Anne Fine
Author of The Diary of a Killer Cat
About the Author
Anne Fine was the second Children's Laureate in Britain between 2001 and 2003. She is a two time winner of the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most coveted children's literature award, and has also won the Guardian Children's Literature Award, the Whitbread Children's Novel Award twice, and a Smarties show more Prize. She also won the Publishing News Children's Author of the Year Award in 1990 and again in 1993. In 2010 she won the inaugural Good Writing Award. Her books for older children include the award winning The Tulip Touch, Goggle-Eyes, which was adapted for television by the BBC and The Devil Walks. Twentieth Century Fox filmed her novel Madame Doubtfire as Mrs Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams. She also writes critically acclaimed adult novels as well. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages, and has over forty books to her credit. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Anne Fine
Genie Genie Genie: "A Sudden Puff of Glittering Smoke", "A Sudden Swirl of Icy Wind", "A Sudden Glow of Gold" (1992) 22 copies
El gato asesino se enamora/ The Killer Cat Falls in Love (A La Orilla Del Viento) (Spanish Edition) (2015) 17 copies
A Shame to Miss: 2 (Selected by the 2001-3 Children's Laureate) (Ideal poems for middle readers): Collection 2 (2002) 12 copies
Bố là bà giúp việc 2 copies
Diário de um gato assassino 2 copies
Mörkö sängyn alla? 1 copy
Gan yr iâr 1 copy
Non renseigné 1 copy
Same old story every year 1 copy
Poor Monty 1 copy
Associated Works
The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society: Breast Cancer Care Short Story Collection (2009) — Contributor — 97 copies, 1 review
War Girls: A Collection of First World War Stories Through the Eyes of Young Women (2014) — Contributor — 62 copies, 2 reviews
Flights of Fancy: Creative Inspiration from Ten Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators (2019) — Contributor — 35 copies, 10 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1947-12-07
- Gender
- female
- Education
- The University of Teesside
The University of Warwick
The University of Central England in Birmingham - Occupations
- teacher
information officer (for Oxfam)
children's book author - Awards and honors
- Royal Society of Literature (Fellow, 2003)
Children's Laureate (2001-2003)
Order of the British Empire (2003) - Agent
- David Higham Associates
- Relationships
- Fine, Cordelia (daughter)
Fine, Kit (husband|divorced) - Short biography
- Among the numerous awards she has won are the Carnegie Medal (twice), the Whitbread Children's Novel Award (twice) and the Guardian Children's Literature Award. She has twice been voted Children's Writer of the Year at the British Book Awards and became the Children's Laureate for 2001-3. She has written over forty books for children and adults. A life-long lover of poetry, she has also edited a series of poetry anthologies. She lives in the North East with her partner. (From the back cover of The More the Merrier).
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
California, USA
Arizona, USA
Michigan, USA
Canada
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK (show all 7)
County Durham, England, UK - Map Location
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
Bei einem Buch mit diesem Titel musste ich einfach stehenbleiben, völlig egal um welche Art von Buch es sich nun handelt. Kurzes Reinlesen und es war klar: Das wird gekauft. Ich zitiere mal die ersten Sätze, die meine Entscheidung vielleicht nachvollziehbar machen:
'Okay, okay, hängt mich ruhig auf! Ja, ich hab den Vogel getötet. Du lieber Himmel, ich bin nun mal eine Katze! Es ist sozusagen mein Job, durch den Garten zu schleichen und süßen, schnuckeligen kleinen Piepmätzen show more aufzulauern, die kaum von einer Hecke zur anderen fliegen können. Was soll ich machen, wenn sich mir so ein armes gefiedertes Flatterbällchen praktisch ins Maul wirft? Es ist schließlich fast direkt auf meinen Pfoten gelandet. Es hätte mir ja wehtun können! Okay, okay, da habe ich es halt ein bisschen geknufft...." uswusw.
Dazu die herrlichen Zeichnungen von Axel Scheffler, der die Katze Kuschel überhaupt nicht kuschelig darstellt, sondern wie einen Gefängnisinsassen grau mit Streifen und einem leicht verschlagenen Blick (zumindest am Anfang). Da konnte ich nicht widerstehen - und ein weiteres Kinderbuch ziert nun mein Bücherregal ;-)
Der oben zitierte Ton zieht sich durch das ganze Büchlein (knapp 55 Seiten) und mit jedem toten Getier, das Kuschel anbringt, wird sein Erklärungsbedarf größer. Ich habe mich köstlich dabei amüsiert ebenso wie über Axel Schefflers Bilder, die so überhaupt nicht lieblich-zart-kuschelig sind. Herrlich, wie Kuschel mühsam das Karnickel durch die Katzenklappe zerrt. Oder wie der Vater der Familie in einem burkaähnlichen Gewand durch die Nacht robbt... Ich bin mir sicher, dass sich auch Kinder darüber amüsieren können, wenn auch vielleicht auf eine andere Art als Erwachsene.
