Biography Books > T Biography Books > J > less than 5 GBP

Advantages: A graphic tale of child abuse, which is a must read for anyone with a heart
Disadvantages: The emotion evoked is overwhelming

...is upsetting and graphic from the onset. Anyone who has lead a "normal" life will find it hard to grasp how someone can be subject to this type of abuse for such a long period of time. As is mentioned in the book, this was written after Jane Elliott, the author read a Child Called It by Dave Peltzer. Whilst A Child Called It was a horrendous account of child abuse, The Little Prisoner exceeded this a hundred times over. Elliott tells the story ...
...on life. The book is extremely well written and despite the author explaining the reasons it is not in a chronological order, the book flows in lucid detail, leaving the reader in no doubt as to the horrors Jane faced. The graphic explanations are very "matter of fact" and it clearly shows the torture Jane had to endure throughout the years. Not for the fainthearted, this book is a tearjerker and anyone with a heart can see that no child should be ... Read review

Advantages: A wonderful and rare insight into life from someone who knew its true meaning
Disadvantages: It's a sad book.....

Jean Dominique-Bauby, the editor-in-chief of the French magazine Elle, was just 43 on the 8th of December 1995 when his life changed completely. Following a stoke, leaving him with damage to his brain stem, Bauby was left with a condition known as 'locked in syndrome'. Locked-in-syndrome is a thankfully incredibly rare condition which leaves the sufferer unable to move any part of his or her body, excepting the eyelids and unable to speak, whilst ...
...Jean Dominique-Bauby wrote The Diving-bell and the Butterfly after about 18 months into his life as a sufferer of locked-in-syndrome. He dictated the book to his nurse using just one eyelid. This nurse, to whom the book is dedicated, devised a system in which the French alphabet was re-arranged according to use. The nurse read this aloud and Bauby would blink when the letter he required was read aloud. And so, using this system Bauby slowly dictated ... Read review

Advantages: A compelling read
Disadvantages: Sad and emotional

...diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1990's. She came through it and went on to study to become a radiologist. In 1992, she gave birth to her 3rd child, a son called Steven. She already had two children, Suzanne and Rebecca. A few years later the cancer returned. This time she was told that it was terminal. Rather than lying down and facing death, Jane decided to set herself some challenges. Be around for the next Christmas to see the kids open ...
...managed. Once she managed that, the challenges were upped to races - 10k's, marathons, triathlons. Although she hadn't done much in the way of running before, and with the illness even walking a short distance could make her breathless and sore - she managed to compete (and complete) a number of long races, raising money in the process (over £1 million at the time of this book) for cancer charities. This book was written by both Jane and her husband ... Read review

Advantages: detailed
Disadvantages: slow going

This biography of Tony Blair is thorough. It charts his early years and upbringing followed by his time at Oxford when he focused his beliefs on socialism and Christianity. Then his political career is followed and we learn how he had to watch a football match to get his Sedgefield seat! The pictures in the middle of biographies are always good for a laugh and these are no exceptions. See the long haired Blair! This book is an interesting guide to ...
...and is helpful therefore in understanding why he holds some of the beliefs, and follows some of the policies, that he does today. A bit heavy going - but then life stories are always a bit dull - and it will take a dedicated reader to read every single word. Worth reading if you're interested in Labour or politics. ... Read review

Advantages: Very Detailed, nice prictures
Disadvantages: boring, long winded

...paperback copy of the Tommy Cooper biography 'Always Leave Them Laughing: The Definitive Biography of a Comedy Legend' by John Fisher. The book is quite lengthy at 464 pages and like most biographies has a few sections of photographs, in this case they cover the whole of Tommys life from his childhood through to the last weeks of his life. Tommy Copper, despite his outward stage presence, was a shy man but nine the less his life was very interesting ...
...as if cross referencing it so much so it feels like a text book. Yes it does give an insight into the great mans life, but I think the expectation is so high that you assume it will written in a Tommy Copper style and that, sadly it is not. ... Read review