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Original poster

Can you please recommend an interesting biography?

84 replies

WetAugust · 10/05/2014 00:07

Preferably an autobiography.

I've recently read Andre Agassi -Open, Joanna Lumley's, Rupert Everett's, Duncan Bannantyne's and Alan Sugar's (which is the best and most candid I have ever read).

Am very open minded, so could be anybody's.

Thank you

OP posts:
carben · 20/07/2014 22:42

When did you last see your father? Blake Morrison.

DoctorTwo · 20/07/2014 17:16

Hitch-22 and the devastatingly beautiful Mortality, both by Christopher Hitchens.

Deathraystare · 20/07/2014 16:39

Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys by Viv Albertine.

For those who don't know - Viv was the guitarist in the punk band The Slits an all female band and very influential. I guess you have to have an interest in punk at least but even if only mildly curious.... Mick Jones of the Clash (they were an item at one point) comes across as a thoroughly nice chap and was very supportive of her when she decided to play guitar - "Yeah, I 've got a girlfriend who plays guitar!!". At times it is very sweet and funny but on occasion sad, too. She describes her romances, friendships with Sid Viscious and Johnny Rotten etc and tells of her time buying clothes from Sex (Vivienne Westwood's shop), ill health, marriage and motherhood. And of course the music!

piratecat · 20/07/2014 14:56

Stuart a life backwards is great film.

it is true story. the book would be good.

piratecat · 20/07/2014 14:52

years ago i bought Daniel day Lewis biography at an airport and really enjoyed it.

Southeastdweller · 20/07/2014 14:45

Bedsit Disco Queen by Tracey Thorn was the best autobio I've read for quite sometime.

PetShopGirl · 08/07/2014 16:41

I really enjoyed Rupert Everett's Red Carpets And Other Banana Skins.

amicissimma · 08/07/2014 16:31

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Blueuggboots · 29/05/2014 23:29

I really enjoyed Sue Johnston's book - things I couldn't tell my mother I think it's called.

SatansFurryJamHats · 29/05/2014 23:11

This reply has been deleted

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prettywhiteguitar · 29/05/2014 23:07

Patti Smith 'just kids' beautifully written memoir about her and Robert maplethorpe in 70's New York

EduardoBarcelona · 28/05/2014 15:35

Bizarrely the one by Andrea ? Kampusch about her time when she was abducted us not only interesting but very intelligent too.

VivaLeBeaver · 26/05/2014 16:04

I thought the Piers Morgan one from his days as editor of The Mirror was interesting.

mrsnec · 26/05/2014 16:00

I like the Steven Fry ones and Jennifer Saunders. I am a fan of a good autobiography, I've not read them yet but Harry Redknapp and Patsy Kensit are a couple I'd like to try.

CaulkheadUpNorth · 26/05/2014 15:59

Dawn French is good.

Timeforabiscuit · 26/05/2014 15:47

Oops sorry didn't read the bit about miserable childhoods - scratch the emin one ??

Timeforabiscuit · 26/05/2014 15:46

Tracey Emins autobiography I found really eye opening, especially hailing from the same neck of the woods.

SconeRhymesWithGone · 26/05/2014 15:45

Memoirs more than biography but these are really good:

This is Not About Me by Janice Galloway
What to Look for in Winter by Candia McWilliam

widdle · 26/05/2014 15:41

The Stephen Fry ones are pretty good - Moab is my washpot and the Fry Chronicles

Haven't read it but heard the Jennifer Saunders one is pretty good - might have to steal that one from my mam!

ProfessorBranestawm · 10/05/2014 14:22

I really enjoyed The Genius in my Basement by Alexander Masters. He also wrote Stuart: a Life Backwards which was made into a film I think.

GoingToBedfordshire · 10/05/2014 14:03

Tis by Frank McCourt takes his story up when he goes back to America as a young man.

monkeyharris · 10/05/2014 00:45

Oh, and Jamie Foreman has led an interesting life (not my usual cup of tea but I bought the kindle addition of his book when it was 99p from Amazon). I am a big fan of David Jason but his autobiography was very disappointing - mostly about his pre TV days in theatre and hardly anything about his OFAH/Frost days, which is what I was hoping to read about.

monkeyharris · 10/05/2014 00:38

Kim Woodburns' autobiography - couldn't put it down once I started reading it! Smile

Shartibartfast · 10/05/2014 00:35

Baroness Trumpington 's autobiography is fairly recent, and has had some good reviews. She's in her 90s, and has led a pretty full and interesting life! I recently read Damian McBride's book about his time as Gordon Brown's spin doctor, and I found that fascinating.

Original poster
WetAugust · 10/05/2014 00:32

Obese??? Should have said 'hate the ones that......'

OP posts: