Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir read in 2019
Lady ♥ Belleza wrote: "Julie wrote: "
October Sky
Homer Hickam
5/5 stars
This was a wonderful book on the early life of Homer Hickman, living in a coal town al..."
I loved the movie when it came out and always wanted to read the book.
Mod
3 stars
If you watch CNN you are aware of who Don Lemon is. In this book he tells about his childhood, his molestation by a neighbor boy, and how, as a black man, he has had to work twice as hard to get half as far as others. He only spends a few pages talking about coming out as a gay man. Most of the book is about his career. I'm not sure why the book is called Transparent, as I found he was very secretive about his personal life, but then again, when I did a google search, there isn't much there either. Written in 2011, it would be interesting to see an updated version or a new book that talks about the last few years of politics, as he was just starting at CNN when he wrote the book. As Lemon was the victim of one of our presidents personal attacks, it would be interesting to see his take on this.
Mod
by Lynn Powell
3 stars
The mother is a photographer and takes pictures of her 8 year old daughter in the nude. She has taken thousands of pictures of her daughter but two caught the eye of someone working in the lab when the pictures were printed and that person reported them to the police, which set off a long chain of events that included the mother's arrest, put on leave from her job and thousands of dollars spent on legal defense. This happened in the late 90's, before most people had digital cameras. I was glad the mother stuck to her guns and didnt give in when she knew she was innocent. At times the story bogged down a bit but mostly it was pretty interesting and an eye-opener about how sometimes parents can be considered guilty until proven innocent. This mother was lucky that she had a lot of community support along the way. Others probably weren't as lucky.
Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored
Mary Gabriel
4/5 stars
This is the interesting story of the life and times of Victoria Woodhull who attempted in 1870 to run for President of the United States. Victoria was a quite a character. Growing up poor but highly intelligent, she went on to do many things that women of that time period were not allowed to do. Married twice, she also worked in many areas-from being a clairvoyant and a prostitute to running a newspaper and a brokerage firm. She was also the first woman to address Congress. Gabriel did a nice job researching Woodhull and her life.
Julie wrote: "Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored
Mary Gabriel
4/5 stars
T..."
I've meant to read this one for the longest time.
Mod
4 stars
If you want to know what a day in the life of a hospital nurse looks like this is a good one. On this day the author has 4 patients. That doesn't seem like a lot but it keeps her hopping, with little chance for lunch or breaks. While the story was good and a good look at the pros and cons of a nursing career, I would have liked it better if there were more patients to talk about, so maybe it could have been a week in the life of a nurse, as I found it sometimes too detailed at times.
Diane wrote: "
Sun on the Lintel
Author: Derek Tangye
5 Stars = Exceptional. It made a significant impact.
Another great Derek Tangye book. I..."
Thanks, Diane - I'll check this out. I like the 'country life.'
Koren wrote: "Framing Innocence: A Mother's Photographs, a Prosecutor's Zeal, and a Small Town's Response by Lynn Powell
3 stars
[bookcover:Framing Innocence: A Mother's Photographs, a
Prosecut..."
Just wondering why was she taking pictures of her daughter in the nude. I mean for someone developing the photos and not knowing the reasons it could have been suss. Ok you might take some in the bathtub or swimming and they happen to be in birthday suit but thousands?
Oh just read it again it was two photos out of thousands. Ok.
Mod
by Lynn Powell
3 stars
[bookcover:Framing Innocence: A Mother's Photograph..."
She considered herself a photographer and she wanted to document every moment of her daughter's life, it seems. The pics that got her in trouble were the two of her daughter in the washing her private parts with a shower hose and someone thought she was masturbating with the hose. Strangely, the mother, even though she had thousands of other pictures was upset to give up those two pics. Also, the parents didnt consider nudity a big deal. They frequently ran around the house naked and didnt think anything of it.
Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "Koren wrote: "Framing Innocence: A Mother's Photographs, a Prosecutor's Zeal, and a Small Town's Response by Lynn Powell
3 stars
[bookcover:Framing Innocence: A Moth..."
