Amanda Foreman

Advantages: A Good Read for History Lovers!
Disadvantages: None

...I decided to buy this book after watching a programme on television about Georgiana Spencer and her relationship to Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales. The T.V. programme drew comparisons between their lives and the book by Amanda Foreman certainly explains how Georgiana influenced British society in the 1700's. Georgiana became Lady Georgiana Spencer at the age of eight when her father John Spencer was created the first Earl Spencer in 1765. She was born at Althorp, near Northampton - which is still the Spencers family home today. She was a spoilt child who latter grew up to be dubbed the 'Empress of Fashion'. Georgiana Spencer (1757-1806) became the Duchess of Devonshire in 1774, after marrying William Cavendish 5th Earl of Devonshire, and proceeded to become the undisputed queen of fashionable society, an influential hostess... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to read
Disadvantages: Not one of the best

...Mel and Fran, who have been mates for years, find out that an old schoolfriend, Amanda (she of the title of the book), has got herself engaged to a Scottish laird, Fraser. They can't believe it. It doesn't matter to Amanda that Fraser's castle is a pile of rubble and he wears old clothes - she only cares about having a title. Fraser is ignorant to what Amanda is like, so Mel and Fran set out to sabotage the wedding, remembering how mean Amanda was to them at school. In the meantime, they have their own love lifes to worry about and sort out, too. This book is a very easy read, made me laugh out loud in a few places, but also cringe at some things, which generally means I can identify with the characters. It's not one of the best books I've read, but it is readable.... Read review

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Advantages: A warm yet poignant tale of wartime childhood.
Disadvantages: Quite short.

...After reading the wonderful older children's picture book War Game by Michael Foreman I was reminded that I must read one f his other books again. This one jumps from the First World War setting of War Game to the Second World War and the childhood of Foreman. Would this one be as good as War Game? ~~~THE AUTHOR. Michael Foreman was born in Suffolk in 1938 ~ in the village of Pakefield near Lowestoft. From being a small boy he drew pictures and wrote stories and eventually ended up getting an MA from the Royal College of Art! Foreman is now a professional illustrator and writer and spends his time flitting between his homes in London and St. Ives in Cornwall. He has won many awards for his work ~ one of these was the Kate Greenaway Medal for War Boy. ~~~THE PLOT. War Boy is a semi-autobiographical account of Foreman's early... Read review

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