Biography Books > C Biography Books > R

Advantages: honest, well balanced, written from the heart autobiography
Disadvantages: none

There cannot be many people who have heard of Royston Vasey although his alter ego, Roy "Chubby" Brown is well known to millions and there's no doubt many will have an opinion of him. I would wager that there are few people who sit on the fence where Chubby is concerned. He is very much an acquired taste and never makes any apologies for this. You will either love him or hate him. For the uninitiated, Chubby is a stand up comedian who operates very ...
...times) in terms of his act, which has seen him banned on TV but who has a huge, cult following in both clubland and via his DVD sales. When I saw his book recently on a buy one get one half price offer at WH Smiths I thought I would buy it on the basis there are bound to be one or two laughs within it so thought it a worthwhile purchase to while away some time around the pool on my impending holiday. I was expecting the usual fare that seems to ... Read review

Advantages: Told with honesty, without aiming to be emotive
Disadvantages: None

Chickenhawk is a frank account of the life of an army helicopter pilot, from his time in basic training until the end of his time in Vietnam. Robert Mason writes with great skill about his personal experiences and is not afraid to be brutally honest. As a result, Chickenhawk is a wonderful and refreshing read. Mason gives some wonderful insights into every detail of both army life and helicopter piloting. He explains the physics behind keeping ...
...then until I discovered Chickenhawk and it's reignited the love of non-fiction in me again. I was given the book by a friend so I'm afraid I cannot comment on price or availability as I've had no first hand experience. I believe he bought it from the internet. ... 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