What did the dad say about it?
Tommy wrote: Thanks, Diane - I'll check this out. I like the 'country life.' "Diane wrote:
Sun on the Lintel Author: Derek Tangye 5 Stars = Exceptional. It made a significant impact. Another great Derek ..."You are most welcome, Tommy.
Mod
by Lynn Powell
3 stars
[bookcover:Framing Inn..."
That is a good question, Selina, and I dont know why I didnt think of it. The book has gone back to the library so I cant research it, but it is strange that the book did not say much about the husband or what he thought about the situation.
Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, Brad Ricca3 solid stars
This was a really absorbing read about one of the first woman attorneys in the country who went on to do detective work and influenced public policy. The book focuses on a really atrocious sex murders she helped solve, but takes us with her as she travels the country and the world doing investigations. Her passion was always what we now call human trafficking. This massive book was painstakingly reconstructed from old newspaper accounts, newsreels and so forth, bringing to life a woman who would have been utterly forgotten otherwise. I finished it just as Women's History Month was starting; how perfect is that?
Mod
3 stars
While I have great respect for this doctor who devotes his life to finding cures for infectious diseases in poor countries, the writing didnt draw me in. It seemed like it could have been a much better story if the writing could have been more personal. I'm not quite sure why I couldn't get into it. In the beginning I thought it was really going to be something special but I soon lost interest and had a hard time finishing.
Making a Real Difference: Christian movers and shakers by George ByrantThis book has profiles of over a dozen individuals and couples who 'make a real difference' for the community in New Zealand. All of them have faith in some way. It could be education, caring for the poor, rehabiliting those in prison, through fostering, providing jobs. There's about 3-6 pages on each. I knew of some of them but many do their work without recognition. Many of them have setbacks but they endure and keep on with their vision for a better, more just society, where kindness and compassion prevail. A book to inspire and stir up good works!
Koren wrote: "Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder3 stars
While I have great respect for this doctor who devotes his life to fin..."
I had the same issue with this book, in sharp contrast to Tracy's other book The Road to Yuba City: A Journey into the Juan Corona Murders, which I could not put down.
Koren wrote: "Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder3 stars
While I have great respect for this doctor who devotes his life to fin..."
Interesting, Koren. I read Mountains Beyond Mountains some years ago, and remember being deeply impressed by the doctor who took it upon himself to begin treating people in Haiti with HIV, and how aloof he was in his personal life, sacrificing his own happiness (and that of his family) for his calling.
Mod
3 stars
While I have great respect for this doctor who devotes h..."
As I said, I have great respect for this doctor who is doing great things. Just wish the book would have been written a little better.
Band-Aid for a Broken Leg
Author: Damien Brown
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
Damien is an Australian doctor, born in South Africa, who joins Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and is sent to work in Angola, Mozambique, and South Sudan.
He works under very primitive conditions, in an unsafe environment, and faces illnesses he has never seen before. Add in the fact that he is the only doctor, and the health workers that assist him are Angolan war veterans who do not speak English, and you begin to see the challenges.
Damien writes in an engaging manner, relating events from all areas of his experience ... medical, personal, cultural, emotional.
If you like reading about a dedicated doctor ... but a very human one ... who is devoted to his patients, you'll enjoy this book.
Mod
2 stars
I found this to be an extremely self-centered look at the author's father's addiction. There was no introspection into why his father became an addict or why his father's actions caused him to have the feelings he did. It seemed like his father couldnt do anything right and this was most apparent when the two went into counseling together. Instead of appreciating his father for doing this, he was very critical of everything his father said. The blurb on the front cover said the book was funny, hopeful, sad, painful and beautifully told. I didnt really see any of this. It is a short book or I probably wouldnt have finished it.
Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos
Lucy Knisley
3.5/5 stars
Knisley, a graphic novelist and author, relates her pregnancy trials in a no holds barred look through pictures and words. Well done!
