Biography Books > P Biography Books > 5 GBP to 9 GBP

Advantages: Learn things about yourself you never knew
Disadvantages: Can be emotional

...(at the end of this year and the beginning of 2007) which I look forward immensely to purchasing and reading through. # PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives (compiled by Frank Warren) # Hardcover: 278 pages # Publisher: ReganBooks (Dec 2005) # Language English # ISBN: 0060899190 ... Read review

Advantages: Fascinating story, evocative details, beautiful writing
Disadvantages: I didn't want it to end

"A Portrait of a Turkish Family" is an autobiographical work that tells the story of one Ottoman family from the turn of the twentieth century through the First World War and the establishment of Turkey as a republic. Irfan Orga was the eldest of three children; his mother was born into the harem - as were most women of such standing - and married at the age of thirteen. When the book opens, Irfan and his parents and younger brother live with his ...
...often idyllic childhood with warmth and humour, depicting the childlike vigour of his mother, the haughtiness of his grandmother and the kindness of the servants. One memorable episode describes a trip to the hamam (Turkish baths) with his mother and grandmother that is like a trip to the beach with the servants instructed to prepare hampers of food for the day. Orga writes "She always engaged private room for herself at the hamam; a room for disrobing ... Read review

Advantages: True, powerful, unable to put down.
Disadvantages: Harsh realities of how far behind some parts of the world still are!!

...formed a friendship with the princess whose story she is sharing. Names have been changed and the story although true is in Jean's words due to the serious punishment the Princess would face should it be known she leaked this information. The story is based from the 1970's to the 90's but is still very much a true reflection on what STILL goes on! This story moved me and although it was an emotional read I would recommend this to anyone with an ounce ... Read review

Advantages: Great observation, gentle humour, enjoyable anecdotes
Disadvantages: A little old-fashioned in places

Lady Winifred Fortescue and her rather older husband John move to Provence in the early 1930s, to escape Britain between the wars. This book opens with a delightful chapter describing the building work which they had done on a house they bought in the days when sterling was a strong currency. The workmen are a mixture of French and Italian: hot-tempered and yet loyal, hard-working and yet taking lengthy breaks for every possible reason. Inevitably ...
...arrives long before the house is ready. All the workmen help in the various crises that arise, such as a large olive branch blocking the path, and a wall being knocked down by the huge delivery van. When, at last, the roof is on the house, the entire work-force has a celebration meal with wine and biscuits, music and dancing. 'Perfume from Provence' is a semi-autobiographical account told in the first person by Lady Fortescue. It covers different ... Read review

Advantages: Learn more about another human race
Disadvantages: Anger and frustration at reading how females are treat

...story of the life of Princess Sultana (this is not her real name as she needed to hide her identity) and her fight to gain freedom for women in Saudi Arabia. She is a royal princess from an extended family branch of the Al Sa'ud royal family. What you should bear in mind is that the American author, Jean P Sasson wrote the words but the story is Sultana’s and it was deemed to be very dangerous for Sultana for this story to be told; it could culminate ...
...to read “Princess” first. Princess Sultana has three children; her eldest Abdullah (her only son), daughters Maha and Amani, and is married to Kareem, a handsome royal prince who, by Saudi Arabian standards seems to be a very nice caring husband, not at all like the sex-mad, vile male species that seem to inhabit this land (although later in this book it is revealed that many Egyptians are also like this). I am truly sorry if I am offending anyone ... Read review