Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir read in 2018
The Book of Separation: A Memoir by Tova MirvisJewish Modern orthodox woman leaves her faith and gets a divorce.
What do I think...well from how she describes it I dont know why she left her husband because he seeemed really nice, but she comes across as a selfish ..... she just chucks it all in because shes more worried about - her hair covering?
Plus for someone leaving her faith she doesnt really try to find out what underpins it, like I dont know, really praying (and not just repeating rote prayers out of a book), or maybe talking to a rabbi about her doubts. The main concern seems to be oh no how do I celebrate the holidays now. Plus she hooks up with non believing jewish guy and it just seems shes not willing to ever consider her ex husbands feeling on the matter, she just says they argue, but not clear on what exactly they argue about. He actually doesnt mind that she chooses to wear pants, shes the one that chose to wear coverings and long skirts in the first place. Its never said that her orthodox community became like a cult, and she was maybe brainwashed or immature upon entering but maybe she cant see that.
Im just thinking of her three young children, but shes not really thinking of them only when she sees them. It did kind of remind me of another memoir about a woman who leaves her faith and her husband, called This Dark World: A Memoir of Salvation Found and Lostbut Tova it seems never truly believed in the first place, just did all the rituals and going through the motions but never connecting with God at all. The rituals are interesting but I think you can still be jewish and not neccesarily celebrate all the holidays just like you can be christian without celebrating christmas and going to church every single week. But is a crisis of faith worth getting a divorce over, when its not your husband whos the one being unfaithful. It seems to me both memoirs are leaving out something the authors werent willing to admit. I wish it were more honest than pussyfooting around the issues like maybe facing up to the fact that nobody is perfect so dont beat yourself up if you arent?!
Absolutely by Joanna LumleyThis is a memoir/scrapbook of Ab Fab star Joanna Lumley. Lots of photos, a fair bit of name dropping, and some background of her family. Things I didn't know - she was born in India to expat parents, went to boarding school, has two other siblings, had a son out of wedlock, got married and divorced to someone else for a year, then married a musician eight years younger than her. She found fame as a Bond girl and then her big break was playing Purdey in the New Avengers tv series. Before that she was a model, and there are lots of photos of her in Jean Muir dresses of the sixties, minis and thigh boots. All round she seems like a fairly happy-go-lucky English girl who just likes to play dress ups. Maybe a bit vain, but she's so tall and thin with good bone structure she can get away with wearing anything.
After a while all the acting jobs kind of blur into one another so this memoir is not really about her personal life but comes across as more of a brag book/portfolio. My legs look like sausages in those tights kind of thing (a comment over a photo in which she's straddling a motorbike in hotpants and high heels). And what awful knitwear and artificial fabrics we had in the 60's. There's a whole page of photos with her in different hairstyles. Yet despite all these selfies, she will go to any charity event and raise heaps of money and awareness for good causes, including getting justice for Ghurka war veterans to live in Britain, which at the time, caused quite a stir.
For those that know her as the outrageously drunk Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous, its kind of interesting to find out more about the actress who plays her to the hilt.
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life
Ruth Franklin
5/5 stars
Franklin does a wonderful job delving into writer Shirley Jackson’s world. Jackson did not live a storybook life. She was raised by extremely critical parents and even her marriage had its problems including infidelity. She also suffered from depression yet she was so smart and intuitive and her stories were so amazingly complex and intricate. If you only read one biography this year-this has to be the one.
How About Never—Is Never Good for You?: My Life in Cartoons
Bob Mankoff
4/5 stars
Bob Mankoff does a wonderful job on this autobiography/nonfiction book about his life as a cartoonist, his job as former cartoon editor for The New Yorker, and founder of the online Cartoon Bank. This book is not just about him but a short history of the cartooning business and helping other cartoonists get ahead in the business. Enjoyable and informative.
