Restoring Grace-Katie Fforde

This book was given to me by my friend who didn't tell me anything about the novel just handed me a load of books that she personally recommened. It wouldn't from the blurb be my kind of book, however the story is very simple yet beautiful and classic. The story is about two women who come together at particularly hard times in their lifes and help restore one another and also become good friends in the process. They both have split from previous partners, one is carrying a baby and the other was divorced for a younger women. The house the women lives in needs restoring as it's very old and is described in many beautiful ways, the other women notices it's beauty and is a painter and paints a picture of the house which is how the two women meet. The story doesn't really have many twists or big shocks like many other books have these days, it just describes two women who finding a painting in the old house which helps them restore the house as it's worth 2 million and in the process they both meet and fall in love with two very respectable men. The story is simple and elegant. If you want an exciting read, don't read this. If you like beautiful and elegant storys, this is your cup of tea.

***-3 Star Rating.

'..and that's when it fell off in my hand' Louise Rennison

This particular book was given to me by one of my friends who enjoys reading. I have watched the movie "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging" which is an inspired movie from Louise Rennison's book called "Angus, Thongs and perfect Snogging" and enjoyed the film and gathered who the target audience is which is teenage girls. However, reading this book and not the two that were before this one is confusing as she uses many words that I do not understand however at the end there is a glossary. Also, this book is definetly more suitable for young teenage girls not mature teenages as the storyline is all about kissing and having major crushs on boys that the main character meets. However it is clever how it ends as it would make the reader go out and buy the follow up because you just have to know if she ends up with Masimo in America. I would recommend this for my little cousin.
*-1 Star Rating.

Abandoned-Anya Peters

Abandoned by Anya Peters is a real story from the heart and soul of the girl who was put through a horriable childhood. She grew up with her auntie and uncle as her own mother could not tell anyone she had her. So she was like a secret child. Her uncle however was abusive and used to harm her sexually and she ended up telling her mother who told the police. But over time he got released from prison and her and her auntie's relationship changed and she had to move out as the uncle moved back in. She didn't have a home to live in so ended up living in her car for months and months and her way of escape was using the library and going on the computers and starting her very own blog on this very own website. i have checked it out and the very first posts are about her telling people she is living in her car. This story really pulls the strings of your heart and makes you believe this women is such a strong, determined, knowledgeable women. If you would like to check her personal blog out for yourself it's www.wanderingscribe.blogspot.com .

***-3 Star Rating.

Enduring Love- Ian Mcewan

This book is about a couple who are on a picnic and witness a horrific event of a little boy stuck in a hot air balloon. One man out of the six who try to pull it down to the ground gets taken up into the air and drops to his death. The main character and his girlfriend witness this event and it effects there lifes as someone else who also witnessed it starts stalking the main male character and leads the main character to eventually have to shoot him as he has his girlfriend held hostage. The storyline is quite complex as there isn't really one particular storyline or plot, the storyline runs around the event that happened and the people it has affected such as the man's wife who died who thinks her husband must of been having an affair but finds out he picked up hitchhikers. I couldn't get into the book as some bits of the novel are quite complex and don't really explain anything to do with the plot so it did bore someone of my age. However, I can tell he is a good author as his writing is very intellectual and shows a great amount of knowledge on behalf of the author. I would have to read another of his novels to fully decide on him.

**-2 Star Rating.

Operation Sunshine-Jenny Colgan

Colgan's created a very amature fiction summer novel for young teenage audiences. The storyline is about a women who goes on holiday with her work collegues who work in a plastic surgery. She goes abroad and is basically put through a film like storyline where she is the heroine of saving a cruise ship taking surgery loving women out to sea and implanting seals into them and killing seals for surgery purposes. The novel has the summer aspect of love as by the end of the novel she fixes up with one of her fellow surgeons the good one not the bad one who was a part of the evil cruise ship storyline. The last three chapters and the chapters involving a mans deception for the main character Evie as he is playing a spy and making love to her to gain information about the cruise ship she knew nothing about. As you may be able to tell the storyline is very expansive however not hard to follow when you actually read the novel. I wouldn't recommend this book as it isn't a gripping or inspiring novel but it is an average read that i managed to devulge within a day. Very easy reading to say the least.
***-3 Star Rating .... this is because i have never read a storyline like it before.

