The Paris Seamstress – Natasha Lester
Kate's review
A dual-timeline novel that moves between the 1940s and contemporary times, The Paris Seamstress is a gorgeously rich and romantic novel about young women finding their way in the world. The story begins with Estella Bissette, a young apprentice seamstress working with her mother at a fashion designer’s atelier in Paris. She dreams of designing her own dresses but the Nazis are closing on France, and no-one knows what the future will hold.Episode 8: Natasha Lester – The Paris Seamstress
Word of Mouth TV interviews Natasha Lester, author of The Paris Seamstress - a feast for fashionistas and romantics everywhere. The Paris Seamstress has gained accolades from all corners of the world, which is appropriate given it spans the globe, taking readers from Paris to New York and Australia and back again. And it's not just a fashion feast; we served Natasha a divine lobster and salmon mousse with caviar, inspired by a scene in the novel. Enjoy!
D.H. Lawrence’s Figs poem very juicy in its day
Iconic literary food moments
Poets have immortalised food, particularly fruit, over the centuries, tantalising the senses at every turn. One thinks of Pablo Neruda's Tomatoes, or Thomas Campion's Cherry Ripe. For Holly Ringland's edition, we have chosen D.H. Lawrence's Figs, given it is a warmer climate tree, and because it reminds us that, at the heart of all existence, lies desire and passion.
Straight from the authors’ mouths
Recommended reads
No doubt you have all polished off the last round of book recommendations and are hungry for more. Never fear, Word of Mouth TV is here. Holly Ringland serves up our first vegan cookbook recommendation, and a lovely non-fiction book about friendship, which is so fitting given Word of Mouth TV is about food, books and friendship. Happy reading!
Holly Ringland’s gorgeous giveaway
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Thanks to Harper Collins and Murdoch Books, Word of Mouth TV has two beautiful book packs to give away this week for our Holly Ringland episode. What’s in the box? Holly Ringland's The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart , The Country Women's Association of NSW's Everything I Know About Cooking I Learned from the Country Women's Association of NSW , Kate Forsyth's Beauty in Thorns, and S.L. Mills' GOM’s Gold.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart – Holly Ringland
Kate's review
An astonishingly assured debut, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a story of love, loss, betrayal and the redemptive power of storytelling. It is both heart-breaking and life-affirming. A coming-of-age story with a vividly evocative Australian setting, this novel follows the story of Alice Hart who must learn to escape the shadows of an abusive father in order to build a life for herself. The Australian landscape, and its strange and beautiful flora, has a potent presence in the novel.
Pineapple and mint salsa and herby tomatoes
Portrait of a recipe
Something light and fresh was needed to accompany our Balmain bugs for the Holly Ringland interview and this pineapple and mint salsa paired with a tomato and herb salad fitted the bill. It was 29 degrees in the shade for this interview and not a scrap of salad was left in the bowls by the end of the day - simple hot-weather crowd pleasers. We hope you enjoy these salads as much as we did.
Holly Ringland’s Balmain Bugs in lemon myrtle
Portrait of a recipe
Holly Ringland's novel The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is an ode to Australia's unique and exquisite flora, so it seemed fitting to use an Australian herb - lemon myrtle - to dress these delicious local Balmain bugs for our interview. Accompanied by a pineapple and mint salsa, it was the perfect al-fresco meal for this unseasonally hot Autumn day.Episode 7: Holly Ringland’s Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Word of Mouth TV caught up with Holly Ringland on her whirlwind tour of Australia. Her novel, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, was one of the debut sensations of the year. Holly talks with us about the language of flowers and what it feels like to have your writing dreams come true. She also offers a great cookbook recommendation for all our vegan fans (we know there are a few).