The Reason I Jump - Naoki Higashida

'Composed by a writer still with one foot in childhood and whose autism was at least as challenging and life-defining as our son's. The Reason I Jump was a revelatory godsend. It felt as if, for the first time, our own son was talking to us about what was happening inside his head.

David Mitchell

Published By: Sceptre - Non-Fiction

Year: 2013 - Hardback

Pages: 180

ISBN: 978-1-444-77675-1

Introduction by David Mitchell

Translated by KA Yoshida & David Mitchell

Summary

What is Autisn?  Well I suppose most of us have preconceived ideas as to what Autism is, myself included until my number 3 came along.  Naoki Higashida is severely autistic and communicates by using a cardboard keyboard.  Naoki wrote this book in order to help us neuro-typical types have a better understanding of what it's like to be part of his world.  We are fortunate that our number 3 is verbal but even so a lot of what he says isn't always in the right context and has to be worked through to fully understand what the point is that he is trying to get across.  This book gives a very useful insight into the world of autism and will dispel some of the myths as well as informing you of what it is like to be autistic in today's society.  Naoki was 13 when he wrote this book and as my number 3 has just hit double figures I have found it very useful.  What was most reassuring was that a lot of the strategies we have put in place at home since his diagnosis Naoki has described within his book. Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who has a family member or who works with autism.   

You can find more books on Autism and Asperger Syndrome  at Jessica Kingsley Publishers and are available to order direct or through Amazon.

Mum's Way - Ian Millthorpe

Angie plaited our daughters hair every morning. 'Watch how I do this' she said. 'I'll never be able to do that' I replied. 'Yes you will' Angie said quietly, 'because I'm going to teach you.'

For Angie Millthorpe, being a mother was everything. 

Childhood sweethearts, Ian and Angie had always known they were meant for each other and wanted nothing more than a big family. But eight children later and aged just forty-eight, Angie fell seriously ill; when she was told her illness was terminal, the welfare of her beloved children and her adoring husband became her only focus.

Raising that many children would be a big job for any couple; to raise them alone, without their mother, a superhuman task for Ian. But this was exactly what Angie wanted him to be able to do. So in the last months of her life, Angie compiled a list of 'rules' to guide Ian in the future from lunchbox favorites to bedtime rituals and favorite lullabies, Angie's manual gave Ian the strength and certainty that he could fulfil her wishes after she was gone. 

This is an inspiring memoir that celebrates an irreplaceable wife and mother, and the legacy of enduring love.  

Simon & Schuster UK  - Autobiography
Year 2013 
Pages: 266
ISBN: 978-1-47112-664-2

Many years ago I watched an old black & white  film called 'Who Will Love My Children'  that was about a terminally ill women and mother of eight children.  The Millthorpes story reminded of this film. Both women fighting a cruel disease that would eventually take them away from their children, but that is where the similarity ends.  Where as in the film the women is desperately trying to find families willing to take each of her children and love them as their own, Angie Millthorpe didn't have such a worry,  because she was going to teach her husband Ian everything he needed to know.  Their family would be able to carry on after her death and would be able to continue running her household exactly as she would have done 'Mum's Way'.  It is an inspiring story of the courage of both Ian and Angie throughout her illness to make sure their children's every need would be taken care of long after her death.  It is written in good humour and not sadness and will make you laugh and cry throughout the highs and lows of their journey.  Well worth a read but you will need a box of tissues handy  at times. 

A Little Big Life - Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz had thought he was happy. He had been married to his high-school sweetheart, Gerda, since the age of twenty, and they had made a good life together in Southern California. Though famous the world over for his bestselling thrillers exploring the dark side of human nature, Dean's own life was the picture of peace and contentment. Then along came Trixie.

Trixie had trained as a companion dog for the disabled but an injury prevented her taking up the work and instead she undertook to restore a sense of wonder in the Koontz household  when they had't even known they lacked one. But Trixie had a tremendous impact on their lives, not only because she brought with her a sense of fun and pure love and affection, but also because she taught them that we should trust our intuition as dogs trust theirs and believe in  the miraculous.



