Book Number 23 - The Lucy Family Alphabet, Judith Lucy

Absolutely hilarious! Who else can put the words cunnilingus and grandma in the same sentence! An insight into the growing pains of comedian Judith Lucy, focused mainly on growing up with her parents, surviving her parents and finding out she was adopted. From going to footy games at 12 days old (she was only adopted at 10 days old), to her first sexual encounter to finding her biological mum. This is a book where I laughed on each page until about 'T' when she talked about her parents death a little more.



9/10

Book Number 24 - Stories I Only Tell My Friends, Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe is presenting us with a book that gives insight into his childhood, his climb to fame and his family and friends along the way. Very interesting reading, I would read until my eyes gave in.

Stories of growing up near the Sheens, hanging around with Tom Cruise, Janet Jackson, Princes Stephanie, Sting, Pavarotti, Sarah Jessica-Parker and a very telling story about his 9/11 miss with death.

A guy who got all the woman out of his system at a younger age than most and married his sweetheart, whom he has been married to for over 20 years now. A guy who got through his alcohol addiction and a guy with some really funny and very interesting stories.

Its almost like a gossip book but you know its actually true when reading the stories, and I find myself forgetting just how much the hollywood industry is like a swamp.

9/10

Book Number 25 - 50 Great Ghost Stories, Edited John Canning

Fifty stories from the 1700's and 1800's and more. Filled with stories about lost souls due to torture or un-forbidden love or lost drunkards. Most were a great read, and it was interesting to read about the history of places such as England and NYC.
Royalty, poverty, lovers as well as children are not left out. Headless ghosts, child ghost, lost ghost and ghosts wanting revenge. This book isn't scary, its more history related following and editing stories that have existed for years and years to which John Canning has done marvellous research and put them all together in one easy to read book.

7/10

Book Number 26 - Burton on Burton, Tim Burton

Gold -  that sums up this book. At first it was a slow read and then crept up on me and before I knew it I was reading about all his movies up until Alice In Wonderland. Its mainly about the in's and out's of the movie world and how he moved through the bullshit and found a living that suited his way of thinking and life. This isn't a book laced with gossip and love affairs, its one for the true fans (me, me, me).

As a huge fan of Burton, I am surprised it took me this long to read a book that has been sitting on my shelf for a few years, signed by Burton himself when I met him at before his exhibition (ahh, that was pure bliss). I digress now ......

Its intersting reading about Burton growing up in Burbank, California and how he started out at Disney, his relationship (or lack of) with his parents and how he took ten years to complete one of his biggest hits 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.

The book has a foreward by Johnny Depp describing his appeal with everything Burton and with pictures that are displayed all through the book (which I LOVE), just like the Peter Jackson one I read earlier on (another favourite), I look forward to the next book talking about the movies since Alice.

8.5/10

Book Number 27 - The Time of My Life, Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi

Patrick Swazye...I used to have posters on my walls of him and I even made a ceramic head of Patrick in art class in high school. I'll be the first to admit, it look nothing like him but it still sits in a pot plant on the balcony and I think of him each time I see it.

If you have never seen Dirty Dancing then you would be living in a cave, its iconic with the music, the lines and the drama. I digress now as this is about the book.

No doubt this was written after Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he says he vowed to fight it which he did for over a year but it took his life in 2009. This book is their life up until they found out the news about cancer. Swayze met Niemi when she was 15 years old and he knew he wanted to be with her, she was different to other girls he'd met and she didn't think much of him at first, and it was another 3-4 years before things happened to unite their union and this union lasted over thirty years - and who says Hollywood can't have liaisons that last! I guess their's was one of a slim few.

Swayze grew up with a family who owned a dance studio so dance was in his blood. Suffering a knee injury in high school playing gridiron, he had to say goodbye to a life of dance years later due to the pain that followed  but it opened up a world with acting and into many adventures he went. Swayze played Danny Zuko in the hit Broadway spectacular Grease but it was North and South television series that got his name pumping and the girls interested. When he read the script for Dirty Dancing he knew it had to be his, he managed to persuade the director that he was the one (over Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp and more) and he brought a passion yet confident feel into the roll of 'Johnny' and it also made us aware of his singing abilities i.e 'She's Like The Wind' (written about Lisa). After a few misses in the film industry he then took on Ghost and Point Break, both of which are blockbusters.

