Biographies that you've enjoyed

I enjoyed The Adventures of the Crumpsall Kid by Mike Harding - witty, funny and some sad stuff.

Reckless by Chrissie Hynd.

These are more modern autobiographies but worth a read.

Let’s Do It by Jasper Rees. The authorised biography of Victoria Wood. Couldn’t put it down, quite detailed and surprising to read she wasn’t how I envisioned. So very sad at the end.

Rod Stewart was surprisingly good and very entertaining reading...

Alima I don't think that I could bring myself to read it.
I can't even watch dinnerladies anymore.
She was so well loved wasn't she?
She seems to have made a connection with so many women.
RIP Victoria.

I remember my mom commenting that VW wasn't as she expected when she heard her on Desert Island Discs.
That was years ago, Sue Lawley was the presenter.
Incidentally, my mom once spoke to Sue in Wolverhampton M&S. She was very excited! (My mother, how Sue felt is not on record.)

I've just had a look on the BBC website.
Apparently VW was on DID twice.
The first time in 1987 she was interviewed by Michael Parkinson, not Sue Lawley.

Two autobiographies. Actor Gabriel Byrne's Walking with Ghosts and photographer Don McCullin's Unreasonable Behaviour.

The memoirs of the incredible Dame Stephanie Shirley .
Beautifully narrated by herself on audible

www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Go-Extraordinary-Entrepreneur-Philanthropist/dp/0241395496/ref=sr_1_1?hvlocphy=1007158&hvnetw=g&keywords=let+it+go+dame+stephanie+shirley&hvadid=259096974216&qid=1615815029&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIltzFhLSy7wIVju3tCh0s9wzsEAAYASAAEgKSnfD_BwE&hydadcr=18740_1817540&hvdev=t&hvqmt=e&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=kwd-314691490220&adgrpid=54752208218&hvrand=16653115017398671586&sr=8-1

Autobiography: Bring on the Empty Horses (David Niven)

Don’t know about enjoyed but definitely did NOT enjoy a biography of Daphne du Maurier. Sooo boring,

Lucca do you think that we should have a Terrible Book thread?

Excellent plan. With the proviso there must be no mention of any books to do with the current or recent Royal Family!

Problem is remembering......

Okey doke
I must tell you though that I have been toying with the idea of reading Samantha M*****'s book

This is rather an old one - Spreading My Wings. by Diana Barnato Walker. This is the story of a pioneering woman aviator. She worked for the Air Transport Auxiliary during WW2, delivering Spitfires and in 1963 she became the first woman to break the sound barrier. She was a former debutante and her paternal grandfather was a co founder of De Beers. I came across her name after talking with one of my grandchildren about a school project, but I think the book is still in print,

Dame Stephanie Shirley

Lexisgranny that definitely sounds like my cup of Darjeeling!
Thank you

Have very recently listened to both VW Desert Island Disc episodes, well worth it.

Sorry started to speak about Dame Stephanie and then got interrupted ( must have words with him). She was an amazing lady who was educated in my neck of the woods, definitely second that NotaGran.

The second time she chose What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers as her single disc, which delighted me as it's a favourite of mine. I must admit, I don't think that I'd heard of many of her other choices

NotaGran that looks amazing, thank you for the link

Fanny she is a remarkable woman . I am an evangelist about the book , urging everyone I meet to read / listen to it . I’ve mentioned it a couple of times previously on book threads here .

Lexisgranny

Sorry started to speak about Dame Stephanie and then got interrupted ( must have words with him). She was an amazing lady who was educated in my neck of the woods, definitely second that NotaGran.

My mum was in the same year in school as Stephanie in Oswestry. We were meant to go and hear her speak last year, but sadly Covid got in the way.

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, about the women killed by Jack the Ripper is good. I think it counts a biography because it gives detailed accounts of the women's lives and very much proves they weren't sex workers on the whole and that they have been victim blamed all this time. It's not gruesome at all, just really interesting.

I also really enjoyed Paul O'Grady's autobiographies - literally cried laughing at some parts. Just cried at others.