The Gift- Cecelia Ahern

This is a holiday fiction novel which does admittedly get you in the spirits of christmas; if you read near christmas and not in the middle of an English summer. However, this book has a wonderful message all about the gift of time and to spend it wisely as we all may know time is the greatest gift of all but many take advantages to this particular gift. There are some parts of this book however that are rather confusing for example the part where he confronts Gabe about the pill being a headache pill, it is hard to register if this is about a metaphor being uncovered or whether it is just a part of the story. Overall this book did make me think very deeply about life and all that we take for granted, the time period this book revolves around is a family time (christmas) where people should be around those they love. The main character Lou takes advantage of his family and it's only when he takes in Gabe off the streets that Gabe starts making Lou perceive things differently. The death of Lou in the last three chapters of the book had me in tears when he takes the pill and spends his last few moments as the clone of himself with his family. This is the only book where the ending has had me crying my eyes out. Very light read but you do need to read this little treasure alone as if other people are in the room you may feel slightly embarassed when the tears start to flow.
*****-5 Star Rating.

One Day- David Nicholls

This novel was given to me by my mother as she read it in one read and said it was a really insightful novel about not noticing whats right in front of you till its too late and just friendships and growing old. Each chapter is set on the same day so each chapter skips a year and show what the two characters are doing and whether they are in touch with one another after each year. It starts from 1988 and works it's way into the 20th Century which explores how age has developed for the two characters and how love has progressed from friendship to a marriage between the two of them. The women who i fell in love throughout this novel dies when she finally gets with Dexter who she has been in love with from chapter 1 (1988) and I think it allows the readers to consider and think deeply about the present and not taking anything for granted because you dont know when its just going to up and go. The storyline is so very unique as I have never read a book like this before and It is definetly a book I would recommend a mature reader to indulge into this book, you will definetly not be able to put it down.
*****-5 Star Rating.

Chasing Harry Winston- Lauren Weisberger

Weisberger's previous novel I read "The Devil Wears Prada" I did not enjoy and found her style of writing to be quite unrealistic of a women's perspective and what a women would want to read. However, in this book it is very much so in the style of Sex and The City and is set in New York so that was Point number 1 for selling this novel to me. Number 2 was the creative storyline of 3 women all in New York, bestfriends who all make a pact that they change a feauture of there lifes. There is no big shockers and I feel that Weisberger's style of writing is still subtle and she doesn't really create a big tension in the novel but creates a lot for women to discuss and share opinions on. The fact that there are talks of this book becoming a movie just like A Devil Wears Prada has excited me as even whilst i was reading this novel I could imagine it being a film just like Sex and The City.
****-4 Star Rating

Dreams That Glitter- Girls Aloud

This autobiography starts from the very beginning of these girls journey to the very present moment in time when the book was released which was 2008. The book lets each member have a say on everything from there family upbringings to there journeys to becoming stars. They each have a section which shows photography of them from when they was little to them now, and each have a factual page about there likes and dislikes. The autobiography is full of pictures and bright colours to keep the readers entertained whilst reading it and to show the readers particular events which are mentioned. For a Girls Aloud fan this book would be ideal as it really gave a better insight into particular members who are quite quiet in the media. The girls who really show a nice sentimental side to them in this book would be Cheryl, Kimberley and Nadine. Sarah is the most shocking as I personally imagined her to be the most loudest and confident member which she is most definetly not after reading this. Nicola on the other hand comes across confident and cocky and annoyed me throughout reading this book.
**-2 Star Rating

