Biography Books > U Biography Books

Advantages: A real eye opener
Disadvantages: Not for the faint hearted

I probably have every new book that comes out that tells a story of childhood abuse and neglect, but this is one of the most compelling story that I have read that come under that genre umbrella. We think that children of our generation are sometimes missed from the loop when it comes to abuse and neglect, but this is what I would call scraping the bottom of the barrel and takes place in the 60's. The story pulls the heartstrings, as does every ...
...but the difference with this story is that the author Peter, was pictured (that picture is shown on the cover) headed up the NSPCC campaign at that time, he was two years old. And then they just forgot about him, albeit the lady that was present at the time, but she never attempted to contact him, he approached her many many years later. Infact Peter didn't even recognise himself in this picture. But read the book, it doesn't just stop at being ... Read review

Advantages: an interesting and in depth read
Disadvantages: can sometimes be overwhelmed by the information

Jackk Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion in history, at a time when ‘drawing the colour line’ (the refusal of white heavyweights to fight black contenders) he took the title, amongst fear and hatred from both black and white communities alike. Fear and hatred from the white communities as they felt that they were the master race, and that a black man shouldn’t be able to beat someone who was white. Hatred from the black community as ...
...man should, as was blamed for years after for holding back the progression of black men in boxing. Jack Johnson was a one off. A man a head of his time, he was not into boxing just for the money as other heavyweights champions would claim, but for the fame and adulation as well. At a time when black men were hung for being suspected of having just having an ‘interest’ in a white woman, Jack Johnson married three, causing a huge furore over the first ... Read review

Advantages: Will last you a long time! Entertaining, humourous, and poignant.
Disadvantages: Not a quick read.

...of Bennett's life. Sections include: Untold Stories; Written on the Body; Seeing Stars; Diaries 1996-2004; Theatre & Plays; Radio & TV; Art, Architecture and Authors; and Ups & Downs. Another useful feature of the book is an index - many keywords which feature throughout the book are noted with page references for easy referral. People, places, and motifs are included. Alan Bennett - Untold Stories ISBN: 0-571-22831-3 Faber and Faber; Profile ... Read review

Advantages: A gripping story of determination
Disadvantages: I can't think of one!

This is not the sort of book i would normally choose to read but a friend insisted i should give it a whirl, being open minded i did and boy am i glad i did! This truly inspirational story of a child that defied all the odds and made good. It sounds like sentimental clap trap i know... that's what i thought but it's anything but. Constance Briscoe is bought up in a large family where she is humilated, beliitled, shamed and abused by her Mother and ...
...and just when she feels she has no purpose in life a Barrister visits her school and inspires Constance of what she could achieve. With no support from her family, left home alone to fend for herself at just 13 years old. Constance driven by her ambition proves to the world exactley what she is capable of. This is a true story. It isn't for the faint hearted, there are chapters that are harrowing and extremely graphic. It will leave you with nothing ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting
Disadvantages: nothing

Kim Woodburn is best known for the being the bossy person on "How clean is your house? As you can guess by the title of the book it is about her Brutal childhood. Kim was bought up by her violent mother as her father was often away as he was in the Royal Marines. Kim was the second child, another daughter. Her parents made her feel that she had disappointed them from the start as she was not a boy (obviously they must have wanted a son). Her mother ...
...friend, they ended up having seven children together. Kim left home at the age of sixteen and went to live with her father, their relationship as father and daughter was not very good. By 1966 she was living in the house of a lady whose daughter was at drama school (this daughter played the role of Suzie Birchall in coronation street in the 70's and later went on to play Suzie Birchall in Coronation Street in the 1970. Later Kim had been encouraged ... Read review