Welcome to The Circle of Friends Book Club
Hi and welcome to our Book Club. I hope that everyone is enjoying it so far. There will be no meeting in December due to the Xmas busy season. Brenda Galligan will be hosting the next meeting on 16th Jan at her house. She has chosen 'Its a long way from penny apples' by Bill Cullen as this months book. Its available on amazon for about three pound sterling and no doubt it is in the library and easons etc. If anyone would like a copy passed on just post a comment here. Also please post any comments on the book or anything at all. See you on the 16th Jan 2009. New members welcome!!
Happy Reading!!
Happy Reading!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
'It's A Long Way From Penny Apples', is a poignant, entertaining and inspirational book. A rags-to-riches story, it is far from depressing or self-serving; its message is that anyone can make their life better no matter what start they get.
Bill Cullen - the eldest surviving son in a family of fourteen - tells this extraordinary tale of his childhood, his journey through life and the people he met on the way. Born in Dublin's inner-city in the 1940s, Cullen's parents were pioneers and devout Christians who had to struggle hard to make ends meet, but they sacrificed everything so that their children could have a better life.
Advertisement
Cullen learned his strict work ethic from his grandmother and mother, both of whom were street traders, who sold everything from fruit to newspapers to Christmas decorations. They taught him to never give up and to always believe in yourself. Cullen also introduces us to his father, William, an ex-army man who tries to control his family but has to concede that it is his wife who really keeps the wolf from the door.
Cullen started school at the tender age of two and a half and became an excellent student, winning a scholarship to attend O'Conells secondary school. He was the first child in his family to get an Intermediate Certificate, but because of the responsibilities of being the eldest son in a large family he was forced to leave school at fourteen and work full-time. He regrets his time in school was cut short but says that the real lessons of life are learned on the street. It is out there amongst the traders and the public that he learned to trust his intuition, to keep his eyes and ears open. He proves that with hard work, not being afraid to take a risk and self-confidence anything is possible.
'It's A Long Way From Penny Apples' primarily tells the story of Bill Cullen's rise to fortune but it also offers an insight into Irish history, taking the reader from bombs dropped by the Nazi's during World War II right up to the troubles in Northern Ireland. Cullen is proud of his family and proud to be Irish, his vision for Ireland is an optimistic one. And, it seems we will be hearing a lot more from him in the future, as he plans to write motivational books to help people succeed in life. He is a man well worth listening to.
Bill Cullen - the eldest surviving son in a family of fourteen - tells this extraordinary tale of his childhood, his journey through life and the people he met on the way. Born in Dublin's inner-city in the 1940s, Cullen's parents were pioneers and devout Christians who had to struggle hard to make ends meet, but they sacrificed everything so that their children could have a better life.
Advertisement
Cullen learned his strict work ethic from his grandmother and mother, both of whom were street traders, who sold everything from fruit to newspapers to Christmas decorations. They taught him to never give up and to always believe in yourself. Cullen also introduces us to his father, William, an ex-army man who tries to control his family but has to concede that it is his wife who really keeps the wolf from the door.
Cullen started school at the tender age of two and a half and became an excellent student, winning a scholarship to attend O'Conells secondary school. He was the first child in his family to get an Intermediate Certificate, but because of the responsibilities of being the eldest son in a large family he was forced to leave school at fourteen and work full-time. He regrets his time in school was cut short but says that the real lessons of life are learned on the street. It is out there amongst the traders and the public that he learned to trust his intuition, to keep his eyes and ears open. He proves that with hard work, not being afraid to take a risk and self-confidence anything is possible.
'It's A Long Way From Penny Apples' primarily tells the story of Bill Cullen's rise to fortune but it also offers an insight into Irish history, taking the reader from bombs dropped by the Nazi's during World War II right up to the troubles in Northern Ireland. Cullen is proud of his family and proud to be Irish, his vision for Ireland is an optimistic one. And, it seems we will be hearing a lot more from him in the future, as he plans to write motivational books to help people succeed in life. He is a man well worth listening to.
