Biography Books > L Biography Books > P

Advantages: Did not need pictures to visualize the catastrophic event
Disadvantages: Not long enough

KarenUk obviously has no idea what it feels like to have 100+ stories of a building fall on top of her and survive. It's ok though, you watched it from TV. I simply do not understand how someone can criticize an author for writing about an event they lived through with styles and techniques that only experienced writers over years of practice may be lucky to obtain. He tells it like it is and that's why I loved this book. He is a firefighter, NOT ...
..."said" and thought instead of sugar coating it. It truly gave a sense of realism. In addition, I loved how "Pitch" listed all the Firefighters who sadly perished. It really touched home. I also had the pleasure of meeting this man and hearing the full story from him. It was the saddest and quickest hour or so of my life. I am truly proud to have shaken the hand of this man and raised a drink in honor to him and will forever remember him as well as ... Read review

Advantages: Unusual biographical portrait, offers fascinating insights into seventeenth century life, references to sources used
Disadvantages: Factual detail may not be appreciated by all

If Jeffrey Hudson had been born in the current age, his condition would have been diagnosed within the first year of his life. He would have received treatment, perhaps in the form of injections of growth hormones, and in all probability grown up to be a “normal” healthy boy. Whether his character would have been such that he would still have been earmarked for distinction can only be a subject of speculation. As it was, however, Jeffrey was born ...
...a “Rarity of Nature”, little understood but guaranteed to attract attention wherever he went, would prove to be his passport to an extraordinary life. At seven years of age his height was just eighteen inches, and he remained under two foot tall well into adulthood. In “Lord Minimus”, Nick Page has carefully pieced together his life story from the evidence that survives, providing a highly readable narrative with ample references to source materials ... Read review

Advantages: the only biography of Leonard Warren
Disadvantages: poorly edited, useless index, lack of objectivity.

When Leonard Warren died on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in 1960 he was already acknowledged as one of America's greatest operatic stars. In the four decades since hsi death this is the first biography devoted to him. It is a pity it isn't worth of its subject. Rather than being an objective book of Warren's life and art, this book is liitle more than a poorly edited collection of family recollections. The omissions are as glaring as ...
...but none but the anonymous 1940 sessions make the book. Warren performed once with Toscanini, the final act of RIGOLETTO. Yet the book is silent of why he was apparently never asked to perform again with the most famous conductor of the era. The index looks more like a draft than a finished part of the book and even lacks an entry for "Warren, Leonard"! Are future researchers expected to read through the book to find details (what few there are)? ... 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