#evening primrose
Evening Primrose by Kopano Matlwa
Rating: 9/10
This was such an interesting read, I was honestly really pleasantly surprised by hw much I enjoyed this book. If you’ve been reading my review for a while, then you’ll know that the thing I hate about reading is expectation. If my expectations are too high because of a ‘hype’ then I’m always disappointed - so my outlook is to always go in with low expectation.
But this book really took me by surprise. I was kindly sent a copy of this book by Hodder & Stoughton, and I don’t know why, but I’m always a little hesitant when I get sent books by publishing companies and feel a lot of pressure to read them. But I decided that this would be one of my holiday reads…little did I realise that it would be so profound.
The novel is in the form of diary entries, so follows the life of the narrator from when she’s very young through into her adult life in South Africa - her education as a teenager, training as a doctor, her relationship with her mother. But most importantly, the novel also comments on a number of socio-political events and attitudes within South Africa.
Throughout the book there’s a lot of commentary on the divide within the community between light and dark skinned South Africans, as well as xenophobic attitudes towards individuals from North African countries and the discrimination that they face/faced.
There are so many interesting comments made throughout the novel, without giving too much of the novel’s plot away (as to prevent spoilers), its interesting to read about the inability to speak out against a majority view or ideology.
I became so engrossed in this book that I managed to start, and finish it in a matter of hours. Due to the length and layout of the book, it was very easy to just power read, but the cliff hangers and content also helped keep me hooked too.
I’m so so in love with this book and everything that it discusses and the way it brings taboo subjects into the forefront of narrative, you’d be a fool not to read it. Completely and utterly deserving of its 9/10 rating, Evening Primrose is a touching and thought provoking novel that will leave you completely stunned - a must read this summer.
Post link
Two Chenopodiums and an Oenothera against a brick wall on Main Street, Montpellier, Vermont. Or put another way, Lambs’ Quarters and Evening Primrose at sunset on the wall of the Savoy Theatre.
Post link
WARNING:Follow recipes with caution, ensure you do not have adverse reaction to any of the ingredients, DO NOT EAT if you have bleeding disorders (can’t take blood thinners), are pregnant, or have a history of seizures or epilepsy
Evening Primrose w/ Walnuts - 4 Evening Primrose roots (finely grated) - turmeric - 1 pinch ground coriander seeds - chives (finely chopped) - 1 tsp mustard - 1 tsp lemon juice - 2 tbs tahini - sea salt - walnuts (for garnish) - In medium bowl mix roots with turmeric, coriander, and chives - Add mustard, lemon juice, and tahini - stir well - Season with salt and pepper to taste (1)
Evening Primrose Stew w/ Stinging Nettle Pesto - STEW: 2 yellow onions (cubed) - 2 carrots (cubed) - 1 small celery root (cubed) - 1 small savoy cabbage (finely chopped) - 6 potatoes (cubed) - 8 evening primrose roots (cubed) - (¼ cup total) sage, bay leaves, clove, thyme, lovage - 2 tbs olive oil - 1 ½ quarts vegetable broth : PESTO: 2 handfuls baby spinach - 1 cup bread (cubed) - ¼ cup olive oil - salt. - In large pan sauté vegetables with seasoning and herbs in olive oil for 20 minutes - Add vegetable broth and simmer until tender about 15 minutes - Transfer to serving bowl - Blend pesto ingredients until smooth - Serve with stew. (1)
Roasted Evening Primrose Roots - 3 Evening Primrose roots (w/out blooms), 3 carrots, 2 beets, 2 parsnips, 1 sweet potato, 2 cloves of garlic, olive oil, cinnamon, ground rosemary, salt, 2 tbs brown sugar, 3 tbs primrose seeds - preheat oven to 425 F - wash and chop roots - toss roots with oil and seasonings - cook on baking sheet for 1 hr (2)
Baked Evening Primrose Seeds - harvest in fall from seed pods, place on baking sheet, preheat oven to 325 F - cook 15 min (can be eaten alone or added to salads, oils, etc) (5)
Steamed Seed Pods - collect seed pods in late summer, steam as one would green beans, done when tender (6)
Evening Primrose Flowers - may be added (raw) to salads, soups, and (cooked) to other cooked greens (5)
Tea - All parts may be boiled for tea (mixes well with green tea, lemon balm, honey, and mint) - plain evening primrose tea can be used externally to treat acne and other skin issues (3)
Fried Evening Primrose Root - cut roots into strips - dip into egg batter - fry in oil (4)
Primrose and Potato Gratin - wash, chop, and parboil roots of evening primrose and potatoes - cook with cream and cheese into a gratin (4)
Evening Primrose Horseradish - wash and finely grate evening primrose root - mix with vinegar, salt, and honey - optionally may add mayo (4)
As a medicine/take daily - Infuse 1 tbs of dried/powered/ground evening primrose root in 2 tbs or honey. (3)
Sources:
- https://publicism.info/gardening/curious/12.html
- https://www.herbalrootszine.com/articles/practical-primrose/
- https://enchantersgreen.com/evening-primrose
- http://hungerandthirstforlife.blogspot.com/2010/10/wild-about-evening-primrose-root.html
- https://herbalpicnic.blogspot.com/2013/08/evening-primrose.html
- http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbEvePrimroseRec.htm
Blooming now in the garden, bright and happy Evening Primrose flowers. Tall and erect pink and yellow varieties making quite a show.
Post link
Violet and pink (by: Garden of Eve)
This is a Roxanne Geranium with an Evening Primrose and a Drift Rose. They are just so pretty together.