Harper Collins - Non Fiction
Year: 2013 - Paperback
Pages: 271
ISBN: 978-0-00-753682-1

Dean Koontz is best known for his crime thrillers.  I am afraid I have to admit that I haven't read any of them thus far, but the story of Trixie will touch the hearts of anyone who is an animal lover especially of dogs.  A little big life tells the story of Trixie who came into their lives and totally transformed it.  Trixie was trained to be an assistance dog but had to retire before a career really got going due to an injury requiring surgery and found herself a loving home with the Koontz family.  Both Dean Koontz and his wife Gerda are supporters of the charity 'Canine Companions'  which is the equivalent to our 'Dogs for the Disabled' here in the UK. Both these charities work to provide dogs for the disabled enabling them to live more independent lives. You can find out more about each of these charities here and here.  Little Big Life is a touching story of how an animal can bring so much love to a family and shows you a different side from  Dean's crime writing.

Amanda Prowse Month - No Greater Love Series

                             

After working as a Management Consultant for most of her career Amanda started writing in 2008.  Her first novel 'Poppy Day' was released in 2011. Amanda lives with her husband Simeon, a serving soldier and their two sons.

Amanda is the author of the 'No Greater Lover' series. Each of her novels tells of the story of how extraordinary women who find themselves dealing with extraordinary situations. I have now read all 3 novels and Amanda Prowse's Kindle exclusive first short story.  I first came across Amanda's novels when I read her second novel in the 'No Greater Love Series,  'What Have I Done' a powerful story of an abusive marriage and one women's drastic action to end the abuse and her fight to regain the trust of her children. I was given a copy of 'Poppy Day' as gift from a dear friend, I have a son who is in the armed forces and knowing that my son is due to go on tour to Afghanistan later this year, thought I would appreciate the fact that all proceeds from this book go to the Royal British Legion to help fund the charity's  'Battleback Centre' for injured service personnel.   Poppy Day's story is one of love and determination of a young women who when her husband is taken hostage in Afghanistan decides to take matters in her own hands by going to Afghanistan to get her man back. Throughout her story you also get to know about Poppy's immediate family especially her grandmother and this leads you into the Amanda's third novel 'Clover's Child' which is actually the prequel to Poppy Day. Clover's Child tells the story of Dorothea (Poppy's grandmother) as a young girl who falls in love with Sol and in the 1960's East End of London he is not the man to have fallen in love with. Lastly is Amanda released her Kindle exclusive 'Something Quite Beautiful' which tells the story of a women governess to a Scottish prison.  Rumour has it that once you enter Glenculloch prison you never you never get to leave.  

You can find out more about battleback here.

www.britishlegion.org.uk/battleback

I have found all Amanda's novels worth reading and her fourth novel in the 'No Greater Love' series is due for  release in Paperback in February 2014.  Below is a taster of her next novel which is titled 'A Little Love'.

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Publication Date 13.02.2014 Paperback

Everybody needs a little love in their lives.....

Pru Plum is the celebrated owner of famous Mayfair bakery, Plums Patisserie. She wears Chanel and her hair is expensively cut. Few would believe that this elegant women turned sixty-six last year. But Pru is not the confident, successful businesswomen she appears. She has done shameful things to get to where she is today. And she will do anything to protect the secrets of her past - especially when, for the first time in her life, she has finally fallen in love...  This is a story about love, loss and lies ... and finding happiness before it's too late.

Publisher: Head of Zeus - Fiction
Year: 2014 - Paperback
Pages:368 

Something Quite Beautiful A Short Story - Amanda Prowse

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​Can you ever escape your fate?

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Somewhere in the wilds of Scotland, three boys await their fate. They have been sentenced to twenty years in Glenculloch, a remote prison for the most hopeless of criminals. The rumours say that it is run by a woman who thinks she's God. A woman who decides what is ugly, and what is beautiful. A woman who decides who lives, and who dies...

