Love For Books

Matilda by Roald Dahl

This book is about a little girl called Matilda who is a mastermind. By the time she is four years old she has read every book in the kids section of the library, she then moves onto to read grown up books like Austen and Dickens. She’s is also able to do advanced maths just in her head, she has a very highly developed understanding of the world. Unfortunately for Matilda she has to do all of this on her own, her dad is car-dealer who cons all of his customers and her mother is more interested in bingo. They don’t really like Matilda very much they think she should be watching TV like them and her brother, not reading books, Matilda spends much of her time in her room reading, when she’s not reading books she starts thinking up plans to get back at her parents as they are so cruel to her. She puts superglue in her dad’s hat so that when he puts it on it sticks to his head. One time she swapped his hair hair tonic and put peroxide in its place such as putting superglue into her father hat brim, and swapping his hair tonic for peroxide.

When Matilda is eventually allowed to start school, things get worse for her as the head of the school is Miss Trunchbull who is nasty and mean and hates children. Matilda develops special talents which she uses to wind Trunchbull up even more! I loved this book it’s really funny what Matilda does to the people who are mean to her.

A child called it by Dave Pelzer

This book is about Dave Pelzer who throughout his childhood was starved and beaten by his mother who was very unstable, cruel and an alcoholic. She tortured her children leaving them nearly dead. As the years went on she decided that she no longer considered Dave a son She treated him like he was her slave; and called him ‘it’.

He slept in the basement in an old army cot. Dave’s clothes were like rags all smelly and torn. Dave was often starved not being allowed to eat, when his mother showed a sign of weakness it was usually scraps of food from the dog bowl. He would sometimes steal food from bins and school his mother soon caught on and would make him be sick when he arrived home. Outside of the Pellzer home nobody knew the terrible things that went on behind their door.
The torture and pain that Dave suffered is truly horrific. It’s hard to imagine how any mother could ever treat her child in this way, whether she is ill or healthy. This was one of the first books I read on people who had an abused childhood and I think it was by far the best.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a Spanish novelist. He was born in Barcelona in 1964, he has lived in Los Angeles, United States, since 1993, he works as a scriptwriter aside from writing novels.

His first novel, El príncipe de la niebla (The Prince of Mist, 1993), earned the Edebé literary prize for young adult fiction. He is also the author of three more young-adult novels, El palacio de la medianoche (1994), Las luces de septiembre (1995) and Marina (1999).

In 2001 he published the novel La sombra del viento (The Shadow of the Wind), his first “adult” novel, which has sold millions of copies worldwide. Since its publication, La sombra del viento has garnered critical acclaim around the world and has won numerous international awards. It has sold more than a million copies in the UK alone. Ruiz Zafón’s works have been published in 45 countries and have been translated into more than 30 languages. According to these figures, Ruiz Zafón is the most successful contemporary Spanish writer along with Javier Sierra (published in 42 countries) and Juan Gómez-Jurado .

Danielle Steel

Danielle Fernande Dominique Schuelein-Steel was born in New York on August 14, 1947 her parents were John Schulein Steel, and Norma da Câmara Stone Reis, the daughter of a Portuguese diplomat.[Danielle spent much of her childhood in France [3], where she was from an early age included in her parents’ dinner parties, which gave her the opportunity to observe the lives and habits of the rich and famous.[2] Her parents divorced when Danielle was seven, and she was raised in by her father in New York, she rarely saw her mother, who moved to Europe.[1]

Danielle’s books have been translated into 28 languages and can now be found in 47 countries across the world.[9] Her books, often involve the main characters being in a crisis of some sort which threatens their relationship. Some people say that her characters are over-the-top, which they feel make her books seem unrealistic.

Danielle has had  Twenty-two of her books adapted for television films; two have even received Golden Globe nominations. One of them is “Jewels,” which is the story of the survival of a woman and her children in World War II Europe, and the family’s eventual rebirth as one of the greatest jewelry houses in Europe.

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.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

At the start of this book Christopher finds a dog laid dead in his next door neighbour’s garden. Christopher decides to find out why the dog is dead and stuck underneath a pitchfork, motivated by his favourite detective character, Sherlock Holmes, he starts his own murder investigation that rocks his local community and his own ordered life.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time” has won lots of awards including whitbread book of the year. The book was originally for children but is now as popular with adults.

Christopher has Aspergers Syndrome which is a form of Autism. He is very good at maths and other information’s but not with human emotions. The book is very simply written as it’s told through Christopher’s words. It’s easy to read but very touching. You really get to understand how he sees the world living with Aspergers Syndrome.

Christopher is a very unique character and I really enjoyed how the book is written through his eyes. It made the book really interesting and gets you thinking. I would definitely recommend this book to people of all ages, especially anyone who lives with or knows someone with Aspergers Syndrome it may help you to understand them better.

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.

Enid Blyton

Enid Mary Blyton  was born on11 August 1897, she died on 28 November 1968. She was a world famous children’s writer known as Enid Blyton and Mary Pollock. She was one of the most successful children’s storytellers of all time.

Her books have enjoyed huge success in all over the world, and have sold more than 400 million copies. By one measure, Blyton is the sixth most popular author worldwide: over 3400 translations of her books were available in 2007. One of her most  known characters is Noddy who is as popular today as when he was first written. However, her main forte is  young readers’books, which we have all enjoted .In this genre, the most popular series include the Famous Five (which consists of 21 novels, 1942 – 1963, based on four children and their dog), the Five Find-Outers and Dog, (15 novels, 1943-1961, where five children regularly outwit the local police) as well as the Secret Seven (15 novels, 1949 – 1963, a society of seven children who solve various mysteries). Her work involves children’s adventure stories, and fantasy, sometimes involving magic. Her books are still enjoyed by children today 40 years after her she passed away.

The ultimate natural beauty book by Josephine Fairley

This book shows you how to make organic and natural skincare products in your own home. There over a hundred recipes to follow with step by step instructions. It teaches you the power of plants in the beauty world and you can grow your own.

Just as eating a good diet is essential for your body to be healthy so is what you put on your skin. All the products in this book are entirely organic and you don’t need to worry about animal testing.

There are so many gorgeous products to make you won’t know where to start. It’s packed full of treatments for your hands, feet ,face, lips, eyes, nails ,teeth and body .It also includes recipes for herbal teas and tips on massage and relaxation.

It’s perfect for anyone who would like to start making their own beauty products for personal use or even package and give as gifts.

Some of my favourite recipes are ; the milk , cucumber and mint cleanser which has a wonderful cooling affect on my skin and left it feeling really hydrated. The fabulous face powder made using rice powder ,orris root powder and dried lavender flowers. And the glossy lip gloss which keeps your lips really moisturised .

It’s a beautifully presented book full of photographs ,tips and ideas.

Harry Potter and the philosophers stone by J.K. Rowling

This book is the first in the series, its world famous now and has been made into a movie. It’s about a young boy called Harry potter who was orphaned as a young child and put in the care of his aunty and uncle who treat him as an outsider never making him feel wanted. On his eleventh birthday he receives an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry eventually finds out the truth out about his parents, which his aunty and uncle never told him. He finds out that they were wizards and how the scare on his head was caused.

When Harry starts at his new school this is when all the magic begins .He finds out what happened to his parents and that his own life could in fact be in danger. He goes on all sorts of adventures fighting scary creatures at the same time as trying to learn to be a good wizard.

I think this book was brilliant. Although originally written for children I think it’s something that people of all ages would enjoy. I found the film equally as good. I would definitely recommend to anybody that hasn’t already read it!