Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir read in 2019
To Kill and Kill Again, John Coston4 solid stars!
Just re-read this one for the first time since it originally hit the newsstands in paperback. I erased my old review because it was written by another me, a brain-dead me who missed the point of just about every page in this book. I hear you saying, yeah, yeah, another serial killer story. But read it anyway. Everything about this story is unusual, and it has the unlikeliest ending imaginable. Some of the imagery is weird (e.g. "wilted perfume"), but no weirder than the guy this story is about. At all costs, read this one.
The Home of the Blizzard - The Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914
Author: Douglas Mawson
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
I really enjoyed this book. These men had courage! The hardships they faced, way back in 1911, it boggles the mind. No modern soft comforts for these men, they did it tough, very tough. Also, I always enjoy the very understated way that many great men relate their experiences ... lol
The book covers the exploration, the scientific endeavours, bits about their meals, their clothing, their dogs ... well, everything. Very interesting.
If you like polar adventure, you'd probably like this one.
Mod
4 stars
I didn't know a lot about Phil Hartman before I read this book. Mostly I remember him from Saturday Night Live and his impersonations of Bill Clinton and I remember he was killed by his wife. I was mostly curious about what happened with his wife. Interesting book and I would recommend it to his fans.
Koren wrote: "You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman by Mike Thomas4 stars
I didn't know a lot ..."
I want to read this-glad to hear you liked it!
Hamlet's Dresser: A Memoir
Author: Bob Smith
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
A gentle story about a boy, trapped in an unhappy childhood, who turns to Shakespeare for solace. It is the thread that leads him through life. As an adult, he teaches Shakespeare appreciation courses for senior citizens.
If you like memoirs about folks being made whole through their passion, you'd like this
The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh: A Woman in World History
Author: Linda Colley
2 Stars = Blah. It didn't do anything for me.
The author wrote, "In this book I have been concerned to examine how a momentous and disruptive period of global history was experienced by one extended family. I have sought to reveal the many and diverse connections that existed between 'impersonal and remote transformations' on the one hand and, on the other, 'the most intimate features of the human self'."
So, there you have it. He took Elizabeth Marsh, and her family, as his subjects. She lived from 1735-85. Based on his research, which included Elizabeth's Indian travel journal, an early manuscript of the book about Morocco that she published, and other archives, he has laid the timeline of her life next to the timeline of the world as a whole.
Unfortunately, I found this book to be boring. It's a good idea, but somehow it never really generated much enthusiasm. I did glean a few nuggets of info on how commerce was handled in that age, which was nice.
Mod
5 stars
How can a book be so hard to read and yet you cant put it down? The father in this book heaps tons of abuse on his children but the second son seems to get the worst of it. The oldest is put in the position of tattling on his younger brother or risk worse abuse. It was hard to imagine today how this went on for so long but it was the 60's and 70's and people looked the other way. I was really upset with the mother who did nothing to defend her children but she risked her own abuse by stepping in. Even the authorities and school personel who knew what was going on did nothing. The cover tells us that Victor Rivas Rivers went on to become a spokesperson for the National Network to End Domestic Violence, so we pretty much know going in that he is going to overcome his past. Along the way, sports is a great help in forming the man he was to become and he goes on to play college football and become an actor. This book made me think about what makes some people overcome abuse and others go on to carry on the family tradition of abuse.
Playing Chopsticks: Travels Through China
Author: Sally Hammond
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
Sally shares stories from several trips to China in this book. She sets a light-hearted tone, and made a point to put all her 'negative' impressions altogether in one chapter. Her husband, a photographer, travels with her, and contributes one chapter from his point of view. She includes several authentic Chinese recipes at the end of the book. Scattered throughout are Chinese quotes, which were interesting ... at least the ones I haven't seen before were.
If you like reading about modern (published 2006) day China, and don't want anything very deep or dreary, you'd probably like this book.
Cycle of LiesHaving been an obsessive cyclist for many years I read a lot of cycling related books, and was also a fan of Lance Armstrong (despite his notoriety). Cycle of Lies, in my opinion is probably the best story of his 'career' right up to his demise.