Swayze suffered knee injuries throughout his life, he was constantly getting his knee drained and was in pain a lot. He grimaced through many movies and proved his knee wasn't going to deter his future.

Although he and Niemi had later issues in life, mostly due to his bottle addiction, they came out on the other side and will remain one of Hollywood's greatest, yet not written about enough, love stories.

I was surprised to hear he was a chain smoker, one with a dance and sport past, but I guess we all have our outlets.

9/10

Book Number 28 - 1st To Die, James Patterson

This will be my last James Patterson for a while and I've gone backward in the book order. That's okay though. This book is the first in the Woman's Murder Club series and it's one of the best ones.

The book tells you how the Club met, the near death experience for one of the girls who finds love finally only to loose him but the book takes on the deaths of brides and grooms on their wedding day. With multipls twists and turns, I guessed the killer but only to find out I was partially wrong.

I find I read these books whilst cooking dinner, at the traffic lights and before going to bed, I can read many chapters and move through the book with speed.

Me likey.....!

8/10

Book Number 29 - 2nd Chance, James Patterson

Another James Patterson book down, one after this to go (and in the wrong order, good one). Why you ask? I got given many but not in order! Like I keep saying, they are easy to read. If you took out all the spare pages it would cut a quarter off the book!

This one is another Woman's Murder Club series, this time they get together with San Francisco's only woman homicide detective, Lindsay Boxer and with girlfriends like hers, beware those who kill. This chapter is based on a serial killer who kills only black Americans, and for once I guessed who it was earlier in the
book.
Never believe you have a killer as sometimes you may be wrong....

6/10

Book Number 30 - You Are Not Alone, Michael Through a Brothers Eyes by Jermaine Jackson

I am a true Michael Jackson fan. I never believed any of the vicious rumors that went around and I fully believed Michael's life should have been saved. I never like using the word 'should' but in this case, I make an exception.

So you may say I went in biased, yes I did. I have read Moonwalk, I have never believed what I read in the tabloids and I believe Michael was one person clearly misunderstood. The people out there who believe the trash, need to read this book and BELIEVE. Jermaine is the fourth child in the Jackson family and the closest to Michael. Michael was the seventh child in the family, and if you look clearly at some emblems on jackets, furniture etc, you will see the number 7 in many cases.

Michael didn't have a childhood, we all know that. What we don't know is how we would have grown up with no childhood, majority of us can only imagine having one. We cannot make sense of some of Michael's ways but how can we?? how can you?

In this book Jermaine says when Michael met Shirley Temple they both hugged each other and cried as they both had their childhoods taken away and they understood each other.  Sure, many of us would love a childhood like these two but really, would you give up your childhood for this?

I found a lot of information I had never known about Michael and it blew my mind away. How Michael's car broke down near a car rental place, and the owner of this place was Jordy's father. Michael hired a car leaving with the promise to call the fathers son, Jordy, who was a big fan. The family and Michael became very close till one day Jordy's father needed money to pursue three movies worth about 5 million each, he was a director and needed the money. He tried to blackmail Michael who refused....I think you know the rest. Jordy didn't speak to his parents for 11 years after the allegations and Jordy's father shot himself about 3 months after Michael died. Sounds shifty doesn't it. Michael had money and fame and people abused it. Karma gives...

When I reached the last chapter, I had to pause and continue another time as it was all too much.
Sadly it seems on the night of his death Conrad was on the phone to a girl, he'd walked away from Michael after administering propofol and one moment the girl told police she was talking to Conrad, the next minute he wasn't there on the end of the phone line and all she could hear was strange noises. Propofol is an anaesthetic and can only be used by doctors in a hospital. Basically Michael died from proporfol overdose as too much entered his body and became toxic. He didn't die of 'drug overdose' as the media craps on about.

If you want to read the truth, if you can handle the truth then read this book. Its freaking amazing, it's an amazing insight into the life of the Jackson family.

