Biography Books > 15 GBP to 19 GBP Biography Books

Advantages: Beautifully presented book, great content, extensively researched
Disadvantages: Slightly expensive for the casual fan

...so many books available about Marilyn Monroe, that it is often a wonder why so many new ones get published. Biography after biography arrives, most of them rehashing the same old photos with the same kind of text. But occasionally, a new book on the film star comes along which has a refreshing perspective to offer. One such book is this – Marilyn Monroe Private and Undisclosed by Michelle Morgan. Being a longtime fan herself and President of the ...
...background knowledge of a devoted Marilyn fan, but has added a whole new level of research on the topic. In the quest to discover new aspects and details of Marilyn’s life, Morgan has contacted former boyfriends, co-stars and friends who knew the actress, many of whom have never shared their memories before. This extra level of research has also led to the uncovering and subsequent publication of rare and unpublished photographs. There are over seventy ... Read review

Advantages: Comprehensive and thought-provoking
Disadvantages: Sometimes a bit dull.

Hadrian can be said to have been one of the greatest Emperors Rome ever had - a lover of art and Greek culture, an architect, and a well travelled man who enjoyed speaking to even the lowliest of his citizens. This book explores his life, from birth until death. What it reveals is a man that is cultured, intelligent, fair and kind, but also a man that is capable of great harshness and cruelty. Little is known of Hadrian's early years, and so understandably ...
...is brought out through a fascinating use of archaeology - some of it fairly obscure, which helps us to shed light on Hadrian's life. The author makes frequent use of speculation when it comes to precice dates and places, but never uses his speculation as solid fact. However, his educated guesses are precicely that - educated, and Birley is clearly writing on a subject opon which he is an authority. The book generally reads very well, but is sometimes ... Read review

Advantages: A thoroughly entertaining but disturbing read
Disadvantages: Would have liked to have seen the author draw more from the Scottish culture

...Tufty badge and loosing it on the way home. I’ve never gotten over that loss and to this day it still haunts me. I remember clearly where I dropped it and can still recall searching for it every-time I passed that spot. Several months later, my family and I moved towns, and my searches had to cease. THE MAD MEDDLING MONK Of course I can still remember other events in my childhood and snatches of conversation, but as the years pass and I turn into ...
...people pen their autobiographies: how on earth do they recall conversations with such detail? Did they minute each conversation like a paranoid Keeper on Traken? Or did they have a special Dictaphone like Sarah Jane Smith on the heels of a hot story? Or did they just use a bit of artistic prose and make it up! Frank McGillion refreshingly says that’s just what he did. Don’t make the mistake of reading his autobiography about his childhood without ... Read review

Advantages: Charming book - makes you laugh
Disadvantages: Makes you cry too

I have loved Deric Longden's books for many years and I found "Enough to Make a Cat Laugh" whilst browsing on Amazon. Having been reading more 'serious' books recently the thought of his light hearted style of writing really appealed to me so I ordered the book. The book chronicles a year in the life of the Longden household, starting with spring then summer, autumn and finishing with winter. The 'household' consists of Deric, his wife Aileen and ...
...Other members of the family include Arthur's wire brush and a sultana called Ralph - but you will have to read the book if you want to know more about these two! This is a book guaranteed to make you laugh if you have any connection with cats in the house yourself but, on the other hand, it is equally able to move you to tears. For those not already familiar with his writing, Deric's wife - writer Aileen Armitage - is registered blind and occasionally ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting reading
Disadvantages: None

Pushed to the Limit is the new auto-biography by Jordan / Katie Price. Having read her previous ones I really was hoping that this book was better than the last and I am pleased to say that it was. The cover of the book has a white background and a picture of Katie holding her head and the title in white lettering at the bottom and her real name in pink lettering at the side. The back cover of the book has a black background a has a full picture ...
...The book consists of 18 chapters with the first starting on Christmas Eve with this being Juniors first Christmas. Katie goes on to talk about how bad and depressed she felt after having given birth to Junior and how she was diagnosed with postnatal depression. As the book moves on she talks very openly about how her depression was ruining her life as everything was getting on top of her. We learn about how it affected her relationship with Peter ... Read review