The blog book I have been reading is by Vanessa Feltz and it's called 'Raw Voices'. It tells true stories of hardship and hope, having to overcome great difficulties to change their lives and others around them. One of the stories is called The Teacher.
'The Teacher' by Paul Lloyd - Paul Lloyd was a teenager in trouble with the police, in and out of prison with no future and no education. What could get worse? Whilst working in the prison library Paul decides, probably just picking up these books, maybe I should read them. A prison officer helped him by bringing him some books and comics to read. It was about this time things changed for Paul. He read slowly at first as he was never a good reader, but he had the time to improve his reading skills, especially as his supported prison officer was encouraging him. He found a new belief for himself. And ultimately through his own changes he decided he would become a teacher and help other prisons like himself to read and write.
Had I been born to different parents, like Paul Lloyd, things could have been different for me. Despite the appaling education I had and treating me as an idiot I knew I had a good brain, but not knowing how to use it. I think I was very fortunate that my parents instilled in me a great sense of respect and honesty and other strong attributes of a determination to do the best I can.
Gary Whiting
SCOLA's Blog that Book! Books read and reviewed by Skills for Life Literacy students.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Monday, 27 June 2011
Jennie by Paul Galico
This story is about a little boy who turns into a cat and Jennie, a female cat who helps him to be a cat.The style of writing is difficalt but I liked the book.
It's a sad story but when he wakes up as a boy again, he gets a little kitten.
Nicolene Dutrieux
It's a sad story but when he wakes up as a boy again, he gets a little kitten.
Nicolene Dutrieux
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Girl on a Platform
I read this book because I heard the author was good and talented as a story teller.
It is about a man seeing a girl on the station platform. It is about the strain that can be put on a relationship by a man's fantasy about another woman.
I would recommend this book if you like a Quick Read book.
Mabel Chapman
It is about a man seeing a girl on the station platform. It is about the strain that can be put on a relationship by a man's fantasy about another woman.
I would recommend this book if you like a Quick Read book.
Mabel Chapman
The Monkey's Paw
The Monkey's Paw is a book about a family that was happy in spite of the fact that they didn't have much money. Mr and Mrs White were old and had a son, Herbert, who worked in a factory. They were very happy and father and son spent their evenings together playing chess.
However their happeness was destroyed when one evening Mr White's friend Tom Morris came to visit them and told them stories about his time in India as a solder and strange things that happened in that part of the world to him and one of his friends.
Tom Morris told the White family about the Monkey's Paws that had magic, if one made three wishes they came true but also brought unhappiness. They didn't believe him and asked him to give them the monkey's paw. He did so unwillingly and they made a wish for £30,000 to buy their house and have money.
They got their wish but it also brought sadness because their only son died the next day at the factory where he worked.
They got the money but because of greed lost their most precious gift and happiness - their son Herbert. Life was never the same again.
So we should be ahppy with what we have if our family is well.
Rukia Shambe
However their happeness was destroyed when one evening Mr White's friend Tom Morris came to visit them and told them stories about his time in India as a solder and strange things that happened in that part of the world to him and one of his friends.
Tom Morris told the White family about the Monkey's Paws that had magic, if one made three wishes they came true but also brought unhappiness. They didn't believe him and asked him to give them the monkey's paw. He did so unwillingly and they made a wish for £30,000 to buy their house and have money.
They got their wish but it also brought sadness because their only son died the next day at the factory where he worked.
They got the money but because of greed lost their most precious gift and happiness - their son Herbert. Life was never the same again.
So we should be ahppy with what we have if our family is well.
Rukia Shambe
The Pirates of the Caribbean in 3D
(Vanessa has found blogging books very difficult so she had a go at blogging a film. She finds it easier to remember what she saw than what she read.)
I saw this film in the Empire Cinema in Sutton - The Pirates of the Caribbean in 3D. The reason I went to see this film is because if I watched the film with my younger sister it would give me more confidence to write a summary about the film. Also if I watch more films then it will give me more confidence to talk to my classmates at college to give them a brief description about what happened in the movie.
It was about when Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) - he is not sure if it's love or if she's a ruthless con artist who is using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. A boat was riding and a girl fell off and got wet in the water and then she had to swim back to the man - then he had to kiss her. Then about in the middle of the film they went through the dark woods to start to kill people.
