Barbara Windsor

Advantages: gossipy, a great read, interesting, can't put it down from about halfway through
Disadvantages: descends into a bit of a list of sexual conquests at times!!

...All Of Me by Barbara Windsor is an excellent autobiography. Subtitled 'My Extraordinary Life', she isn't kidding! This book has it all, as indeed has her life - a much-publicised affair with Carry On co-star, Sid James; an ill-fated marriage to big-time crook, Ronnie Knight; then more recently, a penchant for men young enough to be her sons. Fascinating stuff. Now, I have no illusions about Ms. Windsor herself – I admire her acting talent, loved her in the Carry Ons and think she’s perfect in EastEnders, but I once met her. I was about eight at the time and asked her politely for an autograph. I can’t repeat what she told me to do, but I ended up in tears, devastated that a woman I admired and idolised could be so cruel to a young fan. That has always stayed with me and has tarnished my views on her somewhat... Read review

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Advantages: Full of action
Disadvantages: None

...I know the younger people out there will think that Barbara Windsor is just Peggy off Eastenders, but even I remember the Carry On's, but I did not realise how much happened before that. The book really starts with Babs being 5 years old and I actually found her take on the war quite interesting. You never really get to hear a childs account of what it was like and it makes a riveting start to the book. The next section deals with her somewhat turbulant relationship with both of her parents. Again, it keeps you really interested and in a way her entry into stage school is not really what you care about as a reader. Of course it gets really juicy as she becomes sexually active (best keep it clean), and she admits just how niave she really was. But she soon got over it and had numerous flings, one of the Kray brothers, one... Read review

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Advantages: An excellent book by a versatile writer
Disadvantages: Some may find it a little slow-moving

...Introduction I have been quite critical of Ruth Rendell in some past reviews - her books range from the brilliant to the really bad - but I have to admit she is the most versatile of writers. I knew before I started this book that Barbara Vine was a pen-name for Ruth Rendell; had I not known, there is no way in a million years I would have guessed that this book was by the same author as the Wexford novels. I have not read any of Barbara Vine's books before, but expected something along the lines of a psychological thriller, such as those by Nicci French. What I got was a really well-written novel describing one man's efforts to write a biography of his great-grandfather, who happened to be a top physician to Queen Victoria, and who turns out to have some complicated happenings in his life. The writing is altogether of a different level... Read review

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