Book Chat Issue #126
Don't judge a book by its cover
Hello readers and eaters, it’s good to have you here.
In this issue I talk about a book that surprised me and share some of my favourite cookbooks. I’ve also included a recipe for a really simple spice cake.
What I’ve been reading
I’ve been known to read my share of murder mysteries and courtroom dramas and wouldn’t describe myself as a reading snob, but I was pleasantly surprised by this week’s book, The Mother by Yvvette Edwards, because it was not at all what I expected.
On the face of it, it looks like a run-of-the-mill legal thriller, a genre which tends to focus on the twists and turns in the presentation of evidence, and the battle of wits between the prosecution and the defence.
The Mother has these elements but is so much more.
Written by a British born author of Montserratian* origin, it tells the story of Marcia’s attempt to survive the murder of her 16-year-old son and delves into the issue of violence against and between young black men—both its possible causes, and its heartrending effects on the families involved.
The book opens with Marcia preparing for the first day of the trial of her son’s attacker.
I get dressed and comb my hair, what there is left of it, what remains of the hair I had seven months ago, flatten it down as gently as I can, a task so small it hardly takes a minute, slip the wig over it.
I wish I had the courage to stand before the court without it, to stand before my son’s killer so he could see for himself the effects on his deed that took but a moment, no more than a few minutes, to strip me clean of not just my child, but everything else I had and presumed was mine for keeps.
This novel might make you weep (and there’s nothing wrong with that), but it’s also a novel with a huge amount of love and compassion. The author talks about the effects the murder has on Marcia’s relationship with her husband and her sense of self, but she also shows great empathy for all the people involved in the trial, including the mother of the accused.
Yvvette Edwards is a member of the Royal Society of Literature and is particularly interested in giving voice to characters who are absent or under-represented in contemporary fiction. I think she’s done a great job of this and I cannot wait to read her next book, Good Good Loving, which is due out in March, 2026.
*Montserrat is a Caribbean Island and a British Overseas Territory.
Favourite cookbooks
I borrowed quite a few cookbooks from the library in 2025, but to be honest I really didn’t make anything new. I guess I am stuck in my ways a bit. Like most people, I like the idea of experimenting with new recipes, but lack the motivation.
Nevertheless, I enjoy browsing through cookbooks as a way of escaping from the realities of life. It’s a harmless pastime and free if you borrow them from the library.
Here are my favourites:
Baking and the Meaning of Life by Helen Goh.
Helen was born in Malaysia and migrated to Australia when she was 10. She’s a trained psychotherapist, pastry chef, cookbook author and chef. She now lives in London and is known for her collaborations with Yotam Ottolenghi.
Her recipes are fantastic and you can find her here on Instagram.
Good Things by Samin Nosrat.
Samin is an Iranian-American chef, food writer, and podcaster. I like her joyous approach to cooking and life. Like me, she believes that food is a tool for connection and ultimately about making people happy.
You can find her here on Instagram.
Today’s simple recipe: One bowl spice cake
I had some leftover buttermilk so I made a simple spice cake.
Method
Grease and line a 7 inch cake pan and preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
In a medium bowl, beat 1/4 cup soft butter with one cup of sugar until creamy. (I used half brown and half white sugar).
Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and beat again until smooth.
Add 1 cup of buttermilk (or substitute one cup whole milk soured with a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice) and mix well.
Add 1 1/2 cups of Self Raising flour along with half a teaspoon of ground ginger, cinnamon and cardamon (you can leave the cardamon out if you don’t have any, but I like it).
Beat until smooth, scrape into cake tin and bake for approx 35 minutes or until golden brown.
Icing is optional, but something lemony would be nice. Or simply dust with icing sugar and serve with a cup of tea.
International book club
We had a lovely book club meet-up last week. A big thanks to everyone who came along. I enjoyed it immensely because I really love talking to fellow readers.
We had a diversity of views about the book (H is for Hawk by Helen McDonald) and I really appreciated hearing everyone’s insights and reflections. If you’d like to join the book club, just hit reply and let me know where you live in the world.
I’ve been giving a lot of thought to our next book but haven’t quite made a decision. I’m toying with the idea of choosing a non-fiction book, or perhaps a collection of short stories? Stay tuned for an announcement shortly, but in the meantime, let me know if you have a burning desire to read a particular title with a group of bookish friends.
That’s all for this issue. As ever, thank you for reading. I really do appreciate it.
Look after yourself and if you enjoy this newsletter, don’t forget to share.
Warm wishes,
Marg x
The Mothers reminds me of Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman, a book I read in 2022 but has stayed with me. It's about the Ghanian migrant experience in London and the terrible scourge of gangs. I'll add this one to my requests.
And I'm going to make the cake for our "Change the Date" lunch on Sunday.