Everyone will have divided views on Lance, but in an era of 'performance enhancing' methods in cycling he was without doubt the best of the best.
As I Am by Patricia NealI read this autboiography because she was married to Roald Dahl and I wanted to find out more about why she married him and what it was like. Well I got quite a bit more than I bargained for in this book. She was an actresss and movie starlet, who had a big affair with another actor called Gary Cooper, who had slept with all his co stars but he wouldnt leave his wife for her. She fell pregnant but the made her have an abortion. So she left movie LA and went back to broadway New York where she met writer Roald Dahl. She decided she wanted children so went with him, despite them being totally incompatible.
They were married 30 years and she gave him five children until it all turned to custard and he left her for another woman. Along the way, her son got his by a taxi and her daughter died of measles. Then she had a stroke while she was pregnant with her fifth.
The first half of the book was detailing about her big affair with Gary Cooper who was 25 years older than her, and how after everyone found out she was hated and labeled a home wrecker. But she had no qualms about it, she was 'in love'. Then after that ended she constantly compared her husband to her first love and the ways he didnt measure up and didnt tell her he loved her.
An honest if painful autobiography. She was in some big movies and won an oscar but I only recall seeing her in Breakfast at Tiffanys, where she played a character who funded an authors lifestyle (life imitating art?) and Helen Kellers mother in The Miracle Worker. I can't say much of her mothering skills despite her having five children, she like all of hollywood would hire a nanny, who was pushing the pram when the taxi struck.
Amazing that she recovered from a stroke with Dahls persistence. But I feel that she was not easy to live with, even though Dahl had a reputation for being rude and opinionated and also not the easiest to live with. Later she found solace in catholicism.
Selina wrote: "As I Am by Patricia NealI read this autboiography because she was married to Roald Dahl and I wanted to find out more about why she married him and what it was like. Well I got qui..."
Do you recommend the book? -it does sound very interesting.
Julie wrote: "Selina wrote: "As I Am by Patricia NealI read this autboiography because she was married to Roald Dahl and I wanted to find out more about why she married him and what it was like...."
Yep you might not like her as a person but at least she's honest...as an actress can be I suppose. I like warts and all memoirs.
Mod
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
4 stars
This guy's dad is not going to win any awards for father of the year. Amazing how his son could grow up with a sense of humor about his dad. Maybe we need more dad's like him. He doesn't take any crap from anybody. That said, this was a hilarious book. It reminded me of Louie Anderson's with a lot more cuss words.
Koren wrote: "While probably not classified as a true memoir, we get a pretty good idea of what growing up was like for this author: Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
4 stars
[bookcover:Sh*t M..."
I thought I saw this book in my fridge library and wondered if someone had chucked it out cos they didnt like it lol
Just finished MY MOST UNFORGETTABLE CONVICTS by Dr. Leo L. Stanley. See my review in the September Challenge section. Gave it 4 stars.Link to book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Gordon Ramsay's Playing with Fire
Author: Gordon Ramsay
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
I have never seen Gordon Ramsay on TV, have never eaten at any of his restaurants, and this is the first book by him that I have read. All I knew about him, before reading this book, was that he was a famous chef who liked to swear a lot ... lol
If you are a big Gordon fan, you'll love this book. If not, it may not interest you very much. He mostly talks about business ... how he started, steps he took, mistakes he made, plans for the future. There isn't any real discussion of food, family, etc. Having said all that, I am impressed by his drive, and energy.
Eve: The Strange, Compelling and Heart-Rending Story of the Real 'Eve' of 'The Three Faces of Eve'
Authors: Chris Costner Sizemore, Elen Sain Pittillo
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
Chris is the woman that the movie "The Three Faces of Eve" portrayed. Unfortunately, for Chris, the movie, and subsequent books about her, didn't really tell the truth of Chris' life. So, she, and her cousin, Elen, decided to set the record straight by writing this book.
