Book Review #795 - Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd

Boyd breaks a 40-year silence as she tells the story of how she found herself bound to two of the most addictive, promiscuous musical geniuses of the 20th century and became the most famous muse in the history of rock and roll.

My Rating: 2/5

I borrowed this book from my local library because searching through their catalogue it was the only 'Beatles' related book I had yet to read.

If you don't know who Pattie Boyd is, she was a model/actress but is more widely known for being the first wife of George Harrison whom she left for his best friend Eric Clapton.

I was only really interested in reading the Harrison chapters but decided to read the entire book as I am not the type of person who can read 2 chapters and say they have read the book.

For the most part, I found this book quite boring. It was mainly just her telling us all the famous people she used to hang out with. Had I grown up (or even been alive) during that era it may have interested me but I honestly had never heard of anyone mentioned other than the four Beatles.

Before reading this book I knew absolutely nothing about Eric Clapton and this book does not portray him well at all. It chronicles his massive drug addiction problems (so much that he took to wearing a spoon around on a necklace) and how he would have affairs in the house with Pattie knowingly in the house. The worst thing he did however was joyfully tell her his mistress was pregnant knowing that Pattie struggled with infertility and expect Pattie to be happy for him about it.

Overall, I feel like had I been older this book would have been a fun, nostalgic read but because I'm not I found it boring with so many references flying right over my head.

Book Review #703 - Billy Slater Autobiography by Billy Slater

During a long and decorated career with the Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australia, Billy Slater has forged a reputation as not merely one of rugby league’s great fullbacks, but as one of the best players in the game’s long history. Slater’s story is that of a young country recruit with superb natural talent who rose quickly to the top level, playing with the Storm after just one pre-season in Melbourne and starring for Queensland during just his second season in the NRL. But inside the player who has scored so many audacious tries on the game’s biggest stages is a fierce competitive drive and a relentless work ethic, one inherited from parents who worked tirelessly to provide for their two children.In his fourteen years in the NRL, Slater has been confronted by the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal, career-threatening injuries, the disappointment of lost grand finals, his early axing from the Queensland team, a game-losing mistake with the Kangaroos and accusations about his allegedly rough style of play. Slater has emerged not merely as a great of the game, but as an even more resilient character, a respected spokesman for his sport, a devoted husband and father, and – in a moment of emotional vindication – a member of the Storm’s defiant 2012 premiership team. Billy’s story is told with contributions from Slater’s family, as well as other rugby league legends like Cooper Cronk, Craig Bellamy, Darren Lockyer and Cameron Smith.

My Rating: 6/10

First of all I absolutely love the cover of this book, especially as I am a fan of both the Melbourne Storm and Queensland Maroons (my mum grew up in QLD). 

Billy Slater is my favourite rugby league player. He is such an exciting player to watch and comes across as a very genuine, down to earth person. 

His story is a very honest one with a lot of interesting stories throughout from his childhood to when he first met Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk. 

The book ends after Billy's successful return from injury in the state of origin match. It feels rather unfinished as the rest of the year was obviously a very successful one for Billy with QLD winning game 3, the Storm being premiers and also it being a World Cup year. 

Book Review #699 - Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman

With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. 

But that past has caught up with her. 

Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424 — one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. 

From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. 

My Rating: 3/5

As a casual viewer of the Netflix series (I think I've seen the first 2 or 3 seasons) of the same name, I was interested in this book to see how realistic the show is because fortunately, I know absolutely nothing about the prison experience.

Piper Kerman gives a harrowing account of her experience in a minimum security prison. There were aspects that the show has incorporated well like the strip searches, the showers and even some confrontations with other inmates.

There were so many characters from the show in the book even though most were not mentioned by name, or had an extremely lower role. 

Piper comes across as humble. She was very aware of her privileged background in comparison to her fellow inmates but she used this to help others like doing her bunkmate's coursework. 

One thing I definitely liked more about the book than the show was Piper's partner Larry. I do not like him at all in the show, but in the book he was 100% supportive and kept Piper's networking going, because being incarcerated can really kill your social life.