Blood on the Mirror: True story from the streets to redemption by Anita MaryA punk girl or what some would call a goth-emo finds Jesus. Its pretty harrowing up to that point. Because the punk lifestyle is just parties, drugs, cutting, stealing, abuse and numerous abortions. Squatting at various flats and going from gig to gig and guy to guy (she was a prostitute at one stage) does get old after a while! Saving grace came with a christian she met at the bustop, and now she is married with a child and focuses on art and spreading the gospel among her former mates.
Mod
4 stars
Tom Brokow has written several books about the Greatest generation- men and women who came of age during World War 2. After writing the books, he received many letters from people telling of their experiences during the war. This book is a collection of those letters. I found the longer letters were more interesting than the shorter ones. Some were real tear-jerkers and it made me sad to think that there aren't many left from that generation. This book was written 17 years ago so probably most of the wonderful people that wrote these letters are gone. I would recommend reading the other Greatest Generation books before this one.
Selina wrote: "Blood on the Mirror: True story from the streets to redemption by Anita MaryA punk girl or what some would call a goth-emo finds Jesus. Its pretty harrowing up to that point. Beca..."
What years was the author talking about, Selina? In my day punk rock was an angry reaction against hippie culture with everyone getting high and dropping out. Many of us were "straightedge" -- didn't even use sugar or caffeine -- especially after what happened with Sid and Nancy. You still can't pay me enough to smoke stupidweed...
Fishface wrote: "Selina wrote: "Blood on the Mirror: True story from the streets to redemption by Anita MaryA punk girl or what some would call a goth-emo finds Jesus. Its pretty harrowing up to t..."
Seems like the 80s she mentioned all these bands never heard of except for Nirvana. Who are Sid and Nancy? This was in New Zealand not US. Some bands she mentio s - husker Du, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Flipper. Was never interested in the punk scene by the time I was growing up they just seemed rather lame..angry but pointlessly angry like they never did anything constructive with their anger, aside from decorate themselves with tattoos and vandalise property with graffiti. This punk girl seemed to go from party to party, she went to 18 different schools and ran away from her family, her mum and dad split. I didnt know there were straight edge punks...? She also mentions hanging out with skinheads. I never got why people shaved their heads...?
Caught Up Into Paradise by Richard E. EbyThis book is a bit different from all the other NDE memoirs out there as its not just about the NDE itself but all the miracles that happened in the authors life of faith leading up to that point. RIchard Eby is a surgeon/osteopath who had a NDE when he was 60, although he has no memory of the actual accident his wife says he fell off a balcony with a termite eaten railing and lay dead for about 20 minutes in which time he took a trip to Paradise. He writes one minute he was in suburban chicago, the next he was in Suburban heaven. Anyway this books was very interesting to read and a glimpse for those who believe how God answers prayers and a little of what's in store... but also a pretty good memoir of how life was americas in the mid 20th century. It was published in 1978 so not a new book, but worth reading that's why have kept it in the church library, even though the book itself seems falling apart!
Mod
3 stars
This guy has written some of my most favorite musicals. I could watch Phantom and Joseph over and over. Living in a rural area we mostly get our musicals with summer civic theater. Time and again while reading this book I wondered if he talked the way he wrote and by that I mean going on and on and on. At 500 pages, he only makes it through around 1985 and states there is a possibility there could be a Book 2. I haven't seen all of his work so the long stories about his work I haven't seen mostly got skimmed. He wrote the book in his speaking voice quite often I was left guessing what the English vernacular meant. I would recommend this if you are a die-hard Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, otherwise skip it.
Selina wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Selina wrote: "Blood on the Mirror: True story from the streets to redemption by Anita MaryA punk girl or what some would call a goth-emo finds Jesus. Its pretty ..."
Sid Vicious was the bassist for one of THE punk bands, the Sex Pistols. He was (re)introduced to heroin by his groupie girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, leading to the collapse of the band while they were on their 2nd U.S. tour. Nancy was found stabbed to death in their NYC hotel room and Sid was the only suspect they ever considered. 4 months later, out on bail, he stole some very powerful heroin from his mother (it's that kind of family) and killed himself, explaining in his suicide note that he couldn't go on without her. In reaction, the straightedge movement became a lot more vocal and influential.
