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Non-fiction book reviews (part 1 - biscuits and goblin living)

I realised recently that when reviewing books, particularly non-fiction, the reviewer is also telling the reader about themselves, what they like and what they do. Since this blog is all about these things, here are reviews two non-fiction books, that with reveal everything about my character and personality that you need to know.  As usual these were given to me by NetGalley, in exchange for honest reviews. 

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Book by Katie Jacobs (releases October 3rd 2023)

I love chocolate chip biscuits, and I'd been struggling with my biscuits never flattening out in the oven. I'd done a bunch of research, but it still wasn't working out. So i was pretty happy to receive this book from NetGalley. 

It's very clear and well written, starting with interesting and informative general information and moving into recopies, which are divided into three sections: Cookie, bars and fancy desserts. 

I know when I request these books that, generally speaking, the publishers don't expect reviewers to actually cook multiple recipes (or get obsessed with polymer clay jewellery) but I decided to do just that.   The recipes were great, really clearly written and laid out, and every recipe I made (and i made lot of them) was easy, clear and delicious.

I made:

  • Chocolate chip cookies - delicious 
  • Chocolate lava cakes -  a bit over the top, but also tasty and delicious, and weirdly good cold from the fridge a couple of days later.
  • M & M biscuits, which don't look pretty, but were huge and tasted amazing.
  • In-side out biscuits, which were so tasty. The author says these are best eaten hot, but I ate them everyday for a week after I made them, and they only got better.
  • "Chocolate chip cake" which was sort of a chocolate chip biscuit as a flan.

All delicious. The only reason I'm not 5 starring this one is that all measurements were cups or sticks - not even ounces, so I spent a lot of time yelling "hey google, what's 2 sticks of butter in grams?". This was a shame, since in every other was this book is so strong, but it made the experience of cooking from it cumbersome. Didn't stop me giving it my best though.

Goblin Mode Guide to Life (publishes October 17 2023)

I don't think i was the target audience for this book, but it sounded intriguing. I actually hadn't heard of Goblin Mode, except in relation to being a beveridge goblin, and I thought Katie had just made that up. This is a lovely, well set up book whose main message is "it's okay to be who you are, even if that is a messy, grubby, binge watching goblin". While the idea of having a dirty house is not for me, or that not showering is fine (I love showering) the central message - that who you are and how you live is just fun, and don't worry about how great everyone else's life looks on instagram, is very affirming. This book would make a great gift for someone who needs to hear that message. It's also quite funny to me that a book whose central message is that everything doesn't have to be perfect has more than a few typos. 


I'll be back in a week or two to review the remaining non-fiction books, which are about knitting, sex and Dolly Parton!

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