Cheryl Cole- Gerard Sanderson

This is an unauthorized biography which my friend lent to me as she said it was quite an enjoyable, easy read. I don't usually enjoy reading about celebrities lifestyles for my usual read. However, this book gave a really detailed and nice insight into Cheryl Cole's journey of stardom and what the press have put her through. Before reading this book I liked Cheryl Cole but I never really understood all that the press had put her through testing her relationship with Ashley Cole and her court case through racist discrimation in a nightclub. But after reading this biography I can honestly say Cheryl Cole is a great inspiration to many young girls who inspire to sing or get into the world of fame. I love how this book conveys her however at the beginning when all it talks about is her beautiful looks and even from childhood she was a showstopper, is quite boring and repetitive, however towards the end of the book you just fall in love with her journey and strength. I would recommend this book to a friend if they liked her or if they wasn't sure whether they did or not as I feel it can completely change somebodys perception of her. The way in which Sanderson writes though is very much quoting from different publifications but the overall story it conveys and the way the chapters represent different dilemmas she has faced and different parts of her journey are very easy to understand and follow. It is an easy read as me and my friend decided.
****-4 Star Rating.

Married Lovers-Jackie Collins

This is the second novel of Jackie Collin's I have read in the past month and this book definetly showed me what my family meant by her raunchy style of writing and her sexual text throughout the story. This book was about a girl named Cameron Paradise who is a fitness trainer who ran away to escape her violent husband. She opens her own fitness centre and begins mixing with a load of celebrities and superstars, she is seeing this one man however lusts after his bestfriend who is in a complicated marriage. Throughout the book there are different sections called Anya which towards the end of the book all come together and make sense as to why they have been placed in the book at random times. Again Jackie Collin's writes about a lot of characters but in this one it;s easier to keep track of each of them as there introduced one at a time not in one big bundle. The storyline was one of the best storylines i have ever read, very enticing and i couldn't put the book down towards the middle of it as a lot of revealations and the plot begins to unfold. This book was given to me as recommended by one of my close friend's she said it is her favourite book and I can completely see why. I will definetly be recommending.
*****-5 Star Rating.

Drop Dead Beautifull the continuing adventures of Lucky Santangelo- Jackie Collins

This book was bought for me by one of my best friends at christmas time this year, she recommend Jackie Collins to me as an author as she said she is one of her favourite authors since reading one of her many books. This particular book took me a while to get into and I only really got into it when i got used to all the characters and the many different storylines taking place in this one book as there about 6 different storylines and about 30 characters to get acquanted to. However, the storyline towards the middle and end of the book was really edgy and not like something I've read before so it made the book a lot better to read and more captivating. I would read more of Jackie Collin's books as my friend has also gave me another one of her books to read to see what my take is on this particular book she found really good. When i told my older relatives i was reading a Jackie Collin's book they grunted and both mentioned that her storys are explicit, however for me i have read a lot more dirtier and less sophisticated books in my time so this doesn't really count for my generation I would say.
****- 3 and a half Star Rating.

Short Stories From Different Cultures "Opening Worlds"

Chinua Achebe "Dead Men's Path"
This short story is about a headmaster who is all for 'modern methods'. He decides to get rid of a pathway which is used by the villagers to get to a burial where many ancestors are buried. This pathway crosses the school territory and the new headmaster decides to block it off and suggests the community build a new pathway which doesn't cross the school territory. The gardens and the border stopping the villagers from using the pathway is destroyed, this symbolises the African traditions and the fight the native Africans may have experienced with new rulers trying to exploit there culture and change traditional beliefs and values. The story gives insight into the traditions of African culture and the fights experienced with the 'modern methods' being exploited upon traditional villagers. The headmaster dismisses traditional values and shows no consideration towards these values.


Bessie Head "Snapshots of a wedding"
This short story symbolises again the modern and tradition values of an African community. Neo symbolises the modern traditions of women and being educated and modern in her ways, Mathata on the other hand is representing the traditional values of an African women and shows respect to people of the community. As the title suggests 'Snapshots' it is an insight into the decision of a man choosing one women over another however Bessie describes Kegoletile to be seeing both women and spending a lot of time with each women as he has impregnated the two of them. This short story gives insight into the decision a man has to make between the traditional lifestyle or the modern lifestyle and what the traditional relatives of his feel towards Neo's traditional and arrogant attitude.


