Task 6: Read a Biography (Not a Memoir or Autobiography)

[Jamie]

I really enjoyed reading The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra for this task!

[Leigh]

Leigh wrote: "I'm currently reading When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan. I'm about halfway through it right now. I think the author was in love with him? His Presidency was before my t..."

Finished it. She definitely carries a torch for him. Now I want to read a book that is more critical of Reagan!

[Meghan]

I'm trying to get through Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter but it is so heart-breaking!

[Carol]

I read for this task. Margarita Engle's prose writing is beautiful and haunting. I absolutely loved this little book. Also this is a short fast read so if you don't feel like reading a huge biography this might be a good choice for you too.

[Mark]

Just about to start Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman for this challenge.

Have enjoyed reading Jon Krakauer books in the past - Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster and Into the Wild, so I'm expecting to like this one too.

[Anna]

I read The Ingenious Mr Pyke: Inventor, Fugitive, Spy for this challenge (I think it has another title in The States -- something like "Churchill's Iceman.") It went really, really quickly: The pacing is very much like a spy/adventure novel. Definitely recommend if you're struggling to find something for this challenge.

[Carolyn]

I'm reading Last Love Song about Joan Didion. Struggling some, don't read biographies much, but interested in her influences and early writings. I'll hang in...

[Aisha]

I am reading . This is just such a moving yet sad story, I am finding it difficult to cope with how such a brilliant person intentionally put himself in such dangerous and ultimately fatal situations. Living only about 2 hours away from Newark, it seems like a world away.

[Samantha]

My professor just recommended this book to me! I think I'm going to move it up on my list. Let us know what you think about it.

[April]

A friend surprised me with a copy of Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg so I'll definitely use it for this task.

[Shannon]

Would Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk count for this challenge?

I figure, it's an account in biographical form. Just not of a person.

[Bonnie G.]

Shannon wrote: "Would Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk count for this challenge?"

I am not sure, but it is FANTASTIC

[Dixie]

I just finished Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft And Her Daughter Mary Shelley. It's long (500 pages) but wonderfully well written, completely fascinating. Highly recommended.

[Julia]

I'm a Downton Abbey fan. My library had Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle on cd by Fiona Carnarvon. Lady Almina was the 5th Countess of Carnavon and she has many real- life similarities to the fictional Cora, Mary, Edith and Isobel. The author is the 8th Countess of Carnavon.

[Louise]

I've just finished George Stephenson: The Remarkable Life of the Founder of the Railway by Hunter Davies for this task. It's not usually my kind of thing at all, but I rated it 4 stars. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Susan]

I'm reading Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton in anticipation of seeing the musical in May. It's a doorstop(!), but really good. Who knew a state convention to ratify the Constitution could be such a nail-biter? I've already done my 500 pager (this would certainly qualify), but I may use it for my book on politics if time runs short.

[Kristine]

I read Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and loved it! Thanks to those who recommended it - an original, inspiring read!

[Emily]

So, this is supposed to be a biography and NOT an autobiography OR a memoir. I just picked up Home Before Dark, which the cover calls "a Biographical Memoir" of John Cheever by his daughter. I think it qualifies since it is not written by the subject person, even though it uses the word "memoir'. Agreed?

[Leslie (updates on SG)]

I applied Notorious RBG to this task as well, but just finished a more traditional biography that I loved even more: The Boys in the Boat. Listening to the audiobook was fun because it allowed me to feel like I was listening to the races on the radio, just like the folks in the 1930's.

[Kate]

I'm thinking of using Island of Vice: Theodore Roosevelt's Doomed Quest to Clean up Sin-loving New York for this task. Any thoughts on whether this qualifies as a biography or is more of a micro-history?

Thanks!

[Bonnie G.]

Kate wrote: "I'm thinking of using Island of Vice: Theodore Roosevelt's Doomed Quest to Clean up Sin-loving New York for this task. Any thoughts on whether this qualifies as a biography or is mo..."

I think a biography is about a person, not about what that person did, so I don't think it counts, but others might feel differently.

[Kate]

Bonnie wrote: "Kate wrote: "I'm thinking of using Island of Vice: Theodore Roosevelt's Doomed Quest to Clean up Sin-loving New York for this task. Any thoughts on whether this qualifies as a biogr..."

The more I read this book the more I am leaning toward micro-history. It is very interesting though.

For this challenge I will read Zelda: A Biography by Nancy Milford. It has been on my TBR for awhile.

[Mary]

I read biographies frequently, but the one I chose from this challenge is The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc by Nancy Goldstone about Joan of Arc and Yolande of Aragorn.

[quietprofanity]

Hoping everyone who read Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton enjoyed it. I finished it in January but didn't count it for the challenge since I began it last year. (I also reviewed it here.)

I recently finished Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs. Oscar Wilde for my biography. It made me think a lot about the weirdness of the "lovers/family members of famous authors" subgenre. I reviewed that one too.

[Veronica]

Finished Walter Isaacson's Einstein: His Life and Universe! I found some of the subject matter predictably difficult, but enjoyed learning more about Einstein's personal life and his rise to becoming one of the most influential men in history. Reviewed here.

[quietprofanity]

Veronica wrote: "Finished Walter Isaacson's Einstein: His Life and Universe! I found some of the subject matter predictably difficult, but enjoyed learning more about Einstein's personal life and his r..."

Cool review! I'm going to try to follow your blog. :)

[Veronica]

quietprofanity wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Finished Walter Isaacson's Einstein: His Life and Universe! I found some of the subject matter predictably difficult, but enjoyed learning more about Einstein's person..."

Thank you!