Book Review #685 - A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

On 10 June 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in Tahoe, California. It was the last her family and friends saw of her for over eighteen years. On 26 August 2009, Dugard, her daughters, and Phillip Craig Garrido appeared in the office of her kidnapper's parole officer in California. Their unusual behaviour sparked an investigation that led to the positive identification of Jaycee Lee Dugard, living in a tent behind Garrido's home. During her time in captivity, at the age of fourteen and seventeen, she gave birth to two daughters, both fathered by Garrido. 

Dugard's memoir is written by the 30-year-old herself and covers the period from the time of her abduction in 1991 up until the present. In her stark, utterly honest and unflinching narrative, Jaycee opens up about what she experienced, including how she feels now, a year after being found. Garrido and his wife Nancy have since pleaded guilty to their crimes.

My Rating: 4/5

The main thing I thought before reading this book is I wonder how graphic or how much detail will it divulge and the answer I got was a lot. She doesn't sugarcoat anything and goes into a lot of detail about a lot of traumatic events. 

The amount of abuse Jaycee endured over 18 years in captivity is just horrifying and was impossible to read at times. 

I found that the line between reality and fiction blurred a lot throughout the book as it is unimaginable that this kind of thing can happen to a young, innocent child. 

While Jaycee is the first to admit that her writing style and ability is not the best, I admired her bravery in sharing her story. 

Book Review #684 - Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham

In this collection of personal essays, the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood reveals stories about life, love, and working as a woman in Hollywood—along with behind-the-scenes dispatches from the set of the new Gilmore Girls, where she plays the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore once again.

In Talking as Fast as I Can, Lauren Graham hits pause for a moment and looks back on her life, sharing laugh-out-loud stories about growing up, starting out as an actress, and, years later, sitting in her trailer on the Parenthood set and asking herself, “Did you, um, make it?” She opens up about the challenges of being single in Hollywood (“Strangers were worried about me; that’s how long I was single!”), the time she was asked to audition her butt for a role, and her experience being a judge on Project Runway (“It’s like I had a fashion-induced blackout”).

In “What It Was Like, Part One,” Graham sits down for an epic Gilmore Girls marathon and reflects on being cast as the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore. The essay “What It Was Like, Part Two” reveals how it felt to pick up the role again nine years later, and what doing so has meant to her.

Some more things you will learn about Lauren: She once tried to go vegan just to bond with Ellen DeGeneres, she’s aware that meeting guys at awards shows has its pitfalls (“If you’re meeting someone for the first time after three hours of hair, makeup, and styling, you’ve already set the bar too high”), and she’s a card-carrying REI shopper (“My bungee cords now earn points!”).

Including photos and excerpts from the diary Graham kept during the filming of the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, this book is like a cozy night in, catching up with your best friend, laughing and swapping stories, and—of course—talking as fast as you can.

My Rating: N/A

I am really picky about what non-fiction books I read, especially celebrity memoirs. Gilmore Girls is however one of my favourite TV shows of all time so I was really excited to read this book. 

The writing style was very witty, humorous and free flowing which made it a very fun and quick book to read. 

This book covers a lot of Lauren's life without going into too much detail or depth. 

I read this book cover to cover and ended up finishing it around 3:00am as I just wanted to get to the last chapter where Lauren talks about the Gilmore Girls revival which ended up being well worth it as the last sentence of the book was really promising. 

Book Review #419 - My Left Foot by Christy Brown

Christy Brown was born a victim of cerebral palsy. But the hapless, lolling baby concealed the brilliantly imaginative and sensitive mind of a writer who would take his place among the giants of Irish literature.

This is Christy Brown's own story. He recounts his childhood struggle to learn to read, write, paint and finally type, with the toe of his left foot.

My Rating: 3/5

There were two main aspects of this book that I found interesting. The first was the detailed insight into living with such a debilitating condition in a time period where it was nowhere near as understood as it is today.




The second was the time period as it was set from the 1930's up until the mid 1950's.




