Biography Books > A Biography Books > B > 5 GBP to 9 GBP

Advantages: discriptive,tragic, humourous and charming
Disadvantages: none

...the most disturbuing parts of Alan Bennetts life is read aloud by him. When assaulted in Italy,Alan, then realises how many of his birthdays have been spend either ill or in hospital. He relects on the tragedy of his life in a way that is totally unsurpassed and unique to him. Bennetts, way with words, his unique sense of humour and ability to turn darkness to light , makes this a fantastic audio book. Allows the listener a privilaged insight into ...
...a wonderful story, you feel honoured to be allowed to know so much about his life, and read from his own lips, makes his story all the more poignant. This is part 4 own his diaries and can be heard alone, but having heard and read all of his diary collection, it is a fitting sequel and would be well purchased alongside the others from his publishings. I can't find a bad word to say about this CD. Well reccommended!!!! ... Read review

Advantages: Great introduction to Bennett.
Disadvantages: Quite pricey for a short book.

‘Telling Tales’ by Alan Bennett does exactly what it says on the cover… Alan Bennett, one of the country’s best loved wordsmiths, tells ten tales about his childhood in Leeds, a provincial city in the West Riding where life generally tended to avoid. In several of the tales Bennett details the causes of his frustration as a youth – he knew that his family was very ordinary (not working class, but certainly not middle class), yet at the same time ...
...that life for everyone else was much different to hers and that the cocktail party lifestyle she read about in Woman’s Own was the norm and attainable by a move to the hallowed ‘down South’. We learn much about Bennett’s ‘Mam and Dad’ (so good to see the word Mam, I feel I’m one of the few who still uses it). Their real names were Lil and Walt, but as in many households, the birth of the first child sees real names being wrapped in paper and only ... Read review

Advantages: Funny and enjoyable
Disadvantages: The theatrical sections are a bit heavy going

Writing Home is a collection of Alan Bennett's prose writings, diaries, thoughts on plays and films he has worked on, his family background and much, much more. It was first published in 1994 and is a very good book to dip into now and again when you are stuck for something to read. On the back cover it states that the book brings together twenty-five years worth of reminiscences, reviews, broadcasting and diaries. There are broadly five sections ...
...The style of the writing is naturally very dry, often funny, sometimes moving, a bit left-wing, never too showy, nostalgic, very Northern, very English and strangely comforting. Dipping into this book is like watching an old black and white film with a cup of tea and a biscuit as it rains outside. It's just pleasant to dip into it and be in the company of Bennett for a while. There is far too much material to mention in a review but for me just the ... Read review

Advantages: Will last you a long time! Entertaining, humourous, and poignant.
Disadvantages: Not a quick read.

...of Bennett's life. Sections include: Untold Stories; Written on the Body; Seeing Stars; Diaries 1996-2004; Theatre & Plays; Radio & TV; Art, Architecture and Authors; and Ups & Downs. Another useful feature of the book is an index - many keywords which feature throughout the book are noted with page references for easy referral. People, places, and motifs are included. Alan Bennett - Untold Stories ISBN: 0-571-22831-3 Faber and Faber; Profile ... Read review

Advantages: Funny, incisive and refreshingly honest
Disadvantages: Might put some people off eating out

A couple of years ago we were told that cooking was the new rock'n'roll. If Anthony Bourdain is to be believed, it's the new punk - it's in your face, sharp as a Sabatier knife and it makes no apologies. "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly" is a rollercoaster ride through his career from the lowly days as dishwasher in Provincetown, Cape Cod to the rocky heights of the Rockerfeller Centre's world famous "Rainbow Room". It's ...
...and back to New York again, manage restaurants where he is responsible for everything from the hiring and firing of the waiting staff to creating every dish on the menu. Bourdain is refreshingly honest. His story is told almost warts and all (he can't spill all the beans - there are some people who are just too dangerous to risk angering) and he offers some expert advice for anyone thinking it's a profession they might like to try. He engages the ... Read review