I would definitely recommend this film to friends, classmates and all my younger brothers and sisters if they asked me if this is a good film to see. It was a very exciting film to see. I would say the film is also a love story and there are a few good performances. It is colourful, fantastic, brilliant and scary. I would rate this film 8 out of 10.
I saw this film in the Empire Cinema in Sutton - The Pirates of the Caribbean in 3D. The reason I went to see this film is because if I watched the film with my younger sister it would give me more confidence to write a summary about the film. Also if I watch more films then it will give me more confidence to talk to my classmates at college to give them a brief description about what happened in the movie.
It was about when Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) - he is not sure if it's love or if she's a ruthless con artist who is using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. A boat was riding and a girl fell off and got wet in the water and then she had to swim back to the man - then he had to kiss her. Then about in the middle of the film they went through the dark woods to start to kill people.
I would definitely recommend this film to friends, classmates and all my younger brothers and sisters if they asked me if this is a good film to see. It was a very exciting film to see. I would say the film is also a love story and there are a few good performances. It is colourful, fantastic, brilliant and scary. I would rate this film 8 out of 10.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
CALL THE MIDWIFE
AUTHOR: JENNIFER WORTH
PUBLISHER: WEIDERFELD & NICOLSON 2007
Jennifer Worth worked as a nurse in Reading. She later moved to London and trained as a midwife. She joined an order of nuns, the Midwives of St. Raymond Nonnatus, who had been working in the slums of the Docklands in the East End of London since the 1870’s.
Her work took her to the bug-infested tenements and the poverty and deprivation was beyond measure. She writes about the women she treated and the close community of the nuns. Despite this the cockney people, who survived the war, showed a side of life, a true sense of community with their extended families, warm, funny and bawdy humour.
Sadly it was reported that she died this year at the age of 75.
I found this book to be emotional, disturbing, funny and incredibly enlightening of a bygone age. I would recommend this book.
Rating: 5*
Jean Lyons
PUBLISHER: WEIDERFELD & NICOLSON 2007
Jennifer Worth worked as a nurse in Reading. She later moved to London and trained as a midwife. She joined an order of nuns, the Midwives of St. Raymond Nonnatus, who had been working in the slums of the Docklands in the East End of London since the 1870’s.
Her work took her to the bug-infested tenements and the poverty and deprivation was beyond measure. She writes about the women she treated and the close community of the nuns. Despite this the cockney people, who survived the war, showed a side of life, a true sense of community with their extended families, warm, funny and bawdy humour.
Sadly it was reported that she died this year at the age of 75.
I found this book to be emotional, disturbing, funny and incredibly enlightening of a bygone age. I would recommend this book.
Rating: 5*
Jean Lyons
A Mother For The Italian’s Twins
by Margaret McDonagh
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprise
GP Luca D’Azzaro’s wife died giving birth to twin girls. His ambition was to be a paediatric surgeon but his change in circumstances led to him switching specialities and qualifying as a GP. As the new GP in a friendly Cornish town, he hadn’t set out to find romance but…
Another main character is Polly who, after her mother died when she was four years old, was brought up be her selfish and controlling father. She left the little town at the age of seventeen and eventually became a GP in London. When she eventually returned, she married but things went wrong with her marriage and there were various tragic events.
Once Luca meets Polly, there was an instant attraction but all was not straightforward.
I give this book 5 stars.
Barbara Hill
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprise
GP Luca D’Azzaro’s wife died giving birth to twin girls. His ambition was to be a paediatric surgeon but his change in circumstances led to him switching specialities and qualifying as a GP. As the new GP in a friendly Cornish town, he hadn’t set out to find romance but…
Another main character is Polly who, after her mother died when she was four years old, was brought up be her selfish and controlling father. She left the little town at the age of seventeen and eventually became a GP in London. When she eventually returned, she married but things went wrong with her marriage and there were various tragic events.
Once Luca meets Polly, there was an instant attraction but all was not straightforward.
I give this book 5 stars.