Since Christy was a child he never saw himself as being different. This plays a dominant role in his personality and is the reason why he was able to accomplish as much as he did with his life.




Christy's mother was an amazing woman as she never gave up on Christy and was able to care for him even though she had twenty plus other children.

Book Review #415 - Braveheart: Lessons Learnt from Life by Brett and Hayley S. Kirk

There have been times throughout my life that have challenged who I am and I have not always held my head high and said: this is me.

In September 2010 Brett Kirk walked off the MCG, having played his final game of AFL for his beloved Sydney Swans. Many know him as the courageous captain who helped his team win the holiest of grails on the AFL calendar. What many people don't know is how he came to be such a tireless captain, honest teammate, and admired role model in both life and sport.

His next challenge is to help YOU!

Brett, with the help of his wife, Hayley, opens himself up like never before, sharing personal stories to guide you through the challenges of working out who you truly are, what drives you, what you love and ultimately who you want to be.

My Rating: 2.5/5

I borrowed this book from my local library with expectations of it being an autobiography. I have read numerous other books written by AFL players and had expected this to be like them.

This book is more like a self-help book which is something that I do not usually read. Part of this was inspiring, but I didn't care much for the religious aspect of it.

I liked the inclusion of the photocopied pages from his journal and school reports. The layout of this book was my favourite aspect.

Book Review #414 - Lucky Man: A Memoir by Michael J. Fox

A funny, highly personal, gorgeously written account of what it's like to be a 30-year-old man who is told he has an 80-year-old's disease.

"Life is great. Sometimes, though, you just have to put up with a little more crap." --Michael J. Fox

In September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease -- a degenerative neurological condition. In fact, he had been secretly fighting it for seven years. The worldwide response was staggering. Fortunately, he had accepted the diagnosis and by the time the public started grieving for him, he had stopped grieving for himself. Now, with the same passion, humour, and energy that Fox has invested in his dozens of performances over the last 18 years, he tells the story of his life, his career, and his campaign to find a cure for Parkinson's.

Combining his trademark ironic sensibility and keen sense of the absurd, he recounts his life -- from his childhood in a small town in western Canada to his meteoric rise in film and television which made him a worldwide celebrity. Most importantly however, he writes of the last 10 years, during which -- with the unswerving support of his wife, family, and friends -- he has dealt with his illness. He talks about what Parkinson's has given him: the chance to appreciate a wonderful life and career, and the opportunity to help search for a cure and spread public awareness of the disease. He is a very lucky man, indeed.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Michael J. Fox is an actor that I didn't know that much about before reading this book. I am a fan of the Back to the Future movies which is the reason I picked up this book.

Not only does this book give great insight into what it was like for him being diagnosed with such a crippling disease but is also gave insight into what it is like being famous and the advantages and disadvantages that come with that.

It amazed me to what lengths he had to go through just to keep his tremors away from the public eye. From having to move his hand every four seconds to timing his medication to perfection.

He lived two very different lives. He kept his personal life and his celebrity life completely separate and the lengths he went to to keep it that way were also very interesting.

Book Review #287 - Jimmy: My Story by James Anderson

He's the good-looking lad from Burnley whose brilliance on the pitch and good looks have drawn comparisons with David Beckham and who has established himself as one of the most exciting cricketers in world. In his first book, James Anderson (or Jimmy, as everyone knows him) tells the story of his life in cricket. From promising beginnings at Burnley Cricket club where he discovered, seemingly overnight, that he could bowl faster than the rest, to his first-class debut with Lancashire and the England call up that followed, to playing under Darren Fletcher and the run of hat tricks that made him England's golden boy. Career-halting injury devastated Anderson but then came a recent glorious return to form making this is a tale of exuberance, determination and sheer force of character.

Jimmy Anderson has earned himself a place at the high table of English cricket and this book, much like the man himself, is sure to get people talking.

 

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

 

I would consider Jimmy Anderson as one of my favourite cricketers so I was always going to enjoy this book.

 

 

I read this book in less than a day. It was quite easy to read especially the first part. When the on-field part took over it slowed down a bit but was still interesting.