She goes as far back as she can recall, and tries to determine when each personality appeared, and why. She isn't always successful in her efforts, but she writes it all down, as honestly as possible. The book continues relating her life, and the lives of her many (more than three!) other personalities, until she reaches the age of forty-eight (1975).
She later wrote another book in 1989, A Mind of My Own: The Woman Who Was Known as "Eve" Tells the Story of Her Triumph Over Multiple Personality Disorder. She died at the age of 89.
Mod
4 stars
I remember when the Viet Nam War ended. Most men who came back from that war did not want to talk about it. For those of us who have never gone to war we cannot imagine the horrors they went through. This book will give you some idea. This book is not for the faint of heart or people that do not want to know about the horrors of war (on both sides). I do not usually read books about war but this one was captivating from beginning to end.
Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World: The Twin Towers, Windows on the World, and the Rebirth of New York
Tom Roston
4.5/5 stars
This is the history of the restaurants in the Windows on the World which resided in the Twin Towers/ the World Trade Center in NYC and was created/developed by the restaurateur, Joe Baum. Roston gives the readers a behind the scenes look at the restaurants in the WTC and the people who ran them. He also talks about the history of the city during that time period and the tragedy that still affects people today. Sad but a compelling read.
Diane in Australia wrote: "Eve: The Strange, Compelling and Heart-Rending Story of the Real 'Eve' o..."</i>
I read this under the title [book:I'm Eve quite a few years ago now. This woman has been through some very strange adventures, that's for sure. Whenever I'm working with a family that doesn't know how to cope with a child's behavior I always think of Christine's mother throwing her apron over her head and running in circles, shrieking.
Diane in Australia wrote: "Fishface wrote: I read this under the title [book:I'm Eve quite a few years ago now. This woman has been through some very strange adventures, that's for sure. Whenever I'm working with a family that doesn't know how to cope with a child's behavior I always think of Christine's mother throwing her apron over her head and running in circles, shrieking."
I know! It takes all kinds, I guess.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Author: Rebecca Skloot
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
Henrietta was the woman whose cultured cells ... the first to grow and survive indefinitely ... were taken without her knowledge. They turned out to be very essential to modern medical advancements.
I found this to be an interesting book, mainly because it taught me a few science/medical bits, and it made me think more deeply about ethical issues related to tissue ownership. As always, I enjoyed the close-up views of racial issues.
I'm glad that the author wrote this book, as I'm sure it helped Henrietta's family understand what really took place all those years ago. It also makes all of us aware of the debt we owe to Henrietta.
Mod
4 stars
When I first heard Michael Moore I thought he was kind of a loud mouth. But he has grown on me. I will always think of him as the guy that said "America, you have just elected your last president" after the last election. I have not watched his documentary called Bowling For Columbine but it is on tonight so I am planning on watching it. He can be so serious sometimes and at other times he can be so funny. This book is some of both. The title gives you an idea that when he was a kid and even into adulthood he was always up to something. I admired the fact that if he saw something that was wrong he went after it, including running for school board at the age of 18 when he was still in school and his perseverance when the older establishment tried to nix it in the bud. This book was published in 2011, so no commentary on the current state of politics. I'm sure he would have had a lot to say if it had been more current.
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
Author: Alexandra Fuller
3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.
The author writes of growing up in the African countries of Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia. I love those books that make you want to see/smell/hear/feel the countries they are describing, and this is one of those. "I appreciated that we, as whites, could not own a piece of Africa, but I knew, with startling clarity, that Africa owned me."
They were poor. They struggled. Life wasn't easy. Her mum is a manic-depressive ... unfortunately, enduring the death of some of her children didn't help. "Mum has been diagnosed with manic depression. She says. 'All of us are mad,' and then adds, smiling, 'but I am the only one with a certificate to prove it.' ...lol
i totally loved all her memoirs - inspirational writing and story telling and what a life to grow up in
Mod
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
Author: Alexandra Fuller
3 Stars = I..."
Diane, did you want this book to count as the October challenge?