Barbara Hill
My Dad’s a Policeman
by Cathy Glass
Published by : HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
The story is about a boy called Ryan from a very disturbed background. He lives with his brother and alcoholic mum and a false memory of his dad, in his mind a policeman. Even though various bad incidents happen to the boys, Ryan loves his Mum dearly and wants to care for her. However, the boys get taken into care. Ryan runs away and plots to get his brother out of care and to go back to mum. The story is about the journey they took and how they get through it all. He does everything to be able to keep the family together and with all that that entails.
This is a very sad story with a lovely ending. Well worth reading!
4*
Katharine Stevens
Published by : HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
The story is about a boy called Ryan from a very disturbed background. He lives with his brother and alcoholic mum and a false memory of his dad, in his mind a policeman. Even though various bad incidents happen to the boys, Ryan loves his Mum dearly and wants to care for her. However, the boys get taken into care. Ryan runs away and plots to get his brother out of care and to go back to mum. The story is about the journey they took and how they get through it all. He does everything to be able to keep the family together and with all that that entails.
This is a very sad story with a lovely ending. Well worth reading!
4*
Katharine Stevens
Survival
During the Second World War, Roald Dahl was flying a Gladiator plane over the desert. He got carried away and totally forgot to land at Fouka in Libya for an airfield.
He noticed that his fuel was running low, and there was no way he could get back to Fouka on what he had left.
The serious problem was he could not find an airfield where he was supposed to land and it was getting dark.
He realised that he was in trouble.
Read this book please for you to know what happened to Roald Dahl.
Regina Muzinda
He noticed that his fuel was running low, and there was no way he could get back to Fouka on what he had left.
The serious problem was he could not find an airfield where he was supposed to land and it was getting dark.
He realised that he was in trouble.
Read this book please for you to know what happened to Roald Dahl.
Regina Muzinda
The Voice of Death
This is a scary story. It’s about a certain poor lady called Blanche. She was a distant relative to a wealthy man called John.
When this man died, Blanche became cruel. She killed John’s close relatives with the aim that she could inherit all his wealth and forget all about her poverty.
Unfortunately, when she attempted to kill John’s last relatives, something mysterious happened to her, and she died on the spot.
I would recommend you to read this story if you want to know what was going on.
Regina Muzinda
When this man died, Blanche became cruel. She killed John’s close relatives with the aim that she could inherit all his wealth and forget all about her poverty.
Unfortunately, when she attempted to kill John’s last relatives, something mysterious happened to her, and she died on the spot.
I would recommend you to read this story if you want to know what was going on.
Regina Muzinda
Little Red Riding Hood
Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, prettiest creature who was ever seen.
One day her mother asked her to go and see how her grandmother was doing, for she had heard that she’d been very ill. Going through the wood was the only way to go to the Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother’s village.
She set out immediately. The poor child met with a wolf. He asked the girl in a polite way where she was going.
The child told the wolf the address where she was going and who she was going to see. The wolf who hadn’t eaten for more than three days told the little girl that he wanted to see her grandmother too.
“I’ll go this way and go you that and we will see who will be there first,” the wolf said to the Little red Riding Hood.
If you’re really anxious to know what happened later, I would urge you to read this story. It teaches you to never put your trust in strangers!
Regina Muzinda
One day her mother asked her to go and see how her grandmother was doing, for she had heard that she’d been very ill. Going through the wood was the only way to go to the Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother’s village.
She set out immediately. The poor child met with a wolf. He asked the girl in a polite way where she was going.
The child told the wolf the address where she was going and who she was going to see. The wolf who hadn’t eaten for more than three days told the little girl that he wanted to see her grandmother too.
“I’ll go this way and go you that and we will see who will be there first,” the wolf said to the Little red Riding Hood.
If you’re really anxious to know what happened later, I would urge you to read this story. It teaches you to never put your trust in strangers!
Regina Muzinda
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
This is a true story about a Jewish girl who hid from the Germans in the Second World
War in a house in Amsterdam and was reported to the Gestapo and was found in a secret hide away in her house. Some time later, the diary was found in the Warsaw ghetto in Poland and her story about her time there was told. Somehow, the diary was shown to the outside world and became the most famous story of the time. Just like many of her people who were interred in Auschwitz Concentration Camp, until her death,
I think the story was very moving. I didn’t what to read it all but I would like to say that this must not happen ever again.
I would recommend this book because it told the truth about an important time in history.
