I found this book was one that I never wanted to put down. Two young missionaries in love with God, fall in love with each other and with the people of early 1900 century China. They face hardships of war, isolation, bandits, and death; yet, they find that God sustains them and their love for Him and each other deepens. A wonderful look at the lives of Chinese peasants in the tumultuous time between the end of the Manchu dynasty and the rise of communism . I highly recommend this book.

Excellent book by the author of the "History of the World in Six Glasses". Unlike the previous book there is not a timeline followed in this book, there are historical topics and food. The reader experiences how the cultivation of wild foods changed to food traits more favorable for human cultivation, instead of traits that might have lead to greater spread of foods. Revealed is how specialized societies developed from changes from a hunter/gatherer to agricultural society. How searching for new foods expanded knowledge of the world, and how foods from the new world led to better farming and the industrial revolution. How the ability to supply food to troops changed wars is covered as is the question of how the growing world can be fed today.

I recommend this book as an enlightening view of how foods have contributed to history and the world as we know it.

An interesting look at the banana - how the cultivation of the fruit endangers its continuation as produce. The hope of developing new strains that can feed the starving world. Also a look back at the companies that caused wars and government overthrows to maintain their control of the banana monopoly. The book does drag at times when the genetics and the science are discussed, but other parts of the book are delightful as how the goals of companies caused the "banana republics" to be upheld, involving the US military at times. This is a book that I would recommend to people who like to look at how different commodities have affected history, much in the same strain as "Salt : A World History" or "The History of The World in Six Glasses."

This book brings us a Byzantine era mystery. The Lord Chamberlain is approached by a woman claiming to be the child pictured in a mosaic in his home. An attempt to find out more from the mysterious woman lands him in the middle of a murder. As he looks into the murder he is drawn into the segment of Constantinople society where those aristocrats exiled from court live with prostitutes, actors, artists, beggars live and ply their trades.

I enjoyed the novel, although the movement of the story would slow down several times in the middle of the book. I also would have trouble with the jumps in perspective from John the Chamberlain to Anatolius, his lawyer friend who aids him in the investigation. The move to the climax however is a nice plot twist and unexpected. Overall, an enjoyable read when one desires to leave the grimy modern day mystery to one in the past.

Enzo McLeod goes to Gallic wine country to solve a cold case of a wine critic. He meets with resistance from the local gendarmes and the wine growers. The story is full of twists and plot turns. The explanations of wine making and wine tasting enrich the mystery.
I think this book is a good read for mystery lovers.