the coffee. I ended up buying a bottle to take home!

His good humour and friendliness really summarised the market for me: small traders trying to make an honest living by providing fresh, good quality produce in a warm environment that draws you in and enhances the town centre experience for everybody.

Now, when's the next one?

Grey is not my favourite colour...

50 Shades of Grey has become an international phenomenon. For those of you who have been living on a different planet, it follows the relationship of about-to-graduate college student Anastacia "call me Ana" and Christian Grey, a billionaire who she meets when she interviews for the college magazine.

An inexperienced, shy virgin, Ana is overwhelmed by his intense wooing of her, laced from their first meeting with sexual tension and innuendo.

In graphic (bordering pornographic) detail, the book traces our protagonist's first ever relationship, featuring from an unfeasibly early stage, his "red room of pain and pleasure" in which Christian, as a Dominant, wishes to spend much of his time with Ana.

Shock, horror! Our gauche young college student realises she has a taste for her controlling and emotionally distant lover and, unlikely as it seems, he feels the same and they fall in love. The book follows their struggle to identify compatability: Ana wants more of a traditional relationship with Grey, while he wants to dictate all aspects of their relationship and expects complete obedience. Both of them make compromises, but is it enough? Can they work out their differences? At the end of the book, which is dominated by explicit descriptions of their sex life, Ana breaks it off with Christian, believing they cannot fully satisfy each others' needs. Cue the next book in the trilogy...

So did I enjoy 50 Shades of Grey? Well, yes, I have to admit I did,. Did I find it compelling, believable and worthy of the hype it has generated? No way.

I have several issues with this book.

Use of sterotypes

Why does it have to be the man who is the dominant one? Why oh why can we not see a woman take charge and set the tone? Did the author really need to pander to pornographic references "ooh the innocent school girl" and "ooh the naughty older man". Oh please. This is the 21st century. I found this quite cringe-worthy. And before you retort "But Christian had a relationship with an older woman before he met Ana" - I know this. But let me point out that she is repeatedly referred to as a paedophile and an abuser, with fairly weak denials. Double standards? Not so enlightened.

Unbelieveable

Aside from the unlikeliness of Christian Grey and Ana ever meeting in the first place, would a billionaire playboy really be that interested in Ana? Yes she bites her lip, which he apparently finds irrestible, but I just didn't see enough in her to warrant his stalker-like focus on her. What does she bring to the table, really? She isn't the worldly, submissive he desires. Would he want to spend so much time on her "training"? And would he really present her with a legal contract and and NDA? How disappointingly modern.

Lack of originality

The Secretary anyone? How about 9 1/2 Weeks? Or innumerable Black Lace books? The only original thing this book has done - as far as I'm aware - is to successfully cross-over from the 18+, soft porn category into the mainstream, making BDSM more accessible to everyone. And I'm not sure that's such a good thing. Would you want your 13-year-old daughter to read this book? 

Dominant vs. Sadist

Despite Christian Grey's insistence that he is a dominant, not a sadist, I couldn't really tell the difference. He gets off on doling out pain as well as dominating, so surely he's both? The issue is raether that Ana is neither submissive nor a masochist. 

Character likeability

Be honest. Did you really warm to either Christian or Ana? Christian, our "hero" is a billionaire playboy who admits to having paid for sex in the past, continually and patronisingly calls her "baby" and flaunts his wealth as much as possible. The half-hearted attempts to make him vulnerable are too obtuse for me. Ana is inconstant - sometimes pathetic, sometimes bolshy, always over-analytical and dull. Think about it: outside of her relationship of Christian, what is interesting about her?

In summary, to my mind, this book panders to the female fantasy - a complicated, wealthy man who cares about you and is willing to change to please you. In reality, you would drive each other mad, irritate each other no end and realise pretty quickly that you are incompatible sexually, emotionally, financially and with regard to background, ambition, future plans - basically in every way.

But this is a book designed to titillate. It does that. And perhaps that's enough.

Review of Trafficked by Sophie Hayes

I really had to post a review of this book which is an unequalled example of triumph over adversity and of finding inspiration through tragedy.

By way of introduction, we learn that Sophie comes from a middle-class family. She has never felt good enough for her father, who was abusive to her mother, her brother and Sophie herself before her parents separated. She achieved good grades throughout school, although she opted not to go to university. Her first love was deported back to home country and while she dithers about whether or not to marry him so that he can return to England with her, fate takes the decision out of her hands as she is admitted to hospital and is unable even to let him know what has happened. When she recovers, the window of opportunity has passed.

She reconnects online with a good friend she met several years earlier who has since moved abroad. When he invites her to meet him in Paris, she does not hesitate and has a wonderful time. So, when he next invites her to meet him in Italy, she looks forward to it. But this is where her nightmare begins.

Shortly after her arrival in Italy, she is told that her friend owes thousands to drug lords and then she must "work off the debt". Forced into prostitution by someone she trusted, who now threatens her and her family back in England if she doesn't comply, she is psychologically tortured, mentally beaten and physically abused. Told that the police are in his pocket and with him monitoring her phone calls to her family, she has nowhere to turn.

I won't ruin the denouement by describing how she escapes - nor what happens next (let's just say her nightmare is not over even after she is reunited with her family). I do nonetheless want to reassure readers that her story ends on a high note that truly demonstrates that love can triumph over the odds and that the human spirit is more resilient than we can ever comprehend. Sophie is without question one of the strongest and the truly "good" people in this world; even if, to the end, you don't feel that she believes it.

And it is arguably this which makes the book so readable: even in the depths of despair, Sophie is undeniably engaging yet self-deprecating, introspective but realistic, managing to share the details of her ordeal in a way that touches your soul without dragging you down. A fine line to walk but achieved with a mixture of finesse and innocence that makes you want to cry when you think of everything she went through, and how she emerged a sensitive, caring young woman determined to improve the world for other people.

Learn more www.sophiehayesfoundation.org/