Die eigentliche Geschichte basiert zwar auf einem uralten Witz, aber zum einen kennen Kinder ihn vermutlich noch nicht und falls doch (wie die meisten Erwachsenen), hat man trotzdem seinen Spaß daran. Denn Anne Fine hat das Ganze so toll ausgeschmückt und der Katze einen solch klasse Tonfall gegeben, dass das Alles fast wie neu klingt. Herrlich! show less
'Okay, okay, hängt mich ruhig auf! Ja, ich hab den Vogel getötet. Du lieber Himmel, ich bin nun mal eine Katze! Es ist sozusagen mein Job, durch den Garten zu schleichen und süßen, schnuckeligen kleinen Piepmätzen show more aufzulauern, die kaum von einer Hecke zur anderen fliegen können. Was soll ich machen, wenn sich mir so ein armes gefiedertes Flatterbällchen praktisch ins Maul wirft? Es ist schließlich fast direkt auf meinen Pfoten gelandet. Es hätte mir ja wehtun können! Okay, okay, da habe ich es halt ein bisschen geknufft...." uswusw.
Dazu die herrlichen Zeichnungen von Axel Scheffler, der die Katze Kuschel überhaupt nicht kuschelig darstellt, sondern wie einen Gefängnisinsassen grau mit Streifen und einem leicht verschlagenen Blick (zumindest am Anfang). Da konnte ich nicht widerstehen - und ein weiteres Kinderbuch ziert nun mein Bücherregal ;-)
Der oben zitierte Ton zieht sich durch das ganze Büchlein (knapp 55 Seiten) und mit jedem toten Getier, das Kuschel anbringt, wird sein Erklärungsbedarf größer. Ich habe mich köstlich dabei amüsiert ebenso wie über Axel Schefflers Bilder, die so überhaupt nicht lieblich-zart-kuschelig sind. Herrlich, wie Kuschel mühsam das Karnickel durch die Katzenklappe zerrt. Oder wie der Vater der Familie in einem burkaähnlichen Gewand durch die Nacht robbt... Ich bin mir sicher, dass sich auch Kinder darüber amüsieren können, wenn auch vielleicht auf eine andere Art als Erwachsene.
Die eigentliche Geschichte basiert zwar auf einem uralten Witz, aber zum einen kennen Kinder ihn vermutlich noch nicht und falls doch (wie die meisten Erwachsenen), hat man trotzdem seinen Spaß daran. Denn Anne Fine hat das Ganze so toll ausgeschmückt und der Katze einen solch klasse Tonfall gegeben, dass das Alles fast wie neu klingt. Herrlich! show less
DNF 147 pages down. I just couldn't anymore. It really is one of the rare cases where the movie is actually better than the book. The character of Daniel was just impossible to root for. In the movie his irresponsibility is noted, but the character is still lovable and you care about him being with his children. In the book however, you completely understand Miranda's point of view. He won't grow up and he was at no point in trying to better himself. I found myself finding it a waste of time show more if I didn't care about the main character. show less
Oh my goodness. Â I had no idea this was going to be such a treat. Â I laughed out loud several times, and tears came to my eyes a few times too. Â If you've ever wanted to get to know a bit more about the teen boys who seem to be, erm, underachievers, and about the teachers who try to reach out to them while trying to maintain their own sanity, read this. Â One of the things I liked most about it was that the boys aren't actively abused or abusive. Â Some may say this book is a bit show more implausibly sunny and optimistic, but I think the fact that it's not 'gritty' is a plus, and I think most gritty books are implausibly dark. Â I will definitely look for more by this author, and if my library doesn't have them I will put them on my wishlist for sure. show less
Simon Martin and his classmates are problematic. Labeled as emotionally deficit and intellectually challenged, this motley group of "Room 8's" are perceived as too stupid to participate in the difficult projects for the science fair.
Instead, each are given the task of a parent-child experiment. For the duration of 21 days each student must tote around a six pound bag of flour and "parent" their ward. At the end of that time all flour bags will be weighed and checked for cleanliness.
What show more ensues is a laughable, heartwarming tale of those, like Simon, who take the responsibility seriously, and those who give up, punting the sack of flour baby smack in the river.
Winner of the British Carnegie Medal (the British equivalent to the US Newbery award), the author created a wonderful, insightful balance between humor and seriousness, depicting a range of emotions from the perspective of student, teacher and parent.
There is a touching, poignant beauty of Simon grappling with his father's abandonment when he was six weeks old and his commitment to taking care of his flour baby in the manner he would have wanted his father to care for him.
What I liked most about the book is that the author did not resort to cuteness, nor did she feel the need to wrap up the ending in a big red bow of cheer.
While changed by the insights of the difficulty of parenting, Simon and his peers remained realistically problematic.
This was listed in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.
Highly recommended. show less
Instead, each are given the task of a parent-child experiment. For the duration of 21 days each student must tote around a six pound bag of flour and "parent" their ward. At the end of that time all flour bags will be weighed and checked for cleanliness.
What show more ensues is a laughable, heartwarming tale of those, like Simon, who take the responsibility seriously, and those who give up, punting the sack of flour baby smack in the river.
Winner of the British Carnegie Medal (the British equivalent to the US Newbery award), the author created a wonderful, insightful balance between humor and seriousness, depicting a range of emotions from the perspective of student, teacher and parent.
There is a touching, poignant beauty of Simon grappling with his father's abandonment when he was six weeks old and his commitment to taking care of his flour baby in the manner he would have wanted his father to care for him.
What I liked most about the book is that the author did not resort to cuteness, nor did she feel the need to wrap up the ending in a big red bow of cheer.
While changed by the insights of the difficulty of parenting, Simon and his peers remained realistically problematic.
This was listed in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.
Highly recommended. show less
Lists
Cats in Fiction (1)
Gatti (1)
Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 157
- Also by
- 9
- Members
- 7,697
- Popularity
- #3,164
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 110
- ISBNs
- 1,040
- Languages
- 20
- Favorited
- 7