RIP Michael, I love you

100/10

Book Number 31 - Emma and The Vampires, Wayne Josephson

As a human being who never read any of the 'classics', I'm finding these quirky classics enjoyable but really, are they saturating the market a little bit too much?

Is Jane Austin and co turning over in their graves or would they find it humerous and exciting that people like me, who never read these books, are now finding a place in my heart for them?
I loved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as well as Mr Darcy Vampire (secretly, I'm looking forward to a zombie/Vampire version of Wuthering Heights - maybe its already out there) and this undead novel isn't as funny as the others and I found I didn't really work out if Jane, Emma etc knew the men or woman were actual Vampires or not. It really was unbelievable (yes, I know how that sounds) in the sense that the people knew there were other people out there with black eyes which turned red once married and that no-one ate at any of the dinners or balls and that everyone was pale and even the father couldn't cope with silver crosses.

Is there something I am missing, perhaps I missed that paragraph which put my mind at ease, or back then, were the folk really that blind in this story? Yes, there were crazy Vampires out there which Emma and Harriet and co managed to be-head but are the aristocrat Vampires good instead of bad...hmm...I missed that point.

Anywho, I've still got a few of these 'quirky classics' to ponder over, so keep tuned, maybe express to me your thoughts on this particular book.....I'd be interested to know...

6.5/10

Book Number 32 - Jason Donovan, Between The Lines

I grew up in the 80's, I watched Charlene and Scott's relationship develop on television and I never thought about what went on behind the scenes. I figured they had a relationship around the time they sung the duet and I remember it wasn't until I saw Donovan in the Nick Cave film clip, Pure White Snow, did I realise this boy had dealt with drugs - badly. He does look weathered and although in the book he directs this look as a busy life and getting old, I have to say no, its because he didn't look after himself for a number of years.

I was intrigued reading about his relationship with his mother, well lack of, the Kylie story (I had no idea!) the drugs and the parties with many famous peeps to then finding love with his children and wife.

I finished this book thinking good on Jason for getting through the drugs and not becoming a statistic, or part of the 27 club, or fatally dying due to bad drugs. Seizures, fainting and snorting folks, its all here!

A great read, an easy read and an intriguing read. To think I was watching Neighbours totally unaware of the goings on with the cast! The innocence of a child....

7/10

Book Number 33 - Sophie Kinsella, I've Got Your Number

I was hooked by the Shopaholic series, kinda reminded me of me, and its been a while since I picked up one of Kinsella's books. I actually loaned this from a friend after she was groaning at the 'footnotes' throughout the book. The story is obvious at points but a interesting and easy read and the footnotes aren't as bad as I thought, I actually found I missed many of them as I didn't notice the little numbers and it wasn't until I was at the end of the page that I saw them, by then I just kept reading and didn't look back at the numbers, its not like I felt I was missing anything special. All of Kinsella's books, to me, are similar and almost like its the same girl in each one (I guess its because I read the shopaholic books first and it set the path) but I can't help but be on each girls side and I cheer for them in the end through all life's up and downs.

A book of mobile phones, love, big companies, cheating, ice cream and tears that I found to be an easy read and a book that I did think about when not looking at its pages. Would this story happen in real life, finding a phone in a bin and being able to keep it? Sounds like it was meant to be...perhaps...

6/10

Book Number 34 - Penny Vincenzi, an absolute scandal

As I picked us this book I also thought I'll need physio from reading it due to such a big and heavy novel! This book brought upon real life asbestos's tones (though not as much as I oringinaly thought when I read the start) along with the English company Lloyd's who uses Names to get money and in the end bankrupt a lot of rich people who, some might say, can afford it but with many twists and turns the books bounces through life and death, mistakes and life changes until it ends on, what I feel, it an unfinished note. I found I enjoyed the people in the book and with a couple of lovers, I found the results weren't expected and this was a nice blessing.