The Travels of a Fat Bulldog
Author: George Courtauld
3 Stars = Just 'okay'. It's definitely not a page-turner.
George is a Queen's Messenger. They hand-carry secret, and important, documents to British embassies and consulates around the world.
This book is about what George does in his off-duty time. When he is finished dropping off his diplomatic bags, he seeks out adventure in the area. Since he travels worldwide, he has quite a few tales to tell. He has a farm, which he writes about, too.
As interesting as this sounds, it struck me as 'just okay'. He has written other books, but I probably won't be buying those, as I just wasn't all that enthralled by this one.
Will's Red Coat: The Story of One Old Dog Who Chose to Live Again
Author: Tom Ryan
5 Stars = Exceptional. It made a significant impact.
Now, this is a good book. It was recommended to me by a Goodreads friend, Anna, and I am so glad she did!
Tom adopted an old, deaf, and nearly blind dog who was nothing but a furry ball of fear, loathing, and hostility. Slowly ... very slowly ... Tom begins to understand Will, and makes tiny adjustments that are the building blocks for a place where Will can relax, and let down his guard. Eventually, Tom is able to break through, and Will decides that life is worth living, after all. And, what a life he leads! Through Tom's blog, hundreds of folks were touched by Will's life, and their lives changed, for the better, as a result.
I can't say enough about Tom. What a man! He is everything that Will needed ... patient, loving, intuitive, devoted, tireless, and determined. I wish I could meet him. He is a rare gem in this world.
A fabulous book. Beyond fabulous. Highy recommended for dog lovers ... or anyone who wants to have their heart stirred.
Mod
4 stars
The title of the book pretty much says what this book is about. The author grew up in the 80's and tells her family history where most of her relatives were hard working but never seemed to come ahead. She tells of not having things that other kids had and feeling inferior because of it. She is proud of herself for working hard and not following in her family's footsteps and perceives herself as making better choices. There was only one thing about this book that I did not like and that when she would suddenly start writing as if she was writing a letter to a daughter but it was confusing because you didnt know if this was a child, a grown daughter or who she was writing to. As it turned out, and if this is a spoiler then skip this.....
we dont find out until the end of the book that she is writing to the child she envisions herself having but never conceived.
The Power of a Plant: A Teacher's Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools by Stephen RitzStephen is a teacher in the Bronx and shares his journey of teaching some of the most disdvantaged special ed students in some of the poorest schools. One day a fight was breaking out in his class as per usual and the kids were going to throw anything, but came across some daffodil flowers instead. The bulbs had been sitting under stephens desk and hes forgotten about them, he thought they were onions, and hid them away so the students couldnt use them as missiles
Well what surprised him was the kids LOVED the flowers and suddenly the environment changed when they realised there were flowers growing in their classroom. So one thing led to another, he took them on a field trip to plant them in the local park, them got them involved in a project to beautify the park, and realised this was a teachable moment that could be harnessed...the kids loved being outside and learning about nature and soil so he got them invloved in more projects and started to transform his class and eventually entire schools with indoor gardens where everyone learned how to grow food and cook. Wow, amazing story, absolutely inspirational.
Look up Green Bronx Machine to see how he transformed his students, classes, and entire community with the power of a plant.
(I'm not sure if it is appropriate to post this book, in this group, but I'd like to warn others ... before they waste their time, or money. Admin, if you wish, you can delete this review, and I will totally understand. Thanks.)1 Star = Lies! Hoax! Yuck! I wish I hadn't wasted my time reading it.
Forbidden Love: A Harrowing True Story of Love and Revenge in Jordan
Author: Norma Khouri
This book turns out to be a hoax. I loathe authors who write fiction and then pass it off as nonfiction. So, to say that I didn't like this book would be a huge understatement.
The only reason her book became a best seller, in my humble opinion, was the sensationalism of the topic. If she had sold it as a fiction story, it would have sunk without a trace, 'cause she can't write worth a damn.
