Dr Andrew Wakefield February 5, 2010

I feel very sad that everybody in sight is trying to discredit Dr Andrew Wakefield, when all he was trying to do was help children with autism. Is that so wrong?I personally don’t believe he was trying to deceive anyone.

I would like to know why anecdotal eveidence is not being taken into account. Too many children and their families lives have been devastaingly changed for ever, with the Government doing virtually nothing to help, and when these children grow up into adults – what then?

Naomi and Peter James 2009

My daughter Naomi was probably born with autism but wasn’t diagnosed until 2000 at the age of 28. As a family we went through hell fire and brimstone and had to fight like rottweilers to get the right kind of specialised care that she needed.

The Government appears to not want to take responsibilty for any of the medical advice it gives to people. But lives are broken by not having the right kind of medical help, and if necessary residential care, and if not that then daily incoming care into the home.

The NAS is doing an amazing job with the ‘I Exist’ campaign for Adults with Autism and the Disabilities Trust and their Adult Autism Specific Residential Services are second to none.

Lets stop pointing fingers and try to give the very best care to all autistic people whether they are children or adults – or else we will be seeing more and more parents commiting suicide with their children through lacke of care and compassion.

To help the Disabilities Trust with their very practical help you can leave a donation at www.justgiving.com/bfkbooks – all money raised goes to their Adult Autism Specific Services – now called AS Partners. The more money raised the more adults with autism can be helped.

Graeme Croton’s Autobiography 1st Chapter February 3, 2010

Graeme Croton

Graeme is very keen to write his autobiography and has now done his first chapter called ‘On Reflections’ which we have published unedited and is about life with Asperger’s Syndrome. I love the surreal quality of his writing and hope that he will be picked up by a publisher eventually.

The TV Book Club February 3, 2010

I caught the last 2 episodes of the TV Bookclub and I really like it. This last week the presenters talked indepth about Sarah Dunant’s book ‘Sacred Hearts’ and the herself went to Italy where the book is set to show us the kind of convent her heroine went to. It has really inspired me to read as I have it on my bookshelf!

Jo Brand has surprised me with her comments because this is a very different side that we are seeing – very few sarcastic ones and some more serious quips with humour. All the presenters though seemed a little hesitant with their female guest star, but I feel I would rather have this than the more up market Book Show with Mariella Frostrup.  The authors are – yes very interesting – but somehow the whole show is just very very dry – and severely lacking in any humour!

Alison Weir on ‘The Lady In The Tower’ February 3, 2010

Alison Weir

Ann reviewed ‘The Lady In The Tower‘ last year and this year Alison Weir very kindly did and email interview for us and answered all sorts of questions.

Competition February 3, 2010

We are really thrilled to have our first competition for a brilliant children’s book One Smart Fish by award winning author Chris Wormell. The winner will receive a signed book sent to them by the publishers.

2010! February 3, 2010

Titan playing in the snow

Is it really 2010 – where did January go?  The snows came and Titan my ginger cat loved it!

Being doing catchup with reviews sent in but I must commend the Medikidz graphic books that tell children and adults what is medically wrong with them in an easy to understand way.

‘What’s Up With John?’ and ‘What’s Up With Bridget’s Mum‘  are brilliant graphic/comic books that have the Medikidz from Mediland come down to Earth and tell Bridget what is making her mum so ill and John about his Scoliosis.Will also be doing an interview with the author in the near future.

Please hop onto our main website www.bfkbooks.com and have a look at the other reviews that have been posted.

I shall be interviewing John Dickenson on Monday February 8th on his scifi  book WE. It is a fascinating book set in the near future.

There will be more to come in the next few days

Graphic Novel Reviews December 29, 2009

I have a whole flock/gaggle of  graphic novel reviews done by Gareth, but they’re not just adult ones – he’s also included some children’s one which are really good.