 

 

He gave very insightful information about his career and the Ashes parts were obviously the most fascinating.

 

 

There were a few parts that were particularly interesting like his altercation with Michael Clarke or Brad Haddin's on-field sledging tactics.

 

 

Book Review 360 - 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

Hiking into the remote Utah canyonlands, Aron Ralston felt perfectly at home in the beauty of the natural world. Then, at 2:41 P.M., eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, an eight-hundred-pound boulder tumbled loose, pinning Aron's right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. Through six days of hell, with scant water, food, or warm clothing, and the terrible knowledge that no one knew where he was, Aron eliminated his escape option one by one. Then a moment of stark clarity helped him to solve the riddle of the boulder - and commit one of the most extreme and desperate acts imaginable.

My Rating: 3.5/5

 

 

I was given this book for Christmas a few years ago and finally decided to read it. The closest thing can compare it to is Stuart Diver's autobiography I read about a decade ago.

 

 

I'm pretty sure everyone is familiar with Aron's remarkable story. I had seen the movie prior to reading this. After reading the book, I am a little disappointed in how many key moments the film cut out, for example the amount of near death experiences Aron had had leading up to this moment and how long it took him to get help after freeing himself.

 

 

I found the mountaineering talk a bit boring at times, especially when he went back and described past treks. However this showed how he lived life on the edge and demonstrated how experienced he was.

 

 

I wouldn't recommend this book for those who have a weak stomach. He goes into extreme detail in how he cut off his arm - which I actually found quite interesting.

 

 

Overall I found this book pretty inspiring, it's a reminder of how precious life is and not to take it for granted.

Book Review #356 - Cleo by Helen Brown

 

Helen Brown wasn't a cat person, but her nine-year-old son Sam was. So when Sam heard a woman telling his mum that her cat had just had kittens, Sam pleaded to go and see them.

 

Helen's heart melted as Sam held one of the kittens in his hands with a look of total adoration. In a trice the deal was done - the kitten would be delivered when she was big enough to leave her mother.

 

A week later, Sam was dead. Not long after, a little black kitten was delivered to the grieving family. Totally traumatised by Sam's death, Helen had forgotten all about the new arrival. After all, that was back in another universe when Sam was alive.

Helen was ready to send the kitten back, but Sam's younger brother wanted to keep her, identifying with the tiny black kitten who'd also lost her brothers. When Rob stroked her fur, it was the first time Helen had seen him smile since Sam's death. There was no choice: the kitten - dubbed Cleo - had to stay.

 

 

Kitten or not, there seemed no hope of becoming a normal family. But Cleo's zest for life slowly taught the traumatised family to laugh. She went on to become the uppity high priestess of Helen's household, vetoing her new men, terrifying visiting dogs and building a special bond with Rob, his sister Lydia, Helen - and later a baby daughter.

 

 

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

As I have stated on this blog before, I don't read too many memoir's of non-sporting personalities. However, I decided to read this because of its inclusion on the 2010 50 Books You Can't Put Down list which I am seriously behind in completing.

 

 

This book was published in 2009 and so I think it is clear that it was probably influenced by Marley and Me. The two are very similar, this obviously being the cat version.

 

 

I liked this book more than Marley and Me which surprised me a lot as I am definitely a dog person. I felt like this book had a lot more emotion and depth.

 

 

I really liked how as a reader you get to experience the journey of not only the cat Cleo but also a great bunch of real people who go through an unimaginable trauma.

 

 

This was a very honest portrayal of loss and amazing impact a pet can have on a family, even one as damaged as this one.