The Inside Story of Disgraced Author Norma Khouri
More details have emerged in a story by well-known journalist David Leser, published in The Australian Women's Weekly this month. It is the magazine with the largest circulation in the country: over 600,000. Leser reveals for the first time that Khouri admits that she lied in the writing of her book, Forbidden Love. "Look, I did lie, but I lied for a reason. It wasn't fame and fortune I was after, not at all. It was about the issue [of honour killings]. And I apologise to you for lying. I justified it in my head as the ends justifying the means. I hated lying to anyone about anything."
Khouri Makes Charming and Scary Subject
Norma was in fact, a real estate agent from Chicago, mother of two and on the run from the FBI; not the virgin Jordanian woman campaigning against honour killings, she claimed to be on chat shows all over the world.
There's No Honour in Murder
But it was all a lie, as numerous investigations within Jordan and Chicago, Khouri's true place of residence, revealed. While it was SMH journalist Malcolm Knox who wrote the biting expose, the Arab journalist who first queried the authenticity of the book was Rana Husseini.
Excellent section on her in this book.
Telling Tales: A History of Literary Hoaxes
The way readers discredit and discard you after pulling a stunt like this is a pretty fair punishment, honestly.
Fishface wrote: "The way readers discredit and discard you after pulling a stunt like this is a pretty fair punishment, honestly."More literary hoaxes was the topic of this podcast for April Fools
https://www.planetaudio.org.nz/listen...
I did know about Go Ask Alice but not much about the others, I did hear of the one Diane read and they mention it on the show. There seem to be a lot of 'I survived the Holocaust' books, that didn't happen.
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time was one; A Million Little Pieces was another. And of course The Hitler Diaries: Fakes That Fooled the World. Oh, and The Diary of Jack the Ripper: The Discovery, the Investigation, the Authentication, the Debate. Oh, and let's not forget the slew of fakes associated with this case: The Poet and the Murderer.
They also mentioned How Green Was My Valley by Richard Lewellyn. I dont know if it was meant to be a memoir or novel, but even so if the author was not welsh coalminer and lived a city life in London, he must have described it so well he imagined himself to be from there. I mean yea, some storytellers are so convincing they write themselves into their own stories.
I am curious to read it now just for the topic.
They didnt mention Memoirs of a Geisha though. Although its now obvious the person who wrote it, was not a geisha, but apparently he didnt even know any real geishas it was all made up.
Mod
Thanks for the info Diane.
Koren wrote: "Diane wrote: "(I'm not sure if it is appropriate to post this book, in this group, but I'd like to warn others ... before they waste their time, or money. Admin, if you wish, you can delete this re..."You are most welcome, Koren.
Diane wrote: "Another hoax that makes my blood boil is Mutant Message Down Under. Grrr........"as bad as The Celestine Prophecy? What about all those books about the world ending in 2012. lol
I got duped into reading The Celestine Prophecy myself. I'm pretty credulous and even I didn't fall for that nonsense!
Rosemary and Bitter Oranges: Growing Up in a Tuscan Kitchen
Author: Patrizia Chen
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
Patrizia was born in 1948 in Livorno, Italy. This book tells of her childhood years, living with her grandparents, her parents, and two siblings. Emilia, the family cook, taught her how to cook and shop daily at the local markets. There are recipes, which correspond to the text, sprinkled throughout the book.
As a child, Patrizia was 'a handful', and she lets us in on some of the shenanigans she instigated. She has a way of vividly describing events. You can almost smell the crisp sheets that were washed in spring water and dried on a bed of grass.
It's a gentle, comforting look at Italy in the 1950s. If you enjoy books that fold around you like a warm blanket, you'd probably enjoy this one.
I like the photo of Patrizia (on an alternate edition).
Mod
Nope. Never heard of it.
I read about it in a book whose title escapes me at the moment. All the cases in the book were people who were passing themselves off as members of a race or ethnic group they didn't belong to. The Education of Little Tree was a fake memoir written by a member of the KKK (!) who decided at some point to start passing as Native American.