Nadine Gordimer "The train from Rhodesia"
This short story represents the racial segregation in South Africa during the 1900's. The passengers on the train are of white ethnicity and are tourists of the country, the natives are shown in a less privelidged way to the tourists. The natives are of black ethnicity and this represents the racial segregation between the white and black ethnicitys. The natives are selling items they have made to the tourists in order for survival for there families. The young tourist couple on the train, a women and man are approached by a native who is selling a wooden carved lion with a beautiful mane. The women is amazed by the beauty of the carving but the price is too much, her husband bargains with the native until the train is pulling off so that the native has to sell the carving for far less than it is worth. The man's wife is appauled by her desperate the native must have been to accept such a low price for his beautiful carving just to survive that it makes her feel guilt and ashamed by her husband's unsympathetic attitude.


Khamsing Srinawk "The Gold-Legged frog"
This short story represents the poverty and life of four main characters portrayed through the story. One character which can be seen as the main character is a father who has to work hard in order to provide food and money for his children. The details of poverty surround his lifestyle and what he has to make do with 'all you do is suffer if your born a rice farmer and a subject'. Another character is his son who is bit by a python and seeks comfort from his father when experiencing pain. The character who is portrayed as holding a great amount of power within the story is the deputy district officer who all the neighbours and villagers turn to when they need 'two hundred baht' or help within the community. The story represents poverty and powerful positions in society which explores the cultures power system and the family devotion of all the neighbours having so many children to look out for.


Amy Tan "Two Kinds"
This short story examines the complex relationship between mother and daughter. The story relates to the american dream and what different culture's seek when they aim to achieve something big in America. The story is of a mother wanting her daughter to be a 'genius' and to make her into her very own prodigy. The mother trys molding her daughter into a musical prodigy however this does not work out. The short story is all about identifying your own identity and the little girl not following her own aspirations but being pushed by her mother in all types of directions and music was not her way forward. I liked this particular short story as this was the story that i actually felt the little girls emotions of anger towards her mother pushing her in all types of directions. The moral of the story is just that the girl finally stands up to her mother as she knows music is not a part of her identity because it is forced upon her however she appreciates music as at the end she plays the piano again as an adult and it shows the difference between being a women and a child.


Feng Ji-Cai "The tall woman and her short husband"
This short story is extremely touching and is about the pressure of the life between a husband and wife and there physical differences to one another. The Tailor's wife plays the nosey neighbour and can be evaluated as a jelous wife who does not have such a close relationship with her husband so wants to put a fault towards there tight bond relationship. She accuses Mrs Tall to being with her husband because he is rich and she is poor so wedded him just to be in a secure position in society. The couple change in appearance when they are aware from one another showing they both when together keep one another safe and happy. There physical differences become there strength in there relationship despite how others regard them.

Karl Sealy "The pieces of silver"
This short story is about family relationships, poverty and unfairness within the structure of society. There is a clear symbolism of money throughout as the young boy who says at the end he has 8 pieces of silver one for each person who hasnt paid, shows the unimportance of money to him and his family. The fact that the man in headmasters position wants money shows the different values to different people in this society. The headmaster uses his position in the school to bully the children out of money and make them humiliated by treating them unfairly for not putting money towards his leave. The young boy at the end ironically becomes the hero however he is not the one with the most amount of power in the story.


Ismith Khan "The Red Ball"
This short story I personally did not understand the concept of as it is not written in the most easiest form of understanding the plot of the story. I gathered some of the themes of this story are about adjusting to new cultures, the poverty of a family, family relationships and so on. Parental authority is regarded towards the main character through his parents and the way in which they both treat him and there relationship with him is also reflected. The statue is an oxymoron for safety and someone who does not speak but yet the smile of this statue makes him feel safe and happy. This statue fulfills the needs he wants from his own father. The ball represents new opportunities for this young boy and a new place and new people to be meeting. The ball makes him more recognised and gives him a sense of power over other people.The language throughout reflects the poverty surrounding them as the speech such as 'thin bonney' the boys shout at him reflects his physical image due to his lifestyle.


Ruth Prawer Jhabvala "The young couple"
This short story is about a newley wedded couple the women British and the man an Indian. They are both from different cultures and this is represented through showing the differences of life in each country as in India the couple no longer sit close to one another or even touch one another in public. Whereas, back in England they were stuck to glue and often kissing and touching in public. Not only is there communication changed due to the different lifestyle of the Indian culture but the family in India have more to say and there are more restrictions in India put upon women so this strains the relationship. The story is about relationships in family and the culture differences and strains it can have when there is a dramatic social change for an individual.


