"My six best books" (April 13, Daily Express)

[Stephany]

Hello everyone,
The Daily Express published an article about Hayley's favourite books so here it is.
She has very good taste - I have read most of them
Best wishes,
Stephany

MY SIX BEST BOOKS HAYLEY WESTENRA
13 April 2007
The Daily Express
(c) 2007 Express Newspapers

The 19-year old New Zealand born but London-based soprano has sold three million albums, making her the fastest selling debut classical artist to date. Her latest album, Treasure, is out now. For further information, see www.hayleywestenra.com

WUTHERING HEIGHTS By Emily Bronte Penguin, £5.99
One of my all-time favourite books is Wuthering Heights. I studied it for my GCSEs and as a result explored the novel in depth. It's so romantic and so poetic. I like it so much that I even recorded a version of Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights myself.

A LITTLE PRINCESS By Frances Hodgson Burnett Puffin, £4.99
I loved this fairy-tale book when I was growing up. It's about a young girl who goes from riches to rags but then eventually rebuilds her life. I was always in my own little world as a child and kind of related to the heroine.

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA By Arthur Golden Vintage, £6.99
A very moving book about a geisha girl working in Kyoto around the time of the Second World War. Having visited Japan a number of times, and acquired an interest in Japanese culture, I found it fascinating. It's not just a wonderful story, it gives a real insight into the life of a geisha.

GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING By Tracy Chevalier HarperCollins, £7.99
I like books where I can put myself in the main character's shoes and this book gives a real insight not just into another age but another girl's life, a girl around my age. The contrast in our lives is just incredible and really made me think.

NATURALLY GORGEOUS: HOW TO LOOK AND FEEL HEALTHY, ENERGETIC AND RADIANT By Jo Wood and Jane Graham-Maw Sidgwick & Jackson, £12.99
I've always been interested in looking after myself and I'm really into eating organically too. This book, co-written by Ronnie Wood's wife Jo, is the first I've found that looks at eating organically as well as living organically. It's terrific and I can't recommend it highly enough.

MY STORY, MY DREAM By Celine Dion HarperCollins, out of print
I love biographies and found Celine's story particularly inspirational. I really admire her discipline and her determination to make it to the top despite her humble beginnings. She was so dedicated to her craft that sometimes she wouldn't talk for hours to save her voice for her singing.

[jons]

Thanks for finding that for us Stephany.

living organically

Does that mean Hayley sits in organic chairs, sleeps on an organic bed and rides on organic tube trains?

[Stephany]

I love biographies

The World at Her Feet ?!

[stevemacdonald]

MY STORY, MY DREAM By Celine Dion HarperCollins, out of print

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Hey everyone, even though this book is out of print, it's still in stock at many bookstores and also available from several on-line sources.

[Caitlin]

What excellent taste in books! (Like there was any reason to doubt she wouldn't... )
I've read all but NATURALLY GORGEOUS: HOW TO LOOK AND FEEL HEALTHY, ENERGETIC AND RADIANT

Steve M- Thanks for letting everyone know that they can still get Celine Dion's book -it is very inspiring

Speaking of "A Little Princess" the movie is just wonderful- it has great music too!
<3 Caite

[Stephany]

I haven't read the last two books. The biography by Celine Dion sounds very interesting. Hayley mentions the fact that Mrs Dion comes from a humble family. Does she mean they both have similar backgrounds?!

"A little princess" is a fabulous story - I cry every time I see the movie.

[toronado]

I read The Little Prince, not sure about the Little Princess. I know I've read Wuthering Heights, but that's it! WH is one of my favorites though.

[Stephany]

"The Little Prince" is a book by French author Antoine De Saint Exupery. It's very different but a beautiful book anyway.
"The Little Princess" is about a young girl who goes to a private boarding school when her father leaves her to go off to war.

I read "Wuthering Heights" two days ago, thanks to Marianne who suggested it to me. I was deeply moved by it. What a nice book !! I will probably re-read it.

[toronado]

Oh, I think I have read both of those. I know I had to read Le Petit Prince, en francais, during high school, and having just written that down, I now want to go buy myself some Le Petit Ecolier, lol.

[Stephany]

"Memoirs of a Geisha" is a very good book too. It was recently adapted by Rob Cohen for the cinema with Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh.
But the book is better - follow Hayley's advice and read it !

[Dori]

I LOVE "Girl with a Pearl Earring"!!! Tracy Chevalier is my favorite author!!!!!
And I love Wuthering Heights, also...
Dori

[Stephany]

That said, I wonder where she finds the time to read at all.

[Richard]

Hello Stephany!

I expect Hayley reads a lot when she's on long flights, to help pass the time.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Stephany]

Very true, Richard.
Her luggage must be full of books particularly when she goes very far.

[Ed]

"The Little Princess" the movie? The one starring Shirley Temple? American Movie Classics showed it several times over the Easter weekend. I watched one of the showings (again for the time). Call me an old softie, but I cried at the ending.

Ed