Auto/biographies by/about women on Audible - recommendations please!

I really enjoyed both of Kate Mulgrew's autobiographical books (Born With Teeth, How To Forget). Such a fascinating life, and it shows how even with a very successful career as an actress, she still had to deal with distinctly female obstacles, from controlling partners to unplanned pregnancies, from juggling both life as a single mother and caring for her mother with dementia, both whilst leading one of the big star trek shows of the 90s, all whilst under scrutiny of the producers who doubted a woman could do the job. She's a great writer, too.

Spellbinding. Incredibly sensitive and accurate use of language. Funny. Moving. Profound.

What a woman. What a writer. Think I am in love!

Great suggestions

@weegiemum I read other biographies about Gertrude Bell and some other women explorers, too, and while their own writings have to be seen the light of their time, they all were quite exceptional to go outside the prescripted boundaries for women at the time.

Killjoy by Jo Cheetham, the story of how she got involved in the campaign to end Page 3 in The Sun. Funny and honest.

There are two different audio books on Maria Sybilla Merian, a botanical / natural sciences illustrator from the 17th century; she travelled across the globe to paint butterflies, plants and insects. Her work was very significant for biology and the theories about species and evolution.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sibylla_Merian

The books are by Joyce Sidman - The girl who drew butterflies - How Maria Merian's art changed science and Kim Todd: Chrysalis - Maria Sybilla Merian and the secret of metamorphosis.

Can't remember the author, but I loved The Blessings of a Good Thick Skirt which is about women explorers, both historically and into the last century. Really interesting, made me glad to be a woman and made my blood boil at different points!!

Elizabeth Boyle, Fierce Appetites. I think she might even be a Mumsnetter.

I also enjoyed Becoming.

I'm not wildly political, but I really enjoyed Michelle Obama's The Light We Carry,

I enjoyed these:

Motherwell: A Girlhood by Deborah Orr

Between the Stops by Sandi Toksvig

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Agatha Christie by Lucy Worsley

Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell (about Pamela Churchill Harriman)

I am I am I am by Maggie O'Farrell is a good read. Short stories about dices with death. Quite uplifting and thought provoking.

I also loved Sue Black's all that remains. Such a brilliant book.

Another recommendation for Fern Brady’s book. It is well written and surprisingly honest. I devoured it!

No idea if these are on audible, but you like stories of women having adventures in times and places when that was less usual I very much enjoyed:
Space below my feet - Gwen Moffatt
Paddling north - Audrey Sutherland
A woman in the polar night - Christiane Ritter
A lady's life in the Rocky Mountains - Isabella Bird
Maidens' trip - Emma Smith

Claire Tomalin is also an excellent biographer.

Wifedom by Anna Funder about George Orwell's wife and House of Glass by Hadley Freeman which is a memoir of her family going back to her grandparents and great aunts/uncles during the war. Both are really excellent.

I have Behind the Seams, Esme Young, on my tbr pile

Hope you enjoy @AuntieAgnes - interested to hear what you think

Started reading this today after your recommendation. Thanks to @IwantToRetire I have now added quite a significant number of interesting books to read to my list - thank you!

Oh that sounds right up my street, thanks

The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht, whilst not exactly a biography is currently on Audible and as each chapter is written by a different woman about her part in the last few years of madness in Scotland it's a good one for a quick listen when you've only got short periods of time.

just popping on to suggest In Extremis, a bio of Marie Colvin, the former war correspondent - which is both fascinating and harrowing in places
but a life not many of us will live

‘The second victim. Daisys story’ is free on audible. It’s a podcast but plays out like an autobiography. It’s an amazing listen and Daisy is an amazing woman. I didn’t find it depressing because Daisy is such a force of nature but without wanting to spoil the story, it deals with some very difficult issues.

That Judith Mackrell book sounds great.

I really enjoyed Chanel, by Lisa Chaney. It covers lots about Gabrielle Chanel's background, her drive to create and her colourful personal life. It's nearly 17 hours too, I love a long audiobook.

You could try The Unfinished Palazzo by Judith Mackrell. It's about the Guggenheim Museum (palazzo venier) in Venice and weaves the story of the building through the history of the three colourful and interesting women that lived in it during the 20th century. It's really, really fascinating even if you have no interest in Venice.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/02/the-unfinished-palazzo-life-love-and-art-in-venice-by-judith-mackrell-review

plus it's quite long which is always what I look for in an audiobook 😀