Biography Books > E Biography Books

Advantages: Based on a true story
Disadvantages: Maybe a bit too short

It's based on a true story about a man who is forced to put his children into care when his wife leaves him for another man. At the time he can't afford to find someone to help home mind the children and go to work so he has to put them into care. They are separated, however the five boys stay together and the eldest of the six, Evelyn, goes to a convent. It is Evelyn who is telling us her side of the story in this book. In the first few chapters ...
...was still around and how life was when she left. I think what I didn't like about the book was that there just isn't enough background information into their life before her mother left. There are a few memories but they seem to be picked randomly and I didn't really find a connection that would be some sort of explanation as to why her mother left. Ok, maybe there was no one thing that made her mother leave or her mother never tells her (she got ... Read review

Advantages: Gripping and interesting
Disadvantages: None apparent

"Every generation has its one defining moment. We are yours." Or so says Nicky Wire. He has a point - the Manics have certainly made their mark on pop culture, and whether you love 'em or hate 'em, you have to give them their due. Composed of ten analytical essays, this is an exhaustive biography of the band, written by a friend and devoted fan of the Manics. In the author's introduction, however, Price confesses that Nicky read some of the book ...
...some minor." It's slightly annoying that you don't know what these errors are, but it's honest of the author to admit this. Nevertheless, this book makes for a gripping read on one of the most original and influential bands of the decade. The whole 4-Real incident is painstakingly recorded, accompanied by the terrifying photo in its full colour glory. Also included is an amusing transcript of journalists at the NME deciding whether or not to risk ... Read review

Advantages: Informative, educational, moving first-hand account of the Holocaust
Disadvantages: Would have liked a follow-up section, some apparent innacuracies

...Filip Muller in his book Eyewitness Auschwitz - Three Years in the Gas Chambers. This is the first time I have read someone's first-hand account of working in the gas chambers, and according to this book, he was the only one of the crematorium team to survive and publish his memories. Muller was born in 1922 in Sered, Czechoslovakia and was taken to Auschwitz in April 1942 aged twenty. Being male, young and fit, he was chosen to work in the building ...
...Western Europe in 1969 and Eyewitness Auschwitz was published in 1979. As far as I can tell, Muller is still alive and 85 years old. I can't find a record of his death online anyway. His book is 180 pages long and is split into five chapters, with a glossary and diagrams of the concentration camp and crematorium set up at the end. The first chapter is called No Return and explains how he came to arrive in Auschwitz and his early days there. Into ... Read review

Advantages: Easy to read, inspirational
Disadvantages: Dwells a bit on the sport of cycling but is interesting.

I dont followw current affairs very much and have to admit until I heard about Lance Armstrong on "You me and Dupee" (quite a funny movie). I asked my friends and was interested in finding out a bit more about him, as I am always like to find out what drives people to do things. His story is fantastic he was diagnosed as having cancer in 1996 and with a positive attitute and with educating himself abiout the disease he managed to beat it to a fukll ...
...on to become a world leading athelet winning the tour de france 5 times, amazing. This book is I beleicve his second and tells of his battle to win the forth and fifth tour, telling of the ups and downs crashes, etc. He seems to be a extradinary person who can drive others such as his team mates and other cancer sufferers. Lance is quite modest which is always a benefit in such a high profile sportsman, his approach seems very genuine and straight ... 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