Biography Books > J Biography Books > 5 GBP to 9 GBP

Advantages: Enjoyable and informative read
Disadvantages: Skims over some years too quickly

...are shared at the time, just as would happen in everyday conversation. I felt this included the reader, as though I was privy to her thoughts or chatting with her. She explains her childhood and her family set up, including her many house moves. She details her first sexual relationships and the birth of her son, when she was still a teenager. Then the focus changes to her modelling career and appearance in Coronation Street leading to her fame. ...
...My one real criticism of Just Julie would be that her life is described really well until the 1990s, when the next sixteen years seem to be skipped over in too few pages. I can understand most readers wanting to know about her time in Coronation Street, but personally, I was also interested in what she was doing once she had left the programme as well. I have read many autobiographies over the years and something that struck me about Julie Goodyear's ... Read review

Advantages: A fairly insightful look into John's life by someone who really knew him
Disadvantages: A little naff and bias in places

...most fatefully of these being John Lennon. Both students at the Liverpool College of Art, her tweed wearing ways against John's rebellious 'teddy boy' streak soon made them a couple of contradictions, leading to a facinating life story for both partners... THE BASICS OF THE BOOK The novel starts off with a rather earth shattering event that did have a profound effect on both Cynthia, and her and John's teenage son, Julian's lives; the night she ...
...clear that Cynthia's feelings for John were genuine, in spite of what it may seem a little later on in the book. Whilst the story did start off to be all about Lennon, it did quickly degenerate into a bit of an autobiography of Cynthia Powell in places. Don't get me wrong, I was expecting it, after all, it's important to get to know the biographer as much as the subject in question. Yet, sometimes, it did dominate a bit too much of the storyline ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic writing, amazing story
Disadvantages: You will probably cry (I did!)

...we would ever see him on tv again, would he be the same person? The first television appearance was on Jonathan Ross, and I tuned in eagerly, to see if the Hamster we all loved was still there. It seemed yes he was, apart from a new love for celery, and an uncanny ability to recall everyone's phone number! What relief. During this time we had been watching the media storm against the BBC and more specifically Top Gear, claims it was dangerous, it ...
...I had found Hammonds interview on Ross fascinating. Being stingy however, I waited until I could pick it up at two books for £7 in the supermarket! (In all fairness, it's only now Mia's reaching one that I get chance to read anyway!). To be honest, I didn't expect a talented writer when I thought of Hammond, which in hindsight, was silly, he is a journalist after all. I was shocked by the unique and direct writing style he used. Somehow, there ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent read
Disadvantages: None

Russell Watson first came to my attention when I heard him sing at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He sang 'Where my Heart Will Take me' (one of mine and my hubbies all time favourite songs) and I suddenly realised what an amazing voice he had. When I knew he was writing his biography I could not wait to get a copy and read it. Russell starts the book in October 2007 at the time of his collapsed and when he was told he needed ...
...We are then taken back to his childhood where he tells about how he grew up in Sunningdale Drive in Irlam, Manchester. He lived there with his mother and father and his younger sister Hayley. He openly talks about how he had a happy childhood due to the fact that his father always worked his hardest and his Mother always had her radiogram playing, he believes this is where his love for classical music came from. He tells us about the group of friends ... Read review

Advantages: Cheap, fun and easy to read
Disadvantages: I want her life

I bought this book on a spur of the moment shopping trip, basically because I was interested to see how Coleen went from being a schoolgirl to a WAG in such a short space of time. I was amazed to read her story and see how down to earth she really was, even after being catapulted at amazing speed into the limelight. She was even thoughtful enough to come back to her book and update it with her wedding plans for the release of the paperback edition. ...
...quick life update, within which she includes girly pages with tips on make-up, fashion, nights out and quizzes, making it so much more like a diary. It is really easy to read and highly enjoyable to learn how down to earth she is and how she enjoys nothing more than snuggling on her sofa watching the soaps just like the rest of us. ... Read review