(Reviewed by John Chapman)
War in a house in Amsterdam and was reported to the Gestapo and was found in a secret hide away in her house. Some time later, the diary was found in the Warsaw ghetto in Poland and her story about her time there was told. Somehow, the diary was shown to the outside world and became the most famous story of the time. Just like many of her people who were interred in Auschwitz Concentration Camp, until her death,
I think the story was very moving. I didn’t what to read it all but I would like to say that this must not happen ever again.
I would recommend this book because it told the truth about an important time in history.
(Reviewed by John Chapman)
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The text is about the life and times of this horrible man and his ship the ‘Hispanola’. The thing about this book is its charm, simple but unique and a very good story to follow. To my mind, the sea faring life of those days was bad and many people were killed on the high seas. The things I don’t like about the book was the intent to kill, if anything, and walking the plank, keel hauling and fighting with cutlass and the knife and the deadly hook of Long John Silver.
The book should be recommended for all ages right across the spectrum because it is an adventure story and a thriller.
At the end of all this, there was a clear message for all people. Somehow, we all have a little bit of Long John Silver in us.
John Chapman
The book should be recommended for all ages right across the spectrum because it is an adventure story and a thriller.
At the end of all this, there was a clear message for all people. Somehow, we all have a little bit of Long John Silver in us.
John Chapman
Woodstock Remembered by Jean Young and Michael Lang
This reviews a book called ‘Woodstock Remembered’ by Jean Young and Michael Lang. This book brought back memories of my time performing at Woodstock.
The book describes what it was like to be there and explains in detail what actually happened but the whole show was very interesting.
This book made me look at myself in a different light because the book was very explicit and honest. All the bands that were featured in the book were magnificent. What I didn’t like about the book was the exaggerated hype.
I would recommend the book to anybody who would like to think that they know about modern music and the rock n roll era.
John Chapman
The book describes what it was like to be there and explains in detail what actually happened but the whole show was very interesting.
This book made me look at myself in a different light because the book was very explicit and honest. All the bands that were featured in the book were magnificent. What I didn’t like about the book was the exaggerated hype.
I would recommend the book to anybody who would like to think that they know about modern music and the rock n roll era.
John Chapman
Monday, 20 June 2011
Jack and Jill
by Lucy Cavendish
Publishers: Penguin 2011
Lucy Cavendish, a journalist author and founder member of the Contemporary Women Writer’s Club, has written her latest novel - A Storm in a Teacup.
Jack and Jill is an endearing story about the sister’s extreme love for her younger brother who cannot speak. She cannot remember her brother talking at any time. Jill understands Jack’s every need more then anyone else. Mum forbids Jill to ask any questions about their father and so all she knows is that Dad has left them.
The Children get moved to Devon where they stay with an Aunt and Uncle.
Whilst there, they befriend a local boy called Dick. It is Dick who overhears a conversation in a shop about the children. When he tells Jill about the incident, they decide to investigate. This is how the mystery of why Jack cannot speak gets solved.
This is an enjoyable story and very well written.
Rating 5*
Katharine Stevens
Publishers: Penguin 2011
Lucy Cavendish, a journalist author and founder member of the Contemporary Women Writer’s Club, has written her latest novel - A Storm in a Teacup.
Jack and Jill is an endearing story about the sister’s extreme love for her younger brother who cannot speak. She cannot remember her brother talking at any time. Jill understands Jack’s every need more then anyone else. Mum forbids Jill to ask any questions about their father and so all she knows is that Dad has left them.
The Children get moved to Devon where they stay with an Aunt and Uncle.
Whilst there, they befriend a local boy called Dick. It is Dick who overhears a conversation in a shop about the children. When he tells Jill about the incident, they decide to investigate. This is how the mystery of why Jack cannot speak gets solved.
This is an enjoyable story and very well written.
Rating 5*
Katharine Stevens
The Elephant Man by Tim Vicary
This is a true story about a man who was born deformed back in the 1880’s.
No-one liked him because his face looked like an elephant and he had big feet and he only had one proper hand whilst this hand was bigger than a usual size hand.
He lived in a shop with his adopted mother who didn’t like him either, he lived in a small dark cold room at the back of the shop.
