25.4 - Sandy/Kristi's task: All About the Author

[Peebee]

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Peebee wrote: "So, does the person's primary occupation have to be as an author? I'm thinking, for example,

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and The Audacity of Hope: Though..."


Thanks...I've actually read both of those books, so wasn't planning to use that pairing. I don't remember Audacity as being so autobiographical, but you're right, the description sure sounds that way. But glad to know we're not limited to authors -- that really opens up the possibilities.

[Kristina Simon]

Connie wrote: ". There's a new memoir out by Anna Quindlen who has published books and collections of newspaper articles. Would that be OK?"

Yes, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake will work for Book A. Just make sure to pick one of her novels or article collections for Book B and not one of her other memoirs.

[Kristina Simon]

Jayme VA wrote: "What about Zen in the Art of Writing and another Bradbury book? Thanks!"

That works. Like Stephen King's book on writing, Bradbury shares a lot of his experiences in this one. Good book. ;-)

[Deedee]

Part II of his autobiography: In Joy Still Felt: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1954-1978 by Isaac Asimov
Plus
any of his 500+ books

[Dee]

whoa, the 2 parts of his autobiography are over 1600 pages...man, that must have been some life... ;)

[Kristina Simon]

Dee wrote: "whoa, the 2 parts of his autobiography are over 1600 pages...man, that must have been some life... ;)"

Deedee wrote: "Part II of his autobiography: In Joy Still Felt: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1954-1978 by Isaac Asimov
Plus
any of his 500+ books"

That works. Guess he had lots to say. He's written just about everything... ;-)

[Jayme Pendergraft]

Thanks Kristi- and thanks for the recommendation. I love Bradbury but haven't read that one.

[Anne (Booklady)]

May read either My Brother, Ernest Hemingway by Leicester Hemingway or Papa Hemingway by A.E. Hotchner?

And 1 of Hemingway's 2 books I've not read yet. I've read almost everything he ever wrote at least once and most of the biographies about him. I've been 1/2 in love with Papa for almost 45 years.
This may the time when I finally get to read For Whom the Bell Tolls

[Jody]

I'm never really sure if cookbooks fit in to the challenges so I thought I'd check with you
My Life in France
And
The Way to Cook

[Stacie]

Wondering if Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years Of Mysteries In The Making Includes Two Unpublished Poirot Stories along with one of her many mysteries would work?

[Kristina Simon]

Anne (Booklady) wrote: "May read either My Brother, Ernest Hemingway by Leicester Hemingway or Papa Hemingway by A.E. Hotchner?

And 1 of Hemingway's 2 books I've not read yet. I've read almost everything he ever wrote ..."

Either bio would work and they sound great! I love Hemingway, too. Two more for the TBR pile... ;-)

[Kristina Simon]

Jody wrote: "I'm never really sure if cookbooks fit in to the challenges so I thought I'd check with you
My Life in France
And
The Way to Cook"

That pairing works. That cookbook looks really good, too... ;-)

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

I really enjoyed My Life in France, too.

[Kristina Simon]

Stacie wrote: "Wondering if Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years Of Mysteries In The Making Includes Two Unpublished Poirot Stories along with one of her many mysteries would work?"

Sure that will work. Sounds fascinating... Man, you guys are killing my efforts to read down my TBR pile!

[Dee]

since I don't know if the Eloisa James one will come in on time - does My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman work for the memoir and then one of her books for the fiction?

[Anne (Booklady)]

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Anne (Booklady) wrote: "May read either My Brother, Ernest Hemingway by Leicester Hemingway or Papa Hemingway by A.E. Hotchner?

And 1 of Hemingway's 2 books I've not read yet. I've read almost ..."

Thanks Kristi. I just posted my review of .

Anne Booklady Spring 2012 Reviews

[Dee]

I'm thinking about this one Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl and then The Collected Short Stories

[Jayme Pendergraft]

For Roald Dahl there's also The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington

[Deanna]

Would Step by Step: A Pedestrian Memoir by Lawrence Block and then one of his novels work? I actually met him about 10 years ago. He was the guest author on a mystery themed cruise I went on. He was very nice as I recall. Most of the writers we had sail with us were also great with one or two notable exceptions. This was a yearly cruise with a group and one year, the female mystery writer that was booked cancelled at the last minute. She said she "forgot" she was supposed to go on the cruise (for free, with a guest!). Luckily, John Lutz was able to sail with us as he had come with us before and had a great time. She lost a bunch of fans that year and I have never read anything by her since.

