A Little Holiday Bounty
Book Reviews for A Little Holiday Fling & Annapurna's Bounty: Indian Food Legends Retold
A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron
I tend to be quite particular about holiday movies, and even more so with books, but somehow Farah Heron managed to win me over with A Little Holiday Fling. The story features a romance between a grumpy British Canadaphile and a cheerful, “sunshine” Canadian Anglophile, set in Toronto during what is arguably one of the most magical times of the year. However, Ruby’s narrative is much more than that; it’s about her discovering how to prioritize herself, letting go of the unhealthy family relationships, and at last feeling secure enough to settle down and call it home. What I liked best about A Little Holiday Fling is that it’s a Christmas story for people who don’t traditionally celebrate the holiday, as the characters are Muslim but can still appreciate the festive, fun aspects of Christmas in a big city like Toronto, which is something I can relate to. Also for all you Jane Austen fans, you’ll definitely appreciate all the Easter eggs in this book. I know I delighted in all references and nods to the books and the movies almost as much as I did seeing everyone gather around Ruby and later Rash with their playful meddling. Additionally, since A Little Holiday Fling isn’t my first Farah Heron book, I was thrilled to see the characters from her previous books pop up again, giving us a sneak peek into their lives now as they interact with the leads in this book. Of all Farah’s books that I’ve read, A Little Holiday Fling is the one I’d most like to see made into a film, as it has the potential to become a new modern Christmas classic like The Holiday! I read the book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Soneela Nankani simultaneously, which I felt enhanced my experience. Nankani’s narration added significant depth to the story, making all the characters, not just Ruby, come alive. Regardless of how you go about it, you should absolutely pick up A Little Holiday Fling this holiday season!
Read If You Liked: Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin & Marissa Stapley
Annapurna’s Bounty: Indian Food Legends Retold by Veena Gokhale
Growing up I have always been fascinated with various world religions and the mythology associated with them, particularly those associated with Asian countries. And as someone who from time to time enjoys Indian food, Veena Gokhale’s Annapurna’s Bounty: Indian Food Legends Retold sounded like it would be the perfect marriage of two of my interests. There are ten eclectic stories in this collection that are reimagined, though only one fully takes place in the present day. The rest of the stories have been adapted to be more accessible to a modern audience, but they don’t take place in a contemporary setting. My favourite stories were the ones that focused more on women and their cleverness and resilience. If you’re here for the food, then you will not be disappointed. Not only does food feature predominantly in the stories, but each story is also followed by at least one vegetarian recipe inspired by the characters of the story that preceded them. As someone who isn’t very familiar with South Asian cuisine, I really wish there was a way to include photos or illustrations. In fact, I had to look up a lot of the food mentioned in the stories and recipes to gain a better sense of what they were talking about. Annapurna’s Bounty does an excellent job at showcasing how diverse of a country India is. It’s not just Hindu stories that are retold; we get stories from Zoroastrians, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs as well as stories from different geographic regions of the country as well. As a result, this can help broaden readers’ image of what is considered “Indian” culture and food. While the stories in Annapurna’s Bounty: Indian Food Legends Retold can be a bit of a mixed bag, overall, I feel this collection feels as nourishing and hearty as many of the dishes found in Indian cuisine.
Early copies of these titles were generously provided to me by the publisher for review. However, the above reviews consists of my honest opinion of the books and my opinion only.
