Primary Teacher Resource Centre - Forum

cornflake girl · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 1454 Location: The North East

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?
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fccwidow · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject:

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 · Moderator Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 2453

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?
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fccwidow · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

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 · Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 1670

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 · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

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 · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject:

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

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

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 · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

Maya Angelou - I know why the caged bird sings

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

Ooh, I like that one as well!

madphil · Moderator Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 2453

madphil · Moderator Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 2453

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

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'I didn't fail. I just found 10000 ways not to make a light bulb.' Thomas Edison

smallholder · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

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 · Joined: 16 Nov 2008 Posts: 3317 Location: New Zealand

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 · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

Both are very moving. I also enjoyed Billy.

cornflake girl · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 1454 Location: The North East

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.
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cofnchoc · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:30 pm Post subject:

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.
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jenny_pest · Moderator Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 3676

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

smallholder · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

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 · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 452 Location: Lancashire

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