 

Book Review #252 - Twists and Turns by Matthew Mitcham

People kept remarking on how they were surprised that a gold medal and fame hadn't changed me. I always responded, 'Why would I change? Being me is the easiest person to be.' I was lying. It wasn't. At the Beijing Olympic Games, he made history with an unforgettable dive, the first to ever score perfect tens from all four judges, and won gold for Australia. Grinning with pride from front pages around the world, there was no hint of the personal demons that had led this supremely talented young dynamo to quit diving less than two years before. Joyously out and proud, Matthew was a role model for his courage both in and out of the pool. Yet the crippling self-doubt and shadow of depression that had plagued him all his life forced him into premature retirement, at one point reduced to circus diving to earn money. Even after Beijing and being ranked No 1 in the world, those closest to Matthew could not guess that beneath that cheeky, fun-loving exterior he was painfully aware of how easily it could unravel. In the lead-up to the London Olympics, when injury threatened his hopes, he will have to find the strength again to balance his striving for perfectionism with the fear of his self-doubt taking hold again. Told with the honesty and courage he is admired for, Twists and Turns is an inspiring story of a true champion, in and out of the pool.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did, I only decided to pick this book up from the library as I have a general interest in diving.

 

 

I also wasn't expecting the amount of issues that he has encountered throughout his life. From his drug use to self-harm and depression this book had a lot more depth than I was expecting.

 

 

This book really showcased the pressure he was under to perform and more importantly the pressure he put on himself.

 

 

I found all the pictures really interesting especially the ones about the London Olympics.

 

 

 

 It was good to see that his sense of humour came through in his writing especially in the captions under the photos.

Book Review #240 - The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annex" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.

 

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

 

I have owned this book since June and was only recently inspired to pick it up after watching the film Freedom Writers.

 

 

There were times when this book felt more like fiction than non-fiction and this was probably due to the quality of Anne's writing.

 

 

Before reading this book, I thought this would be a very dull and depressing read whereas I found it really funny at times. Anne was a really good writer for her age.

 

 

I think what makes this book as much of a classic is that it reads as if it could have been written by a teenage girl of any era whilst it also sheds light on the brutal reality of the situation she had to live through.
 

 

This book was slow paced at times, but I was never bored. This is the first historical biography I have read and didn't really expect to love it as much as I did.

Book Review #200 - Mickey O: Determination. Hardwork. And a Little bit of Magic by Michael O'Loughlin

When Michael O'Loughlin was drafted by the Sydney Swans at just 17 years of age, he was the no. 40 selection and the last player picked. Back then he could not have imagined the extraordinary future that awaited him: the numerous awards and accolades, the respect and admiration of fellow players, a huge number of personal supporters, and a record-breaking 303 games in the red and white. This is the inspiring story of Michael's life from the childhood lessons of hard work and self-belief imparted to him by his mother, Muriel, to the discovery of the stunning sporting ability which would take him into the elite legions of AFL. By 2009, Michael had broken the Swans' games record. He had kicked more goals for the club than anyone except the legendary Bob Pratt. He played more finals for the Swans than any other, and became one of just three Indigenous players in the history of the sport to reach 300 games. MICKY O is the extraordinary story of a kid who combined his talent with sheer determination to become one of the greatest AFL players of all time.

 

 

 

My Rating: 2.5/5

 

 

This is the first autobiography I have read where I didn't have a personal interest in the subject. I read this book as part of the 2012 50 Books You Can't Put Down list.

 

 

What I did like about this book was that is was primarily about his football career. Although I'm not a Swans fan I found this interesting as I had watched most of the games he described.

 

 

The main problem I had with this book was the editing. I found that there were alot of times where the wrong grammatical tense was used.

 

 

Whilst reading, I felt like there were missing pieces and felt like it was too jumbled at times.

Book Review #181 - My Story by Tom Daley

Enter the enthralling world of Olympian Tom Daley.

Tom had hearts in mouths when he dived at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where he won two gold medals. He is one of Britain's gleaming hopes for gold at the London 2012 Olympics. But there is also a heartbreaking and inspiring story of a young athlete coping with the death of his father whilst under the glare of the world's media spotlight.

In this, Tom's first official memoir, he offers unprecedented access to the pressures, challenges and fascinating experiences of a world-class Olympian. From his day-to-day schedule, to his hobbies and family life, to sharing his hopes and dreams in the build up to the London Olympics, this book offers a unique chance to get close to Tom. Featuring exclusive photography and published simultaneously as a hardback and enhanced e-book, this will be the ultimate book for the 2012 Olympics.