6/10

Book Number 35 - Roberta Williams, My Life

Roberta Williams - how do I sum up this book...?
She doesn't particularly like sex, doesn't give head jobs and feels that the only men she can date are the ones that have 'criminal backgrounds'.
Sure, her childhood sucked, she didn't deserve to be beaten by her mother and step fathers and she survived the best she could. Losing a father at an early age would definitely have impacted her brain but she keeps saying how life would be different, if only he were alive. If only. Roberta needs to move on from this, her Dad may also want her too, and realise that nothing can change her life only the choices she makes. She could meet a man that hasn't come from a similar background, give one a chance, instead of meeting men who bash her, cheat on her and don't give her the love her Dad may have given to alter her life stories.
She says she wants the best for her children and to give them the love she didn't have and although she gives her children the love she also opens a world up for them that no child ought to be part of - shootings, bashing's, hiding out and having people killed around them. If you want the best for your children, move away from the choices you currently choose and find someone completely decent. Surely you and your children deserve that.

Apart from the sadness, the book was like reading a comedy novel. Gold at times and sad at other times...

6/10

Book Number 36 - Ken Follett, The Pillars of the Earth

this will take a while......

finally got there! after many nights trying to stay awake so I could finish it, eyes bulging out, I got there!

I almost felt like crying at the end, because I was with the families and people for over 50 of their years, and then it just ended- it could have ended a bit later on in their lives, but if that happened, I wouldn't be writing this, I'd still be reading the book!

I have never looked at my food the same again, hearing about what they ate - meat and meat, cabbage and apples. The food they didn't eat, they way the Kings ruled the land, but the churches that had more say (had?!) and also about the way villages and towns ran.

Just when I thought things with Father Phillip, Ellen, Tom or Aliena couldn't go any worse, there was more suffering until finally peace came. It took a long time to build the cathedral, many ups and towns but yet the gods did shine for Knightbridge.


An epic adventure...

Book Number 37 - James Patterson, 3rd Degree

Yep, another Patterson book. After reading a few in depth books, its nice to read a quickie!

So, I didn't read them in order, sue me, they are still a fab read and although there really aren't many pages (chapters are every second or third page) there is great thought into the mystery of how and why the people are dying in these towns. Never enter a town where James Patterson has written about, fiction or non-fiction!

San Francisco is alive with a killer who is blowing the town apart, one of the woman in the 'woman's murder club' dies *insert shock here* and the rest of the club will never be the same. I always like how there is a dog in these books, a smart one of course. Chuck in a bit of love and comedy and you have a fab murder mystery book to sink your jaw into. A great days read.

Book Number 38 - Peter Jackson, A Film-Makers Journey by Brian Sibley with Peter Jackson

Wow, really WOW....I am a huge fan of Meet The Feebles, Brain Dead and Bad Taste and to read and follow in the footsteps of how these films were made, Peters early years and all that goes behind making films I found I had a new love for this man! Well written with lots of photos throughout, its an amazing journey. A must for all Jackson fans and yes there is plenty on Lord Of The Rings but most was written about Jackson's earlier years which is what I wanted to read about. I feel like this book was written for me with all my thoughts and questions answered. Lets hope a Part II is out one day! That's right!

9/10

Book Number 39 - Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame Smith

I don't normally buy books of the movies I'm about to see but whilst in America, books are too cheap compared to here, so buy it I did. I admit I was hooked, what a fabulous book and at times I believe!

I am a huge fan of the quirky classics and books of years gone by that are converted to more interesting writings filled with vampires, zombies etc. 

A lot of drama and death is in this book so it will be interesting to see the movie, in a few weeks at the Astor Theatre, brought to life.

Abraham is still an educated and smart man but behind the brains is brawn ready for hunting vampires - after hearing his father talk about the vampires who killed his family, Abraham sought revenge. Years spent learning the trade secrets and with help from an actual vampire he killed many rogue vampires.

Woe is the man who got in Abraham's path. Glee is the man who was given Abraham's diary to be published. Misery is those who don't believe.

Book Number 40 - Storms Over Africa by Beverley Harper

I really enjoy Beverly Harper books. I only just discovered her books this year (and learnt she died in 2002 of Cancer - RIP Beverley) and plan on reading more once the current pile of books his dilapidated.