Anthony Hopkins - The Biography by Quentin FalkThere is a level at which I already love the man I affectionately nickname "Uncle" Anthony due to the shared surname and the uncanny similarities he has to both my father and my grandfather (in so much as I knew him - it is inevitably harder to know someone hard of hearing well when they are also well into their dotage.) I therefore view this book with complete bias toward him.
I sympathise that his intelligence was underestimated and not well recognised in a school system that did not respond well to someone who does not particularly excel on paper academically or in the field at sport. His musical ability was not channeled and so opportunities were missed.
Overall in the book he comes across as someone, though he has had some struggles, who can be quite a kind, lovely gentleman, an advocate for other actors and good at supporting them whilst standing up to directors. He is keen to get on with work and it is astounding how much work he has done actually, particularly against the odds in later years and, more discretely, with his musical success. It seems he can be quite fun on set, lightening the atmosphere with impersonations, whilst being well prepared and professional. For someone who did not particularly excel at school, he is well read and has built good memory skills. He doesn't like wasting time on takes so tries to get his lines right first time as he would on stage.
There are elements of him that remind me of my Hopkins heritage, such as some melancholy, some liking for solitude, some questioning of purpose. However, he tries to be an inspiration to others and has done much to help others such as through his support of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I feel, as I see some of the films I have not yet seen and re-see others, that his parts are often an extension and expression of himself and yet he makes each individual. It seems he finds what he can relate to in the character, makes them human and, even with the darker ones, quite likeable and then puts an entertaining element in, such as a hint of an accent, subtle defining mannerisms and adapted appearance.
I feel a sadness for him at his relationship losses and appreciate these can be difficult to negotiate due to distanced lifestyle, personality and location. I believe he is somewhat a lone wolf and yet he would be there to support others where he can.
His natural nature has so much of my Dad about him (particularly in the "Fastest Indian" - a lovely film) and, with regard to "Hitchcock" in particular, I see my Grandad, that I feel we must link up further back in genealogy. I read how even mannerisms may be rooted in genes and the more I see him, the stronger I feel this is so and there must be historic links.
What gives me great hope is that he has worked against his more challenging history positively to put lack of recognition at school and alcohol ridden times behind him and enjoy some sobriety and impress with his often described as "intelligent" performances.
He is now a positive role model and, particularly perhaps because much of his fame was attributed to him more so mid-way though his life, it seems to me that he would make a marvellous mentor.
Anthony Hopkins - The Biography by Quentin FalkHaving affectionately followed this great of the screen who I feel a connection with, it is great to get some insight into his character. For a famous star of screen, he seems quite an introvert and a private person but all the same very lovable and so 5 stars to this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read somewhere that he was recently diagnosed with mild autism. That would definitely tend to make him a loner.
The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah, a Revolution in Hollywood, and the Making of a Legendary Film
W.K. Stratton
3.5/5 stars
Stratton writes about the making of the film The Wild Bunch, the time period surrounding and influencing the making of the film and of course the director Sam Peckinpah and his new darker version of the western genre. This is definitely for film buffs and people who have seen the film. I enjoyed it.
Flourish : new zealand women and their extraordinary gardens by Juliet Nicholas and Barb RogersProfiles of 26 different female gardeners in NZ who have grown unforgettable gardens. Lots of pics and inspiration. I'd love to visit all these gardens..some I've seen as they are open to the public.
Catch Up With the Sun: How I Rode Through Australia with a Short Fat Horse, Two Grumpy Camels and One Feral Kelpie
Author: Heidi Douglas
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
This isn't quite the 'story of a woman’s solo achievement' that the blurb makes it out to be. At various points in her trip the following happens:
*Her mum, dad, and two sisters, (and a borrowed Land Cruiser fully decked out for outback camping) travel with her as a support team for ten days
*Companions ... some male, some female ... travel with her for varied amounts of time
*She takes breaks of several weeks-to-months, and goes home for a holiday
*Her dad, her uncle Don (and the Land Cruiser mentioned above) join her for about two weeks
...and so forth, and so on.