Published by: Head of Zeus - Fiction
Year: 2013 - Kindle Exclusive
Pages: approx. 143
ISBN (E) 9781781856956

Summary

Amanda Prowse's first short story is Something Quite Beautiful which was released on the 1st June 2013 as an Amazon Kindle exclusive.​​  Edwina Justice is the only women in a mans prison in a remote area of Scotland. In this short story you get to know three young men not quite out of their teens who are facing the next 20 years at Glenculloch. Edwina Justice is there to ensure they abide by her rules.

1. Always tell the truth
2. Always display good manners
3. Never swear
4. Work hard
5. Respect yourself
6. Respect others

Some say you will never leave Glenculloch but the numbers of prisoners never seems to rise  and there are those that would say once you have been to Glenculloch it would seem like you had never existed.

Conclusion

Considering this is a short story you were still able to learn each of the back grounds of the young men and the trouble that lead each of them to find themselves at her majesties pleasure.  You get to see both sides of Edwina Justice first and foremost as the governor of a men's prison and the responsibility that brings and  the relationship she has with her officers.econdly as a widow of some years who misses her husband and is trying to carry on with her life after his death. This was the first book I purchased for my Kindle and I found it a very easy read. You may have read my previous blogs on Amanda Prowse novels but you  also get a taste of each of her books at the end of Something Quite Beautiful. to help you decide if her other books are of interest to you.  

Clover's Child - Amanda Prowse

Dot Simpson reached up and touched Sol's face.

Yes! Yes, she would go with him. She wouldn't miss the dark mornings, the dirty buses, the rude customers or the cold. She wanted to feel the salt water burn on her skin, she wanted to lie in his arms and sleep with the shutters thrown open, and the promise of fresh pineapple juice for breakfast.

Dot had never imagined that there might be a life like that for a girl like her.

Head of Zeus - Fiction
Year: 2013
Pages: 354
ISBN: 9781781854242

I was recently given Poppy Day as a gift and thoroughly enjoyed it especially as I have a son in the RAF who will be off to Afghanisbloodystan in October.  Having read Poppy Day I obviously HAD to read Clover's Child.  I bought a copy and I was so gripped I have to say it took me less than 24 hours to read the 354 pages.  For anyone who is yet to read it I won't spoil the story but for me this is most definitely the best work yet to come from Amanda Prowse, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry and Clover's story was one that will resonate with a lot of girls from the 1960's who's forbidden love would break their heart. . Can't wait to see what Amanda will come up with next. 

Poppy Day - Amanda Prowse

Updated cover under publishers Head of Zeus in 2012

Original Cover when first released in 2011

What would you sacrifice to bring home the one you love?

Ever since Poppy Day married her childhood sweetheart, Mart, she's been deliriously happy.

 Now Mart is fighting a war abroad, and Poppy is counting the days until he returns.

It takes one knock at the door to rip Poppy's world apart.

Mart has been taken hostage in Afghanistan and Poppy is determined to get him home. But what can one women do, alone in a foreign land, to save the man she loves?

Published by:  Independently/Head of Zeus - Fiction
Year: Paperback 2011 and 2012
Pages: 342
ISBN: 9781781851111


Conclusion

Poppy Day was first released independently by Amanda Prowse in 2011 with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion.  Publishers Head of Zeus subsequently re-released the novel with a cover change in 2012 but still with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion a charity close to Amanda's heart.  The story of Poppy Day shows the courage of a young army wife whose beloved child hood sweetheart and husband is taken hostage whilst on tour in Afghanistan. Poppy doesn't feel that the army are doing enough to get her husband back and decides to take matters into her own hands by going to Afghanistan and getting her man back. A long the way you get to know and meet Poppy's family the most important and influential person being her grandmother Dorothea, who has always encouraged and supported her grand-daughter whilst her own daughter Cheryl fails. Poppy Day is a compelling story of life in the East end of London and of one young girls fight for justice. A great first novel.

All proceeds from the sale of Poppy Day go directly to The Royal British Legion to help fund the Charity's Battle Back Centre for injured Service Personnel. If you would like to know more please visit.

www.britishlegion.org.uk/battleback