One day a doctor walked passed the shop and in the window there was an advert saying two pence to see the elephant man, the doctor went in and had a look but because of the smell he got out as quickly as possible. The next day he went back and asked if the elephant man could visit him in hospital so he could see if he could help him.
In time the doctor managed to raise money for his keep to stay in the hospital so that he could look after him, the doctor introduced lots of ladies to him and he made lots of friends.
He stayed there for three and a half years but one night he decided to sleep on his back like normal people do, but because his head was so big and heavy it slipped off the edge of the bed and broke his neck.
With the money the doctor raised for this poor man, what was left over he put towards the hospital.
THE ELEPHANT MAN DIED A HAPPY MAN.
This book was very interesting, I had heard of the elephant man but had never read about his life until now.
I would recommend this book to anyone as it was a sad but happy book to read, very enjoyable.
Caroline Barnes
No-one liked him because his face looked like an elephant and he had big feet and he only had one proper hand whilst this hand was bigger than a usual size hand.
He lived in a shop with his adopted mother who didn’t like him either, he lived in a small dark cold room at the back of the shop.
One day a doctor walked passed the shop and in the window there was an advert saying two pence to see the elephant man, the doctor went in and had a look but because of the smell he got out as quickly as possible. The next day he went back and asked if the elephant man could visit him in hospital so he could see if he could help him.
In time the doctor managed to raise money for his keep to stay in the hospital so that he could look after him, the doctor introduced lots of ladies to him and he made lots of friends.
He stayed there for three and a half years but one night he decided to sleep on his back like normal people do, but because his head was so big and heavy it slipped off the edge of the bed and broke his neck.
With the money the doctor raised for this poor man, what was left over he put towards the hospital.
THE ELEPHANT MAN DIED A HAPPY MAN.
This book was very interesting, I had heard of the elephant man but had never read about his life until now.
I would recommend this book to anyone as it was a sad but happy book to read, very enjoyable.
Caroline Barnes
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Anne Frank
My best book was Anne Frank. Her life was sad and short because of the war. Her father survived and was very lucky to find her diary. He published her diary so the world would know Anne’s story.
It sold over 2 million copies.
The house in Amsterdam had a secret hiding place. People from all over the world go to look at it and when they see it they think of Anne Frank.
I have been reading lots of books this year because it helps me with my reading and spelling.
I don’t like reading that much but I make myself do it because I enjoy the stories. But they must be ‘Quick Reads’.
The reading book review writing has been so helpful this year because I have improved in reading, writing and spelling.
May Chapman
It sold over 2 million copies.
The house in Amsterdam had a secret hiding place. People from all over the world go to look at it and when they see it they think of Anne Frank.
I have been reading lots of books this year because it helps me with my reading and spelling.
I don’t like reading that much but I make myself do it because I enjoy the stories. But they must be ‘Quick Reads’.
The reading book review writing has been so helpful this year because I have improved in reading, writing and spelling.
May Chapman
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
The Dare
by John Boyne
Publisher: Transworld Black Swan 2009
Novel in the Quick Reads series
It’s a sad and unusual story about two families going through an awkward time and is told by a twelve year old boy. His mother had an awful experience involving the second family and that affected her badly. This led to her neglecting the boy. His life was changing and nobody took any notice of him.
I read the book in a day - I just kept on reading it. It doesn’t keep you hanging around - there’s always something happening and it draws you in and you want to find out what happens to the child.
John Boyne is the author of six novels, including the best seller “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” which was made into a film. I loved The Dare so much that I’m going to read his other five novels.
Ruth Ede
Publisher: Transworld Black Swan 2009
Novel in the Quick Reads series
It’s a sad and unusual story about two families going through an awkward time and is told by a twelve year old boy. His mother had an awful experience involving the second family and that affected her badly. This led to her neglecting the boy. His life was changing and nobody took any notice of him.
I read the book in a day - I just kept on reading it. It doesn’t keep you hanging around - there’s always something happening and it draws you in and you want to find out what happens to the child.
John Boyne is the author of six novels, including the best seller “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” which was made into a film. I loved The Dare so much that I’m going to read his other five novels.
Ruth Ede
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Heinemann Educational Publishers 1937
Of Mice and Men is the story of two men and a friendship. Brought together during the depression in the 1930s, they travel together looking for work.
