refugee boy by benjamin zephaniah

I found this book very interesting, giving an insight of refugees coming to our country how they coped and how they were treated, made me ashamed of how some people treat refugees.
A paragraph in the book stood out for me, he says Things are very hard for me, look at me, look at all the things I am capable of.Think of the things you can call me ,a student,lover of literature, a budding architect, a friend a symbol of hope even,but what am I called a refugee.

Get Together

Hi All

Don't forget there's a get together for all bloggers on Thursday 4th December - 7pm at the Adult Learning Centre. It's a chance to chat about how it's gone so far and have a mince pie or two...

See you there

Jenny

New Blogs

Well done to Linsey and Graham for getting their first blogs posted. Graham, your book sounded pretty gripping.

Like Linsey, I read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and I too found that once I got started, I had to keep on reading it. The book is set in Auschwitz, during the Second World War and manages to deal with sad and shocking happenings with gentle humour. The story focuses on the relationship between the two boys who, in more ways than one, are from very different sides of the fence.

The end is startling and kept me thinking long after I had finished reading.

Hopefully we can get a couple of copies in the Adult Learning Centre collection soon.

The boy in the striped pyjamas by John Boyne

This story is set in Germany, and is about a 9 yr old boy and his family, they move home suddenly to an isolated part, where he has no friends... until he meets another little boy, the thing being, that his friend lives on the other side of the fence.
You may have heard of this book, it was made into a film recently, so i don't want to say much else, but i did feel the ending was far too sad for my liking.
This story was funny and sad at times, but definitely a good read, once i got into it i couldn't put it down.

DEADLINE BY SIMON KERNICK

Sorry its been a while trouble with my laptop.

This is a good to read if you like murder; mystery and you are kept in the dark all the way throw the book.This book is about a woman,s daughter who gets kidnapped and held for ransom. It also gives a story about each corrector in this book.It keeps you guessing throw the hole book who the kidnapper or kidnappers are. This is my first big book about 500 pages.If you would like to read this book just let me know as it is my own book.

Your choice and Drop - in session

Hi All,

Remember to post your choice of genres for the two books we will be reading as a group. The Poetry Evening was a great success and we now have copies of Mark Thomson's book in the Adult Learning Centre. Let me know if you want to borrow it.

There will be a drop - in session on Thursday 27/11 at the Adult Learning Centre 7 - 9 p.m. if anyone needs help with blogging, or advice on writing book reviews. If you know of anyone who would like to join the Blog Group, they are welcome to come along on the 27th to get signed up.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Marion P.

Star Sullivan

Over the last week i have been reading a book called Star Sullivan. The book was written by Maeve Binchy. The book is part of the quick read collection. The quick read collection is short books with many different storylines, many of which i have enjoyed reading

I enjoyed reading this book as it had text that was easy to read and the language was plain and easy to understand. The story i felt could have lasted longer, it would have been nice to see if Star Sullivan got the man of her dreams.

The story was about Oona 'Star' Sullivan who was given the name Star because she was no trouble at all and she was always smiling. As the story goes on you learn a lot more about Star and her family. You learn things such as her dad is a gambler and her brother is a criminal but Star is always there to help and make things better. One day a nice young boy called Laddy moves in next door and Star falls in love only to get her heart broken. After starting work at the local supermarket tyo help bring money into the house, Star discovered that dhe had an admirer but after two disastorous dates they realized that irt was not meant to be . Could this family have a happy ending? Well! You will need to read the book to find out.

I would recomend this book to anyone and would give it a star rating of four and a half. Enjoy your reading as i think it was a fantastic read.

first time

This is the first time that I am writing a blog. I like the computer because you can find a lot of things in it. I did like the lesson when I came to do the blogging.

Last two weeks I read a book called Ugly and it was so good I couldn't put it down . I cried a lot. you don't believe how cruel some people can be. now I am going to read The Boy called it. it was a good book.

I can't believe that it has take me one hour and a half to write this. I am so slow I am trying to write more so Idon't feel bad.

Poetry Evening

Hi All,

Remember that there will be a Poetry Evening on Tuesday 28 October at The Regal Community Theatre, Bathgate from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Mark Thomson, the poet, will be there. There will also be a competition and a quiz with the chance to win £25 of books !

If you think you are not sure about poetry, come along. We aim to have something to interest everyone.

Hope you can make this.

