Katy Osborne loves a good mystery

Katy Osborne is a musical theater actress currently playing in the West End cast of Mamma Mia! that first visited the Philippines with the touring company of that musical. It was during her stay here that Katy got to visit the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Streetchildren’s Foundation.

The kids at the foundation made such an impact on her that she made a return visit in February 2014 and spent two weeks conducting musical theater workshops at Tuloy.

Katy has since become instrumental in Tuloy’s Performing Arts initiative, singlehandedly raising over P300,000, which will go towards the building of a performing arts school and theater inside the Tuloy compound. This school will provide training in dance, drama and music for talented underprivileged children. Katy continues to work with the Tuloy Foundation in their efforts to complete this project. For more information about Tuloy sa Don Bosco and the performing arts school, please visit www.tuloyfoundation.org.

1. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

“Jodi Picoult as a writer always tackles diverse challenging subjects that make you question your general preconceived judgments, and always with intriguing twists and surprises. In Nineteen Minutes, Picoult manages to even let you feel compassion for a teenage boy who slaughters his fellow schoolmates.”

2. The Understudy by David Nicholls

“The Understudy is an amusing tale of the truths behind life as an understudy — artists in the theater industry will appreciate the trials and tribulations, highs and lows of this book. We can all relate to it, sad but true!”

3. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

“I reveled in the journey this book took me on. It teaches you the depth the human mind and soul can reach in times of solitude. Krakauer feeds into my passion for the workings behind the human mind, travel and adventure.”

4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon

“As well as performing, I teach children, therefore I myself am curious and intrigued by the difficulties surrounding disabilities in young people. This book is ingeniously written from the perspective of an autistic boy, giving you insight into the world of, and the struggles of, dealing with autism. It manages to do this while remaining magical, page-turning and exciting. A diverse, educational read for me.”

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald “I love the way that Fitzgerald portrays the decadence of the Jazz Age and the mysterious cool of Gatsby. His longing for Daisy is wonderful and heartbreaking.”

6. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“Purely for spirituality, inspiration and hope. Paulo Coelho’s books can sometimes touch on being preaching, but The Alchemist has an air of charm, allurement and charisma that makes this a lighthearted, entertaining read.”

7. The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold

“This dark story explores the idea of spiritual justice. It encouraged me to open my mind to the idea of an angel, unfinished business and karma... not usually my type of book.”

8. Moby Dick by Herman Melville

“As unintelligent as it sounds, I was first drawn to this book because of the whale on the cover, a favorite animal of mine! The read was a tough one and it took me a little while but I was enchanted. It perfectly satisfies my adventurous, sea-loving, wild side!”

9. Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott

“Heartwarming and heartbreaking. Alcott’s writing is classic and graceful. I have three sisters so this story feels personal and I’ve treasured my first copy for many years now.”

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“The Reading Club” recommends the thriller The Bookman’s Wife which may be available at National Bookstores or Powerbooks.

You may email your comments and suggestions to gr.rodis and follow me as @showbizmanila on Instagram and Twitter.