Book Review: It Takes You by Linda Ikeji

Author: It Takes You

Author: Linda Ikeji

Year of Publication: 2010,

Publisher: JLF Publications, Nigeria.

Reviewer: Ada Amogu

An inspirational book written by a former top- model, fashion and beauty consultant, model agent and manager, Publisher and Editor- in- Chief of FM&B Magazine and also Proprietor of the Nigeria Modeling School, 2010 Future Award Style Entrepreneur of the Year and also known for her notable blog  site.

Linda Ikeji in her first book makes use of her life experiences to tell her story in her thirty chapter book. She describes her sojourn in life as one faced with difficulties that she overcame. In her book, she recounts her experience when publishing her magazine FM&B and how her breakthrough eventually came through prayer. The author recommends four (4) things to being successful in life, which are: Work, Perseverance, Believe and Prayer.

The author inspires the reader through chapters such as You Will When You Believe, The Best You Can Is Good Enough, The Person In The Mirror, We Learn Every Time We Leap, Developing A Thick Skin, Start Small And Grow and Be Strong.

The author says “You can be as great as you want to be. It’s really up to you and YOU ALONE. Just remember, everything is possible…when you BELIEVE!” She gives instances in life when one thinks that the grass is greener on the other person’s side, giving one reason to feel unhappy but the author says “No matter how bad you have it, there’s someone who has it worse than you” and comparison of one’s self to another is tantamount to questioning God, a big WHY??

Linda Ikeji in her book encourages the reader to forget pride, embrace kindness and respect people saying “it takes nothing from you to be nice”. The author examines different facets of life such as business, marriage, sex love, friendship forgiveness and happiness. She also talks about people’s persona such as the pessimists or nay- sayers, haters, judgmental people, fake partners and friends that stick close than a brother.

“It Takes You” inspires one to be the best they can ever be despite their present circumstances.

Bookwire New Releases

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

Abraham Lincoln by Seth Grahame-Smith

After Life, by John Edward and Larry King

 Apple Turnover Murder, by Joanne Fluke

 Being Nikki, by Meg Cabot

Black Magic Sanction, by Kim Harrison

 Blue-Eyed Devil, by Robert B. Parker

 Club Dead, by Charlaine Harris

 Comfort Me with Apples, by Ruth Reichl

 Conservative Victory, by Sean Hannity

 Crazy Love, by Leslie Morgan Steiner

Dead in the Family, by Charlaine Harris

 Deception, by Jonathan Kellerman

 Deliver Us from Evil, by David Baldacci

 Fantasy in Death, by J. D. Robb

 Flirt, by Laurell K. Hamilton

 Free, by Chris Anderson

Fresh Flavor Fast, by Martha Stewart Living Magazine Staff

Giada at Home, by Giada De Laurentiis

Hannah's List, by Debbie Macomber

Hero at Large, by Janet Evanovich

 Home Game, by Michael Lewis

 Horns, by Joe Hill

Horse Soldiers, by Doug Stanton

Hungry Girl 1-2-3, by Lisa Lillien

 Innocent, by Scott Turow

Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabel Allende

Jesus, Interrupted, by Bart D. Ehrman

 Life! By Design, by Laura Morton and Tom Ferry

Lift, by Kelly Corrigan

Lover Mine, by J. R. Ward

 Lucid Intervals, by Stuart Woods

Making Rounds with Oscar, by David Dosa

 Methland, by Nick Reding

Mojo, by Marshall Goldsmith

Mom, by Dave Isay

New York Times Best Sellers Non- Fiction

Top 5

1. FALL OF GIANTS, by Ken Follett 

2. DON'T BLINK, by James Patterson and Howard Roughan 

3. FREEDOM, by Jonathan Franzen 

4. SAFE HAVEN, by Nicholas Sparks 

                                                                     

5. SQUIRREL SEEKS CHIPMUNK, by David Sedaris

First Edition of Peter Pan to Sell for £20,000

On October 28^th, the first edition of Peter Pan which was given to Lady Diana Cooper by J. M. Barrie will be sold for 18, 000 – 20, 000 pounds at Sotheby’s, London.

Peter Pan first appeared in The White Bird in 1902. The stage play was first performed in 1904 and Barrie published the novel, Peter and Wendy, based on the play, in 1911.

Sale of Peter and Wendy is coming up 150 years after the birth of Barrie on May 9^th, 1860. The copy of Peter and Wendy is among 149 rare books assembled over 45 years by a 75-year-old mystery man that are now expected to sell for around £3 million at Sotheby's sale.

Frankfurt Book Fair 2010: “Extremely successful and lively”

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the biggest book and media fair in the world - with around 7,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries. It also organises the participation of German publishers at more than 25 international book fairs and is associated with the Cape Town Book Fair in South Africa and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.

“We had a real thrust of energy at this Frankfurt Book Fair”, said Book Fair Director Juergen Boos at the end of the five-day Fair. “Business with contents increased yet again this year – be it for the classic book or digital format, and our visitors showed that they were delighted again this year at the huge business potential in such a concentrated form and on an international scale.” The US American and English exhibitors described the Fair as the best for many years after last year had been marked by the economic crisis and a sense of uncertainty. German exhibitors also expressed considerable satisfaction with their business deals. In total, the Frankfurt Book Fair 2010 chalked up 7,539 exhibitors from 111 countries. Around 3,000 events attracted hundreds and thousands of visitors.
 

‘An Extremely successful book fair indeed!’

Fela: This Bitch of a Life Book Tour

Carlos Moore, Fela’s close friend gives the inside scoop on the life of the great music legend. The authorized biography of Africa's greatest ever musician. First published in 1982, the new version, published by Cassava Republic, includes remarkable never-before-seen content: a Preface by renowned Brazilian musician and statesman Gilberto Gil, a Prologue by Fela’s friend Lindsay Barrett, an introduction and a moving epilogue by Carlos Moore written specially for this edition. It also includes the two-part magnificently illustrated Afa Ojo sections, which delve into the mystical aspects of Fela’s character.

In the month of October Carlos Moore, the author of Fela: This Bitch of a Life begins touring in Nigeria starting from the 9^th of October. Below is the lineup of events for the tour:

-         Sat 9th Oct: Centre for Contemporary Art, 9 McEwen St, Sabo, Lagos - 4pm

-         Sun 10th Oct: Life House, 33 Sinari Daranijo str., off Younis Bashoroun str., off Ajose Adeogun - 4pm

Mon 11th Oct: The New Africa Shrine, NERD rd, Agidingbi, Ikeja. Lecture titled "Fela: Music is the weapon" - 10am

-         Wed 13th Oct: UNILAG, 4th Floor, Faculty of Arts Boardroom (in conjunction with CBAAC). Public lecture: "What is Africa to me: Fela Kuti and the reshaping of the Pan-African Dream in the post-colonial era."

-         Sat 16th Oct: French Cultural Centre, 52 Libreville St, off Aminu Kano St, Wuse, Abuja - 4pm

N.B: Events on the 9th, 10th and 16th October attracts a N2, 000 entrance fee (which includes a copy of the book).

Felabrations events will also be holding at the Shrine, artists who will be featured include Dbanj, Kwam1, Nneka, Ayetoro, Seun Kuti, Femi Kuti, Keziah Jones, Awilo Longomba.