George, who is a small thin man, likes things simple. He talks straight and is not afraid to speak his mind. Lennie is a gentle giant with the mind of a child and the strength of five men. He loves animals more than people and is desperate to have a pet of his own. He depends on George to find them work and food. George looks after him even though Lennie gets himself into trouble wherever they go. Their dreams of one day owning a small piece of land and keeping rabbits don’t turn out as planned…
Steinbeck writes with warmth and tenderness and draws you into the characters’ lives and their struggle to survive hard times.
I would give this book 5 stars out of 5 *****
Angela Brent
Of Mice and Men is the story of two men and a friendship. Brought together during the depression in the 1930s, they travel together looking for work.
George, who is a small thin man, likes things simple. He talks straight and is not afraid to speak his mind. Lennie is a gentle giant with the mind of a child and the strength of five men. He loves animals more than people and is desperate to have a pet of his own. He depends on George to find them work and food. George looks after him even though Lennie gets himself into trouble wherever they go. Their dreams of one day owning a small piece of land and keeping rabbits don’t turn out as planned…
Steinbeck writes with warmth and tenderness and draws you into the characters’ lives and their struggle to survive hard times.
I would give this book 5 stars out of 5 *****
Angela Brent
Monday, 13 June 2011
Never too late to learn
My best book was SHEILA O’FLANAGAN. The story is about family with two girls. It is during the war and they didn’t have any money. Time was very hard for them Maggie’s husband went to the war and she had to look after her two daughters on her own.
I have enjoyed reading this book. It was so interesting to read that it made me read more books this year. This is because it is better than looking at T.V. There are so many things you would learn when you are reading anything.
Before I couldn’t read or write. It took me 16 years to learn how to read and write. Therefore now I can read that helps me with my college work and it gives me confidence to read books. Now I know how to write a book review, that makes me happy.
I would advise anyone to read SHEILA O’FLANAGAN. Every book you read is a different story. The more you read it will help you with your spelling and will improve your writing.
Parwathi Ranchod
I have enjoyed reading this book. It was so interesting to read that it made me read more books this year. This is because it is better than looking at T.V. There are so many things you would learn when you are reading anything.
Before I couldn’t read or write. It took me 16 years to learn how to read and write. Therefore now I can read that helps me with my college work and it gives me confidence to read books. Now I know how to write a book review, that makes me happy.
I would advise anyone to read SHEILA O’FLANAGAN. Every book you read is a different story. The more you read it will help you with your spelling and will improve your writing.
Parwathi Ranchod
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
A Very Convenient Marriage
by Dallas Schulze
Publisher: Silhouette Books 1994
This book is about two people with the same need - they both need money. Sam needs money for his niece's operation and Nikki needs money for the day centre she runs. She could have the money her grandfather left her. He left instructions for his lawyer saying Nikki had to get married before her 27th birthday in order to inherit the money. Her lawyer is Max, a friend of both Nikki and Sam. His advice is for them to get married. They don't like that idea but what else could Nikki do? There was no time to find someone else...
The story is very interesting so I give this three stars ***
Barbara Hill
Publisher: Silhouette Books 1994
This book is about two people with the same need - they both need money. Sam needs money for his niece's operation and Nikki needs money for the day centre she runs. She could have the money her grandfather left her. He left instructions for his lawyer saying Nikki had to get married before her 27th birthday in order to inherit the money. Her lawyer is Max, a friend of both Nikki and Sam. His advice is for them to get married. They don't like that idea but what else could Nikki do? There was no time to find someone else...
The story is very interesting so I give this three stars ***
Barbara Hill
Spilling the Beans
by Clarissa Dixon Wright
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (2007)
The book gives an insight into the author's affluent family life which was made very turbulent by the domination of her alcoholic, surgeon father.
She became a barrister and was the youngest person, age 21, to be called to the Bar. The death of her dear mother caused Clarissa so much grief that it led to a decade of over-indulgence during which she drank and partied away her entire, enormous inheritance. She also became homeless at one stage in her life. It was a long hard road to her recovery and it was cooking that brought her success as one half of the much loved TV partnership with Jennifer Pattison as 'Two Fat Ladies' as well as 'Clarissa and the Countryman'.
