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

[IwantToRetire]

Have only recently started using Audible, and had a short list of books I listened to.

After that I realised I wasn't sure what to listen to next. I saw the Casual Vacancy (JKR) which although meant to be funny was so despressing about women's lives as wives, daughters, lovers, workers, I nearly didn't finish. So depressed.

So was hoping for recommenations for auto/biographies by/about women. Not saying I want anything light and fluffy, but something which has some positivity even if hard times along the way.

(Not against other recommendations whether crime, sci-fi, or whatever, but thought it might be nice to be inspired.)

Have some credit so happy to take the plunge into something unknown to me.

Many thanks.

Edited to add, not against anything discussing feminism, but have FWR for that!

I'm about to start Quartet by Leah Broad, about four twentieth-century female composers.

On my wishlist I have A Flat Place by Noreen Masud, Cloistered by Catherine Coldstream, Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen Powell, How to Supress Women's Writing by Joanna Russ

Thoroughly recommend Miranda Hart's recent book I haven't been entirely honest with you. It isn't in the slightest bit depressing, it's very interesting and there's a lot to make you feel better about everything.

Have you tried BorrowBox from your local library? They have a great selection of audiobooks on there, which can be used to complement Audible - you are not making any kind of commitment when you borrow the book, if you don't like it you just return it.

"Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal" by Jeanette Winterson is one of the best audiobooks I've ever listened to, and I've never read any of her other books. It's a compelling and uplifting memoir.

Can I suggest: Strong Female Character by Fern Brady; She's a Scottish comedian and autistic; her story is poignant, funny in parts and searingly honest. It also gave me a lot of insights into autism from a woman's perspective.
I would also recommend I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCuddy; She played Sam in iCarly. She lifts the lid on the toxic Hollywood environment round child stars and you fully understand the shocking title by the middle of the book.

Many thanks to everyone!

So interesting to get such a range of suggestions.

This is really what I appreciate. Hearing / reading about women's lives and situations that I have no awareness of.

Thanks for BorrowBox suggestion, as I reminds me I do have access via my local library to audio books.

So with so many suggestions when my credits run out cant sort out using the local libary option.

(Hope others will find this thread interesting.)

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 😀

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.

‘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.

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 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.

Oh that sounds right up my street, thanks

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!

Fantastic!

Now I need to spare up time in my day.

Or take up some sort of craft work, as I have found listening to plays, books, etc., is always better when my hands are busy.

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

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

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.

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.

Haven't had time to compare, but I think I may have heard some of these (abridged?) on Radio 4 extra.

Really only saying that because although hard to navigate the site, anyone else interested in women's life stories may find them there.

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

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.

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

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

I also enjoyed Becoming.

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!!

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.