R.K.Narayan "Leela's Friend"
This short story I don't really understand the point of. It does focus on family relationships and childhood however the ending does not portray a particularly valid meaning I felt. The child grows very fond of someone who is accused of stealing the child's chain which he does not which is found out in the end. However he is still a criminal who has stole jewellery previously however the child loves him regardless of this. I think the story just reflects different family relationships and the love the child has regardless of his representation.


Anita Desai "Games at twilight"
This short story is about the theme of childhood and a young boy's feelings when he sets out to win a game of hide and seek and the other children end up forgetting about him. The story explores child psychology and helps to understand the thought process of a child and how they can feel insignificant at times when they are forgotten or told off. The story I felt didn't really explore the culture of India it explores family relationships and childhood themes but I didn't gain much into the childhood of an Indian boy. It does however show that many games children play universally and not just in one particular country. The vivid imagery of him being alone in the shed and the fear of anything watching or touching him in the shed show the thought process of a young child when they are alone.



Yuri Nagibin "The winter oak"
This short story has themes of teacher and pupil relationships and the judging of a character. As after the teacher has took a walk to the child's house she understands the beauty of his walk to school and see's nature for what it is. Such as the big oak tree the vivid imagery used to describe this tree shows the real beauty and hugeness of this particular object. The story is about the different perceptions of things through different people's eyes however when it came to this natural beauty they both indvidually saw the forest and the oak for what it was.

Fairytale Of New York-Miranda Dickinson

Fairytale of New York is a really lovely story about a woman who escapes to New York after a tragic event took place in her life. This isn't revealed however till further into the story to keep you guessing what happened to her that made her so unable to want and feel love. The storyline is a pretty obvious one with how it is going to end however it doesn't stop you from carrying on wanting to read it. The book is a happy one to say the least and if you was going through a bad time or anything i would definetly recommend this book to you as it is a pick me up kind of feeling you get from the book. I read this book before I went to New York as obviously through the title it reveals the location but it doesn't talk much about the city just the different people you may see and the lifestyles of many people. Unlike Lindsey Kelk's I Heart New York which talks a lot about the city and allows a good insight into what to expect this book isn't really about the city but about finding love and a new start in New York. One of my all time favourite stories and books.
*****-5 Star Rating.

The food of love-Anthony Capella

Capella has such a distinct technique to writing about food, you can literally feel yourself salvating in the mouth as you read. The book does include a lot of recipe type texts however the general storyline is about two friends getting attracted to an American tourist however one is a chef and the other is a waitor, the waitor pretends he is a chef so he can get the girl and show her the "real romance of Italy". His friend however has to do all the cooking, and it is the food which she falls in love with, whilst his friend also falls in love for cooking for her. The book has a very unique romantic storyline and the book itself uses a lot of humour throughout. The description of the fierce and hot sexual intercourse throughout is also a very key part of this book.
****-4 Star Rating.

My Silver Shoes - Nell Dunn

My silver shoes is a hard book to comment on really and write a review. It's about my Grandmother's generation and a daughter's perspective looking after her mother when she gets dimentia. The storyline isn't at all very grabbing or exciting, I just found the book quite comical and funny throughout. There are quite a few characters in the book but don't let this put you off, the general idea i found was fun and not being your stereotypical ill or aged woman. I gave this book to my friend to read after me as I was interested in what other people my age would take of the book, however she didn't really take to it and said she didn't like it and wanted to put the book down without finishing it. I totally disagree I thought it was worth a read, however I wouldn't read one of Nell Dunn's books again as I don't like her style of writing very much, it's quite sharp and blunt.
***-3 Star Rating.