[Kristina Simon]

Dee wrote: "since I don't know if the Eloisa James one will come in on time - does My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman work for the memoir and then o..."

That one works, too. I really liked her Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman. Funny, funny stuff... ;-)

[Dee]

now I have 3 options...they all came in at the library on the same day...choices choices

[Kristina Simon]

Jayme VA wrote: "For Roald Dahl there's also The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington"

That will definitely work for the biography. Just be careful about page numbers when choosing one of his books...

[Dee]

i was surprised to find how many adult books Dahl had out - i found several, and they are all big books

[Kristina Simon]

Deanna wrote: "Would Step by Step: A Pedestrian Memoir by Lawrence Block and then one of his novels work? I actually met him about 10 years ago. He was the guest author on a mystery themed cruise I went on. He wa..."

Yes, that memoir would work. Too bad about that mystery author. Not very professional of her and, as you can attest, fans don't forget things like that!

[Kristina Simon]

Dee wrote: "I'm thinking about this one Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl and then The Collected Short Stories"

Nice choice, Dee.

[Robin]

would any of Jen Lancaster's other books work for part A? For example Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why itOften Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? and then her book

[Kristina Simon]

Robin wrote: "would any of Jen Lancaster's other books work for part A? For example Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why itOften Sucks in the City, or Who are These Id..."

Yes, you can pair any of her memoirs with her novel, If You Were Here.

[Ritika]

Hi,
I was wondering if The Alpine Path: The Story of My Career by L.M. Montgomery works as a choice for autobiography since it is only 96 pages long.

[Kristina Simon]

Ritika wrote: "I was wondering if The Alpine Path: The Story of My Career by L.M. Montgomery works as a choice for autobiography since it is only 96 pages long."

No, sorry, it's got to meet the general challenge page length requirement.

[Kayleigh]

Would Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back work for part A and 20 Times a Lady: A Novel for part B
Thanks:)

[Kristina Simon]

Keltie Lee wrote: "Would Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back work for part A and 20 Times a Lady: A Novel for part B
Thanks:)"

That works.

[Jennifer N.]

Would The Master and then any book by Henry James work?

[Laurie]

Is the book Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie enough of a memoir for this task?

[mussolet]

I want to read Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark about Freya Stark and The Valleys of the Assassins: and Other Persian Travels by Freya Stark. Is that alright? (I wasn't sure because the second is non-fiction, and a sort of autobiography too (seeing how it's a travelogue).

[Kristina Simon]

Jennifer N. wrote: "Would The Master and then any book by Henry James work?"

Even though The Master is fictionalized, it appears that Tóibín sticks pretty close to the actual events of James's life so, yes, that pairing will work. Sounds great, too. Another one for the TBR pile!

[Kristina Simon]

Laurie wrote: "Is the book Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie enough of a memoir for this task?"

Absolutely.

[Kristina Simon]

SilverRaindrops wrote: "I want to read Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark about Freya Stark and The Valleys of the Assassins: and Other Persian Travels by Freya Stark. Is that alright? (I wasn't sure because the se..."

Unfortunately, I don't think any of Freya Stark's books are going to work for this task as they are all autobiographical memoirs. Hopefully, you can find another placement for her books in the challenge, though. She sounds like a fascinating woman!

[mussolet]

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "SilverRaindrops wrote: "I want to read Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark about Freya Stark and The Valleys of the Assassins: and Other Persian Travels by Freya Stark. Is that alright? (I wa..."

;(.
Will The Fry Chronicles and one of Stephen's novels work then?

[Laurie]

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Laurie wrote: "Is the book Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie enough of a memoir for this task?"

Absolutely."

Thank you!!!

[Kristina Simon]

SilverRaindrops wrote: "Will The Fry Chronicles and one of Stephen's novels work then? "

Yes, that would work.

[mussolet]

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "SilverRaindrops wrote: "Will The Fry Chronicles and one of Stephen's novels work then? "

Yes, that would work."

Thank you :)

[Ashley FL]

How about Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman as the memoir, and then one of her Mommy Tracked mysteries as the fiction?

[Kristina Simon]

Ashley FL wrote: "How about Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman as the memoir, and then one of her Mommy Tracked mysteries as the fiction?"

Sure. That will work.

[Sue]

Just double checking: Will I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections and Heartburn both by Nora Ephron work?

[Kristina Simon]

Sue T wrote: "Just double checking: Will I Remember Nothing: and Other Reflections and Heartburn both by Nora Ephron work?"

Yes, that works.

[Sue]

Thanks, Kristi!