autobiographies / biographies

cornflake girl · autobiographies / biographies

A top 3 post by Bev has made me realise that I've never read an autobiography or biography (in book form anyway). I've always thought about it but never got round to it. I suppose it's because I'm not that into reading about celebrities.

So, what's been the most interesting autobiography / biography you've read?

fccwidow

these are the only books that my hubby reads - always famous sportsmen. he always buys me (not all sportsmen for me !) one for christmas too ! A bit of light reading but then again I'm nosey and like to know about celebs ! Fern Britton 's (sp?) was good and I am currently reading (when hubby isn't looking !) Marcus Trescothick's - england cricketer. Who no longer plays for england as he can't stand being away from home - a feeling he's had since his first expereince of going away when he was in year 6 !

madphil

I'm the same fccwidow as your OH. Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Fred Trueman.

Interesting about Trescothick, I've not read his book - does he feel like this when he'saway from his family or home generally?

fccwidow

haven't finished it yet MP but seems like home generally. is making interesting reading he is not naturally left handed but used to stand in front of TV and copy the right handers when they were facing him. he also had a very limited diet when he was young into adult hood liking potatoes and sausages - very similar to my eldest son !! Smile

JD1970

I suppose it depends what type of person/historic period/lifestyle you're interested in.
I read Bryan Robson's autobiography many, mnay years ago and that was quite good. This was during a famous person teenage phase when I read several such books, can't remember most of the others.
Last summer I read Dominic Hibbard's biography of Wilfred Owen which was fantastic and close to the top of my list is Harry Patch's autobiography.

magpie nic

My favourite is Twopence to cross the Mersey by Helen Forrester, the first of her autobiographies and the best by far. Is one of my fave books.
I like footballer books as well, one of the best I have read is Left Foot in the Grave.
The worst one I remember reading is Ant and Dec's- really badly written!

fccwidow

Ooh I love the Helen Forrester ones too ! Had forgotten those ones ! Smile

magpie nic

I really like them, they really affected me the first time I read them, and are among the few books I read more than once.

smallholder

Maya Angelou - I know why the caged bird sings

magpie nic

Ooh, I like that one as well!

madphil

madphil

The sporting ones I detest are the ones apparently written by those just out of their teens:

Wayne Rooney - er, I'm not that bright but can kick a football quite well and am now a millionaire!
Alistair Cook - I went to public school and spent an inordinate amount of time playing cricket as a result. Having become rather good I now play for my country.
Lewis Hamilton - My Dad was a racing nut and spent far too much time letting me whizz round a track. Ron Dennis saw my potentialand the rest they say is history.

See I could be a ghostwriter for Brooklyn Beckham Laughing

I'm still at primary school but my parents are really famous so I'm going to be too. Wink

smallholder

Hubholder likes biographies too, often ornithological e.g Peter Scott, Thomas Bewick, sometimes 'war' ones eg. Reach for the Sky and also explorer ones such as Darwins Voyage of the Beagle, Scotts Last Expedition

I've also enjoyed ones about writers, such as Iris Murdoch, Beatrix Potter - I have a biography of Jane Austen in my to read pile. Oh and I also love Alan Bennett's autobiographical stuff.

tui

i loved the one about Judi Dench. Also the 2 about Billy Connolly written by his wife.

I just bought in the second hand book shop Iris, and I know why the caged bird sings. They are added to my growing pile to be read,.

smallholder

Both are very moving. I also enjoyed Billy.

cornflake girl

Thanks for your replies everyone. I've got a pile of chicklit to get through but when I've read them, I'll look into getting an autobiography / biography.

cofnchoc

Dickie Bird's (rtd cricket umpire) autobiography was a really good read - particularly his thoughts on Boycott! You don't have to like cricket to enjoy it.
Found Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson good too - OH enjoyed it & he can't stand Branson.
Dreams From My Father - Barack Obama - was interesting.
I enjoyed Helen Forrester too magpie.

jenny_pest

I have read Peter Kay's autobiography and I really liked it, thought it was a light and humourous read.

smallholder

Have just finished Dawn French's autobiography - Dear Fatty. Took me a little while to get into it, but overall I enjoyed it. It is written as a series of letters to different people in her life. She and I are pretty much the same age so I was able to relate to the era she talks of when describing her childhood and teenage years.

Chilli Queen

Agree with you Smallholder about Maya Angelou's I know why the caged bird sings. I enjoyed all the others that came after that too.
I also enjoyed
Frank Muir's A Kentish Lad,(a fascinating insight into the heyday of British comedy),
Clive James' Unreliable Memoirs,
all of the Spike Milligan war diaries,
William Woodruff - The Road to Nab End and Beyond Nab End (the amazing life story of a child born into early 20th century Lancashire poverty)
Tom Baker's autobiography
Bob Geldof's autobiography

thehawk

Spike Milligan war diaries are excellent.

For a serious one, Chaucer, by Peter Ackroyd was really good. Shakespeare by Bill Bryson is really well-informed.

JD1970

I bought the Harry Patch one (The Last Fighting Tommy) last week and have read a couple of chapters. Thought it would be a good book to read around Rememberance Day time.
Reaaly enjoying it so far.

Rainbow_Bright

I really enjoyed reading Kate Adie's and Simon Perez' auto/biographies. My Mum has read Billy Connelly's and liked it. A lot of what I read is in the biographical vein - histories and travel writing a la Colin Thubron.