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Original poster

I'm looking for a non celeb memoir to read

136 replies

Shosha1 · 19/09/2016 21:04

Any ideas.

I don't like misery books either.

OP posts:
TheHiphopopotamus · 20/09/2016 15:24

I love Black Diamonds. Great book and the house is near me. Had to visit it after reading the book.

Probably not the kind of thing you're looking for but for anyone else who's interested in this kind of stuff, I've just finished 'I'm Not With The Band' by Sylvia Patterson who used to be a Smash Hits and NME journalist. Some great anecdotes, very funny and an interesting look at the rise of 'celebrity' from the 80's onward.

PenguindreamsofDraco · 20/09/2016 14:29

Do No Harm by Henry Marsh. Utterly compelling and brilliant memoire of a neurosurgeon.

DownHereInTheHorridHouse · 20/09/2016 13:56

This is a lovely thread - I ghost write memoirs so it's wonderful to see so many people who enjoy them. If anyone knows anyone who has a brilliant life story to tell, send them my way!

Like many others, I'd recommend Lacks too. I also enjoyed 'H is for Hawk' and I've just downloaded 'Anne Boleyn - the final 24 hours' but only read a little. Maybe she's a celeb though . . .

Overthinker2016 · 20/09/2016 13:48

Ada another one of them was a Communist.

People are fascinated because of the historical context.

Overthinker2016 · 20/09/2016 13:46

Ada another one of them was a Communist.

People are fascinated because of the historical context.

JoanFerguson · 20/09/2016 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Footle · 20/09/2016 09:00

Period Piece, Gwen Raverat.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 20/09/2016 08:13

Down to Earth by Faith Addis.

MermaidofZennor · 20/09/2016 08:11

Do No Harm was very good. It was fascinating and very moving.

BikeRunSki · 20/09/2016 08:09

Do No Harm - Henry Marsh. Memoirs of a brain surgeon. Interesting, thought provoking and surprisingly easy to read.

FruitBadger · 20/09/2016 08:07

Second the Betty Boothroyd suggestion. I really enjoyed Kate Adie's book "The Kindness of Strangers".

DeathByMascara · 20/09/2016 08:00

Fifty Dead Men Walking by Martin McGartland. About an MI5 agent working inside the IRA. Amazing & fascinating read.

Rulerruler · 20/09/2016 07:02

I'd recommend The Hospital by the River - it's by a British doctor helping women with horrendous deformities caused by childbirth in Ethiopia.

MermaidofZennor · 20/09/2016 06:32

I recommend The Outrun by Amy Liptrot and The Fish Ladder by Katherine Norbury.

The Outrun is about the author"s struggles with alcoholism and her slow recovery through moving back home to Orkney. She begins to write about nature and her observations are fascinating.

The Fish Ladder is about the author's travels to the sources of various rivers in the company of her daughter whilst recovering from a miscarriage. It's very poignant. There's also her search for her birth mother and serious illness along the way. A brilliant read - sad but also uplifting and positive.

cheminotte · 20/09/2016 06:25

Just had to add Toast by Nigel Slater.

AdaLovelacesCat · 20/09/2016 06:19

but anyway that is one thing, but what bugs me is our utter fascination for such a sad shower of fuhrer shagging fascists.

AdaLovelacesCat · 20/09/2016 06:17

oh yes it is fascinating that our ruling class are a crowd of ugly Nazis, utterly fascinating! That Nancy was a prize biatch as well, not to mention the vile Mosley woman.

Overthinker2016 · 20/09/2016 06:14

One of the Mitfords was indeed a fascist and associated with Hitler. That is part of what makes it an interesting read!

Onslow · 20/09/2016 05:04

I love My Space by Sally Morgan, an Australian Indigenous woman. It's woven in with both her mother and her grandmother's experiences. Quite confronting but brilliant.

AdaLovelacesCat · 20/09/2016 05:01

Child of Happy Valley by Juanita Carberry
Testament of Youth - Vera Brittain

Please no more ghastly Mitford sisters - not sure what our obsession with them is...
Horrible bunch of fascists. I believe one of them gave birth to Hitler's child.

MapofTassie · 20/09/2016 04:13

Try 'Coming Clean' by Kimberly Rae Miller.

Reluctant2ndtimer · 19/09/2016 23:47

I'll second Spike Milligans war memoirs, absolutely hilarious but also such a good insight into the Second World War. Also Vera Brittans testament of youth books. Gerald Durrells books if you like eccentric animal types and Redmond O'hanlon has written some fascinating and funny memoirs about his various jungle expeditions.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 19/09/2016 23:32

I also came on to say The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Incredible book.

Also a bit different is London - The Biography, by Peter Ackroyd.

Second the Gerald Durrell autobiography, too, and I loved all 6 of Maya Angelou's memoirs.

SlinkyB · 19/09/2016 22:57

I came on to say The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, but see someone has beaten me to it.

Extraordinary story.

bibblebobblebubble · 19/09/2016 22:53

Some of these sound great.

My recommendation - Zeitoun by Dave Eggars - story about someone who stayed in New Orleans after the hurricane and floods and what happens to him. Amazing (and underrated) book.

Anyone mention Unbroken yet? (sorry not RTFT)

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