Wish You Were Here- Mike Gayle

This book was also recommended by one of my friend's as we are going away together in Malia for two weeks so she gave me the book to read about the strip and the youth culture we are going to experience. Gayle's storyline is an extremely unique one about 3 middle aged men going to a teen party island and all the events that take place which relate to the childish features of men, the book was a very funny book and was good at keeping me reading without wanting to put down. The beginning was a bit slow and ruined the book for me really but the ending and the book itself was a success and it is definetly a funny book to read. Not really a romance but a reality check book.
****-4 Star Rating

I Heart New York-Lindsey Kelk

I was given this book by a friend who told me it was a typical "me" read, by this she means I love a bit of romance and because I am totally in love with New York. This book was beautifull and Lindsey Kelk's storyline and writing skills had me glued to the book from beginning to the end. The character's are so easy to connect with and imagine, I felt the emotions the main character was experiencing and all the places described in New York were so beautifully described and understood. I recently went to New York with my mother and this book put it into a realistic beautifull image of what to expect from the breathtaking city. My boyfriend also broke my heart whilst I was in New York, and the main character escapes reality by going to New York and I can honestly say there is no better place to run away to then here to get over the pain of a break up. One of my favourite romance books.
*****-5 Star Rating.

Victoria The Biography-Sean Smith

Sean Smith is an extremely popular Biographist who writes many biographies for people such as Cheryl Cole, Victoria Beckham etc. He is successful due to the fact he starts from the very beginning and writes up to the exact present moment in time, he is very precise with his information and knows the history of the celebrity and the real truth. His point of view isn't really expressed which is always easier to read when reading a biography as reading bias views and thoughts doesn't really make a good book as it's like reading exploitation of a magazine. This biography is the first one I have read and wrote a review for on here. And for anyone who enjoys biography's I would definetly recommend to read one of his books. This biography for me made me a bit more softer viewed on Victoria Beckham and really gave me much more insight into how the Spice Girls began, I really enjoyed the biography.
***-3 Star Rating.

Devil Wears Prada-Lauren Weisberger

Weisberger has won many awards for her classic books inspired by nowhere else other than Manhatten. The busy lifestyle, the working woman, the film "The Devil Wears Prada" was inspired by Weisberger's novel. The film i watched before reading the book which may make my opinion a bit unfair however i read the novel afterwards and I must admit I preferred the structure and storyline of the film than the book. The book is boring and I didn't like any of the characters which didn't help the situation.
**-2 Star Rating.

Angel Uncovered- Katie Price

Katie Price is not well known as an author for mature and sophisticated writing for high levels of education etc. However, her books are for my age group and as a passionate reader I enjoy reading books that are recommended to me by other people to see what all the fuss is about. This is the follow up to her previous book Angel and it has a good storyline however the ending is annoying and every person I know got annoyed with the ending of this book. However, if an author can annoy you through there ending or a main part of the storyline surely its shows that the storyline was a success as it created emotions for the readers.
****-4 Star Rating.

Plain Truth-Jodi Picoult

This book was actually given to my out of recommendation by my grandmother, she said Picoult was one of her favourite authors and this particular book of hers was a really good storyline. It has the storyline of a thriller and keeps you guessing throughout about who killed the baby and who's baby it was. However all is revealed in the end and the ending of the book is also quite nice. I can see why my grandmother enjoys Picoult's writing so much I did take a while to get into the book however her writing is beautifully thought out and put together and the storyline a beautifull creation. However, it isn't the usual storyline I would usually enjoy but I did like this book.
***-3 Star Rating.

Looking For JJ-Anne Cassidy

A soft thriller which is either written targetting older children or younger teenagers I felt this is just due to the softness of the story and the uncomplicatedness. The storyline was really catchy and was all about a women who has a new identity because of the murder she committed to her friend, throughout the book you find out more about the murder and the motives behind the actions. The storyline is good however I strongly disliked the ending of this book and it did annoy me very much so, because it was like it was just going back to the beginning of the story which done my head in.
****-4 Star Rating.

A Man Named Dave- Dave Pelzer

This is the last book from Pelzer's sequence of titles, this book I was told bored a lot of people and they had to put it down because they didn't enjoy the first two or three chapters. Now I must admite I agree, the first couple of chapters were so boring, Dave explains his role in the US airforce and it isn't particularly interesting as that isn't why people read his books for they read to understand and listen to his story, so it was slightly boring. However, the story of when he has his son and his failed marriage then finding true love over the phone and the story of how he published his books was truelly beautifull and I found myself getting really really connected with him as a person. This was the perfect way for Pelzer to end his series of books and although people say it bores them, I always recommend they carry on reading because it definetly finishes his books in such a powerful way that is unexplanatory.
***-3 Star Rating.

