Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir read in 2017
Julie wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Life: The Man Who Kidnapped Barbara Mackle, Gary Krist4 stars
I wish I had read this much closer to 83 Hours Till Dawn, the victim's perspective on ..."
The way the kidnapper talks about his victim is really remarkable. At one point he sort of kicks himself because one of his childhood heroes is Robin Hood, and he says "While I can see Robin kidnapping the Sheriff of Nottingham for ransom, I can't see him doing it to the Sheriff's daughter," with this air of "What is the matter with me? What could I possibly have been thinking?"
Whipping Boy: The Forty-Year Search for My Twelve-Year-Old Bully by Allen Kurzweil just came in for me at the library and I started reading it last night. It's a really outstanding autobiography centered around the author's unresolved prep-school issues. He sets out to find out whatever became of the older kid who tormented him at this Swiss boarding school and it turns into a biography of him, too. It's a wonderful read full of interesting places and people.It doesn't hurt at all that the school bully -- whose photos appear on the cover and throughout the book -- bears an uncanny resemblance to one of my own school bullies.
Halfway Heaven: Diary of a Harvard Murder, Melanie Thernstrom5 stars
This was a heartbreaking read about a Harvard premed student's steep decline into mental illness, the university's complete failure to notice or do anything meaningful to help, and the disastrous events that followed. The author, who has studied and taught at that school and even lived in the dorm where the murder-suicide occurred, was able to tell us a great deal about the people involved, and the role of Harvard itself in the events. This book is a powerful statement about the destructive power of isolation, the ways pain can destroy a person's life or make it more powerful, and the different ways people deal with the unbearable. This story will stay with me a very long time. If you loved The Dead Girl, be sure to read this one; in here the author gives us something of the continuing story of the murder of her best friend.
I gave 5 stars to Whipping Boy: The Forty-Year Search for My Twelve-Year-Old Bully by Allen Kurzweil. The author -- an anxiety-prone guy who clearly has a hard time letting go of things -- was still having nightmares about the bully he had at a Swiss boarding school 30+ years later, and decided to take his wife up on it when she suggested he go find the guy. The author travelled halfway around the world -- not only to the school in Switzerland where they met, but to interview the victims, attorneys and bystanders in the bully's life (he grew up to be a globetrotting con man who robbed his victims of enormous sums of money), and he finally sat down and talked to the bully himself and managed to break the guy's hold over his psyche. Wonderfully written. Well worth your time.
Mod
3 stars
I enjoyed the beginning of the book when he talked about his childhood. He certainly was a funny kid! Even as an adult he was a practical joker. After the childhood tales I enjoyed it here and there but it all started to sound kind of arrogant. The author is a physicist and when he talks about scientific things-well, sometimes it got a little over my head. If I hadn't enjoyed the beginning I don't think I would have stuck with this book. I kept hoping it would improve but it didn't and it just seemed to take forever to get this book finished.
Mod
2 stars
This is a book about spousal abuse. It takes place in the late 60's to early 70's. One thing about this book that I did not like was that at times it almost seemed more like erotica. I didn't think it was necessary to go into such detail to talk about their sexual escapades. I hated the ending and the choice she made after so many problems with infertility. I wont go into detail as that would be a spoiler. Most of this book I just wanted to yell at her to quit being so stupid. I have read much better books with better insight about spousal abuse.
Mod
4 stars
I almost quit this book a few chapters in. It didn't seem like anything was happening. But about half way through I fell in love with the characters in this book. This is a light, easy read, just perfect for beach reading. It details two girls trip to New York City in the summer of 1945 and their summer job at Tiffany's. It was a more innocent time. The author is in her 90's now so I had go google to see if she is still alive. She is but her friend has passed on. The book asks the question: What was your most memorable summer?
Mod
3 stars
The story of a young girl's trials with her mother's mental illness. I would have liked her to delve a little more into her feelings. She doesn't really tell a lot about why she left and didn't talk to her mother for years or why she didn't know her mother had died.
If you liked that you'd love Legacy of Courage: A Brave Woman's Search for Her Mother's Killer and Her Own Identity, also available under the title Catch My Mother's Killer. It's the same basic info without all the gaps. AND it's a TC story.