Marion P.

the 6th target by james patterson

i did like this book alot i could not put it down and it kept u in suspence there was little chapters in between big chapters and this kept u wonting to find out what happend within each chapter
i felt the little chapters had there own little crimes with in them .
it is based on alot of crime ,murders and kidnapping i also felt i was getting on an insight into how the police force worked with out it being told in so many words.

Love or Money

I have just read a book called Love or Money. The book was written by Rowena Akinyemi. The book is part of the quick reaa collection. The quick read collection is short books with great storylines covering all types of circumstances from murder to happiness. Iwould say that there is something for everyones taste.

I really enjoyed this book. It had text that was easy to read and the language in the book i found was easy to understand. i could not put this book down, it was that good. It was a story that kept you guessing, you were never sure what was going to happen next.

The story was about the Clarkson family. It was Molly's birthday and she was very rich. Molly decided that she just wanted to have a small party. Everyone that was at molly's party wanted to get there hands on all her money but she was noit going to let any of them have it. After going to bed after an arguement with them all, Molly's daughter wanted everyone to go into Molly's room to say goodnight. Did her daughter have a reason for this? Someone who went to visit molly in her room gave her mother thatn just a visit to say goodnight.

The ending of this book surprised me as i never thought for a minute that the persons that was arrested by the police was infact the culprit.

Enjoy reading this wonderful book. I have given it a star rating of five. Can we have some more books like this please?

billy connolly by pamela stevenson

this is about who i think is an inspirational person .

it gives you the ups and downs about the life of people who work in the mines in glasgow many yrs ago and the hardships most of the familys went through and how this affected billy through his growing life .
i do find this inspirational as it tells me that no matter how low things get you can always bounce back and become the person you wont to be

the rail way children by e nesbit

what a classic story which has been around for yrs .
its about three children who move near a railway and make a friendship with the station master and the railway
the children are not from the richest of familys but they make the most out of what they do have
the children are not out to couse trouble they like to help others and dont ask for much in return apart from their love is given to their farther in london.
there farther was taken from them without any reason given then at the end of the book their farther comes home to them and it all end happily

THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL BY ANNE FRANK

THIS IS A BOOK BASED ON TRUE EVENTS THROUGH THE EYES OF A YOUNG GIRL ANNE FRANK.
IT WAS ANNES 13TH BIRTHDAY AND ONE OF HER PRESENTS WAS FROM HER DAD A BOOK WHICH HAS A TARTON COVER WHICH THEN BECAME HER DIARY .
ANNES DIARY STARTED ON THE 12TH JUNE 1942 AND THE LAST ENTRY WAS ON THE 1ST AUGUST 1944 .
I FOUND ALOT OF STRENTH,BAREVEMENT AND COURAGE AND GOING INTO HIDDING AND FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIFES ARE ALL MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK AND ALOT OF HISTORY THAT NO ONE COULD FORGET .

silent sisters by jenny tomlin

this book is based on true events and its about two sisters and there siblings their is bulling,sexual abuse,beatings and neglact and this was just from their farther .
there is a twist to this book close to the end now ive read it and realise who its talking about i was suprised and to look at the lady now you would not believe it .
this lady has turned out to be a glamoruse and famous
I WOULD SAY YOU NEED A STRONG STOMACH TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTERS AS SOME OF THE DETAILS ARE GRAPHIC.

Winning Through by Brian Irvine

This story about a footballer who achieved fame and fortune buth at club level and international level and how he was devastated when being told he had MS and the story tells of how it affected his career and subsequently his marriage. The the story tells of how he recovered.

I found that this story was a little bit inspirational at the way he recovered after the MS almost finished his carrer and almost his marriage. The stry is not perfect but it is a good quick read story and give it a rating of 4 stars

To all

Glad to see you are reading and blogging. I haven't read all the books which have been reviewed, but your comments are giving me ideas for my own reading list.

Great stuff !

Marion P.

Reply to The Blue Hen

Hi,

Glad you liked The Blue Hen. That's why I found it so difficult to fit it neatly into one of the genres ! Some bits, as you said, were really funny and some bits were really tragic. I thought it gave a good account of what it must have been like living in Coatbridge when so many heavy industries were shutting down.

I might have given it 4 and a half as I found some bits really got to me.

Marion P.

reply to The Thief

Hi,

Enjoyed the book as well. I found I wanted to keep reading to find out what was happening. I was a bit disappointed with the ending as I felt I wanted a bit more. I suppose it did keep you guessing about what would happen to the main character now.