The Wrong Sort Of Girl- Valerie-Annne Baglietto

Quite a fierce and sexual read which I wasn't expecting, the storyline is consistant and doesn't really stop. The type of character Meg is though I don't feel like I like her at all and I don't really connect with her intentions or her feelings throughout. The book itself is an okay read but just as I mentioned for the previous book I wouldn't recommend this book to my friends as I don't feel there was enough going on in the storyline for it to be a worthwhile read.
***-3 Star Rating.

The curious Incident of the dog in the night time -Mark Haddon

The main character Christopher suffers from fairly intense autism and unlike your typical detective story this makes this book more memorable and more of a classic original read. However, although this book was recommended to me and has won so many prizes etc etc. I thought in general the book was not for me, I don't really enjoy thrillers anyways but this book was wrote as if it was by someone with autism and I just didn't enjoy the story in general because of this factor and because it's not really my type of read.
**-2 Star Rating.

Crystal-Katie Price

Crystal is another one of Katie Price's collection. This particular book has an amazing storyline and the creation of the storyline is very celebrity exposure mediated. The character Crystal becomes famous in a pop group however there any many complications along the way and many bad experiences throughout the book which make the storyline so explosive. I read this book whilst on holiday and I would definetly recommend to any of my friend's who were going away to read this book as it's a typical girl read and whilst laying round the pool, you would definetly discuss this book. Although, i think the way in which the writing and the story is explained isn't very professional I think this book itself is her best book.
*****-5 Star Rating.

White Stranger-Susan Gates

I'm not sure whether this book is targetted for young people or middle aged people in there teens, as it is a weird one to grasp hold of. Its not a well known story or book but I discovered in round my nans house one day and asked to borrow it. The story is a real insight into the prejudice societies where there may be someone who was born into a society where there is no multi cultures but because of your colour you are depicted as the odd one out. This story has a meaning behind it which makes the book what it is however the book was not something I would recommend to any of my friends as it is a very good or intrigueing read.
**-2 Star Rating.

The Lost Boy-Dave Pelzer

I read Dave Pelzer's books in the wrong sequence however I started off with the second book which is about his story of going through the aftermath of convicting his mother of abusing him and the trial he had to go through. Being abondoned by his brothers and his mother and going from home to home whilst growing up. He tells his story of school experiences, meeting different foster carers and his everlasting love for his mother even after all the abuse she caused him. In the end of this book Dave Pelzer talks about joining the US Air Force and his own future goals now he is growing up. This book was extremely emotional and heartfelt at times however I generally really enjoyed this book and enjoy Dave Pelzer's writing in general.
***-3 Star Rating.

Angel-Katie Price

Katie Price does not write her own stuff she simply tells someone else what to write and they write it up for her. However, the storylines she does come up with are full of glamour and would appeal to majority of women. This particular story is about a girl who is discovered just as Katie Price once was and she quickly becomes swallowed up in all the fame and glamour of being a well known celebrity. The ending of a chapter always made me want to carry on reading and this allowed me to finish the book in no time at all, the characters were all very realistic and almost sounded like people that surround Katie Price herself. The ending was quite typical however it was a lovely ending to a horriable story of Angel's life, so resulted in good way.
****-4 Star Rating

The accidental Virgin-Valerie Frankel

Valerie Frankel I have concluded after reading a second of her collection is not an author I enjoy at all. I don't like her writing techniques as I don't connect with the characters at all and I also don't like the storylines she creates, they are all very bland and obvious. This book was pretty simple and the storyline used humour so that was probably the best part of it, the ending was okay as I didn't expect that however it was extremely unrealistic and who she chooses at the end annoyed me overall. So it ruined all hope it had going for it because of the ending. I have concluded I don't really enjoy Frankel's books at all.
**-2 Star Rating

