The New Optimists Recommend Science Books: Helen Griffiths on books about food and Larkin’s poetry

Helen Griffiths is a Professor in Biomedical Sciences at Aston University, and she contributes her book recommendations to this next post in our ‘New Optimists Recommend’ series.

Richard Mabey – Food For Free: Great illustrations that point the reader in the direction of foods that can be safely foraged and then put to good use. I am presently making sloe gin recipe with my foraged treasure.

Madhur Jaffrey – Curry Easy. The first curry recipe book that was bought for me over 20 years ago was written by Madhur Jaffrey. Her latest addition to my recipe shelf is very different, with lighter sauces which retain the flavoursome tastes that are her trademark.

Philip Larkin – The Whitsun Weddings: Much of my reading material is of a scientific nature and is usually optimistic in nature! I covered some of Philip Larkin’s poetry for O Level and was recently reminded of his works, which could be construed as depressing; he coveys vivid images of life events with a language which is accessible to non-literary buffs. Reading Whitsun Weddings reminds me both of his creativity and his view of life.

Stieg Larsson – The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest: Vacation time is my novel time. My preference is to read those novels that are set in a political and national context with which I am unfamiliar. I was taken by Larsson’s first novel, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and had to follow this up with The Girl Who Played With Fire, set against a backdrop of Swedish politics. The strongest book of the trilogy is in my view, the final book – The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest – probably best read after the first two, which build the anti-hero character of Lisbeth Salander.

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