Koren wrote: "Diane in Australia wrote: " Diane, did you want this book to count as the October challenge? "
Nah, I don't do the challenges. I was just posting for this thread. Thanks for asking, anyway. :)
Koren wrote: "Diane in Australia wrote: "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
Author: [author:Alexandra..."
what is the october challenge?
Mod
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
Author: [au..."
Read a book that takes place in a country other than your own. There is a Challenge folder toward the bottom of the page.
ok well i just read red dust road which is part in scotland and partly Nigeria - does that count lol - i live on isle of wight UK
Mod
That is fine.
ok Koren thanks but it says there are no challenges for this group currently so i must be too late lol
Mod
On the groups main page it says 'discussions' and then below that says challenges and then click on the month you want. I've never posted anything under 'challenges' on the upper right side of the screen. I suppose I could if you all want me to.
no months listed just no challenges in this group - unless i am looking at a different page
Dig: The Burke & Wills Saga
Author: Frank Clune
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
I enjoyed this book, and the author's writing style. It tells of a famous expedition to cross the continent of Australia, from south to north, in 1860. So as not to spoil it for those who have never heard of this expedition, I won't go into details of all that transpired on their journey. This book is excellent place for you to start. If you've already read other books, you'd probably still enjoy this one, as the author is adept at keeping a reader's interest.
The cover art is the oil painting entitled, "Arrival of Burke, Wills and King at the Deserted Camp at Cooper's Creek, Sunday Evening, 21st April 1861" and I found it to be very poignant.
To Reach the Clouds: Now the Major Film Man on Wire
Author: Philippe Petit
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
Interesting book. In 1974 Philippe walked a high-wire strung between the towers of the World Trade Center. In this book he lets us in on all the planning, the preparations, the mistakes, the angst, and the thrill of making his dream come true. Nice photos, too.
The Ice Master: A True Story of Adventure, Betrayal and Survival in the Artic
Author: Jennifer Niven
4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.
I enjoyed this book. It's about an Artic expedition aboard a ship named Karluk. I felt the author did an excellent job of bringing this event, and these people, to life. Without giving any spoilers, sufficeth to say, it is full of heroes, rascals, innocents, and more. Some die, some live, and I had to keep turning the pages to see what happened next.
Mod
Hmmm. Very strange. Lets see if this helps. Scroll down the page until you get to the word 'challenges'.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Mod
Hmmm. Very strange. Lets see if this helps. Scroll down the page until you get to the wo..."
And here is a link to the October challenge:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Out of the Silence: After the Crash, Eduardo Strauch4 stars!
This is the 5th book I've read about the Andes crash and all I want is more. In some ways this memoir was the most intriguing yet. Strauch takes a very philosophical tack in talking about the events that took the lives of so many of his friends but somehow spared him. He added some fascinating details, including a number of coincidences that have clearly stuck with him all these years, and I learned more about some of the survivors and their relationships to each other. He seems to have been a blood relation to many more people on the plane than I learned from reading Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, which would make the pain of loss and the joy of being rescued far more complicated for him than for some of the others. But the stories he told about the others were equally powerful. The story he told about Liliana Methol's death, for instance, was heartbreaking. Don't miss this one. An overwhelming read about a story that never gets old. The rest of the survivors should please get going on their own memoirs. Every one of those voices has something very important to tell us.
I Dreamed of Africa
Author: Kuki Gallmann
5 Stars = Exceptional. It made a significant impact.
Memoir reviews are a reflection of the reader's identification with the experiences of the author. This is why so many books receive a wide range of ratings. As you can tell by my 5 star rating, this book touched me deeply. It made me think long, and hard, about my death, the death of the ones I love ... and about what I'm doing with my life in the here-and-now. Soul-searching. Self-examination. Whisking the cobwebs away, and looking, really looking at my life.
The book is about an Italian woman who moves to Kenya with her husband, and young son. Many, many things transpire over the years that are covered in the book, some are heart-rending, some are euphoric, and everything in between.