[Caitlin]

I went with Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations for this task. It definitely qualifies for at least a couple others as well, but I'm really trying not to double up...as tempting as it is. :)

[Lauconn]

I just finished Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad, and it's amazing! I recommend reading while listening to Shostakovich's glorious music - I've had the Leningrad Symphony in my head for days, along with the book.

[Shannon]

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was a fabulous choice for this! I did the audio version, and really enjoyed the narration. Fascinating, albeit disturbing in many ways and places, story. This is not a genre I would gravitate to, but this book really demonstrated how a biography can remain engaging. Well written and interesting.

[Chessa]

I read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (doubles as a science book) and really enjoyed it.

I also just finished Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and it was so good! Very readable and enjoyable. (And doubles as a feminist book!) :)

[Jessica]

I'm very intrigued by anything pertaining to WWII, and last week when I found I Shall Live: Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds as a Kindle Daily Deal for $1.99, I bought it right away.

I hope this counts as a biography, and not a memoir.

[Bea]

Jessica wrote: "I'm very intrigued by anything pertaining to WWII, and last week when I found I Shall Live: Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds as a Kindle Daily Deal for $1.99, I bought it rig..."

Sorry, Jessica, this book is an autobiography - written by the man whose story it is.

[Nadine in NY]

I read memoirs but I never read biographies, and while I'm excited to broaden my horizons, I'm nervous that I'll choose a clunker because I don't really know what to look for. And all the books I look at are so loooooong, so it's going to be a significant time investment. These are the books that look interesting to me. Does anyone have any opinions? (like: have I accidentally chosen a fictionalization? is it boring? great? wordy? vague?)
John Adams by David McCullough
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir
The Bride of Science: Romance, Reason, and Byron's Daughter by Benjamin Woolley
The Lady in Red: An Eighteenth-Century Tale of Sex, Scandal, and Divorce by Hallie Rubenhold
Hypatia of Alexandria: Mathematician and Martyr by Michael A.B. Deakin
Emilie Du Chatelet: Daring Genius of the Enlightenment by Judith P. Zinsser
Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford
Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston by Valerie Boyd

and

Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia by Janet Wallach

(When I started looking, only "John Adams" was already on my TBR list, but now I think I'm most interested in that last one about Gertrude Bell.)

[Brittany]

Nadine wrote: "I read memoirs but I never read biographies, and while I'm excited to broaden my horizons, I'm nervous that I'll choose a clunker because I don't really know what to look for. And all the books I l..."

A great biography (that isn't too long) is The Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg by Irin Carmon.

[Kathleen]

Brittany wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I read memoirs but I never read biographies, and while I'm excited to broaden my horizons, I'm nervous that I'll choose a clunker because I don't really know what to look for. And al..."

Absolutely agree that Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is quick, fun read for the biography category -- but, also, I recently read Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, and it was so good. Yes, it was long and there were a few parts (especially near the beginning) that dragged a bit, but overall it was fascinating and very enjoyable. I definitely recommend if you're a Millay fan.

[Bonnie G.]

Nadine wrote: "I read memoirs but I never read biographies, and while I'm excited to broaden my horizons, I'm nervous that I'll choose a clunker because I don't really know what to look for. And all the books I l..."

The John Adams bio is fantastic. David McCullough is like clockwork, everything he touches works.

[Bonnie G.]

Jessica wrote: "I'm very intrigued by anything pertaining to WWII, and last week when I found I Shall Live: Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds as a Kindle Daily Deal for $1.99, I bought it rig..."

This is a memoir/autobiography.

[Bonnie G.]

Jessica wrote: "I'm very intrigued by anything pertaining to WWII, and last week when I found I Shall Live: Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds as a Kindle Daily Deal for $1.99, I bought it rig..."

I am going to recommend And There Was Light: The Extraordinary Memoir of a Blind Hero of the French Resistance in World War II nd Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust.

[Jessica]

Bonnie wrote: "Jessica wrote: "I'm very intrigued by anything pertaining to WWII, and last week when I found I Shall Live: Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds as a Kindle Daily Deal for $1.99,..."

Thank you so much for your recommendations - they will definitely be considered, as the book I chose is apparently a memoir and not a biography. Thank you!

[Nadine in California]

Nadine wrote: "I read memoirs but I never read biographies, and while I'm excited to broaden my horizons, I'm nervous that I'll choose a clunker because I don't really know what to look for. And all the books I l..."

Here's a tip from one Nadine to another....Dava Sobel's book "Longitude...." is terrific and short too! I loved it.

[Nadine in NY]

Nadine wrote: "Here's a tip from one Nadine to another....Dava Sobel's book "Longitude...." is terrific and short too! I loved it.
"

Well I'd be a FOOL to ignore a tip from Nadine!! :-)

[Rainey]

Not a Nadine but she is right. Excellent book.

[Stina]

I read The Secret History of Wonder Woman for the feminist issues task, and as it is essentially a biography of the man who created Wonder Woman, I'm counting it for this one as well.

[Erin]

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. My hero!

[Susan]

quietprofanity wrote: "Hoping everyone who read Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton enjoyed it. I finished it in January but didn't count it for the challenge since I began it last year. (I also reviewed it her..."

I enjoyed it very much! I rarely tackle big bios like this, but I found it engrossing throughout. What struck me was how polarized the political landscape was even then--and in some ways we're still having the same arguments, e.g., federal power vs. states rights. A really fascinating look at the pain and struggle of making a new nation.

[Maria U.]

For this challenge I'm reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

[Bonnie G.]

Maria wrote: "For this challenge I'm reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed."

That is a memoir. Its written about her own experience

[Britany]

Finished by Caroline Moorehead- 3 Stars

Nonfictional account of the French Resistance women who were arrested and sent to Auschwitz during WWII. Good account, but not great.

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sapiophial]

I love Longitude! Very enjoyable and could double for the science category!