I thought I was going to be able to stay away from the computer – but it called me – horribly so. Did have a brilliant Christmas though. The day itself was very quiet as we only had one daughter here – but boxing day went up to Oxford to see my youngest sister and our mother. Really enjoyable with her family and did a one hour and ten minute dog walk in the fields behind their house. Cold or what but it was good!!

Have some really ace children’s reviews fpor in the new year – so see you then.

Kim Peek Mega Autistic Savant December 23, 2009

Opened my morning paper to discover that Mega Autistic Savant Kim Peek had died at the weekend on Satuday 19th December of a heart attack.

Kim was the inspiration for the Rain Man film 1989 – the main character – an autistic mathematical savant played by Dustin Hoffman – the film made over £100 million at the box office.

Kim was classified as a Mega Savant because his extensive knowledge of many subjects such as maths, history, literature and geography. For all his ferocious intelligence he was mentally disabled and needed 24/7 care throughout his life by his elderly father Fran Peek.

Are sincere condolances go to his family at this sad time.

Christmas Review Roundup December 23, 2009

Life has been more than a tad hectic now that I’m back on the internet and I have here the latest crop of reviews:-

Author Emily Gravett

In the Children’s department we have our Nativity play for you to listen to and some really good books for the younger child - The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett, The Bloomsbury Christmas Treaury by Sally Grindley, Captain Wag and the Polar Bears by Michael Terry, When the World is Ready for Bed by Gillian Shields, Z-Rex by Steve Cole and last but not least Friendship Dance by Titania Woods.  They will keep any child happy over the Christmas Holidays and beyond.

Now for the adults – top of the list we have Car Fever by James May and

Alison Weir

Lady in the Tower by Alison Weir and some crime books starting with Steven Hague’s Blood Law , Johan Theorin’s Echoes From the Dead , Allison Brennan’s Fatal Secrets and one thriller – the Hidden Oasis by Paul Sussman.

We have some golden oldie DVD classics that you can snuggle down on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate – Fitzcarraldo a psychological drama, Five Easy Pieces starring Jack Nicholson, Taxi Driver with Robert De Niro.

Last but not least some books on Asperger’s Syndrome – Asperger’s Syndrome & Social Relationships , Asperger’s syndrome – a Love Story , Asperger’s Syndrome & Employment and last but not least – Freaks, Geeks and Asperger’s Syndrome written by teenager Luke Jackson.

These are just a few of the reviews I’ve posted over the last 2 weeks – there a many more that will be going up after Christmas.

I’m now ready for a cup of tea and a chocolate digestive before the Christmas onslaught. Have a very Happy Christmas and New Year – I’ll see you in 2010.

Internet Interruption December 10, 2009

I couldn’t believe it when 2 weeks ago Orange through a massive fault that they never sorted out took me of the internet. Needless to say I changed to Sky Broadband and voila! the internet connection is back!!

Strange thing is that although I found it frustrating to not be able to work on my website, blog and Twitter it wasn’t a huge hole in my life, and yet it had taken up a huge amount of my time! Very odd!

What did I do – well actually – sofa bed hunting! DFS, internet and then good old Ikea. I can’t tell you how many sofas my daughter Gen and I sat on. Fling back legs out infront of you sofas, leather one – especially lime green ones! Red ones, white ones and even that dreaded beige colour ones – all sorts and we came out completely dazed and overwhelmed.

But having had lunch we felt so much better that we headed over to Ikea – within 5 minutes we found 2 brilliant sofa beds covered in cotton/linen washable covers in excellent colours. We all have a dig at Ikea and it’s simplicity but maybe they do have the right idea because how many of us have those Billy shelves – and in my case – red and filled to the gills with books!

My sofa beds arrived flat packed today and this weekend the family is looking forward to putting it all together! Hopefully with not too many screws left over!!

Back to books though – I have a back log of about 50 book and DVD reviews that I will post over the next few days – so back to normal then! Walk the dog and spend the day on the computer! Sometimes I think I’m just plain barking mad!!