Smart Vs. Pretty-Valerie Frankel

For me personally this book was one of the most frustrating books I have ever tried reading, the storyline didn't grasp me at all and I didn't connect with either of the characters in the slightest. The whole point of the book is ridiculous and the storyline doesn't really have much point too it. It's just about two very different sisters who are managing there parents cafe but things take place along the way to get in the way of success etc. However, it is very boring and very easy to put down and never want to read again.
*-1 Star Rating

No Time For Goodbye-Linwood Barclay

Judging from the front cover of the book, my initial thought was that the book was for men and that it was going to be some kind of man's typical crime investigation book. However, this book is simply one of the most cleverly put together books I have ever read. The storyline was absolutely amazing, it kept me guessing throughout the entire book. The book is known to be a top selling thriller book and it definetly earnt that title, the flashbacks throughout and the mind games played throughout, excited me beyond my belief. However, I think the let down is that it is not particularly well written.
*****=5 Star Rating

Just A Boy-Richard McCann

A truelly beautifull true story about a boy and his three sisters who's mother doesn't return home one night so they go out looking for her. His mother is brutally killed by the Yorkshire Ripper and the four children get sent to all type of violent homes where his sister was brutally raped and he was constantly beaten. The tale is all about transformation and hope within families or people that may have suffered abuse when they was younger too. The tale is one that was extremely touching and an inspiration to many people who read this book. Richard's transformation is inspiring to many people including me, he never gave up hope.
***-3 Star Rating

Pressed Fairy Book-Lady Cottington

"Pressed Fairy Book" I discovered when I was round visiting my Great Aunt, she always used to tell me to look at how beautifull the images were when i was younger but used to flip the pages quickly when it got to images such as the one above because they were always too rude for me to see, so she would say. The book is in style of a journal of a young girl who squashes fairys, there isn't that much text on each page as the images are all pretty explanatory and it's what makes the book what it is. The images however are beautifully created and make the book what it is. It was definetly the most prettiest book I have ever read, for the illastrations.
**-2 Star Rating

Things Fall Apart-Chinua Achebe

This isn't a book I would choose of the shelf probably because i can tell from even looking at the front cover that it would be a hard read as it is based around the Traditional African background. Some words in this book are hard to understand so because I studied this book as part of my exam for year one of my college course, it was easier to understand as we went through the words as a group. The book was not a favourite of mine, I didn't enjoy the storyline and the ending was rubbish to be honest it was a book that I don't feel i connected with at all. The characters were hard to understand and the traditions were interesting to read about such as the man being a fierce man who is allowed three wives and has different children with each wife. But the story in general didn't make me want to continue reading and for this I would have to give it..
*-1 Star Rating.

Let's Meet On Platform 8-Carole Matthews

A realistic encounter of a romantic story as the man has a wife but falls in love with this women he meets at Platform 8. However, it is not an unrealistic book and the characters I felt i couldn't really understand or feel connected with. And whilst reading a book i like to feel like an observer in reality of the characters in this book however I don't feel Matthews portrayed them all that clearly. This is another type of book I would recommend to my mother or nan I don't feel it is aimed at my age group.
***-3 Star Rating.

Two Caravans-Marina Lewycka

Marina Lewycka's follow up to her previous novel "A short history of tractors in Ukrainion" is even funnier than her first novel. The characters will have you laughing throughout till the beginning to the end and unlike the first one there is no history on tractors to get bored off. The storyline is exciting as I have never read a book which covers the storyline Marina has created. Definetly a great success to her previous book and Marina came back with vengence with this one.
**-2 Star Rating

A Short History Of Tractors In Ukranion-Marina Lewycka

Well, a hard novel to summon up really in words. Some parts of the book are extremely boring unless you have an interest in tractors and want to learn about how they are made and there history. However, i should have expected this from the title of the books as it simply quotes "history of tractors.." however this book is extremely captivating and hilarious at the same time. It did make me laugh at load at particular points and the description is unbelievably correct describing the ukranians in general and the old man and his "big boobed lover". Even my friend's mother who read this book agreed that this book is an unforgettable one and you can't help but carry on reading because of the humour it provides. My mother also read the book and told me to read it and then feedback to her what i thought and she also agreed she had to skip the pages about the history of the tractors. However, overall a very funny read and I would recommend to read it to understand what this review means.
**-2 Star Rating.