Charlotte Church, Keep Smiling

* Keep Smiling *

Keep Smiling is the name of Charlotte Church's autobiography. It was released late 2007 and is available to buy from shops such as WH Smith and supermarkets such as Sainsburys and Tescos as well as from websites such as www.play.com

The book's price is £14.49. although you can find it cheaper at some places.

The cover has a photo of Charlotte looking over her shoulder , there is some pretty paterns in white on the book and writing in pink. The book contains 352 pages.

* Who is Charlotte Church ? *

Charlotte Church burst onto the music charts at the age of 12 in 1998 with her debut album ; Voice Of An Angel. She began her career as an opera singer and in 2003 released a dance song called "The opera Song". In 2005 she released a pop album called " Tissues and Issues" where she had hits such as "Crazy Chick" and "When You Call My Name". She has travelled all over the world singing for the pope , the Queen and American Presidents to name a few. She's also hosted her own chat show called "The Charlotte Church Show". She is currently dating Welsh rygby star Gavin Henson and together they have a 5 month old baby daughter named Ruby.

* A Bit About The Book *

In this autobiography , Charlotte talks about her life before she was famous , her rise to fame , he career and also her family life. The book begins from when she was a baby right up until the present.

At the beginning of each chapter she gives a tip about the music business, such as "Listen to the opinions of your family and friends.They're the ones who'll keep you grounded."

* prolouge *

Charlotte talks about the "chilly night in November 2005" when she first met Gavin Henson and the conversation they had. Charlotte's mum and friends were with her and they went to a pub.Charlotte says of how her mum was anoying her by saying embaressing things such as "You're gorgeous.Imagine if you two got together , how beautiful your kids would be."

Here she also tells of when she took the pregnancy test and when it showed positive.

* Chapter 1 - Family Business *

Here she tells us about when her mum was in labour with her and how she had to have an emergency caesarean. She says about her biological father and how she has two half brothers she's never met. Here she also introduces us to the rest of her family such as her nan and grandad.

* Chapter 2 - Happy Days *

Charlotte begins this chapter by telling us about her mother's marriage to her step-dad who she calls dad. She shares her experience of being a bridesmaid for them. She tells us about how she looked up to her auntie Caroline and how she wanted to be just like .She also talks about starting primary school and her friends.

* Chapter 3 - Finding My Voice *

Here , Charlotte tells of her love for singing. She says of how before she was four years old she was at a family gathering and got up and sang. She says that her family were shocked at how good she was.

In this chapter she tells us about going for singing lessons and so on.

* Chapter 4 - Starting Out *

She appeared on a BBC talent show called "Bright Sparks" and tells us about the experience. Charlotte tells us about how she used to go to dance lessons with her friends.

* Chapter 5- The Big Break *

Here , Charlotte tells about her Auntie who is also a singer and tells how she "got the break she'd been waiting for" and her appearance on ITV show "Big , Big Talent Show " . Charlotte introduced her auntie on the programme , and the presenter Jonathon Ross asked Charlotte to sing . She tells us what happened after the show. She tells us of coming nearer to her big break.

* Chapter 6 - Bubbling Under *

In chapter 6 , Charlotte tells us about her time at school and of she was bullied as a teen. She tells us about all the difference appearences she did to promote her first album , " Voice Of An Angel" .

* Chapter 7 - Globe Trekker *

Charlotte tells about her trip to Rome to meet the Pope. Here she tells us more about the events she sang at and gives her personal opinion on her performances. She went to America and tells us about all the television shows she appeared on in the States such as Entertainment Tonight and The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Charlotte talks about her time in Las Vegas and what she did there.

* Chapter 8 - The Calm Before The Storm *

Charlotte tells us about how she felt performing in front of an 18,000 audience at the Hollywood Bowl. Charlotte tells us about how she felt wearing £375,000 worth of jewellry. She shares her story of when she was alone in a hotel and something spooky happened.

* Chapter 9 - Trial By Media *

Chapter 9 has Charlotte telling us about the process she went through of sacking Jonathon (her manager , I think ). She tells us about the hard-time the press gave her , turning against her and her mother. However she still managed to stay stong and continue with her singing.