Also, the fact that in her 'first' attempt at this journey, three horses died (RIP Tank, Derek, and Quinnie), didn't set well with me. She supposedly spent TWO years preparing for this trek, why wasn't she better prepared?!
She kept irritating me with a couple of her constantly repeated phrases, or dialogue:
* ... thank God (or whoever) ...
She, literally, repeats this every time she says 'thank God'. Okay, we get it ... but, come on, it's just a catch phrase, let it go.
*Folks tended to ask the same questions ... of course ... and she grew tired of it, so, begins making up answers.
The real answers:
Where are you heading? Heading right around Australia.
Wow, that's a long way, isn't it? It will be over 10,000 kilometres at least.
Why are you doing this? It's a dream I've had since I was a kid at boarding school.
Are you on your own? Mostly. I have no back-up crew or anything but occasionally friends come and ride with me for awhile.
Are you going to write a book? No. English was never my strong point at school....
You must be so brave! No, I am not. Brave is walking down a dark alley in the city of Melbourne on a Saturday night.
New, improved answers:
Where are you heading? Hobart
Wow, that's a long way, isn't it? Not as far as Iowa.
Why are you doing this? TV got boring.
Are you on your own? Everybody is always on their own.
Are you going to write a book? Yeah, an instructional on the bonsai vegetable garden.
You must be so brave! I'm camping in your backyard and you think it's brave - what don't I know?
She repeats this nonsense (with different moronic answers) over, and over, and over, throughout the entire book.
So, if you're looking for a book about Australia's outback, this isn't the one you want. If you're looking for a stream-of-consciousness diary of 40 year old woman in the outback, this is that book!
Mod
[book:Catch Up With the Sun: How I Rode Through Australia wit..."
Eye-catching title.
Woman in the Wilderness: A story of survival, love & self-discovery in New Zealand by Miriam LancewoodDiane you might enjoy this one better than your Aussie outback book. I did. It's about a young Dutch woman and her Kiwi partner (who is 30 years older than her!) who become nomads in NZ. They camp out in the bush, forests and mountains, go hunting, and walk the entire length of NZ. They both gave up jobs to just spend all their time in the wilderness. Sometimes they hitch into town to get food supplies. Otherwise they just live in tents, huts or people offer them homes to stay in.
Its mostly just her and her partner they don't meet lots of other travellers but they do experience the beauty of the forest and the birds, and reading this I never felt fatigued they had all the time in the world. Also she was frank about the times that it wasn't so much fun cos sometimes it rained but generally an optimistic book.
Mod
3 stars
Judy Collins was a hugely popular folk singer in the 60's and early 70's. I read another memoir by the author that was written several years after this one and this memoir has quite a bit of the same information but this one centers around her grieving her son's suicide. I found it very sad but I think it would be helpful for someone that has gone through the same experience.
Biography, Autobiography, Memoir
Books mentioned in this topic
The Silent Twins (other topics)Sea Dog Bamse: World War II Canine Hero (other topics)
African Nights (other topics)
Monsoon Rains & Icicle Drops (other topics)
Too Close to Me: The Middle-Aged Consequences of Revealing a Child Called "It" (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Marjorie Wallace (other topics)Angus Whitson (other topics)
Andrew Orr (other topics)
Kuki Gallmann (other topics)
Libby Southwell (other topics)
More...
4 stars
Reading this book, first I wanted a donkey, then there was no way I wanted a donkey, then I wanted dogs and chickens and sheep. I'm just a softy when it comes to animals. The author is sort of an animal whisperer. He sometimes puts human emotions on animals, which made me wonder. Anyway, the author goes into great detail of the suffering this animal endured before he took him to his farm and nursed him back to health. He also tells stories about other animals on the farm which usually tied into the donkey. It was sometimes hard to read and, be warned, not everything had a happy ending. The main idea of the book is that we shouldn't be so quick to judge when someone cannot take care of their animals. It may be a situation out of their control and they may just be having some hard circumstances that we know nothing about.