As well as being the author of 10 cookery books (the most recent being Sunday Roast), she is also passionate supporter of rural life and pursuits.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would read it again.
I would rate this book with 5*
Jean Lyons
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (2007)
The book gives an insight into the author's affluent family life which was made very turbulent by the domination of her alcoholic, surgeon father.
She became a barrister and was the youngest person, age 21, to be called to the Bar. The death of her dear mother caused Clarissa so much grief that it led to a decade of over-indulgence during which she drank and partied away her entire, enormous inheritance. She also became homeless at one stage in her life. It was a long hard road to her recovery and it was cooking that brought her success as one half of the much loved TV partnership with Jennifer Pattison as 'Two Fat Ladies' as well as 'Clarissa and the Countryman'.
As well as being the author of 10 cookery books (the most recent being Sunday Roast), she is also passionate supporter of rural life and pursuits.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would read it again.
I would rate this book with 5*
Jean Lyons
East End Tales
by Gilda O'Neill
Published by: Penguin Books
The author wrote this book about her experiences in the days from when she was born til early twenties. My favourite part is that she shows how different life is now and how close all neighbours were in those days. They were like a big family together. She also included quotes from other people she encountered throughout her life with their outlook on particular times. Her additional research on life in the East End was between the years 1950 and 1970.
This book gives a good insight for anyone who is interested in what happened in the East End at that time. It is pleasant and easy to read.
Rating: 5*
Katharine Stevens
Published by: Penguin Books
The author wrote this book about her experiences in the days from when she was born til early twenties. My favourite part is that she shows how different life is now and how close all neighbours were in those days. They were like a big family together. She also included quotes from other people she encountered throughout her life with their outlook on particular times. Her additional research on life in the East End was between the years 1950 and 1970.
This book gives a good insight for anyone who is interested in what happened in the East End at that time. It is pleasant and easy to read.
Rating: 5*
Katharine Stevens
Full Hearts & Empty Bellies
by Winifred Foley
Publisher: Abacus 2009
This book describes the hardship and abject poverty the author, a miner's daughter, endured the 1920's in a small mining village in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. She was the yougest of four children and, at the age of fourteen, had to leave her much loved Forest of Dean for a life in service in London. She married, had four children and, after living in London for many years, moved back to the Forest of Dean when the children were still young. She stayed there until her demise in 2009.
She describes in great detail the various chapters in her life with such humour and honesty. I really enjoyed reading this book as it gives a clear insight into a forgotten age.
5*
Jean Lyons
Publisher: Abacus 2009
This book describes the hardship and abject poverty the author, a miner's daughter, endured the 1920's in a small mining village in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. She was the yougest of four children and, at the age of fourteen, had to leave her much loved Forest of Dean for a life in service in London. She married, had four children and, after living in London for many years, moved back to the Forest of Dean when the children were still young. She stayed there until her demise in 2009.
She describes in great detail the various chapters in her life with such humour and honesty. I really enjoyed reading this book as it gives a clear insight into a forgotten age.
5*
Jean Lyons
Don't Tell Mummy
by Sally East
Penguin 2010
This is a gripping true story, well written and easy to read.
It's about a young family going through difficult times. It was sad and made me cry a little. As Sally lost her innocence as a small child, her life spiralled out of control. My heart went out to her as she told her story and I wanted to read more and more of this book. Her school days were unhappy and she had few friends. Sally's only company was a dog that she took for a walk every day. She had a natural mother and a stepmother. Both mothers were guilty of extreme neglet and were exceedingly selfish people.
In spite of it being a most tragic and detailed description of unhappiness, it carries you along page after page.
I would give this story 3 stars
Ruth Ede
Penguin 2010
This is a gripping true story, well written and easy to read.
It's about a young family going through difficult times. It was sad and made me cry a little. As Sally lost her innocence as a small child, her life spiralled out of control. My heart went out to her as she told her story and I wanted to read more and more of this book. Her school days were unhappy and she had few friends. Sally's only company was a dog that she took for a walk every day. She had a natural mother and a stepmother. Both mothers were guilty of extreme neglet and were exceedingly selfish people.
In spite of it being a most tragic and detailed description of unhappiness, it carries you along page after page.
I would give this story 3 stars
Ruth Ede
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