I'm not sure what the connection to hairlessness is, but skinheads align themselves with Nazis and are generally into white supremacy and victimizing members of other races in dark alleys. Instead of reacting against hippies so much, they were reacting against the civil rights movement, desegregating schools, the legalization of interracial marriage and so forth. Of course the fashion statement took on a life of its own and the racist message faded. Now you have guys with shaven heads and sideburns who don't understand that once upon a time, that look meant that the night before you were probably jumping up and down on a Pakistani wearing steel-toed work boots.
Mod
4 stars
This appears to be a book the author put together for her family from her grandmother's journals that were found after her death. It seems to be in the grandmother's own words and not done by a professional author. The grandmother didn't talk about being an orphan and it wasn't discovered until after her death so unfortunately no questions could be answered. There was a lot of dialogue that I didn't find believable that a 5 year old girl would remember word for word but I did feel like I came to know this girl and it brought me to tears at the end. Marjorie was such a likeable person and I was glad when good things happened to her and sad when bad things happened. I wanted everything to turn out well for her and they did. How I wish I could have gotten to know Marjorie.
Koren wrote: "Unmasked: A Memoir by Andrew Lloyd Webber 3 stars
This guy has written some of my most favorite musicals. I could watch Phantom and Joseph ..."
If you haven't seen this - here is the link to the James Corden's sidewalk musical homage to Webber and he is in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjp1k...
Mod
3 stars
This guy has written some of my most favorite musicals. I could watch Phant..."
Thanks. That was really funny!
Mod
5 stars and a heart
It makes sense to me that one of the best songwriters in Nashville would also write a good book. It helps that I have loved these two and their music since the first time I saw them on a show called "Can You Duet". Every time I saw Joey I thought she should be in People's Most Beautiful People Issue. She was beautiful inside and out. Unfortunately a beautiful voice was silenced due to cancer two years ago. I am grateful that her husband Rory has chosen to let us into their lives from the start of her cancer journey and continues to write a blog about his life and continuing after her death. His last book took us through their cancer journey until shortly afterwards and this book continues the journey and also reflects on his life and things he wishes he had done differently. What I liked best was this book does not get preachy or sound like he has all the answers. He presents himself with all his faults and mistakes. My favorite part of this book was his chapter about reading my personal favorite all-time book- All Over But The Shoutin'. I think I will have to read that chapter again before I take it back to the library. You will need a whole box of tissues when you read this.
Mod
5 stars
This is probably the most comprehensive bio of Robin Williams you are going to find and at 447 pages I cant imagine what has been left out. It is an in depth look at his private and professional life with lots of quotes and interviews with people that knew him. I enjoyed reading the behind the scenes looks at his movies and found out there are a few I haven't seen. I wonder how that happened.
Well, that means there are more delights in store for you!
Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat by David DosaOscar is one of the cats at a nursing home for elderly with dementia and its noticed he always goes to spends time with patients who are just about to die. One of the doctors is intrigued by this (and rather sceptical) so asks family members what they think about this cat and how he helped comfort them when their loved ones passed away. He would always go sit on their beds and just be there.
What follows is several peoples memories and stories of Oscar and their loved ones passing. I learned a lot about dementia and caregiving from this book, and how hard it can be to let go. But me being a cat lover its no surprise that a cat would do this. But for someone who is not a fan of cats like the author hes rather puzzled about it! He soon becomes convinced though through story after story.
Mod
Oscar is one of the cats at a nursing home for elderly with dementia and its noticed he always goes..."
I really enjoyed that book. I worked at a nursing home that tried having resident cats. They were a big pain in the butt and they ended up giving them away.
Mod
5 stars
Loved this memoir of being caught in the 'sandwich generation'. The author has a new baby when her father who has Alzheimer's Disease comes to live with her. Her husband decides he cant handle it and moves out. She is in the country so has to handle all kinds of disasters. I love how her neighbors helped out. She doesn't think she is a strong person but she really is. Through the whole book I wondered why she didn't just put her father in a nursing home but she did the best she could and I'm sure she didn't regret a single thing. I think anyone taking care of elderly parents would love this book. The only thing I didn't like is that she didn't let us know what happened with the husband.