Storms in Africa is set in Africa (durr) and follows a family with drama, sacrifice and heartache that Beverley Harper writes much about in many of her books. You will read these books and you will want to visit the country and save the wildlife (I admit I do skip the sections with animals dying, yes terrible I know), and you will feel like you are living in the country whilst reading her books. Beverley has a way of bringing the African colour, culture and love into my heart and although there is always suffering in her books, it somehow feels right. I'm sure I give a huge sigh when I have finished reading her books as I feel like I have gone through the drama and story with the families. *sighs*


8/10

Book Number 41 - Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

So whilst visiting Graceland, why not buy the book about Elvis and his young maiden. The book is written in the late 1980's but is well written and an easy read. Its very very interesting to hear about how Elvis wooed a young (14 year old) Priscilla and how she managed to live with Elvis for something like 16 years! I believe what Priscilla writes, I like to believe it is the real story and can also imagine that it would have been the life she truly lived - under Elvis watchful yet occasional scrutinizing eyes, teaching her how to dress, apply make up and become the women he wanted and needed. I can actually imagine Elvis having the personality she talks about, and opening her heart and her vulnerability makes for a credible read. Oh to imagine if the King was alive today....

9/10

Book Number 42 - A Man Named Dave by Dave Pelzer

This book is the third in a trilogy about the true story of a young boy who is beaten and abused by his mother since a very young age (with no actual memory of why he is abused) and this final book in the series called A Man Called Dave brings home the forgiveness Dave is willing to give his mother and the rest of the family who witnessed such abuse.  I read about his surviving a normal life after foster care and Dave becoming a man, a lover and a father. After I read this book I still fine myself wondering how he found forgiveness and it brings to home how much things in my life may seem hard but really, are nothing compared to what Dave went through. A truly inspiring story and one that brings to home the truth of what happens behind many closed doors.


8/10

(As I've been away OS for a month, I'm putting up all the books I've read whilst away today! ya know, in case all my readers think I'm crapping on! ha!)

Book Number 43 - Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy

Maeve Binchy was recommended to me by a few avid book readers, if you like light novels to read with loads of drama then this is a good one for you. It took me a while to get into the mode of it but someone told me to stick with it and I found only a few chapters in I was enjoying the characters and enjoying the book.

I won't give away much but basically its about a guy who ends up looking after a baby he helped make and the stories and dramas and lessons he finds through this scenario. The lady who comes to live with Noel's family at the start is a real hoot and manages to get the family together and finds happiness herself in the least expected place!

A 2010 novel which I give 6/10

Book Number 44 - Elephant Song by Wilbur Smith

Wow, Wilbur Smith is all he's cracked up to be. A knowledge about Africa and a great involvement with the ivory trade as well as romance locked into the battle.

You will notice a few Wilbur Smith books in my postings, my Dad was an avid reader and since his passing, I've taken his books to slowly read through - turning the pages as he once did to unlock another story of history, pleasure and sadness. This is my first Wilbur Smith book and I will be back to read more. My Dad sure knew a good story when he read them, I only wish I'd read them years ago so we could have discussed them...

9 out of 10

27/02/2012

Book Number 45 - 7th Heaven by James Patterson

wow, I read quicker than I thought. I'm not crapping anyone on, I read quick! Not sure why I've grabbed another James Patterson book. This one is a part of the 'Woman's Murder Club' so its woman as detectives pioneering the bad boys. Each time I get books read and I see my stack in the cupboard disappearing, I then get given some more! oh well, eyes up and on we go.....

James Patterson does write a good book (did I say this already...I think I'm having a seniors moment), this is my first book of James Patterson's that is a Woman's Murder Club book, and its nice to see the chicks in action. I find Patterson's book are not predictable (yeah, okay, rarely they are but not enough to put me off) and this book fills our head with more violence and mystery with intrigue and 'whodunnit' thoughts. A popular young man goes missing, son of a wealthy known father, and to boot there are a couple of sociopaths wandering around and killing couples by fire....ouchies...

My only thought is why the couple just didn't admit to the world they were in love and be a couple without having to pretend his is dead and without having to actually go through all they did...sorry for the spoiler...but still....that kinda threw me for a bit, but won't put me off reading the next Patterson thriller.

