Book Review - Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

Amazon UK

Title: Anatomy of a Scandal

Author: Sarah Vaughan

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date: 11th January 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

A high-profile marriage thrust into the spotlight. A wife, determined to keep her family safe, must face a prosecutor who believes justice has been a long time coming. A scandal that will rock Westminster. And the women caught at the heart of it. 

Anatomy of a Scandal centres on a high-profile marriage that begins to unravel when the husband is accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is sure her husband, James, is innocent and desperately hopes to protect her precious family from the lies which might ruin them. Kate is the barrister who will prosecute the case – she is equally certain that James is guilty and determined he will pay for his crimes.

This is a story that is as impossible to describe without spoilers, as it is brilliant to read. It is addictive and interesting even though it deals with in great detail a topic that is hard to read about.  

At the heart of this book there is a trial, Kate the prosecutor is positive that James is guilty of the crime and will do her best to make sure he pays for the crime, while Sophie is the wife happy to stand by James as she is sure her husband must be innocent. 

As the book progresses we see the story from multiple view points in addition to the characters times at Oxford as students, which shows the privileged background the Sophie and James are from. Once you are familiar with the time line, it makes more sense than when I first started reading and was trying to get the basics straight in my mind. 

At all times the writing is detailed and the story is told in a way that you know exactly what is happening, you can visualise everything even the more unpalatable details of the crime, and get a clear understanding about a court of law,  the way barristers argue, the definition of the crime in question, and although at times I did wonder if all the description was needed, it did add a lot to the book. 

 I found the first perhaps 100 pages or so slightly slow, but they were giving vital information and once that past I was completely hooked, where I didn't want to put the book down at all, and was utterly annoyed with myself for getting tired and having to come back to it the following day, where I finished the second half of the book in no time at all!  

There is scandal, there are uncomfortable scenes, the whole book could be regarded as a trigger for anyone that has suffered from the same crime, but I'm reluctant to name the specific as it could be regarded as a spoiler, on the other hand it could also help you through it, depending on your point of view. 

This is a huge novel in terms of what is discusses and the magnitude of the repercussions on the characters to the trial. It is addictive, it is brilliant and what a way to start off reading for 2018 than with such a fabulous book. 

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster who sent me a copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Art of Baking Blind by Sarah Vaughan

Amazon UK

Title: The Art of Baking Blind 

Author: Sarah Vaughan

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks

Publication Date: 13th August 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

There are many reasons to bake: to feed; to create; to impress; to nourish; to define ourselves; and, sometimes, it has to be said, to perfect. But often we bake to fill a hunger that would be better filled by a simple gesture from a dear one. We bake to love and be loved.

In 1966, Kathleen Eaden, cookery writer and wife of a supermarket magnate, published The Art of Baking, her guide to nurturing a family by creating the most exquisite pastries, biscuits and cakes.

Now, five amateur bakers are competing to become the New Mrs Eaden. There's Jenny, facing an empty nest now her family has flown; Claire, who has sacrificed her dreams for her daughter; Mike, trying to parent his two kids after his wife's death; Vicki, who has dropped everything to be at home with her baby boy; and Karen, perfect Karen, who knows what it's like to have nothing and is determined her façade shouldn't slip.

As unlikely alliances are forged and secrets rise to the surface, making the choicest choux bun seems the least of the contestants' problems. For they will learn - as Mrs Eaden did before them - that while perfection is possible in the kitchen, it's very much harder in life.

A year ago I spent ages trawling around bookshops trying to pick up a copy of this book in paperback after seeing glowing reviews on blogs. After a few months of failing, I realised that it wasn't out until this year in paperback. Once I spotted it on the release schedules I was instantly eager again to try and get a copy of the book, and wow it was definitely worth the year's wait...

... What a fantastic book, full of family dynamics, baking, assorted family dramas and its a book that will definitely make you hungry while you read it. 

The book is separated into various categories, breads, cakes, puddings, biscuits etc... and each section focuses on that food stuff, as well as the characters memories of making them in childhood, how their practices are going. As well, we get insights into Kathleen Eaden's life while she was attempting to write the original baking bible "The Art of Baking". 

There are five contestants in this baking competition, all with their own reasons for entering, as well as what they are hoping to get from it. They have similarities between them, but their stories are definitely different. We don't get to learn huge amounts about Mike, but I feel he was mainly there to add a male perspective to the competition. 

The book mainly focuses on the four female competitors. 

Lily who is not finding parenthood as easy as she hopes, but does find great joy in baking with her son Alfie. 

Jenny who as the oldest women competing, is also the largest, and has grown up daughters, and a husband who has become a health freak marathon runner, so no longer appreciates the food Jenny makes.  

Claire, who is single mum to 9 year old Chloe, and is still very young, is trying make ends meet while working for the Eaden's supermarket chain. 

There is also Karen with her two teenage children, one of which seems to despise her, but will we ever discover what secrets she is hiding from her family. 

As the baking contest proceeds, various friendships are made, and the women generally become supportive of each other. Each chapter starts with a short excerpt from "The Art of Baking" and they all describe baking in a way that is very "olden days" which is clearly in keeping with the time when the tome was written. 

I found this to be a very relaxing read, one that once I started the next thing I knew loads of pages had passed, and it was such a pleasure to read it. Just remember to keep some baked goods handy while reading it, as you will crave them as the book progresses!