Koren wrote: "The Family on Beartown Road: A Memoir of Love and Courage by Elizabeth Cohen 5 starsThe only thing I didn't like is that she didn't let us know what happened with the husband. "
Googled up some info on that for you, Koren. :)
"A year and a half ago Shane Van Pelt experienced his second heart attack. Seven months ago, van Pelt received a heart transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. He is recovering nicely. Now he splits his time between Phoenix, Gallup, Philadelphia where his girlfriend lives, and New York where his daughter lives with her mother, Elizabeth Cohen."
Also, you might like to read this article she wrote, she talks about her husband, and other stuff, too.
https://brainchildmag.com/tag/elizabe...
Mod
The only thing I didn't like is that she didn't let us know what happened with the h..."
Thank you Diane! At the end of the book she wasn't sure if she was going to take him back. Apparently she decided not to.
Koren wrote: "Diane wrote: "Koren wrote: "The Family on Beartown Road: A Memoir of Love and Courage by Elizabeth Cohen 5 starsThank you Diane! At the end of the book she wasn't sure if she was going to take him back. Apparently she decided not to. "
It appears that she didn't. He has a girlfriend in Philadelphia, and on Elizabeth's Goodreads bio it says, "She lives in Plattsburgh, New York, with her daughter, Ava and way, way too many cats."
I don't know if she told this in her book, but I found it on another website about that book. "Meanwhile, her husband, who is 15 years younger than she is and has been having an affair with an 18-year-old, abandons her and their baby, Ava, and moves out West." Hmmm ... he doesn't sound like a keeper to me. ;)
Mod
Thank you Diane! At the end of the book she wasn't sure ..."
That's what I thought. They were only married a short time, the baby was a newborn and the only reason she gave for his leaving was that he couldn't cope with her father's Alzheimer's disease. He left all his art supplies and didn't come back for over a year and then was upset that the dog had gotten into them. He sounded very juvenile to me.
Koren wrote: "Diane wrote: "Koren wrote: "Diane wrote: "Koren wrote: "The Family on Beartown Road: A Memoir of Love and Courage by Elizabeth Cohen 5 starsHe sounded very juvenile to me."
Definitely.
Just started Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. It's a memoir. I was reading it after breakfast and looked at the clock and thought I was going to be late. Got almost all the way to my first appointment and realized it was set for 9:30, not 9 a.m., so I should have kept reading for another half an hour. Of course I didn't bring the book with me, so I was furious to have half an hour to kill without it.
Mod
I know the feeling but now I have books on my phone so I always have a back up.
I did have Tombley's Walk as a back-up, but it just seemed too jarring to be reading about werewolves in a small Texas town in the 80s when what I wanted to do was follow Viv Albertine through her relationship with Mick Jones in the 70s as they were both setting up their first rock bands.
Mod
3 stars
This book is about crooked cops in Spokane, Washington during the depression and the cop who uncovered a murder by a cop during that time while doing a college thesis in the 1980's. Most of the players have passed on but there is one still living....
There were some interesting moments during this book but there were also some times that were slow going. Worth a read to see how (hopefully) times have changed.
This is a much earlier work by the author that wrote
3,096 Days
Author: Natascha Kampusch
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
I was so impressed with Natascha. I felt that she told the story of her abduction, her escape, and her re-entry into society, with great care, and skill. I totally support her choice to not reveal everything that took place during those years. To me, her refusal typifies the strength of character that she most certainly possesses.
I also agree with her opinion of the 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Natascha wrote, "If I wanted to survive in this new world, I had to cooperate with him. For somebody who has never been in such an extreme situation of oppression, this may be difficult to comprehend. But today I am proud of the fact that I was able to take this step towards the person who had robbed me of everything. Because that step saved my life even though I had to dedicate more and more energy to maintaining this 'positive approach' to the kidnapper." As she says, it is often used as a glib label, turning "…victims into victims a second time, by taking from them the power to interpret their own story - and by turning the most significant experiences from their story into the product of a syndrome. The term places the very behaviour that contributes significantly to the victim's survival that much closer to being objectionable." "Getting closer to the kidnapper is not an illness. Creating a cocoon of normality within the framework of a crime is not a syndrome. Just the opposite. It is a survival strategy in a situation with no escape - and much more true to reality than the sweeping categorization of criminals as bloodthirsty beasts and of victims as helpless lambs that society refuses to look beyond."