If you're looking for a travel book about the glories of Africa, this isn't quite that. If you're looking for a memoir of a life lived in Africa, then this might suit you.
I've just purchased a copy of this to add to my reading list. I don't think there's many people that weren't in awe of Bruce Lee in his heyday. He was criticised for controversially introducing his style of kung fu to the western world, but subsequently developed an iconic status until his untimely death whilst still in his prime.Bruce Lee: Fighting Spirit
Your Eyes or Your Life: The True Story of the Central Park Jogger Rapist, Richard Siracusa3 stars
This is a dual biography of Matias Reyes, the famed Central Park Jogger Rapist, and the attorney he punched in the head in court one day, Richard Siracusa. I no longer remember just what I expected from this book, because the author took me off in a completely different direction. He told me a lot more about the case than I would have thought he was allowed, and he went through everything to try to really clarify what happened. And it was not at all what I expected. And he may well be completely correct. This book needed much better text and copy editing before it was released, but don't let that stop you. This is a real eye-opener.
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
Maxwell King
4/5 stars
This was an enjoyable and interesting biography of the wonderful Fred Rogers. The author takes us through his life discussing his family and his work on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. He also discusses his strong religious faith and his unwavering sense of the belief that children should be valued and heard.
Mod
2 stars
I was a bit disappointed in this book. I know Clinton mainly from the tv show What Not To Wear so I thought there would be more about the show in the book. Actually, there is very little about the show, one brief chapter. He wrote more about his penis then he did about the show. He was on The Chew and I think he may have still been on that when he wrote the book as it is mentioned a couple of times but otherwise not talked about at all. But he goes into great detail about his sex life but it seems like he picked out scenes of his life that he could make a joke about. I did appreciate his sarcastic wit but would have liked to know more about his life besides dating and sex.
Koren wrote: "I Hate Everyone, Except You by Clinton Kelly2 stars
I was a bit disappointed in this book. I know Clinton mainly from the tv show ..."
I used to watch his show all the time. So fun-I would love to have done that show but that book doesn't sound very good at all!
Mod
2 stars
I was a bit disappointed in this book. I know Clinton mainly fro..."
For a long time when I would go shopping I would look at clothes and think "What would Clinton and Stacy think". I'm a bit disappointed that Clinton did not seem to have much fashion experience and the show was mostly scripted.
I am reading some first-person accounts of WWII (not an easy subject) and found Marcus J. Smith's Dachau: The Harrowing of Hell a particularly moving first person account by a US doctor tasked with liberating the camp and saving as many as he could. Smith is a sensitive observer, and writes powerfully of what he witnessed. It was interesting and painful in this time of fake news to read that no sooner than the camps were liberated, many were saying they were a hoax, that people hadn't actually been incarcerated at all. So not pleasure reading by any means, but an excellent account for those who want to know.
Eden by Tim SmitHow to build and grow a garden out of a derelict china clay pit in Cornwall England.. well not step by step obviously but a memoir by it's founder which has become a tourist attraction and world stage highlighting the importance of plants for all mankind. You might have seen the bubble domes (called biomes) that house tropical plants in pictures, they are huge and the largest in the world.
Tim Smit's vision and driving force coralling all the various working parties together, raising funds, project managing, making deals...it's all here. A bit dry reading for those just interested in the horticulture of it but as a project (I'm studying small business and project management at the moment) it's an ideal case study for how to get things moving!
So it's blood sweat and tears for most, although Tim Smit does come across as a bit theatrical, he was in the entertainment and music business and one suspects this is also more show than substance, however, given his background restoring the Lost Gardens of Heligan (another book), I am going to give him kudos for dreaming bigger. Now without it's challenges, but ulitmately, inspiring. Must go there one day.
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)
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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)
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5 stars
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is a well-known actress and wife of country singer Brad Paisley. This book is how a family deals with dementia. Having worked with dementia patients, I think this book would be helpful to anyone dealing with this terrible disease. I found it to be heart-felt but not overly emotional and the family deals with the disease in a practical and intelligent way.