Autobiographies and Biographies

[Kylie]

I've heard good things about Motley Crue's autobiography. Even though I'm not interested in their music, I'd love to read it. Our staff library recently got a copy of it which I keep eyeing off

[LucyD]

I got the Russell Brand one for Christmas and LOVED it. So outrageous and frank - no glossing over anything.

Keep meaning to read the Peter Kay one, I think he is hilarious.

[kitty_kitty]

I've heard good things about Motley Crue's autobiography. Even though I'm not interested in their music, I'd love to read it. Our staff library recently got a copy of it which I keep eyeing off

 

I am not interested in their music but you do not have to be really to enjoy the book

 

I got the Russell Brand one for Christmas and LOVED it. So outrageous and frank - no glossing over anything.

Keep meaning to read the Peter Kay one, I think he is hilarious.

 

I read and loved it too

[Esiotrot]

I recently read a fantastic biography of Coco Chanel,

 

Hi Echo - could you give me the details of the Coco Chanel book please? I would love to read it

Many thanks

Kx

[kateleopald]

I have just finished My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, which was written by his mum. Not my usual cup of tea, but must say I thoroughly enjoyed this!!!

[frankie]

I love (autobiographies) and memoirs - if they're good!

 

So far I've read

 

Deborah Spungen: Nancy (A sad but great read! I've read it about three times)

 

Mark Paytress: Sid Vicious:The Art of Dying Young (to get the other side of the Sid&Nancy-story, I enjoyed Nancy much more and my sympathies are on her side)

 

Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl (I've read both the first version and the second version that was published after Otto Frank's death)

 

Beth Peters: Britney Spears (please don't ask me why, I'm not a fan and reading this is so unlike me)

 

Frank McCourt: Teacher Man

 

Carol Shields: Jane Austen (A great bio!)

 

Pentti Saarikoski: Toipilaan p

[Ruth]

I'm not a big fan of (auto)biographies, but I have got the Deborah Spungen book on my tbr 'And I Don't Want To Live This Life' - which I think is the one you mentioned Frankie? I want to get round to it soon.

[frankie]

I'm not a big fan of (auto)biographies, but I have got the Deborah Spungen book on my tbr 'And I Don't Want To Live This Life' - which I think is the one you mentioned Frankie? I want to get round to it soon.

 

 

Yes that's the one Ruth! I've read the book in Finnish and it was called Nancy and I didn't stop to think that it could be named something else in English

[Ruth]

I'm really glad you enjoyed it - I will have to bump it up my to-be-read pile!

[frankie]

Do bump it up and let us know if you liked it!

[tbain]

Thanks for the suggestions, I am definitely going to buy copies of Deborah Spungens and Motley Crues books.

[TashaG]

Don't know if this has already been mentioned but I have just read Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsey. It was really easy to read and written quite simply but I really enjoyed it. It didn't take to long to read (the train journey from Dundee to Edinburgh and back and the train journey from Dundee to Aberdeen and back) but gave lots of insight into Ramsey's past and his motivations and beliefs. I'm a big Ramsey fan.

[Kate]

Don't know if this has already been mentioned but I have just read Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsey. It was really easy to read and written quite simply but I really enjoyed it. It didn't take to long to read (the train journey from Dundee to Edinburgh and back and the train journey from Dundee to Aberdeen and back) but gave lots of insight into Ramsey's past and his motivations and beliefs. I'm a big Ramsey fan.

 

I have the Quick Read version of Humble Pie, keep thinking I should pick it up and read it next, I might now you recommend it.

[Jo-Bridge]

My absolute favourite autobiography is The Hacienda by Lisa St aubin De Teran

 

"Married at sixteen to a man twenty years her senior who spoke no English, she was taken to his ancestral home and estate where she found herself living in the most primitive of conditions, isolated and alone. St. Aubin de Teran ended up virtually running the plantation that belonged to her increasingly demented husband but enjoyed learning the mores and magic of a place that had remained practically unchanged for more than a century. Written in mesmerising prose, this is the extraordinary story of a young woman surviving by her wits and fantasies."

 

Its got issues of class, race, gender, mental illness, motherhood- just amazing!

 

Also -Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown (her real name) is also fantastic and hilarious at times although very gruelling. About surving drug addition and the foster care system in the U.S

[scottishbookworm]

On the edge-Richard hammond It's also written by his wife Mindy, It's a well written book and is well recommended for all fans of him and anyone that likes top Gear too.

 

Edited August 22, 2008 by scottishbookworm

[Kate]

I have the Quick Read version of Humble Pie, keep thinking I should pick it up and read it next, I might now you recommend it.

 

I did indeed take my own advice - rare I know - and I enjoyed this book

[phoenix]

I was just wondering who everyone would realy like to see a(n) (auto)biography about? And what is it about them that makes you think it would be an intersting read exactly?

 

Anyone like to volunteer some ideas there?

 

I'd love to read an autobiography by Queen Elizabeth I. I'd like to know more about the time she lived in, the poeple she met (Shakespeare?) what her thoughts and feelings were about her situation (marriage?) and the world in general. It was a fascinating and cruel time she lived in and I would really like to know how she experienced it.

 

But I'm afraid reading her autobiography is one of the dreams that will never come true

[nursenblack]

I don't really care very much for (auto)biographies. The only one I have read and own is Marylin Monroe's My Story. It was a very enjoyable read and I learned so much about who she was as a person.

[Suzanne123]

A brilliant book for any fans of the wonderful Mr. Fry! It is concerned with his childhood, right until he is about to go university; highly recommended!

[frankie]

Suzanne123's suggestion Moab Is My Washpot is on my TBR and on my bookshelf as well

[Sedge]

I'd like to collect the autobiography of every actor to play the Doctor, but I can't seem to track one down for William Hartnell. Does anybody know if he ever wrote one?

[frankie]

I'd like to collect the autobiography of every actor to play the Doctor, but I can't seem to track one down for William Hartnell. Does anybody know if he ever wrote one?

 

It says in Wikipedia that "The only published biography of him is by his granddaughter, Jessica Carney (real name Judith). Who's There? refers to many of the difficulties in his life and makes it clear that a great deal of research has been done, drawing from primary sources, as well as Hartnell's family's own extensive archive."

[Janet]

There are a few for sale second-hand on Amazon but they're quite pricey.

[Sedge]

Thanks both! I had seen this, but wondered if he'd ever written his own. Think I'll start with this one.

[Charm]

A brilliant book for any fans of the wonderful Mr. Fry! It is concerned with his childhood, right until he is about to go university; highly recommended!

 

I'm not usually a fan of autobiographys. I once started to read 'Feel' by Robbie Williams whose music I really like but just couldn't get into it. Having said that, I've recently borrowed a copy of 'My Booky Wook' by Russell Brand and am looking forward to it!

 

I do love Stephen Fry though and might just give this one a go . My husband really likes him too so it might just get him to pick up a book!

 

A friend recently recommended an autobiography by Slash the guitarist from Guns 'n' Roses. She said she really enjoyed it but unfortunately I can't remember its title