The Last of the Doughboys: The Forgotten Generation and Their Forgotten World War, Richard Rubin5 stars!
I half-expected this book to put me to sleep, but it was well-written in a high-energy style, and often very funny. Full of fascinating life stories told by the last handful of surviving American soldiers of the Great War, all of them upwards of 100 years old when the author tracked them down. I found myself feeling my own pangs of regret when the author kicked himself for not starting this project years sooner -- think of the stories he could have heard! He doesn't just write down what they said, either; he captures a lot of the flavor of those times, talking about everything from delivering milk in a horse-drawn cart to the carloads of sheet music this war produced in the days before radio or recorded music. He also tours the Western Front and gives us a glimpse of the indelible marks left by the war on all of Europe. Don't miss this one. It's great!
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys, Viv Albertine4 stars
This really took me back to the 70s and 80s, especially the punk-rock era of course -- the author was right in the middle of that scene and apparently knew EVERYONE personally. I keep forgetting what a small world the London art and music scene is and was. Viv's story is all about starting with nothing -- not once, but again and again -- and making great things come out of it. Well written and never bogs down. Totally unflinching. Highly recommended.
Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses
by Anthony Slide
3/5 stars
Slide discusses the various actors and actresses that made a living in the silent film era. Each segment on each actor is only a few pages long. Some made it into the talkie era but many of the others' careers ended when talkies took off. He also discusses the studios and I was surprised that the Chicago Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was a fairly big player in the silent film era. It eventually merged with other studios. This is definitely for silent film buffs but I wanted more info though I fear a lot of the silent film era information has been lost.
Muhajababes
Author: Allegra Stratton
1 Star = Yuck. I wish I hadn't wasted my time reading it.
Well, I read it ... every page. Not impressed. I read a lot of nonfiction regarding the Middle East, so, I'm not totally ignorant of its issues, culture, etc. Even so, I found it hard to follow Allegra's narrative. It seemed scattered. It was like someone on LSD visited the Middle East, and then wrote a book ... lots of words, but not much sensible content. It's a pity, too, 'cause it would be an interesting topic ... in the hands of a good author.
Mod
3 stars
I have great admiration for this woman who found a dog that was severely abused at an animal shelter and took him in. I would never be able to do what she did. Every waking hour was spent with this dog trying to get him to walk again. She states that all his medical expenses and therapies came to $3,000 a month and she was able to raise enough donations at the time the book was written. She mentions in the book that people had commented that there were probably better ways to spend that money but then again, if it wasn't for Sadie people probably wouldn't have donated. I wonder how Sadie is doing today.
Koren wrote: "Saving Sadie: How a Dog That No One Wanted Inspired the WorldI wonder how Sadie is doing today."
If you have Facebook, Koren, you can follow her there at:
https://www.facebook.com/SavingSadie/
From a quick glance at the posts, she seems to be doing good. :)
Mod
I wonder how Sadie is doing today."
If you have Facebook, Koren, you can follow her there at:
https://ww..."
Thanks Diane. It looks like Sadie is doing well. I was glad to read a book where the dog is still alive. Most of the time they are not.
Koren wrote: "Saving Sadie: How a Dog That No One Wanted Inspired the WorldI was glad to read a book where the dog is still alive. Most of the time they are not."
I know what you mean. Me, too.
I Can Only Imagine: A Memoir by Bart MillardMercyMe singer Bart Millard's story of how he wrote this best selling Christian song which has touched the lives of many. He wrote it for his Dad who was dying of cancer. But the thing was his dad who was an abusive monster to Bart when he was young did find God after he was diagnosed and was completely changed, and became the dad Bart always longed for before he died. This memoir ties in with the movie that was made of the song but has more details about his family life and what happened after the song was released. If you've seen the movie then reading the book gives you a bit more background..the movie did not show his brother and is a bit more condensed version of what happened.
