Autobiography corner -come join me!

[RosieLeaLovesTea]

Do you love read autobiographies - I do!
my new year’s resolution is to read more autobiographies.
so I have just finished Matthew Perry. Feeling a bit sad as I read it after he died. He finished the book full of hope to beat his addiction and find a life partner. So sad.

next is Kathy Burke.

so which ones are you reading?

I second Michael J Fox. His first book 'Lucky Man' is brilliant, I've read it a few times.

Yes, and her biography of Thomas Hardy is brilliant – the only literary biography I have enjoyed as much as Ellman's biography of Oscar Wilde.

I listened to Brian Blessed read his autobiography Absolute Pandemonium and had to stop the car I was laughing so much.

Robert Graves' Goodbye to All That is one of my favourite books of all time.

Becoming by Michelle Obama was excellent and I'm not a huge autobiography reader.

I've just finished listening to Ben Elton's memoir "What Have I Done?". He reads it himself, if you're a listener rather than a reader, which is great. It covers a lot of English media and culture very well.

Loved The Moon's A Balloon, also Michelle Obama.

Years ago, I remember reading A Postillian Struck By Lightning, by Dirk Bogarde. It's in the David Niven vibe.

Enjoying Kathy Burke's

Currently working my way through Chris McCauslands autobiography. Listening to it via Audible and Chris McCausland narrates it

I read the Nelson Mandela one years ago - absolutely fascinating. Probably of it's time now.

Also enjoyed Barack Obama's. And last week I finished Kathy Burke's - really found that interesting too, as I'm around the same age as her, and was living in London in the 80s/90s. Nicely written too.

My favourite autobiography was James Blunt's Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story
It was quite a surprise, well written and entertaining. He's witty and self depricating and has led an interesting life, his military service was an eye opener.

More Claire Tomalin love here. Her Samuel Pepys bio - The Unequalled Self - was fab.

I love a good memoir (more so than an autobiography).

The best one by miles for me was the aptly named Memoir by John McGahern. Absolutely beautiful writing.

Also recommend:
Never - Rick Astley (bought as a joke Xmas pressie for my son but really enjoyed it.)

Experience - Martin Amis (the dentist bits gave me the heebie jeebies)

Dying of Politeness - Geena Davis (she doesn't like Bill Murray!)

Poor - Kaitriona O Sullivan (she's been interviewed on Irish radio a bit. She's amazing.)

The Accidental Soldier - Owain Mulligan (not my usual cup of tea and worried it would be a bit shit and overly testosterone-y bit pleasantly surprised.)

The Places In Between - Rory Stewart (impressive)

Strong Female Character - Fern Brady (impressively honest.)

The Way Home - Mark Boyle (made me want to live off grid - he tells it well.)

Comrades - Rosita Boland (absolutely loved this memoir of friendships.)

Unquiet - Linn Ullmann (managing a life with famous parents. No relation to Tracey.)

The Running Book - John Connell (gentle memoir about life through the lens of running.)

Just finished Minnie Driver and it was fantastic.

I’d forgotten about this thread. Reading back through I agree that Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan and Beyond the Seams by Esme Young are very good.

Since I last posted I have listened to “Things I Couldn’t Tell My Mother” by sue Johnstone which was superb, narrated beautifully by the author.

Also “My Family” by David Baddiel, also narrated by the author. Very funny, quite shocking descriptions of a VERY dysfunctional upbringing, misery-lit it is not though.

I am reading Peter Kay’s Diary, it didn’t start very well, seemingly a bit childish with toilet humour, but it has grown as I have read on, it is very simply written but quite heartwarming and well observed.

I have added the Pat Nevin book to my wishlist, also Martin O’Neill’s which popped up as a suggestion