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87th out of 127 books
—
27 voters
The Kindness of Strangers: The Autobiography
by
Kate Adie
Kate Adie has courageously reported from all over the world since she joined the BBC in 1969. These memoirs encompass her reporting from, inter alia, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Tiananmen Square and, of course, the Gulf War of 1991. From the siege at the Iranian embassy which shot her to public acclaim, to an alarming encounter with a drunken Libyan army commander w...more
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
June 1st 2003
by Headline Book Publishing
(first published September 2002)
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I hate not finishing books I start. I don't know why that is. But that first title, God Is Not That Great, was just soooo boring, that when I came across a free book pile that had books that I was actually interested in reading, I had to swap it. So I swapped it for The Kindness of Strangers, which greatly disappointed me because it wasn't that much better! I think it was a little too out of date for me to relate to, which is why I didn't like it. It was about this journalist from the Beeb and h...more
Adie's autobiography is an interesting though unsurprising walk through her career, but she keeps her life at arm's length. She leaves you with the impression of a talented, focused journalist (which we knew already) with a sharp mind and rigorous principles.
So far, so admirable. But Kate as a person? We don't even get close. Relationships? She lets on that she has had some but nothing more. It's almost chilling the way we learn about how she met her real mother at last. The emotions all come ou...more
So far, so admirable. But Kate as a person? We don't even get close. Relationships? She lets on that she has had some but nothing more. It's almost chilling the way we learn about how she met her real mother at last. The emotions all come ou...more
Kate Adie has a wit and an earthiness to her BBC reporting that appeals to many. Here she tells candidly the reality of BBC radio before political correctness, laws to protect everyone from everything and when you could have a load of fun with irreverent people and still get the job done.
Kate was at crisis points we can pinpoint as a war correspondent and gives us the other side of those events: the innocence and festivity that so often markes the beginning of the demonstrations that change his...more
Kate was at crisis points we can pinpoint as a war correspondent and gives us the other side of those events: the innocence and festivity that so often markes the beginning of the demonstrations that change his...more
(June 8th)
if i had space for a sixth star, i would give it. being a journalist, looking into the life of one of the great ones inspired in me even more strength to "hack on". she was in a different line than i am, but all the same, the sincere way in which she tells her story teaches me alot about this addiction in which we put so much yet the world seems to think we get out so little. but it's an addiction--that's how they be. these are lessons i wont find in any self-help crap.
(earlier)
this, i...more
if i had space for a sixth star, i would give it. being a journalist, looking into the life of one of the great ones inspired in me even more strength to "hack on". she was in a different line than i am, but all the same, the sincere way in which she tells her story teaches me alot about this addiction in which we put so much yet the world seems to think we get out so little. but it's an addiction--that's how they be. these are lessons i wont find in any self-help crap.
(earlier)
this, i...more
Kate Adie is a past master at telling a real story and making it not only real to the reader, but also very funny in parts.
This was the kind of book where every now and again a quick giggle is inevitable and the desire to read out snippets to those poor schmucks that share the same space with you is almost insurmountable.
It is a book of anecdotes, into which Kate's life seems to naturally crumble. She moves from local radio to national TV and flits between Lybia, the Gulf War, Bosnia, The Falkl...more
This was the kind of book where every now and again a quick giggle is inevitable and the desire to read out snippets to those poor schmucks that share the same space with you is almost insurmountable.
It is a book of anecdotes, into which Kate's life seems to naturally crumble. She moves from local radio to national TV and flits between Lybia, the Gulf War, Bosnia, The Falkl...more
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[review from 2004] I absolutely adored this book, which shocked me 'cause I almost never read nonfiction. It's the autobiography of BBC reporter Kate Adie, alternately hilarious and fascinating. It covers her experiences in Northern Ireland, Tiananmen Square, Bosnia, Iraq and all over the rest of the world, as well as her roots reporting in England. A really enjoyable read and it made me want her job very badly. Highly recommended.
Picked this out of the "exchange" shelf at work and although the media world has changed since Kate joined it I found her down to earth approach to reporting interesting. Her career did have a certain randomness about its development but then the interesting ones tend to have that. I have a fond spot for her ever since the joke that a war couldn't start until she'd turned up!
I don't normally like biographies, but read this as part of mu on-line book group. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was left with an overriding respect for Kate Adie and the way she has lived her life. A unique and brave woman with great tales to tell from the front lines (literally) of recent history.