I hadnt heard the song before I saw the movie as I am not that familiar with CCM that is..christian contemporary music but if you are a fan it would resonate with you, but is interesting and an encouraging testimony even if you arent. I mean there are lots of memoirs about abusive parents that do not change. This one did. Barts dad didnt drink or do drugs or molest though it was more a psychological and verbal abuse as well as physical.
Mod
4 stars
An interesting true story about what life was like in Iraq under the rule of Sadam Hussein. It made me realize how lucky we are to live in a country where you are not persecuted for your beliefs. I thought there was a little too much dialogue that didn't seem to add to the story but otherwise an interesting book.
People in Glass Houses
Author: Tanya Levin
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
I'm glad Tanya told what happened to her. It took guts to do so. She doesn't delve too deeply into how battered, blasted, and bewildered the ex-Pentecostal feels when entering the 'real world', but she makes a stab at it. I wish Tanya all the best.
So is this a weird splinter group off the Pentacostal Baptists, or is the book saying all Pentacostals are cultists (which based on my limited information is not that farfetched)?
The book is about the Hillsong Pentecostal Church in Sydney, Australia. I don't think it splintered off any Baptist church. She doesn't talk about other Pentecostal denominations, only the one she was in, and left.
Fun fact: the Pentecostals are the 2nd-fastest-growing Christian denomination on the planet, close on the heels of the Catholics. The way the Catholics are dropping out in disgust over the rapist priest scandal, I wonder if the Pentecostals aren't pulling ahead.
Diane wrote: "The book is about the Hillsong Pentecostal Church in Sydney, Australia. I don't think it splintered off any Baptist church. She doesn't talk about other Pentecostal denominations, only the one she ..."Have read that one a few years ago. She also wrote another memoir called Crimwife about having a relationship with a prisoner. Not a good idea...She seems a bit naive. The pentecostals are often at odds with the Baptists and have a totally different take on the Bible. It can lead to some extreme manifestations. Hillsong is known for producing many great worship songs sung in churches all over the world but it's theology can sometimes be a little off. I just remember reading this book thinking she grew up in it but she doesn't have the relationship grounded in rock solid faith, when you don't have that you can be swayed by whatever the preacher is saying. (even if it's false) This is why testing the spirits is a good idea, it seems she wasn't doing that, and this carried over into her relationships.
Mod
5 stars
What would you do if the doctor made a horrible mistake and your son was terribly disfigured during the circumcision? In this case the doctor persuaded the parents to just cut the darn thing off and raise him as a girl. Was this a good idea? The story then goes on to explore nature vs. nurture and what happened when the boy reached puberty and beyond. The research is very good. I'd love to tell you how it all came out in the end but you will just have to read the book.
Selina, what do you mean by "testing the spirits"?
Fishface wrote: "Selina, what do you mean by "testing the spirits"?"Just checking if they are of God, like it says to in the Bible. Because not every spirit is, and there are warnings of false teachers. This is why people can get swayed by a lot of cults that profess to be Christian but aren't. Deception in the church is a big thing, but people wont know if they're deceived or being conned if they fail to do this.
Its like anything, like you would test out a product like a car to see if it works and you aren't being sold a lemon.
Hangman: Life and Crimes of Serial Killer & Police Officer Gerard Schaefer, Michael Newton3 stars
You can always count on Michael Newton for really good true crime. This book on Jerry Schaefer is no exception. He takes you right inside the guy's pathology and shows how just about everything he ever did with his life was a product of his need to cause other people pain. This one left me a little heartsick, but hey, I knew going in what this guy was. Anyone capable of empathy will be profoundly disgusted reading about this twisted freak.
Biography, Autobiography, Memoir
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Derek Tangye (other topics)Jennifer Grant (other topics)
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Oops! I fixed it!"
Goody, I just sent for that one."
I recommended this one to Bel as our next group read."
Which is why I sent for it. :)