Basic Biography.

Advantages: OK read, interesting in parts
Disadvantages: Nothing special, leaves more out than it reveals I guess.

...For those of you just arrived from the planet Mars ,Paul O'Grady has become pretty well known in recent years. Paul is a much loved English comedian. His fame, especially on television, is established now but I would not have thought that he was really famous enough for a biography. Still, in common with many other celebrities and comedians Paul has published a biography which has been a best seller in the UK. It was one of the books on my husband?s Christmas list so, now that he has finished reading it, I have done the same. I found that although I enjoyed this book it was nothing very special. Written by Neil Simpson with presumably accurate quotes, and the like, from O?Grady it just somehow lacked sparkle. A little background. Paul O?Grady was born on 14th June 1955. Paul O?Grady first gained popular success as Lily Savage...

grafter123 10.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Paul O'Grady: The Biography - Neil Simpson

British Military Fitness

Advantages: Great exercise, very sociable, nice instructors, well priced
Disadvantages: Hard work

...Introduction ************** British Military Fitness for those who have never heard of it before, is, a fitness class that lasts an hour and takes place at different times and places in parks across the UK. I started going in April on the recommendation of a couple of the girls in my hockey team. Our season ends in April and doesn't start again until September so I was looking for something to keep up my fitness levels over the summer months. The first time I attended I went to the class run at 7pm on Clapham Common in London on a Wednesday. I turned up not sure what to expect but knowing from my friends at hockey that it was a tough workout. There were several instructors there; all dressed in their uniform of blue t-shirt or sweater with the BMF logo on it, and their army trousers. I went up to one of them and said I...

Shoka 15.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of British Military Fitness

A Banoffee Pie Biography

Advantages: It's about Jeremy Clarkson
Disadvantages: Spelling mistakes, poor grammar, repetition, bad prose - they all destroy a good read

...familiar faces - not just in the UK but around the world, too - there is much to find fascinating about one man. It should be a great piece of biographical literature. Here it is, then. The book. Jeremy Clarkson - The Biography. And it has to be said that, if I were Clarkson, I'd be a touch embarrassed. It's a bloody shame that it's not an autobiography; a book about himself, by him, would undoubtedly be much more interesting than what we've got: a book about him, written by somebody else. Gwen Russell is, apparently, a successful journalist specialising in the celebrity circuit. Unfortunately, this book does not do her writing talents justice. The prose is clipped and often truncated in the wrong place, it's repetitive to the point of boring and the manuscript appears to have gone unedited or without any proof-reading prior to...

markd_uk 03.11.2006 · Read review
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Review of Jeremy Clarkson: The Biography - Gwen Russell

A Double Fantasy of a biography!

Advantages: Excellent, partly written from personal experience, covers pretty much everything
Disadvantages: Could've chosen a better cover photo, I want more!

...The main advantage of this biography is that Coleman actually knew Lennon. He is honest (sometimes painfully so), but not interested in digging up dirt. He doesn't set out to be controversial, nor does he glorify Lennon and his life: it's all there; the drugs, the affairs, everything. The layout is very comprehensive: it starts with an overview, goes on to a full, detailed and almost-linear account of Lennon's childhood, through the Beatles years, the solo career, the house-husband period and finally his murder. I found it very easy to read and it was detailed without over-analysing. I literally could not put it down - to the point where I spilt an orange alcopop over it because I was trying to pour while reading, there is now an attractive orange stain over some of the pages! Coleman has done his research and peppers it...

DoubleFantasy11 17.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of Lennon: The definitive Biography - Ray Coleman

A military Dilemma

Advantages: an enjoyable read
Disadvantages: not to everybody's taste. Classified as military sci-fi

...This is a novel that has mercenaries as its main protagonists. In this story, set in the same universe as the authors two previous novels, a group of mercenaries are hired to be close personal protection to the president of a nation that is wracked by uncivil, clan and inter tribal wars. Solving the problem would take military action to impose a peace and a statesman to make it permanent. The president could be such a man. He is a man of honour, ethical and capable. This is not to the liking of some of the parties who put him into power and would prefer someone more amenable to their desires for power and profits. If a man has no strings then he cannot be a puppet. Due to bureaucratic mascinations and press spin the president and mercenaries are attacked. Left out on a limb to dry, the mercenaries are more than capable...

