Slightly Peckish Tuesday
20 August, 2013
It’s been a while hasn’t it? But it doesn’t mean I haven’t been eating! On a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, I ate a lot of things in an incredibly short space of time. Check out the first in a series of posts on KL for Umami Mart: Slightly Peckish starting with Bah Kut Teh. Don’t know what it is? Then go and check me out!
In bookish news, I read quite a few books on holiday, mostly mysteries which was exactly what I needed. I finally finished the 5th book in the Lady Julia Grey mysteries, Dark Road to Darjeeling. I also began reading Ben Aaronovich’s urban mysteries featuring PC Peter Grant, Rivers of London, which lived up to all the hype and I went straight on to the second and third volumes once I got home. And I took my hardback copy of Michelle de Kretser’s Questions of Time all the way to Sri Lanka and Malaysia only to finish it once I got back to London. Don’t get me wrong, it’s exquisite but not one you want to read when you are in a hurry. And because de Kretser is such a fine writer, I dug out my copy of her first novel, The Rose Grower, and have just started it.
I only brought back a few books this time.
Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera which I actually got last November but didn’t manage to write about. This first novel has been garnering a lot of attention.
Doomsday by Mahasara Gunaratne, a whodunnit featuring Uncle Arthur set in early 20th century Ceylon. I’m thinking a Sri Lankan Agatha Christie, perhaps? Apparently it’s a series but I was unable to find the first volume. Can’t wait to tuck in.
And Shyam Selvadurai’s new novel, The Hungry Ghosts which I cannot wait to start.
chasing bawa 
21 August, 2013 at 12:29 am
Your KL BKT post makes me want a piping hot bowl of herbal soup right now. And thanks for all the recommendations in this whodunnit post, I love mysteries! Just downloaded the first Lady Julia Grey book on my iPad.
21 August, 2013 at 12:25 pm
I loved it and can’t wait to go back to try some more. I don’t think they have it in London! Btw, talking about mysteries, I also recommend Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody mysteries, Lindsey Davis’ Falco books and Susanna Gregory’s Matthew Bartholomew mysteries. Hope you enjoy Raybourn’s series!
26 August, 2013 at 10:20 am
You can buy the herbal BKT premix packs and make your own soup at home. I can mail you some packs if you like. 🙂 Let me know.
I have been glued to the iPad reading the Raybourn series – am addicted to the books. I haven’t had such an enjoyable reading run in a long while. Will check out the Amelia Peabody and Matthew Bartolomew series next!
30 August, 2013 at 3:23 pm
I’m so glad:) My friends and I were also racing through her books too!
That’s really sweet of you to offer to send the herbal BKT. Let me check if I can’t get my hands on any here first and I will let you know!
21 August, 2013 at 3:38 am
I liked the Dark Road to Darjeeling – Raybourn somehow gets the gentility of this era along with the dashing Lady Grey combination so well. Can you believe that I have still not read de Kretser. I read reviews of her latest book and it sounds great.
21 August, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Agree:) And I cannot believe you haven’t read any of de Kretser’s books! I really loved The Hamilton Case – she writes so beautifully.
21 August, 2013 at 4:25 am
Looks like you had a great trip! I have read Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera and it sure deserves all the hype it’s generating. Looking forward to your review.
21 August, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Glad to hear it! Will let you know once I’ve read the book!
31 August, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Good purchase!!! I enjoy Shyam Selvadurai writing so much! Have you read Swimming in the monsoon sea?? It’s one of those books you would never want to read the end! I will wait for your review of The hungry ghosts then…
1 September, 2013 at 12:00 am
Although I have heard of it, I haven’t read Swimming in the Monsoon Sea so will have to look for it next time I am in Colombo!