* Chapter 10 - Losing The Magic *

Charlotte's had enough of the music industry and wants to take a break. She tells us how the pressure of Charlotte's fame and battle with Johnathon made her mother ill.

* Chapter 11 - Hell's Angel - Not *

Here Charlotte is back in America and meets President Bush. She tells him she's from Wales and he asks which state it's in! She tells us about her fans and how the letters she receives off them are touching.

* Chapter 12 - Stiched Up*

Chapter 12 has Charlotte tells us about how she missed her friends back home and how she'd had enough of spending all this time with her parents. She stresses how no one understood how she felt at that time.

* Chapter 13 - In the Spotlight *

She says about how some people are weird such as someone had set up a website with a countdown until it was legal for her to have sex! The media went on about it. She tells us about what she did on her 16th Birthday and the phone call she received from Robbie Williams.

* Chapter 14 - Growing Pains *

Charlotte tells us about all her television appearances from Top of the pops to the news at Ten. She says of how she relieved when her opera time was over and of her dance track " The opera song (A brave new world).

* Chapter 15 - Tissues and Issues *

Charlotte tells us about how she was getting on with her mother and so at the age of 16 , decided to move out and find a place of her own. She tells us about when she met Justin Timberlake. She tells us about her 18th Birthday.

* Chapter 16 - Crazy Chick *

This chapter tells us about her first girlie holiday she went on. I'm sure you'll all remember it as it was in the newspapers . every single day of her holiday. She tells us about the great time they had and what they got to. Charlotte also tells us about a fight she nearly had with a girl in a club when she was arrived back in Cardiff from her holiday. She tells us here about the early days of her relationship with Gavin and how nervous she was.

* Chapter 17 - You're The One That I want *

This chapter has Charlotte tell us about her relationship with Gavin and how he was annoyed when she agreed to sing the Welsh National anthem with Katherine Jenkins at a game he was playing. She tells us about her song "Crazy Chick" and filming the video for it.

* Chapter 18 - New Directions *

Charlotte tells us about singing karaoke with Will Young. She tells us how she wanted to own a house and when she found one. She tells us about when she found out her step-dad was having an affair and how it affected her mother. She tells us about her mum becoming ill and about how she felt and coped.

* Chapter 19 - Welcome To My Show *

This chapter tells us about Charlotte's television show "The Charlotte Church Show" and about coming up with ideas for the show and how she felt when making the programme.

*Chapter 20 - What Next ? *

The final chapter tells us about Charlotte being dropped by her record company : sony and how she felt about it. She tells us about looking forward to the birth of her baby. At the time , the book was released Charlotte was still pregnant.

* Photos *

The book contains lots of photos of Charlotte ; Personal and "Showbiz" pictures , such as Charlotte as a baby and with her family and others of her meeting celebrities and performing.

* My opinion *

I was never really a fan of Charlotte when she was an opera star because I always thought she was a gobby teenager if I'm entirely honest , however since her pop days and tv show I have grown to become a huge fan of her , therefore when I heard that she was releasing an autobiography I was happy and put it on my christmas list straight away.

When I first started reading this book , I found the first couple of chapters a bit boring as they drag on , but as I forced myself to read on , I began to enjoy the book and found myself unable to put it down. She shares her sense of humour generously in the book and I found myself laughing out loud at times. She's happy to take the mickey out of herself too. For example she says when she was going for dance lessons with her friends she "sounded like and elephant - and probably looked like one too! "

One thing I like about the book is how honest she is. She straight out with it and says what she thinks. She is not a "bad girl" as the media potrayed her but she is in fact a down-to-earth young girl. She's had some difficult times such as when her mother was diagnosed with manic depression and the time when the media turned on her ,but she pulled through and focused on her music rather than let the media get her down , and I think that's the reason she's highly respected.

I liked how Charlotte shared her tips about the music industry because I am intrested in a singing career and therefore this was extremely helpful to me. I think her tips are great , because they're not the type of tips Simon Cowell gives out on how to become famous ; She is talking from experience and is very honest.

I strongly reccommend you buy this book! Once you get past the first couple of chapter you won't be disappointed.

Thanks For Reading!

June 27th 2010

xdonzx (also posted on ciao under xdonzx and under xd-o-n-z-x on dooyoo)