Right now I'm very absorbed in Sleepers. It's a wonderfully written memoir about growing up in Hell's Kitchen. I can't believe English is this author's second language.
Sleepers, Lorenzo Carcaterra5 stars!!!
This is going to be the book to beat this year for Best Read. It's a rich, involving memoir of growing up in Hell's Kitchen and learning to negotiate the ins and outs of that world. From there the rug is yanked out from underneath the author and his best friends and they end up in a whole new nightmare. What follows is apparently also a true story, but to me -- a revenge-minded grudge-holder from way, way back -- it reads like the unlikeliest of fairytales. Beautifully written. My only unanswered question: Why was this an alternate selection for the Book of the Month Club instead of a main selection?
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric MetaxisTook me ages to get through this 500 plus page book, and I wasnt about to read the reading group guide that was at the back and the 3 page about the author either.
However despite that it was a very informative biography about a German theologian in the Lutheran church who made a stand against Hitler and was part of a conspiracy to assasinate him. From the book it seemed like he was involved although it wasnt him who tried to bomb Hitler..but he was implicated and sentenced to die at one of the concentration camps.
He wrote a christian classic called 'The Cost of Discipleship' which is widely influential and warned of the dangers of the church being co-opted by Hitler, which it was..well kind of, its all a bit murky. He was also ecumenical yet wanted to separate from the heretical church that sided with Hitler and his honchos..but had some hard decisions to make and became a double agent meaning he had to pretend to be on Hitlers side.
I think that kind of did my head in as it probably disturbed his fiance who was half his age and never got to marry him.
Mod
3 stars
This woman was born into wealth but married young and never planned on the path she went down. Her father and husband owned and ran the Washington Post. After her father's death and husband's suicide, she took over the Post, leading it through the controversial days of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate, to make the Post what it is today. She has since passed on since this book was written. At over 600 pages I thought this was a little wordy at times and could have been condensed, but otherwise an interesting story.
I'm just getting into Mean Justice by Edward Humes, and more than just a TC story, it's the biography of a bigoted little California town prone to witch-hunt hysterics. Very interesting read.
Mod
4 stars
I always find it difficult to read about the atrocities that were done to the American Indians. It is beyond my comprehension how the white man came to America and thought everything was free for the taking, thought Indians were savages and animals and treated them worse than most of us treat our animals. This book is about how the Osage tribe was almost decimated so that rich White men could take their oil-rich lands and the money they had made from those lands. I think there must be a special place in hell for the men that got away with those crimes.
Mod
3 stars
I thought this would be more of a true crime book but it was more a memoir of how her father's murder effected the author's life. The book cover says it is her search for the truth of her father's murder but it is more her searching for what happened in an attempt at closure and not really searching to solve it.
The Judith Durham Story: Colours of My Life by Graham SimpsonThe story of Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian 60's folk band The Seekers. I didn't know she left the group but this explains why she left it at the height of their fame after 4 years at the top of the charts. It's an authorised biography so goes into lots of detail over what happened and tours of this and that, so could be boring for those that aren't that interested. There was a lot about her ambitions and I gather that she didn't communicate well with the rest of the boys because some thought she left for no good reason!
It made me think well bands don't last forever but I suppose people always want them to, she was forever hounded on getting back with them when she wanted to be solo. She's a great singer, practically pitch perfect but interesting is that while they sang a lot of gospel she turned to occult and new age beliefs but it didn't say what cult she joined just that she was initiated by a 'Master' in India. It was the 60's I suppose. Also she had a weight problem due to over eating. But then she met a fellow pianist and he turned her onto fasting and vegetarianism. She was also into jazz and opera. Anyway, lots of things I didn't really know - but she did eventually reunite with the Seekers after her husband died of Motor Neurone Disease.
I saw them in concert with my Dad, it was interesting to hear a band from the 60s era still performing today and she must be in her 70's now.
Mod
The story of Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian 60's folk band The Seekers. I didn't know she left the group ..."
When I first read the name of the book I didn't recognize the name but when you said she was from the folk music group The Seekers my ears perked up. I love the Seekers and am a huge folk music fan. Oh how I wish those days would come back. Will look for this book.
