Curry My Way (DVD) … reviewed by Katie

Curry My Way by Teresa Rehman is an excellent DVD. It was filmed in Teresa’s kitchen, and she shares with us the secrets of her Indian-Fijian recipes. Whether you are new to cooking, new to curries, or looking to try making curry in a different way to your usual, you cannot go wrong with Curry My Way. This is a friendly, easy to follow, step-by-step how-to guide to making one-pot, simple meals. Teresa shows us her way of making all sorts of curries: chicken, shrimp, vegetarian, etc. Get inspired by Teresa to cook up some curry tonight!

Watch Teresa review her own DVD!

Scott Pilgrim series … reviewed by Chris

Talk about baggage. When twenty-something slacker Scott Pilgrim asks out the new chick in the neighbourhood, ultra-cute ninja / delivery girl Ramona Flowers, she agrees — on one condition. Before the two become too cozy, Scott has to defeat all of her evil ex-boyfriends in single combat. And it turns out the dudes are end-of-level boss tough.

The Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series by Torontonian Bryan Lee O’Malley brings a manga aesthetic and amped up video game logic to a story about friends, love, music and guys beating the tar out of each other to impress a lady. Set in modern-day Toronto, the series is pure fantasy. To get across town, Scott and Ramona take shortcuts through ”subspace.” Ninja duels erupt in innocuous spots like libraries and music clubs. Defeated bad guys disappear, leaving power-ups behind.

If you like comics and have ever played video games, you must either read this series, or earn my lifelong disapproval. I will disapprove of you as a reader, and as a person, and will fix you from time to time with my intimidating Look of Scorn. You don’t want that, so get reading. Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life is volume one; five have been published so far. Incidentally, the series is being made into a major movie, but Michael Cera is playing Scott. Sure, Cera can capture Scott’s innocent cluelessness, but can he play scrappy? Hard to imagine Cera laying the boot to anyone …

The Chief Factor’s Daughter … reviewed by Deborah

If you have ever wondered about the lives of women in early British Columbia, this is the book for you! Written by Vanessa Winn, The Chief Factor’s Daughter is a recreation of the lives of real people living in 1850s Victoria. The central characters are the daughters of Hudson’s Bay Factor John Work. Their British-Metis heritage is the target of snobbery and racism as they pursue their only option at the time: finding a suitable husband. Unmarried at 24, Margaret (one of the daughters who also narrates the story) despairs of ever meeting anyone, as her protective father forbids her mixing with the rough Gold Rush newcomers. Somehow the sisters find their way to the parties hosted by the dashing naval officers and Royal Engineers, and attempt to marry the most eligible man possible. Margaret is a charming, intelligent narrator, who introduces us to the life of the times through her observations.

Little Felted Animals … reviewed by Alice

It is often said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  Little Felted Animals, by Marie-Noelle Horvath, proves this theory without a doubt. This book illustrates step-by-step instruction-pictures for each animal as well as minimal written instructions. The few tools, embellishments, and wool needed are also illustrated.  Just by the thoroughness of the instruction layouts, it makes creating your first felting project a dream.  I found this book to be very user-friendly. If you are embarking on a new craft, try your hand at needle-felting. 
Trust me you will fall in love with each enchanting animal that you’ll want to make them all! 

 

NOTE: supplies can be purchases at:

Brickland Bros. Wool

          3573 Main Street

          Vancouver

The Good Fairies of New York … reviewed by Barbara

Highly recommended by Neil Gaiman, author Martin Millar is the genius behind The Good Fairies of New York. Inebriated punk rock fairies Heather and Morag are banished from their homeland after causing mayhem amongst the youth of Scottish fairydom and desecrating sacred clan objects. Determined to redeem themselves, they travel to New York and, during a row, accidentally attach themselves to two of the few remaining humans who are able to see them. They soon begin matchmaking with hilarious consequences in this mixed up story about an overweight slacker, a poor artist with Crohn’s disease, a homeless woman who thinks she’s an ancient Greek general, rival gangs of New York fairies and the ghost of Johnny Thunders, guitarist from the New York Dolls. The many characters and plot lines could be confusing but somehow Millar makes it all flow smoothly. I loved it!