Take a Girl Like Me by Amy Bohan with Jordan Paramor

Amy grew up in Wales and had a promising career as an athlete, but things did not go to plan and Amy ends up in London on the modelling circuit. It’s here that Amy is introduced to cocaine and life will not be the same again.

I really could relate to some of what Amy went through in her younger years and the growing up later than everyone else. I certainly believe it can bring about a touch of naivety. I felt for Amy and her experiences and I also became very angry for her. Reading about her running made me think about my daughter who has been running for a number of years at a local athletics club and she has felt more comfortable with the people there than her peers at her old school who she felt were completely different to her and even though I wouldn’t say she was massively bullied they certainly used to tell her she was a freak because she enjoyed her healthy lifestyle while they’re busy learning to drink, take soft drugs etc.

I found it an easy but a sad and tragic read too. How many people have tragic events happen that send them on a road that possibly would not have happened if things had been different?

There certainly did appear to be lots of coke and other drugs around and it amazes me, with the dangers of drugs, that in the circle of people Amy mixed with in London you would have thought people would be keeling over left, right and centre, but then maybe they were and Amy just didn’t notice because of her own habits or else this is just not part of the memoir. I couldn’t believe the amount of alcohol and drugs Amy could get through and still be here to tell the tale. She’s one lucky lady to still be around. Overall I enjoyed (is that the correct word?) reading the book although occasionally I felt overwhelmed by the amount of drugs around but if Amy’s telling it how it was then I can’t really fault it. She comes across generally as a strong lady who knows her mind but at times could easily be led astray. It’s good to see that she’s left the drugs and lifestyle behind and is looking forward to a new and better life.

Published by:  Beautiful Books

RRP: £7.99

Fragment by Warren Fahy

Welcome to Henders Island where many weird and wonderful new creatures run amoc. An island separate from the rest of humanity where life has evolved in a different form.

It’s not a place I would wish to visit for my holidays, although the novel certainly makes for entertaining reading. It’s action packed drama all the way. It’s not a novel with deep characterisation, but it’s exceptionally gripping and a complete page turner. I really can see this transferring to the big screen very well as it very much puts me in the mind of Jurassic Park. It’s really thrilling and keeps you on your toes. I found it well written and easy to follow although it did require some imagination to conjure up the animals in my mind, but actually that was quite fun.

The last 100 or so pages of the book took me a little by surprise as I was not expecting the course that the book took. It was all good though!

If you want all out action and you can appreciate a deviation from reality I suggest you read this. It’s a great entertaining read.

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Kicked Out by Richard W Hardwick

This is the tale of sixteen year old Danny who is made homeless when kicked out of home by his parents after disappearing for two days after his sixteenth birthday.

I started this and really wasn’t sure it was going to be to my taste, but I was glad to be proved wrong. I found the writing style easy to read, but initially it was interspersed with other bits of writing that made the story a little difficult to follow, but this became less over the course of the book. I found that initially Danny came across as a very shallow young lad, but after being made homeless and then finding himself a place in a young people’s hostel I started to see another side to Danny appear. He makes a pal there called Goocher, although finds himself sharing a room with a ’smackhead’ Paul. Lots of fighting happens at the hostel along with drugs, sex and drink, but we also see the camaraderie of the young people and how they will look out for their pals.

When Lucy comes into the picture we can really start to see the softer side to Danny and it makes you feel so sad that his own family have become dysfunctional.

I found that through the story I really started to root for Danny and really hope that he could pull his life around and make something of himself. I then start thinking about life on the streets and those that are homeless. Many probably have much they could give to society, but with their upbringings and hardships that they have had to face make this an almost impossible task for them.

Overall I would say this is a novel that really draws you in and can help you understand the lives of those less fortunate than yourself and I felt could make you think under different circumstances “that could be me!” I have certainly been surprised by other’s behaviour (people that I think I know well) when they have been put under a certain set of circumstances and so I know that people can be a mix of many things depending on their situation. I think this is a book that will stick with me for sure and it’s certainly one that I would recommend.

Published by:  Burning House

RRP: £7.99