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Original poster

BEST EVER Autobiographies/Memoirs, What are your favourites????

82 replies

Uki · 27/04/2008 11:57

Hi

I admit I'm obsessed with Autobiograhies and memiors.

I've just finished

A Man called Dave- David Pelzer, excellent

Eat, Pray, Love- Elizabeth Gilbert- pretty funny

all time favs.
Desert Dawn - Waris Dirie
Fence around the Cuckoo- Ruth Park.

What are your favourites please?
Also Is Richard Bransons, losing my virginity , any good?

OP posts:
kikishushu · 03/09/2008 08:52

The Autobiography of Malcom X. and My Life by Leon Trotsky

ahfeckit · 02/09/2008 21:10

currently started reading Lorraine Kelly's biography, and hope to find Tom Baker's at the library next, apparently it's a good one for reading (according to my DH!).

MargaretMountford · 30/04/2008 11:57

I read bits of the George Melly Marina - and it just reminded me of Revolt into Style by him - used it for my thesis many years ago...I wouldn't have remembered that !!

marina · 30/04/2008 11:50

Oh - Rum, Bum and Concertina by George Melly

marina · 30/04/2008 11:49

Gosse is deeply touching - it was well taught to us at A Level bink
I still suspect that at callow 17 I failed to engage properly with what happened to his family

whinegums · 29/04/2008 15:28

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda is fab!

Bink · 29/04/2008 15:28

On the other hand, I've never really understood the currency of Bruce Chatwin. Is that heresy?

I read a book of extracts from Shackleton's memoirs of his Antarctic expeditions ... those were breathtaking.

Bink · 29/04/2008 15:19

Siegfried Sassoon - Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man
Orwell - Down and Out in Paris & London; Road to Wigan Pier; Homage to Catalonia - any/all of them
Laurie Lee - Cider with Rosie

special personal favourites:

Edmund Gosse - Father and Son
Primo Levi - Periodic Table

Currently reading John Lanchester's Family Romance, which is good

I must read Stephen Fry. I keep recommending it without having even knowingly laid eyes on it.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 29/04/2008 08:56

Elastic - she changes the name from Flora to Laura but basically it is a memoir.

Maureen - agree abt Maureen Lipman - I read one once and it was hilarious.

Jessica Mitford's Hons and Rebels

Elasticwoman · 28/04/2008 21:47

oh yes squeaver, Moab Is My Washpot (Stephen Fry) has me in tears every time I listen to my audiobook version, it is so moving. There are some very funny bits too.

squeaver · 28/04/2008 21:45

John Lahr's biography of Joe Orton is very good.

Noel Coward's Diaries

Dh is enjoying Alan Alda's at the moment.

Any Bill Bryson. Any Clive James

Swanson on Swanson - Gloria Swanson, amazing life.

Kate: the woman who was Katharine Hepburn is the best Hepburn biography

Couldn't believe I was reading it but couldn't stop was Tina Brown's Diana book

Rupert Everett: red Carpets and other Banana Skins

Stephen Fry

MaureenMLove · 28/04/2008 21:43

I'm clearly no where near being as well read as you lot with my choice of books, but Maureen Lipmans memoirs are hilarious! The kind you can't read on the train, because you've got tears rolling down your face!

Elasticwoman · 28/04/2008 21:37

Ooh is Larkrise a memoir? - I thought it was a novel!

I loved Beyond Nab End too

Kathyis6incheshigh · 28/04/2008 18:00

Larkrise to Candleford, of course.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 28/04/2008 17:59

Oh yes, the Martin Amis one, it's called Experience. Read that the other week and liked it much more than I expected to. I thought he would be too annoying for words but actually he's got enough insight to make it good.

cocosquarepants · 28/04/2008 17:58

Any Bill Bryson
Spke Milligans war books

Kathyis6incheshigh · 28/04/2008 17:58

Richard E Grant's With Nails is v v good.

William Woodruff 'The Road To Nab End' is good but the sequel, 'Beyond Nab End' is fabulous.

janeite · 28/04/2008 17:56

Ah Alex James - is he the one that is now making cheese?

Elasticwoman · 28/04/2008 08:29

Jackie Daydream - Jacqueline Wilson. Aimed at children but I loved it.

Call The Midwife - Jennifer Worth. Great read, and much in it that's not about childbirth.

eekamoose · 27/04/2008 20:55

Martin Amis's memoir. Loved that. Can't remember the title, might just be Memoir.

Toast, too.

My Bookywook - but I guess you have to be able to tolerate Russell Brand. It won't be for everyone.

I also love Kenneth Williams diaries and re-read them all the time.

MrsJoshLyman · 27/04/2008 20:55

Possibly not "best ever" but certainly v entertaining if you're of a certain age and musical persuasion - Bit of a Blur by Alex James. Brings the early 90s flooding back...

jingleyjen · 27/04/2008 20:48

madeline albright former US secretary of state
George Alagiah -
nelson mandela
oh lots more, it is one of my fave genres..

lulu25 · 27/04/2008 20:41

gosh this is moving fast - Paula i meant

lulu25 · 27/04/2008 20:41

that makes it sound really grim - it's not.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 27/04/2008 20:41

Bill Bryson - The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, growing up in America in the fifties. Very very funny, and tender too.