Love For Books

Dear fatty by Dawn French

Dawn French is one of my all time favourite comediennes of all times so I had to read her book!
In her book she’s written a series of letters to people, one of the letters is to her dad who committed suicide when she was a teenager telling how everyone coped after he had gone.

Other letters in the book include ones to Madonna, Jenifer Saunders, her father and her brother. The book guides us through the ups and downs of Dawns life.

Her career has now spanned almost three decades, she’s performed as many different characters that are extremely funny, she is one of Britain’s best loved actresses who appeals to people of all ages.
Throughout this book, we also find out, how Dawn French feels about being famous, and her views on other celebrities in general.
This book is brilliant it’s very funny, sometimes it can be sad. It’s an amazing look into the life of one of Britain’s best loved comedy actresses. She tells us about her relationship with her father, which is one of my favourite letters in the book. Also about when she and Jennifer Saunders first met. Dawn French fans will absolutely love this book.

Scar Tissue - Anthony Kiedis

Scar Tissue tells the story of the highs and lows of the life lead by the  chili peppers singer  Anthony keidis. Starting from his early childhood living with his mum  through to moving in with his father in LA and being introduced to drugs and alcohol in his early teens. It’s an amazing read I would highly recommend to any Red Hot Chili Peppers fans.

Anthony Keidis was brought up in the Midwest, he moved to LA when he was just eleven to live with his father Blackie, supplier of pills, pot, and cocaine to the Hollywood elite. Keidis had a brief acting career when he was a child, but then he dropped out of U.C.L.A. and dived headfirst into the  L.A. underground music scene.
In SCAR TISSUE Anthony Kiedis, tells us  his life story, and the history of the band itself  from their humble beginnings through their rise to fame .   Kiedis writes of the overdose death of his soul mate and band mate, Hillel Slovak, and his own ongoing struggle with an addiction to drugs . This book is a compelling read which gives a great insight into the life of one of the world’s most famous singers.

The Kid by Kevin Lewis

A true story of a boy called Kevin Lewis who grew up on a rundown council estate in South London. Kevin was brutally beaten and starved half to death by his parents. The social services seemed to ignore what was going on as often seems to be the case in many similar books. Kevin was and bullied through school. Kevin tried really hard to make his life work out but things spiralled out of control when he loses his foster parents. When were 17 he got involved in London’s criminal underworld, where he came to be known as ‘The Kid’. Kevin was always a strong character and always wanted better for himself.
It’s a real heartbreaking read, it made me really angry how the social services let all the things go on. He suffered so much from the people who were supposed to care for and look after him. He was bullied throughout school and by his own family he also suffered from bulimia and felt like killing himself. It made me so pleased to see how Kevin succeeded and turned his life around. It’s a very inspiring read that makes you think your own problems are nothing compared to what Kevin had to go through.

Unbeaten by Kim Woodburn

This book is about Kim Woodburn who is best known for being on the on the TV show “How clean is your house?
The book is about her cruel childhood. She was bought up by her cruel, violent mother. Kim’s father was often away with the Royal Marines. Kim is the second child, her parents really wanted a boy so they were disappointed and let it show in how they treated Kim. Her mum started having a relationship with her father’s old best friend who went on to have seven children together.
At the age of 16 Kim left home to go live with her father, which wasn’t a good idea as they didn’t really get on.

Later in 1975 Kim met a policeman called Peter Woodburn. They were happily married. By 2003 they had been working as housekeeper and houseman.  Kim was approached by the agency they were working for who asked if she would like to take part in a TV show ‘How clean is your house’ Kim is now famous for her TV show and cleaning powers!

A really good book showing it is possible for people’s lives to turn around and be a success. I enjoyed and would recommend.

On The Edge by Richard Hammond

On September 20, 2006, Richard Hammond suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash, making national headlines.

On the Edge is his account of life before and after the accident and of the year of his recovery. Hammond was a daredevil and a petrol head long before he appeared on Top Gear.
Hammond tells us how he lived his life as an adrenalin junkie long before he appeared on Top Gear. From a very young age when he used to show off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to when he got older his obsession turned to speed and the smell of petrol. After a series of jobs in local radio, he moved on to television and eventually to Top Gear, one of the Britain’s most popular shows.
I must say I really enjoyed this book, it didn’t just tell Hammonds side of the story but also his wife’s Mindys side. Telling us how she coped with the children, Richard and the media after his accident. It is very moving and inspiring book and shows the love that Richard and his wife Mindy have for each other. Hammond tells us how he first got on top gear and about his previous jobs. An excellent book I would recommend to anyone Top Gear fan or not.

Being Jordan by Katie Price

In this book you get to meet the real Jordan, Katie Price. It’s a fascinating insight into the life of Britain’s most famous glamour model. Katie tells us of her her struggles with bringing up her son Harvey who is disabled. And of her relationship with Peter Andre whom she met on the TV programme ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Outta Here’.
Through the book she tells of how she went from one failed relationship to another, eventually finding the love of her life, Peter. She tells us about her engagement and upcoming wedding.
Katie is very honest in her book telling us everything she went through from childhood to the time of the book being written in order to become one of the world’s most famous glamour models. She definitely hasn’t had it at easy as many people think, there’s been many struggles in her life which have helped her become the successful person she is today.
I found this book an excellent read which really has changed my opinion on Katie for the better; it has made me think there’s a lot more to her than her just being a glamour model. I would definitely recommend this book to an Jordan fans.

Blue rage,Black redemption by Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams

Stanley Tookie Williams and a friend formed the Crips, but what they originally set up as protection became worse than the original gangs. The Crips would have deadly street fights with their rival gangs. The Crips soon became well known and feared across L.A .
Soon Tookie was regularly under police surveillance, and was often arrested and released. But in 1981, Tookie was convicted of murdering four people and was sent to death row at San Quentin in Marin County, California.

Tookie always said that he was innocent of the murders .His final plea for clemency was turned down by Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he was executed by lethal injection on 13th December 2005.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I really could not put this one down. Tookie really did try to change his life around and did so much to try and change the lives of others through his work. I do not believe he should have been executed and was saddened by his death but that’s just my opinion, you must read the book then you will form an opinion of your own. An outstanding book that I will never forget. I didn’t want the book to end as I was so into it.