Mod
The story of Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian 60's folk band The Seekers. I didn't know she ..."
Hmmm, 75 dollars on Amazon. Think I will just google her.
Abandoned Prayers: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession and Amish Secrets
Gregg Olsen
4/5 stars
This is the unbelievable and horribly true story of the life of Eli Stutzman, an Amish man whose wife died in mysterious circumstances in 1977 and then years later in 1985; his son was also found dead. Many believed Eli killed them and this is the story of their deaths and Eli's wild life. Unfortunately, this ends before we find out what happened to Eli at the end of his life but there are a couple of web pages that discuss what happened to him after the book ended.
Someone from this group or one of my other groups recommended this but I cannot remember who-but thanks for the recommendation.
Mod
[book:Abandoned Prayers: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession and Amish Secrets|26784..."
I read this book several years ago and it is one that has stuck with me. Little Boy Blue.
Mod
4 stars
The author likes to write stories about his dogs and other animals on his farm. This is a heartwarming story about how his dog learned to be a hospice volunteer. It is both sad and uplifting. By the end, you want a dog just like Izzy.
Koren wrote: "Julie wrote: "[book:Abandoned Prayers: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession and Amish..."
Someone on Goodreads recommended it and it may have been you. This one will stick with me. I finished it a few days ago and am still thinking of that poor little boy.
Mod
[book:Abandoned Prayers: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Obses..."
It could have been me. Gregg Olsen is one of my favorite authors but now seems to write more fiction and just comes out with a True Crime every couple of years.
Koren wrote: "Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "The Judith Durham Story: Colours of My Life by Graham SimpsonThe story of Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian 60's folk band The Seekers. I di..."
Well I borrowed it from a friend who has read it, so could ask him about getting a copy if you like...maybe you can swap a bio in return? I think he found it at an op shop so would have only been $1.
Mod
The story of Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian 60's folk band The..."
I appreciate the offer Selina, but we could probably each buy 2 new books for the price to send between our 2 countries. I think I will live without it but you are so nice to offer.
Mod
3 stars
I've read enough books about death row prisoners being falsely accused of crimes to know that this happens more often than we would like to admit. This book is not as well-written as some others I read, basically focusing on 2 crimes. The book is more about her experience, and while she does talk about the crimes and gives reasons why the investigation was flawed, I thought her personal experience seemed to drone on and on at times.
Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "Koren wrote: "Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "The Judith Durham Story: Colours of My Life by Graham SimpsonThe story of Judith Durham, lead singer of the Australian 60'..."
Haha yea its so expensive to ship books overseas.
Now reading Stalin's Daughter.
Selina wrote: "Haha yea its so expensive to ship books overseas."That is no joke! I sent a box of paperbacks to A.R. in Aussieland and it cost me $94!!!
Mod
That is no joke! I sent a box of paperbacks to A.R. in Aussieland and it cost me $94!!!"
I know. I sent a box to her also and it was over $100 but she reimbursed me.
She paid me back by sending me an equally large box of books. they sure have a lot of messed-up crimes in her home country.
Mod
I sure miss her. I wonder what happened to her.
She said some personal stuff was getting in the way of any social media involvement for the time being. Maybe she ran off and got married? Or maybe an experiment she was working on in her lab ran amok...
Koren wrote: "Fishface wrote: "She paid me back by sending me an equally large box of books. they sure have a lot of messed-up crimes in her home country."I sure miss her. I wonder what happened to her."
I just looked at her profile, it says she was last active in August 2017. Then before that last activity May 2017.
Mod
I sure miss her. I wonder what happened ..."
I don't think she loves us anymore. (sniff, sniff)
Mod
She was very active on Shelfari. Was from Australia. Does not seem to have followed us here to Goodreads. A few of us here got to know each other on the True Crime group on another site called Shelfari. For some reason that will forever remain a mystery, Amazon bought Shelfari just to close it down. Most of us migrated here to Shelfari. So if you are interested at all in True Crime, Selina, quite a few of us in this group are also in the True Crime group.
Ah ok. I was on shelfari too. Not really into true crime myself, although I once applied for a library job in prison. That was an interesting interview.
