Jul
19
Autobiography: And Furthermore by Judi Dench
First Published in 2010
Click here to buy the book And Furthermore by Judi Dench (with free delivery)
Book Review:
This autobiography of Judi Dench’s career was a fun and easy read. As an actor myself, I loved reading about her stage productions and the different experiences, directors and actors she encountered. Dench comes across extremely down to earth and hard working actor with a playful sense of humour. I read the book with a mixture of envy and awe – Dench was actually fought over to play Shakespeare’s Cleopatra by two directors, Peter Hall and Terry Hands, who had both decided to direct the play at the same time!
Read more... (602 words, 7 images, estimated 2:24 mins reading time)
Posted in Autobiography, Biography, Book Reviews, Gifts, Inspirational / Spiritual, Light Reading, My Favourite Books, My Favourites, Non-Fiction, Plays Biography Drama Gift inspirational stories Light Reading London memoir Non-Fiction Women
Jul
15
(5/5)
Non-Fiction / Memoir
First Published in: 2005
Publisher: Virago
Click here to buy Desert Children by Waris Dirie with free delivery
Book Synopsis:
Desert Children is about Waris Dirie and Corinna Milborn’s investigation into the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Europe. It is estimated that up to half a million girls and women have undergone or are at risk of FGM in Europe.
Presently, France is the only country that convicts offenders. What’s more the threat of female genital mutilation is not officially recognized by any European country as a reason for asylum.
Waris Dirie was a top model and UN ambassador. Her story, Desert Flower, of growing up in Somalia, enduring FGM at the age of 5, fleeing though the desert and being discovered as a model by Terence Donovan was an international bestseller. Read more... (1456 words, 8 images, estimated 5:49 mins reading time)
Posted in Biography, Book Reviews, Non-Fiction Biography Human Rights Immigrants memoir Morality Necessary Reading Non-Fiction Women
Jan
01
Infidel
by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
(5/5)
Autobiography / Non-Fiction
First Published in 2007
Publisher: The Free Press
Click to buy this book (free delivery)
Book Synopsis:
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is among today’s most controversial yet admired political figures. She made international headlines when her friend and colleague Theo Van Gogh was assassinated in the Netherlands for making the film Submission with Hirsi Ali. His Islamist murderer stabbed a note to his body threatening that Hirsi Ali would be next.
This celebrated writer of The Caged Virgin, and courageous champion of free speech has led an extraordinary life.
In her astonishing memoir, she tells of growing up in Somalia in a staunch Muslim household, to escaping an arranged marriage, to her intellectual re-birth in the Netherlands, to becoming a member of the Dutch parliament, and finally of her life under constant security protection because of her open critique of Islam. Read more... (371 words, 7 images, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)
Posted in Biography, Book Reviews, Inspirational / Spiritual, My Favourite Books, Non-Fiction Africa Atheism Biography Freedom Immigrants inspirational stories Islam memoir Morality Non-Fiction Women
Dec
04
by Anita Amirrezvani
(4/5)
Fiction
First Published in 2007
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Set in: 17th Century Persia
Click to buy this book (free delivery)
Book Synopsis:
In 17th Century Persia, a father dies suddenly, leaving a fourteen year old girl and her mother to fend for themselves. With no male protector and no dowry with which to marry, they have to make the long journey to Isfahan, to live with the girl’s uncle, a rug designer to the King.
The girls imagination and interest is aroused by the carpets and she hungrily learns the craft, becoming a talented rug maker. But as time goes by, her chances to marry diminish and she is given no choice but to marry a rich man in secret. Will she stay in this unhappy marriage, or does she have the strength and courage to weave a new life for herself? Read more... (349 words, 7 images, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
Posted in Adult Fiction, Book Reviews 17th Century Fiction Islam Persia Women