A well written, fascinating book, Kate Adie shares some of her life, and personal adventures and insights that came as part of her work as a news reporter. There's much humour and humanity in the writing, and it captures a period of journalistic, and world history. She's been caught up in some of the major events of the late twentieth century, and, no longer in front of the camera, is able to talk in a lot more detail and at a lot more length about personal experience of these.
It also made me th...more
It also made me th...more
A huge disappointment, I was really looking forward to reading this, however it read like a series of detached snapshots gathered together in a book. There was absolutely nothing of Adie's personality, thoughts, feelings or fears in the book, and it felt as though I had joined a conversation between two friends who were not going to fill me in on the details of their history. Oh well, definitely promised more than it delivered.
Insight into the journalistic world and how it changed over the years bit it also sets you thinking of the politics, history and culture of various areas of the world
I'd been looking forward to reading this for quite a while but unfortunately found it quite hard going. Stuck with it, revisited the East Coast of Saudi Arabia where I lived before/after the Gulf War, and am pleased I did.
Jun 06, 2011
Berry Loveday
added it
Only on first chapters so far ......how do u get time to read? ....must do talking books on headphones and multi task!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Terrific account of a colourful life by a brave & adventurous lady. Reminded me to do more with my own life - bravo, Kate!
she underplays what must have been a massive amount of work and hardship. accidentally a journalist and all that. can't tell if it's modesty or just a literary device, either way, I'm jealous and I quite enjoyed this.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10472978
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10472978
Nov 05, 2012
Dominique Mallard
added it
Just not my kind of book. A pick from one of our British book club members, I felt forced to read it, and didn't enjoy the experience. I don't know of Kate Adie,her work, or much about the BBC so I didn't relate on a personal level. However the ex-pats in our club loved it!
Good read and I would say read her other books as well as you really get an insight into this wonderful women and war correspondent
Amazing lady!
i like it
Didn't finish this book because it was a bit vebose and cold and I got annoyed by Kate Adie using Initial Capitals By Way of Expressing Humour. She's surely a fine journalist who has lived a fascinating life. But she's coy about revealing anything of herself, like the photographer who refuses to stand in front of the lens. My wife loved it but What Kate Did Next wasn't quite enough to get me to turn the pages. So many books, you can't hang around.
Ok, I know GoodReads says I'm reading Fiasco, but that's an intense book. I read it in fits and starts. In the meantime, I've read this little ditty, which I quite enjoyed. She is (was?) a reporter for the BBC and has unbelievable stories from Sarejevo, Tianenmen Square, Kuwait, etc. Her writing is a bit too informal at times (i.e., hard to follow), but it's a pleasurable read - It's a great airplane book.
A very interesting insight on several levels: Kate Adie's early life, the running of the BBC, life in early local radio as well as both sides (funny and scary)of being a correspondent for television. It did get bogged down occasionally with who-said/did-what, so some of the descriptions were a bit lengthy, but I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
I am not saying that Kate isn't interesting, because many of the things she has done, places she has been, we can only dream of. But I just found her writing to be on the slow and uninspiring side of things for me. That was a surprise, but there you are. Still worth a read, but not to be repeated for me.
great memoir from the bbc correspondent i know as the warm voice that introduces bbc's from our own correspondent programme.
she writes wonderfully wittily about her career in broadcasting and has a store of astounding anecdotes.
she writes wonderfully wittily about her career in broadcasting and has a store of astounding anecdotes.
Inspiring but lacking personal details - at the end of the book I didn't really learn much about the real Kate Adie.
Read the full review at OurBookClub
Read the full review at OurBookClub
Absolutely fascinating reading about the situations she found herself in.
Interesting female perspective on life as a war correspondent and the changing nature and role of the news over the decades.
Interesting female perspective on life as a war correspondent and the changing nature and role of the news over the decades.
I really enjoyed learning about Kate Adie: her early life and all the places and events of her amazing work in so many parts of the world during major events. I am in awe of her courage and humanity.
I finally finished this one! It's the autobiography of a BBC reporter. It was interesting, it's just not really my thing.
Jun 07, 2007
Richard Collins
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any other news junkies out there
An intreguing insight into the world and lifestyle of this most respected broadcast journalist.
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