Book Number 46 - The Dark Story of Eminem

Okay, so at this point I've read a few books this year. Book number 47 was a short book and now I'm facing the biography of Eminem. I've only cheated slightly with this book as I did start it late last year and didnt get far due to a number of reasons (none being the actual book itself, but I won't bore you with that story), anyway, I've now picked it back up and I'm slowing getting back into reading about a poor boy who live in a black neighbourhood in the USA and all the trials and tribulations he went through...

So, as this book is a biography its full of quotes from his magazine/tv interviews, song descriptions, interviews with old employers and family and friends. The book tells us his road to glory, up and downs with his wife (ex?) and making the millions. Eminem seems to have loads of angst up his sleeve and is proud to display with like and dislikes. Hopefully the boy has grown up to be a man his daughter is proud of.

I'm not a huge fan of his music, but reading what may or may not be an accountable story of Eminem's growth, was appealing and entertaining for the most part....

5/10

29th January

23/01/2012

Book Number 47 - The Meowmorphosis by Franz Kafka and Colleridge Cook

Quirk Books, like oh my goodness, that are just fabulous books to read! That's right.

I fell for these books whilst in Borneo last year and have read six so far -the Pride and Predudice series, Mr Darcy Vampyre, I am Scrooge and Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Zombies - well okay, the latter is a book of Christmas carols with words in zombie themes but hey, funny as.

The Meowmorphosis is one that has been on my list for aaggggggggesssssssssss and although there are plenty of books that got in before this one, I'm skipping those and heading straight for this! Only bought a few days ago at Readings:)

oh, I guess I need to add that Quirk books take the originals from donkeys years ago and as the copyright rules no longer apply to them, anyone can take the books and change their stories to reflect a more, shall we dare say, 'quirky' fantasy!

Written by (quote) one of the most depressing writers in Prague (unquote), born at the turn of the 19th century, and now altered by Coleridge Cook for this book, it takes look into the depressing (that can be argued) life of a man who works for his entire family and one day wakes up a cuddly kitten. The original book finds the man waking up at an insect!

Follow this story through the streets of Prague, to similar cats obstacles and through a family that may or may not be a little like your own.....and believe me, its not hard to wonder what it would actually be like - life as a cat!

7/10

Book Number 48 - Swimsuit by James Patterson

Well here I am, already into book 48 (yes, I'm counting down if you're confused, I like to confuse people, keeps them on their toes...opps, now I've wandered off track...)...

So I'm now reading a James Patterson book, I like reading his books as they are clever and a quick read as there is a chapter every 2-3 pages along so I feel like I finish the book really fast! This one was given to me by a work colleague.

Called Swimsuit.

This is a true story about a model who is murdered. You find out how rather quickly too and its rather disturbing...

More to come later on as I'm just a few chapters in...

okay....a few days later and it's read! yep, I find Patterson books are an easy read (did I say that already;)- ). Good book although not the best one of his I've read as although it's a 'true story' some facts don't make sense that the killer wasn't caught earlier. BUT, full of sadistic killings and ways of killing people I don't know if I really needed invading my intellect. If there is a group out there who get off on watching people get killed, and they pay for this, then straight to hell you'll be entering! Yikes....

7/10

Book Number 49 - The Dilemma by Penny Vincenzi

Okay, here is the start of my NY resolution....to read the 49 books I have sitting in my wardrobe. Books as presents, books my Dad (RIP) read (only Wilbur Smith) and mainly books from op shops....I keep buying books and not reading older ones (no doubt we are all guilty of this)...so I thought to get me motivated, I'd start a blog on the books and maybe someone out there may decide to read the book also and give me the 'push' I need to keep reading! Do not judge me by the books I read as I like trashy novels, autobiographies and crime......so here is the first....phew!

49 - Penny Vincenzi 'The Dilemma'

A friend in Toowoomba introduced me to Vincenzi last year and I read that book and enjoyed it (can't think of its name, about people meeting through a car wreck)..This one like the others I've read, is a long book. I'm not saying that in a bad way, cripes no....but it seems to take ages to get half way and that is where I'm at as I started just after the year started....

The book looks into the life of an english family and the dramas the rich have it....

so far out of ten I give it

6/10

and now I've finished it, its a rather indepth novel about family who-har but you can't put a decent story past Vincenzi, I'd like to see her write a true novel!

I know give it 7/10