Coloneljohn 01.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Better to Beg Forgiveness - Michael Z. Williamson

A Saintly Biography!

Advantages: First time his life has ever been told!
Disadvantages: Emotional and upsetting in parts.

...The title of this book is called My Word is My Bond, and I think that the title is spot on for the person we are reading about. When it was announced the book was to be written I was extremely curious as to how Moore would approach the telling of his life. So you can imagine I was absolutely ecstatic to receive this book at Christmas; to give him his full name. Roger George Moore is one of my favourite actors and to have a published an official biography was a rare treat as the actor prefers to keep his private life to himself. The style of writing is consistent with the manner that Moore would speak to people in normal life, basically as if he was telling a story, and throughout you tend to pick up on the unique way in which the renowned actor has embraced life whether it is a knock back from not receiving a part or the realisation...

Timbo3107 25.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of My Word Is My Bond: The Autobiography - Roger Moore

Death at the Military Academy

Advantages: Super sculptured story and characters
Disadvantages: Nothing

...Martino Military Academy. Commissario Brunetti is called in to investigate this suspicious death in a historically powerful and secretive institution. There is an arrogance about the people that Brunetti struggles with, as information is at a premium and no one willing or able to help him. Even the Post Mortem is not conclusive as it could have been either suicide or murder. Brunetti receives little help from students and teachers alike, they all claim not have known the boy well. But someone must know more than they was saying. Brunetti discovers with the aid of Signorina Elettra (the Secretary at the Police Station) the boy?s father is an ex-politician who very bravely attempted to expose corruption within the committee?s he served on. However he gave up his post two years before when he separated from his wife. Both parents are very...

CPTDANIELS 05.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Uniform Justice - Donna Leon

A Brilliant Bryson Biography

Advantages: Superb detail
Disadvantages: Didn't get bogged down with unimportant material

...Studying English at University and generally having quite an interest in his plays about seeing a couple of them whilst still at secondary school I thought it was about time that I learnt a bit more about the playwright that is William Shakespeare hence my purchase of Bill Bryson?s book ?Shakespeare?. I?m not saying by the above however that I knew nothing about Shakespeare as a person, as I have visited his houses in Stratford and read a couple of all pieces on him or the ?conspiracy theories? surrounding him. I did feel however that I didn?t know enough about his character and due the fact that this book was advertised as ?witty and infectiously enthusiastic? I decided that this was probably going to be my best bet for gaining information without being bored to death by some dry drivel in a historical biography. Bill Bryson...

MI9to5 23.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Shakespeare - Bill Bryson

The Authors Biography

Advantages: Great book dealing with depression
Disadvantages: Some strong language

.... But then there is a bit that I don’t like. I was honestly very upset when the last page of the book came – I wanted the story to go on for ever – I was enjoying it so much. But I didn’t cry and instead just shut the book and got on with my life. This book is great to analyse for the author’s thoughts. Salinger’s Thoughts… I think that without realising, Salinger indirectly wrote his own biography - his life story and all of his thoughts, all compressed in to three days. This may well have depressed him even more, the fact that his whole life’s achievement can actually happen in days. About the Book… The Catcher in the Rye is available in Penguin at £6.99. It has 192 pages and the ISBN number is 0-14-023750-X. It is written by JD Salinger and was first published in 1945. Oh...

danieletheridge 11.01.2002 · Read review
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Review of The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger

The successful funny woman

Advantages: Good, objective biography
Disadvantages: None, really

...While reading this book, it struck me that being one of the nation's funniest people often means there's a desperately unhappy or at least rather troubled soul behind the public face. George Formby, Tony Hancock, Wilfrid Brambell and John Cleese all spring to mind. While Dawn French has generally managed to present a smiling face to the world, this thoughtful biography reveals that she too has been through some difficult times. Born in Anglesey in 1957, she had a happy childhood, although it was overshadowed at times by low esteem due to her generous frame. Fortunately her father took her on one side at the age of fourteen and told her firmly that she had every reason to have confidence in herself. Little did she know at the time that he was battling with his own demons, and after a history of depression he took his own life...

JOHNV 21.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Dawn French: The Unauthorized Biography - Alison Bowyer