 

 

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

I read this book very quickly, in fact it only just arrived in the mail a few hours ago. It was very easy to read, and really fast paced. I never got bored which is rare with non-fiction.

 

 

The only thing I was unsure about with this book was the fact that it was the autobiography of a 18 year old. Yet, the writing was mature and I found that I could relate to it.

 

 

The quality of the book is really good as well, it has glossy pages and alot of pictures.

 

 

This book was really inspirational and the best autobiography I have read for a while.

Book Review #173 - Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Maybe it was a grandparent, a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and impassioned, helped you to see the world as a more profound place, and gave you sound advice to guide your way through it. For Mitch Albom, it was Morrie Schwartz, the college professor who taught him nearly twenty years ago.

Perhaps, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as the years passed, the insights faded, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn't you like to see that person again, to ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, and receive wisdom for your busy life the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom got that second chance, rediscovering Morrie in the last months of the older man's life. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final 'class': lessons in how to live. 'Tuesdays with Morrie' is a magical chronicle of their time together.

 

 

My Rating: 3/5

 

 

I wasn't too sure if I would like this book or not as the only biographical material I read is usually only people I am interested in.

 

 

This book was interesting enough, but I didn't completely love it. Morrie was genuine and he was the aspect that I liked the most about the book.

 

 

Not too much happens throughout the book, and so at times the book flatlines. It is quite short though, so it didn't take me long at all to read it.

 

 

I would still recommend this to anyone, as it does present some great values.

 

Book Review #171 - Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby

Nick Hornby has been a soccer fan since the moment he was conceived. Fever Pitch is his tribute to a lifelong obsession. Part autobiography, part comedy, part incisive analysis of insanity, Hornby's award-winning memoir captures the fever pitch of fandom--its agony and ecstasy, its community, its defining role in thousands of young men's coming of age stories. Fever Pitch is one for the home team. But above all, it is one for everyone who knows what it really means to have a losing season.

My Rating: 5/5

I don't know why it took me so long to hear about this book, as this is a book that I can 100% relate to. Not only am I also an Arsenal fan but I also have a very unhealthy obsession with my favourite team (although not Arsenal).


This is the perfect book that I would recommend to people who don't understand how important sport can be to people and the different emotions it can create.


I really enjoyed reading about Arsenal in an era before I was born as the book starts in the year 1968 when he went to his first game.


What was refreshing at times was how much I could relate to his story. It was good to know I wasn't the only person who loves a sporting team a little too much.


The only thing that bothered me was when he said that he didn't go to games for a while because they were losing or that they lost a key player. It just contradicted everything he had previously stated throughout the book.


Although this book is mainly about the author's experiences with supporting Arsenal the book would not have been anywhere near as good as it was if it weren't for his writing.

Book Review #157 - Harry, a History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli

During the brief span of just one decade, hundreds of millions of perfectly ordinary people made history: they became the only ones who would remember what it was like when the Harry Potter saga was still unfinished. What it was like to seek out friends, families, online forums, fan fiction, and podcasts to get a fix between novels. When the death of a character was a hotter bet than the World Series. When the unfolding story of a boy wizard changed the way books are read for all time. And as webmistress of the Leaky Cauldron, one of the most popular Harry Potter sites on the Internet, Melissa Anelli had a front row seat to it all. Whether it was helping Scholastic stop leaks and track down counterfeiters, hosting live PotterCasts at bookstores across the country, touring with the wizard rock band Harry and the Potters, or traveling to Edinburgh to interview J.K. Rowling personally, Melissa was at the center of the Harry Potter tornado, and nothing about her life would ever be the same. The Harry Potter books are a triumph of the imagination that did far more than break sales records for all time. They restored the world's sense of wonder and took on a magical life of their own. Now the series has ended, but the story is not over. With remembrances from J. K. Rowling's editors, agents, publicists, fans, and Rowling herself, Melissa Anelli takes us on a personal journey through every aspect of the Harry Potter phenomenon-from his very first spell to his lasting impact on the way we live and dream.