I would agree with your rating. I thought it was worth 4 out of 5.

Marion P.

First Posts

Congratulations and thanks to Elisa, Louise and Sandy for adding their first posts to the blog. All three have made some really interesting points about different books.
I'm now looking forward to reading more book reviews from our team of bloggers.

The Blue Hen

Yesterday i read a book called 'The Blue Hen'. The book was written by Des Dillon. It is a book that is part of the quick read collection.

I really enjoyed this book. It had text that was easy to read and the language i felt was just right for the story. It was rather funny at times. It had a story that kept you wondering what was going to happen next. The ending to the story i felt was a bit predictable, nevertheless i really enjoyed the story. It is a book that i would recommend and it is certainly one that i would read again.

The story was about two men who worked for a steelworks but lost there job when it was forced to close. The men decided toi get chickens on the hope that they could sell the eggs that they laid. They had nothing but problems with them as they all died. They then set up there own window cleanuing business but that didn't work out either as the local drug dealer stole not just one but two sets of ladders. There next and final attempt at making something of themselves i am keeping secret as this is a must read book and i am not spoiling it for you.

I would give this book a star rating of 4 as it is a fantastic book and i would recommend it to anyone. i think everyone will enjoy this one.

A Day To Remember

Over the last few days i have been reading a book called 'A Day To Remember'. Thios book was written by Fiona Phillips and is part of the quick read collection. The quick read collection is short books that have great storylines, msany of which i have enjoyed,

I loved this book as it had text that was easy to read and it was a book that i enjoyed right from the very first page. This book had a story that you couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. I couldn't wait to get home to find out what was going to happen next, i read the whole book on the bus on the way home. The ending to this book i felt made the story, it rewally was worth waiting for. This is a book that i would recommend to anyone and i certainly would love to read it again.

The main character in the book was Jo, she is a character that i can relate to very much. She has expierienced many of life's ups and downs for example she was involved in a car crash in the hospital car park when she was picking up her son who had broken his arm skateboarding. Jo had an ambition of her own but was finding it hard to follow as she had to run her ex-husband's business after he had ran off to Alicante with a lap dancer. How much can you relate to this character?

I would give this book a star rating of 4 as it was a fantastic book to read.

LOVE or MONEY

I though that this book was so good i would read it agene. The thing i like about LOVE or MONEY its a really good detective book and its got Activties for you to do befor you start the book, when you are reading it, after you have read the book two.

It was fun to try and solve the crime befor the detectives.
It have this at the back of the book it got my intrested strat away

LOVE or MONEY, It is Molly Clarkson's fiftieth birthday. She is having a party. She is rich, but she is having a smally pary - only four people. Four people, however, who all need the same thing: They need her money. She will not give them the money, so they are witing for her to DIE.

But one person can't wait. And so, on her fiftieth birthday, Molly Clarkson is going to DIE.


If you have not read it yet your got to. the Author is Rownena Akinyemi, all i can say is i witch i could wirte a book that is just in my mind or is true life i really like this book.

the thief by ruth rendell

i found this book to be an interesting read
its the first time ive ever read a quick read book
as i do normally read novels .
i felt the book has hidden twist in it every now an again
through the book even though it was an interesting read i felt i read it
to quick .

The Book Boy by Joanna Trollope

This is a fiction book and the genre is relationships. I chose this book because I had read some other books by this author and wondered if she could write a good " Quick Read".

The story is about Alice, who thinks she should be happy, but instead feels invisible because she has a secret that no - one in the family knows about - she can't read. The story is about Alice's journey - a journey helped by an unlikely hero, the book boy!

I liked the way the author made Alice change and become more determined as she planned and moved through her journey and how she became more confident and happy and how this changed the lives of the people around her.

I liked the way the story showed that people can have a lotmore to offer if you look below the surface. Some of the expressions the author used were good as they painted a good word - picture which helped your bring things to life..

" she feels she has vanished, that she is like something lost down the back of the sofa"

This book has 94 pages, but has clear type and a good sizes font.

A couple of times, the plot moved a little too slowly for me, but overall it was a good, uplifting read and I would mark it 4 out of 5.

Getting Started

Hi all

This is the first posting on the ABE Book Club blog. We are a group of students and tutors based at Adult Basic Education in West Lothian. We are going to be reading books and sharing reviews online.

We love quick reads because they're short but get you gripped straight away.

Hopefully you'll hear more from our team of bloggers in the next few weeks.

Jenny