Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir read in 2025

[Karin]

Fishface wrote: "Karin wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Karin wrote: ".I had no idea he did Shakespeare, either!"

Fun fact: Paul Reubens, best known today for playing Pee Wee Herman, started out as a Shakespearian actor a..."

Sure, of course all Canadians are affable just as all Americans are...

I grew up where it was filmed but can't remember all the reasons he wasn't liked--not in Gibsons, but up the coast. We also made fun of the show all the time, but then we grew up there so knew how fake much of it was. That said, there were beachcombers who collected logs that had come loose from what we incorrectly called log booms (when they pulled a bunch of logs spread on the water with a tug boat) but I can't find a good photo or explain well how it's done now.

[Koren]

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denice Kiernan
3 stars


This seemed to drag a bit, as the women who worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during World War 2 didn't even know what they were making, so the emphasis of the story seemed to be the working and living conditions of the factory. The author didn't go into great detail about the lives of the women, so it didn't seem like we really got to know them. If you are not familiar with Oak Ridge, Tennessee, that is where the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima to end World War 2 was built.

[Karin]

Koren wrote: "The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denice Kiernan
3 stars
[bookcover:The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who ..."

That's too bad this wasn't better. I've thought about reading this, but it's unlikely since I'm trying to avoid reading any more World War books.

[Julie]

So, Anyway...
by John Cleese
I loved this book about John Cleese and he has done a nice job writing this story about his life in TV and movies. Highly recommended!
TV and Entertainment

[Koren]

Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denice Kiernan
3 stars
[bookcover:The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of ..."

I"m not too much into war books either, but needed one for a challenge.

[Karin]

Koren wrote: "Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denice Kiernan
3 stars
[bookcover:The Girls of Atomic City: The Un..."

Yes, that happens all too often, doesn't it :) ? And yet some of us still sign up for them. I do fewer than I used to and only non-competitive ones right now, but still end up reading things I don't like at times. Is that for Tessa's group?

[Koren]

Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denice Kiernan
3 stars
[bookcover:The Girls of Atomi..."

Yes.

[Koren]

Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend by Mark Malkoff
5 stars


This is more about Johnny Carson's work and specifically The Tonight Show, which he hosted for 30 years, but that's ok. There are plenty of other books that focus on his life. Hard to believe it's been almost 30 years since the show ended. The book recognizes that Johnny was not always the perfect person most people see. Well-researched and nostalgic.

[Koren]

Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love by Bert Baier
3 stars


This is more a memoir about the author than it is about the medical journey of his son. I would have liked to read more about the medical aspect of his son's journey. After he has his first heart surgery, the story seems to rush ahead. Published 11 years ago, I would be interested in finding out how his son is doing now.

[Karin]

Koren wrote: "Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love by Bert Baier
3 stars


This is more a memoir..."

Apparently, his son had emergency heart surgery in 2024, his fifth open heart surgery for an aneurysm. There are false reports out there as well, but that's from People magazine.

[Koren]

Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love by Bert Baier
3 stars


This is..."

Oh no! He must be about 18 now. Thanks for letting me know. I tried to search but couldn't find anything.

[Koren]

Koren wrote: "Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love by Bert Baier
3 stars
[bookcover:Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love|1865..."

I had better luck searching on my laptop rather than my phone, here is an update:

https://www.thelist.com/1964945/fox-n...

[Karin]

Koren wrote: "Koren wrote: "Karin wrote: "Koren wrote: "Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love by Bert Baier
3 stars
[bookcover:Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage..."

Yes, and that's the same surgery from the People magazine which was also from 2025. I think they waited to announce it.

It's amazing he's made it this long--so wonderful to have the option to have surgery!

[Chris]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share something deeply meaningful from my writing journey — a memoir that reshaped my understanding of both creativity and the human soul.

"Being Pyotr Ilyich – Tchaikovsky’s Inner Life, Revealed by Himself 130 Years Later" is a very unusual memoir: part biographical exploration, part spiritual autobiography.

It emerged from a profound past-life regression in which the soul who once lived as Tchaikovsky revisits his emotional world — his sensitivity, his wounds, his longing for love, and the hidden inner landscape behind his music, including The Nutcracker, the Pathétique, and other works many of us cherish.

Writing it felt less like crafting a biography and more like listening to a life from the inside — to the emotional truth behind a great artist’s experiences.

And because the inner journey behind the book was far deeper than the pages could contain, today I launched a companion project, a podcast titled "Time Traveling – A Spiritual Journey of Healing".

There, I speak openly for the first time about the regressions, the emotional healing, the soul memories, and the spiritual insights that shaped the memoir from within — including what Tchaikovsky’s story revealed about destiny, trauma, and how our lives unfold across lifetimes.

For anyone who enjoys memoirs that go beneath the surface — into emotion, psychology, creativity, and the inner truth of a life — I’d be happy to share more about this journey.

Warmly,
Chris

[Julie]

Eve's Hollywood
Eve Babitz
3/5 stars
Interesting story of Eve Babitz and the secret history of L.A!

[Karin]

Julie wrote: "
Eve's Hollywood
Eve Babitz
3/5 stars
Interesting story of Eve Babitz and the secret history of L.A!"

I read a few Hollywood biographies for a 2020 reading game, but am not familiar with Eve Babitz.

[Koren]

Julie wrote: "
Eve's Hollywood
Eve Babitz
3/5 stars
Interesting story of Eve Babitz and the secret history of L.A!"

I haven't heard of her either but it looks like she has several books and according to her author page, she passed away in 2021.