I have read several biographies by Antonia Fraser and enjoyed all of them. I read Love and Louis XIV earlier this year, and liked it, although I'm still puzzled by The Affair of the Poisons. Read Charles II and The Weaker Vessel some years ago and liked both of them.

Jeane/Leppaluto - Of the Marilyn books you've read, do you have a favorite you'de recommend? I would love to read one about her...I find her fascinating.

Read Screwtape a couple of times - always good (if I may use that word in referance to those individuals).

Fiona, I found Antonia Fraser to be a very engaging biographer. I've only read Marie Antoinette, but it was anything but dry. You felt like you were at Versailles. She really made you feel a lot of sympathy for a woman who, for most people, is nothing more than the chick who said "Let them eat cake" (she never said "Let them eat cake").

'kay. I'm back. Here are a few that I don't think were mentioned:

Expecting Adam by Martha Beck
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan
Sleeping Arrangements by Laura Shaine Cunningham
This Is Graceanne's Book by P. L. Whitney
Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte

Heather I can't look up the biography by marilyn Monroe that was the first one i read. I know it was big, thick and black cover with a picture of her. I loved it but also me read it when I was about 15 years old, so more than ten years ago. I also have a small but thick book about her. which tells a lot about different parts of her live which is very informative and clear. Beautiful pictures also. That one is pink.

Oh I do remember that story Michelle. That was very sad but quite heroic. I'm pretty sure I couldn't have done it!

Kathy,
I hope you pick them up. (Zippy and Couch) Very good and funny. The second was even better than the first. Highly recommended.
Enjoy,
Conni

I liked the first one better, Conni, but I was all YGG on the second!

Jenny

They're both great! Has anyone read a Haven Kimmel novel? I picked up one, and couldn't get through it. Can't remember the name. It was just kinda boring. But Zippy and Couch are terrific, both of them!

A few bios/autobios I have enjoyed:
Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg
Me by Katherine Hepburn
also
Three Dog Nightmare by Chuck Negron in which he writes about his terrible drug addiction.

I also have enjoyed books by Elie Wiesel, Night in particular, and of course The Diary of Anne Frank.

I enjoy reading about the European royal families; in particular, anything by Alison Weir including: all of the Henry VIII books,
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Gray, and
Mary Queen of Scotts and the Murder of Lord Darnly.

I went on a 'binge' so to speak reading everything I could about Czar Nicholas and Czarini Alexandra of Russia.

and also enjoy bio's on our presidents; The River of Doubt: Teddy Roosevelt's Darkest Journey was a great book.

I also enjoyed reading
Chasing Down the Dawn by Jewel
and read
Eat, Love, and Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert (though I wasn't as impressed as some people, which probably isn't the most popular response!)

Probably one of the most interesting/bizarre books of this genre I have read is titled The Famous Rose Callahan by Patricia Berrington. In Tombstone Arizona, there is an old saloon called the Bird Cage Saloon. When Patricia Berrington went to tour the old saloon, she was 'taken over' by the spirit of Rose Callahan and Rose gave her the words to write this book! Kind of far fetched but the author knew a tremendous amount about the old times, people and events in the town. I found it in one of the bookshops on our visit to Tombstone a few years ago and both the book and the town itself were great fun!

& SuzieR, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Steve & Me!
&
Leppaluoto, I have heard great things about David McCullough's biographies, glad to hear you confirm it!

I'm looking for a good biography on Ghandi - anyone recommend something?


--
Wife of fantasy author: Michael J. Sullivan
The Crown Conspiracy (Oct 2008)
Avempartha (April 2009)

i enjoy memoirs the most out of the three.
like some others, i tend to enjoy memoirs of not famous people, because then the book is more of a surprise.
a few i've read:
the color of water- james mcbride
devil in the details- jennifer traig
eat,pray,love- elizabeth gilbert
a girl named zippy- haven kimmel (one of my favorites)
his favorite wife- susan ray schmidt
jesus land- julia scheeres (very interesting)
running with scissors- augusten borroughs

Allison
I loved Zippy too!! Have you read the follow up? She Got Up Off the Couch?

I've just added Steve and Me to my TBR and put it on hold at the library.

The author of "The Color of Water" was at the National book festival this year so I went to hear him talk. He was great! He was promoting the Movie that recently came out on his book about a Buffalo solider and a Boy in Italy but of course most people wanted to talk about Color of Water...It was funny part way through he said... "Look if I knew it would have been so popular I would have written a better book". He feels that he has improved a lot with subsequent works - but I found that comment very endearing.

--
Wife of fantasy author: Michael J. Sullivan
The Crown Conspiracy (Oct 2008) - Fantasy Book Critic Review
Avempartha (April 2009)

Cindy - I enjoyed Steve and Me ... The writing style is sometimes a bit contrived, and it was a little overly sweet, painting him in an 'oh he was perfect' light, but Terr's love for him is so obvious throughout the book ... it was a very touching read that had me in tears at the end.
Melissa - hope you enjoy it!