My Rating: 4/5

I didn't know what this book was about prior to reading other than it had something to do with Harry Potter. Had I known, it was somebody's autobiographical account of how Harry Potter changed her life I would probably have been hesitant to read such book. So I am glad I went into this book blind as I really enjoyed it.


It was good to look at Harry Potter through the eyes of an older person at the time where you had to wait anxiously for the next book, because around that time I was the same age as Harry.


The book showcased all different Harry Potter fandoms from music (wizard rock), fanfiction writing, fan sites and exhibitions, which I didn't know much about until reading.


I found this book to be very interesting and would recommend it for any Harry Potter fan.

Book Review #140 - Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton

The amazing story of the thirteen-year-old surfer girl who lost her arm in a shark attack but never lost her faith -- and of her triumphant return to competitive surfing.

They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the tremendous passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing -- not even the loss of her arm in a horrific shark attack -- could come between her and the waves?

That Halloween morning in Kauai, Hawaii -- a glorious part of the world, where it's hard to deny the divine -- Bethany responded to the shark's stealth attack with the calm of a girl with God on her side. Pushing pain and panic aside, she immediately began to paddle with one arm, focusing on a single thought: "Get to the beach...." Rushed to the hospital, where her father, Tom Hamilton, was about to undergo knee surgery, Bethany found herself taking his spot in the O.R. It's the kind of coincidence that isn't mere coincidence to the Hamilton family, a clan whose motto could easily be "the family that surfs and prays together stays together." To them it was a sign someone had a greater plan than the one they'd been working on themselves -- which had been to scrape together whatever resources they could to help Bethany rise to the top of her sport. When the first thing Bethany wanted to know after surgery was "When can I surf again?" it became clear that her unfaltering spirit and determination were part of a greater story -- a tale of courage and faith that this modest and soft-spoken girl would come to share with the world.

"Soul Surfer" is a moving account of Bethany's life as a young surfer, her recovery in the wake of the shark attack, the adjustments she's made to her unique surfing style, her unprecedented bid for a top showing in the World Surfing Championships, and, most fundamentally, her belief in God. It is a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows that the body is no more essential to surfing -- perhaps even less so -- than the soul.

My Rating: 4/5

I was familiar with Bethany's story because she was featured in a Australian teenage magazine when the attack first happened 8 years ago and for some reason her story has always stuck with me.

I watched the movie Soul Surfer before I read the book. The book just adds a little more depth to her story. I also watched the movie again after reading the book and I enjoyed it more having read the book.

This book is very inspiring and even though it is probably geared towards younger readers there is a message it teaches that can be appreciated by all ages.

There is very little written about the actual attack because she didn't even see the shark coming instead it focuses on the strength she had to continue surfing.

I read alot of reviews saying that there was too much religious aspects involved. Whilst that is true, it isn't as in your face and as large an aspect that I was expecting based on those reviews.

Her mother also wrote a book which was published last year. The Goodreads link is here.

My review of the movie adaptation I hope will be posted soon on my movie review blog.

Book Review #128 - Openside: My Journey to the World Cup by David Pocock

Based on his spectacular rise and his incredible talent and drive, this book is David’s insight into the world of Rugby. From his early days growing up in Zimbabwe, immigrating to Australia and playing for the Australian Schoolboys, his debut with Western Australia’s The Force, to his call up to the Wallabies, he has won many honours in many games and is held in great esteem by fans and peers alike.

In My Journey To The Rugby World Cup, David shares the life and times of a professional rugby player. It includes key tournaments in Rugby throughout 2011: Super Rugby, Tri-Nations, Bledisloe, as well as the highlight of the Rugby calendar – the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

My Rating: 4/5

I was interested to read this book because I knew it would have more depth than your average athlete's autobiography.

It took me alot less time to read this than other autobiographies I have read, simply because it was always interesting.

Even the onfield part of the book was interesting which was the part I thought I wouldn't like.

The writing was very mature and had vivid descriptions especially for the author's age.