A.R. is a member at GR but has been off social media for a while now.
Mod
5 stars
If you have never lived in farm country you probably don't know how dangerous farm life can be and you probably don't know how dangerous it can be to go into a grain bin. The corn can suck you down like quicksand and you literally die from drowning in the corn. Hence, the name of the book. This actually happened to 3 boys who were friends and working at a job where normal safety measures were not followed. One boy was saved but the other two died. How did the deaths of his friends effect him? This is an e-book short you can read in a few hours.
I've heard farming is one of the most dangerous jobs out there.
Mod
I'm sure that is true.
Body Parts, Caitlin Rother4 stars!
This was a really well-written account of a horrible series of crimes. A real page-turner. The author skated perilously close to the thin ice of "this is the story of a poor widdle serial killer, tragically beset by his own demons," but she kept the story from going out of bounds by including as much as she could of the victim's stories and the point of view of the devastated families Ford left in his wake. She does a good job of teasing apart Ford's evasions and justifications from what really happened to these unlucky women.
Mod
5 stars
So proud that this guy represents my state of Minnesota. He does a great job. Love the book. He explains a lot about his political journey and a lot about what is happening today with a touch of humor and irony thrown in. This is the best memoir I have read so far this year.
Koren wrote: "Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken5 stars
So proud that this guy represents my state of Minnesota. He does a great ..."
You are a big memoir reader so that is quite a recommendation. Just ordered it from the library. That turned out to be a second recommendation of sorts: many libraries in the state have copies, but all of them but one are currently checked out.
Mod
5 stars
So proud that this guy represents my state of Minnesota. He..."
Hope you like it as much as I did. I may be a bit prejudice as he is my senator. I was on the waiting list at the library for a couple months. Now I wish I would have bought it so I could put it side by side on my shelf with Amy Klobuchar's memoir.
Lady Belleza, I too saw the movie in the theater in 1973--had a thing for Steve McQueen. True to my bookworm self, I read the book back then too. It's been a long time and the memories are vague, but I know I did enjoy both the book and the movie. Let us know what you think.
Koren wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Koren wrote: "Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken5 stars
So proud that this guy represents my state..."
The library just emailed me to say they can't send it because someone else checked it out! Blast!!!
This isn't a book, but it is a movie based on an autobiography. I just received the movie version of A Liar's Autobiography: Volume VI, made using the audio version of his book that Graham Chapman recorded, so that he was able to narrate his own life story after his untimely death -- he was 5 years younger than I am now. The movie is animated by what seems to be a couple of dozen different people, so the visuals are constantly changing: surrealistic one moment, more realistic the next, animated oil paintings after that, then a stop-motion Sigmund Freud voiced by Cameron Diaz, then crude cartoon characters with photos of the actors pasted onto the shoulders -- you name it, they did it. The only cartooning style strikingly absent was that of original Python Terry Gilliam. All the Pythons take turns doing the voices (Michael Palin plays Dr. Chapman's policeman dad, and Terry Jones plays his mum). Many Monty Python characters walk through the scenes of Chapman's life -- when he's detoxing himself from alcohol, Patsy from MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL canters up alongside his bed, clapping his coconut shells together to make the hoofbeats.At the end they showed John Cleese doing Dr. Chapman's eulogy. I rewound and watched it 4x. I can't think of it now without being reduced to tears. It was perfect.
WARNING: They were very hard on David Frost in this film. very hard. Sensitive viewers may not enjoy that, never mind the frequent sex scenes and wee-wee jokes.
Biography, Autobiography, Memoir
Books mentioned in this topic
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League (other topics)Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman (other topics)
Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime (other topics)
Stolen Lives: The Untold Stories of the Lawson Quins (other topics)
Now, Let Me Tell You What I Really Think (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Kate Summerscale (other topics)Laura Ingalls Wilder (other topics)
Laura Ingalls Wilder (other topics)
Margot Lee Shetterly (other topics)
Richard Sandomir (other topics)
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4 stars
I wish I had read this much closer to 83 Hours Till Dawn, the victim's perspective on this same case. O..."
I remember 83 Hours Till Dawn even though it has been decades since I read it and when I think about it I still gives me the creeps!