Love For Books

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

The central character in Little Dorrit, is Amy (Little Dorrit) the story takes place in and around the Marshalsea (a debtor’s prison in London), where William Dorrit is held prisoner, he’s been incarcerated for so long that he’s called the Father of the Marshalsea, his family live with him, in fact Amy was even born there.

Amy’s sister Fanny is a snob, she also has a brother called Edward with the nickname of Tip. The story, starts in Marseilles, where a villain Rigaud’s in prison and tells his fellow-prisoner he’s there because he murdered his wife. The other central character, Arthur Clennam, had been in the East for 20 years, was also in Marseilles on his way back to London with his mother after the death of his father.

Following their return to London, Arthur thinks his father had been dishonest in business but his mother completely disagrees with this. Arthur’s mother employs Amy, and he begins to show interest in her, without realizing she was falling for him, he tries to help her along with her family. Whilst investigating the debts of William Dorrit, Arthur meets inventor, Daniel Doyce, and decides to become business partner.
Arthur finds out that Amy’s father is heir to a fortune, so the Dorrits are able to leave debtor’s prison. They face the new life ahead of them, with arrogance and conceit, all but Little Dorrit that is. Arthur is ruined because of fraud banker Merdle’s financial misdeeds, the banker commits suicide and poor Arthur is imprisoned in the same debtor’s prison the Dorrit’s had previously spent so many years in. Arthur Clennam is ill, but Amy nurses him until he’s well again, Arthur is then released with the aid of Daniel Doyce. Following the loss of Little Dorrit’s fortune, again through Merdle, she and Arthur Marry.

I really like the book and it is probably my favourite Charles Dickens story

Change your life in 7 days by paul Mckenna

In this book Paul McKenna teaches you how you can change your life in seven days. He promises that if you follow the advice in the book and listen to the mind programming cd that comes free with the book then your life will change dramatically .The changes that will occur will positively affect your happiness, well-being and success for the rest of your life.

If your fed up with your life, if you’re stressed out, bored or feel like you should be doing more then this book will help you to get to where you want to be. He teaches you how to feel happier and have more energy every day of your life. He can help you gain more success and make more money and live the life of your dreams.

If you read the book and really stick to what he says then you will definitely see a dramatic change in your life. You must listen to the cd everyday for a few weeks to really re programme your mind.

I enjoyed the book and listening to the cd, I didn’t keep up with it though. But I’m sure if you really do stick to what he says you will start living a better life.

Angel by Katie Price

When Angel goes out with Gemma to celebrate her birthday she turns up in baggy jeans a, a t-shirt, a baggy green jumper and a pair of gold pumps. Gemma is shocked, ‘Come off it Angel, there’s no way you can go out like that!’ I always dress like this’ replies Angel. Gemma persuades Angel to let her dress her, she chooses a mini skirt, a low cut top and a pair of killer red heels. She then starts to pluck Angels eyebrows; Angel thinks she’s some kind of sadist. When Gemma is finished Angel is shocked she does kind of like the new improved Angel. She was always pretty but never knew it; she now looked like a model. She was stunning.

Angel gets discovered by a model agency and her life will never be the same again. She could have it all, young, sexy and beautiful she is destined for a very successful career in modelling. Angel then meets Mickey who is the lead singer in a boy band, she finds him irresistible but he is also dangerous.

This is Katie Price’s (Jordan) debut novel. A really good book, easy to read, a perfect beach read.

The Runaway by Janice Erlbaum

This is the true story of Janice Erlbaum who on the 18th November 1984 ran away from home. Her stepfather was very abusive to her mother and her baby brother, she would kick him out get the locks changed go to court to get an order of protection and after all that she would take him back. This happened one too many times for Janice, she promised her mother that if she took him back again then she would leave and that she did. Janice’s mum had a string of bad husbands even her own father was violent and aggressive and the husbands after that. All Janice wanted was for her and her mum to live alone and look after each other but her mum always found some new man to bring home .   Aged just fifteen years old, the minute her mother told her she wanted to talk Janice knew what was coming so she packed her things and walked out. She headed straight for a shelter run by nuns.

Janice then becomes involved with boys, criminal kids and then sex and drugs. A brilliant book that I loved reading it had me gripped right from the start.

The lost girl by Caroline Roberts

Caroline Roberts spent her childhood unhappy being told that she was ‘just a little bitch’. She suffered sexual abuse by strangers .When she was just 16 she got a job at the infamous 25 Cromwell street; the home of Fred and Rose West. She first met Fred and Rose in 1972 when she was hitchhiking home from her boyfriend’s house, they offered Caroline the job of being ‘nanny’ to their 3 children they said they would pay her £8 a week plus free board and lodgings.  After visiting her parents for their approval Caroline moved in with the West’s the next day. Caroline realised fairly quickly that there was something not right about the couple and escaped.

One month later when Caroline was at her boyfriends again she spotted Fred and Rose drive past but she thought they hadn’t seen her, later on when she was hitchhiking home again they pulled over and offered her a lift. Caroline got in the car as they were being so nice to her, she soon regretted it. They tied her up took her home and both sexually abused her. A horrific story of one girl’s life of what she had to go through to get to where she is a very good read.

Whos Sorry Now by Freda Lightfoot

This is the story is set in the 1950’s in Manchester. It’s about two sisters Gina and Carmina. Gina is the quiet she one who is the apple of her parents eye. Carmina is the sexy glamorous one who all the boys fancy all except one boy, Luc Fabriani who for some strange reason would rather have Gina.

When Gina and Luc start going out together jealous Carmina makes up and spreads lies about Luc, which Gina being the innocent one believes. Luc admits that he briefly dated Carmina but tries hard to convince Gina that she is the only one he has ever wanted.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I found it easy to read and will definitely be reading more of Freda’s books.

Freda Lightfoot has written many novels based in her home county of Lancashire. She was previously a teacher a smallholder and a bookseller. She began her writing career, writing short stories and articles. She has two homes; one a flat in the Lake District and the other a house in a mountain village in Spain.

Some of Freda’s other novels include; Luckpenny Land, Wishing Water, The Bobbin girls and the woman from heartbreak house.

Cookbook by James Martin

This book is based on the ‘Great British Village show’ it’s packed full of recipes using only British produce. James Martin is a well known Yorkshire chef who started cooking at an early age with his Dad who did all the catering for castle Howard in Yorkshire. James is now the presenter of BBC ones show ‘Saturday kitchen’. He has also appeared on ‘Ready Steady Cook’ and ‘strictly come dancing’.

James is passionate about local organic and fresh foods which he uses in all his recipes. He has worked in London and France where he was a pastry chef. He was then the head chef at the Hotel du Vin and Bistro which is in Winchester.

In his book James shows us how to cook with fresh ingredients which we can find locally. There are loads of fabulous recipes in the book, which are easy to follow and understand. There are also lots of beautiful photographs and tips.

One of my favourite recipes from the book is; pan fried fillet of beef with fat chips and slow roasted tomatoes, it tastes delicious and is very easy to re create.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cooking simple British recipes.