Moonwalk by Michael Jackson

Moonwalk
Michael Jackson
1988, 1989, William Heinemann, London
0749300000
231p.

This autobiography of Michael Jackson focuses on his career, from being the youngest member of Jackson 5, up until the book was released in 1988.

I enjoyed reading this, the language was simple and easy to read. But there were a few important messages in there. In light of recent events, parts of this book were poignant, particularly where Jackson talks about death. If you want an exposé and sensation, this is not the biography for you.

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Fifteen Plus and Sunburnt by Vince Jones

Fifteen Plus and Sunburnt
Vince Jones
1993, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne
058291065X
130p.

David is fifteen when he gets the news he has melanoma, the same disease which has affected his best friend Gary. While in hospital, he finds a statue of a horse and makes a pact to get through this part of his life and to change things in the future.

This is a coming of age novel told from the perspective of a boy who has a rough time getting there. While I wasn't entirely convinced with the 'voice' of the novel, I felt that the experiences and feelings of the characters rang true.

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Animals in Translation: The Woman who Thinks like a Cow by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson

Animals in Translation: The Woman who Thinks like a Cow
Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson
2005, 2006, Bloomsbury, London
0747566690
307p.

Temple Grandin is an autistic woman who works with the meat-packing industry to ensure animal welfare standards. This book talks about her research into animals of all kinds, and her findings and ideas on how they think, feel and act, and how that relates to humans both with and without autism.

This is a very special book. It contains oodles of information, mostly of an academic nature, about animals and their behaviours. It is written as though Grandin is standing up giving a lecture, which means it tends to be a bit repetitive. However, it is easy to understand, and the content is interesting enough to keep the reader hooked.

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