A Life Like Mine (UNICEF) - Jemima Khan

Advantages: fascinating; well--researched; easy to read
Disadvantages: how Genghis Khan has been vilified by many

...We could very possibly still be stuck in the primitive world of the Middle Ages if it hadn't been for the phenomenal brilliance, peace-seeking ambition and global vision of the nomadic, illiterate man who grew up with the name of Temujin and later came to be known as Genghis or Chingiss Khan. Surrounded by loving family and friends, he died in his bed at almost 70 years of age and immediately one of the mourners had his life story written down. The manuscript, known as The Secret History Of The Mongols, was discovered in the nineteenth century in Beijing, which now sits where Genghis Khan's capital city Zongdu was built. Countless scholars around the world have tried to decipher it and one did for the Germans during WW11, but the translation was luckily destroyed in transit. Then when Communism collapsed in 1990 and Soviet... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Well written, great characters.
Disadvantages: You won't be able to stop reading, therefore, get nothing else done!

...I really enjoyed this book, and went out and bought another two of Jane Green's novels as soon as I had finished reading this one. Jemima J is a character that women can really relate to. She is unhappy with her life and is desperate to make some changes. She is bored, fairly lonely, and treated like rubbish by most people, in particular her lousy flatmates. This book goes through the changes that she makes in her quest for happiness, ie., losing weight, trying to find a man. I suppose it may seem a bit shallow in parts, suggesting that you need to be skinny and beautiful to be happy and find a partner. However, the way the book is written gives you such an insight into the character's great personality, that it is more the message of beauty coming from within that carries through.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: It leaves a lot of tension
Disadvantages: Too much detail!

...When i first picked up this book i thought i not sure if im wanted to read it. I gave it a go and as soon as i started i could not put it down, it took me three days to finish it. In the book it talks abot a woman called Jemima who is overweight and does not have a boyfriend. She wants to change, so she starts to lose weight. The book is really dramatic and is like she is telling her life story.In the book there is a lot of ups and downs. The great part about is that she eventually finds love in los angeles and she goes and meets him there. From this point on wards it is great, it shows the good times and the bad times. Some of the time is quite heart breaking to watch what she has to go through!!It is a great book and i would definetley reccmend it. I would defeinetley read it again!What a wonderful book!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful