Biography Books > S Biography Books > less than 5 GBP

Advantages: Great story
Disadvantages: I guess you have to like Steele or Sarf London

...Tommy Hicks was born in Bermondsey in 1936. There is some history of Bermondsey and the London borough of Southwark, and in the tradition of the best memoirs this is also a biography of the wider family. Steele includes considerable details of his parents' early poverty, jobs and bereavements. His grandmother was an illegal bookie's runner, father Darbo was a racing tipster, tic-tac man and doorman at a dodgy 'nightclub', and his mother was a tin-basher ...
...account of growing up in Bermondsey before and during the war with its dangers, and the fatal illnesses of three small siblings. A couple of odd, quasi-supernatural encounters are related in a matter-of-fact manner, so the reader can take or leave them. Steele was a bright lad, and admits he always liked being the centre of attention, entertaining his family, sending off 'thrillers' for Enid Blyton's advice, and performing Danny Kaye-ish routines ... Read review

Advantages: Gripping
Disadvantages: Can't believe everything you read

...I begin the journey of Fred and Rose West which begins with a look at his unnatural childhood. Some of the details are perhaps too mucky for a family website like this but suffice to say that Fred's mother provided him with his first sexual experience and his father taught him how to use farmyard animals as whores. I felt physically sick as I read the initmate details and it put me right off the shepherds pie they served on the aeroplane. Right ...
...spree starts early on as Fred bumps off his first wife and her baby. They end up in the ground. Fred is also a sexual deviant who is obsessed with female bodies of all ages. But not just obsessed like most men because he takes it much further. When he finally meets Rose they embark upon a reign of murder that has epic proportions. A series of teenage girls and young women are dragged off the streets and are subjected to torture in the bowels of 25 ... Read review

Advantages: Wonderful writing, beautiful feel good book
Disadvantages: Do we believe him?

OK, time to open up the where are they now file.... Chris Stewart got his big break in the late 1960s when he ws invited to join the rock band Genesis. Peter Gabriel was the band's first drummer but he decided that he wanted to concentrate on the vocals and so Chris Stewart was offered the opportunity. His stint was short-lived, however - only a matter of a few months and when it was suggested he was surplus to requirements, Chris followed his parents ...
...might think that perhaps he was a little hasty...not only have Genesis been one of the biggest rock bands in the world, but their individual members have all gone on to enjoy huge solo success. Reading "Driving Over Lemons", though, I shouldn't think Chris Stewart has any regrets about giving up the fickle world of rock stardom at the tender age of seventeen. Chris's life is now that of a farmer in one of the most picturesque spots in Europe, high ... Read review

Advantages: Informative, a must for G N R fans
Disadvantages: None

...read' for any fans of Guns N Roses or anyone who wants to know a bit more about those guys who wrote 'November Rain'. Paul Stenning gives an in depth portrayal of how 'five of the most ragtag urchins' met and formed a unique and amazing band. Charting their early rehersals and song writing,as well as a liberal sprinkling of 'extra curricular activities' this unauthorised biography takes us through the hits that became 'Appetite for Destruction' and ...
...it interesting to read the inspriration behind some of the hits, for example Slash messing about on the guitar became the riff for 'Sweet Child Of Mine' while 'Right Next Door To Hell' was a reference to some of Axl's unfortunate neighbours. There is plenty of information from Axl's early childhood which gives an insight into his later mental state. While most of his lyrics are deep and heartfelt, they range paradoxically from beautiful, through ... Read review

Advantages: It's certainly enlightening!
Disadvantages: Might offend some people.

Please note, Ciao's product description "Intuition is not some magical property..." is not for this book, thanks to Jesi for pointing this out! Introduction Conscious of the fact that my supply of books was starting to get a bit low, I picked some random books off the charity book list at work (for 25p each). Normally I check books out on Amazon first to see what they're about, but I took a chance with this one as it was in the autobiography ...
...my hard earned cash! Getting the book When I received "Confessions of a Working Girl" I took one look at the cover and thought "Chick Lit" (you can see the picture!). I'm not a girly girl I have to say, and rarely read the 'chick lit' genre, so I was initially a bit apprehensive. However, on reading the blurb on the back I was assured that it was a true story, so was fairly eager to get stuck in. The Book Itself The book is set ... Read review