My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) From her childhood in Islington, where she was often left to fend for herself, to success in theatre and film, actor, writer and director Kathy Burke tells her own story in this occasionally heart-breaking but often hilarious account of her life. From difficult beginnings to her first…
Category: Acting
‘Habeas Corpus’ by Jake Needham
My Review (5 stars out of 5) While staying in a borrowed house on Malibu’s Carbon Beach, burned-out Virginia divorce lawyer Charlie Trust is all set to spend the next few months drinking beer and watching the sunset. Then a plea for help from a neighbour puts him in a difficult position. TV actor Martin…
‘Story of a Murder’ by Hallie Rubenhold
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) The story of legendary wife-murderer Dr Crippen, told with an emphasis on his victim and the women who knew and worked with her. When music hall artiste Belle Elmore disappears from her north London home, the Music Hall Ladies’ Guild want to know why. Pestering the police…
‘Chasing Her Shadow’ by Joy Mutter
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Actor Wilhelm Schreiber lives in London with his Italian wife and their sons. But the growing rivalry between siblings Wolfgang and Conrad, soon takes a dangerous turn. I’ve read most of this author’s books so am familiar with her penchant for those classic literary themes, murder and lust.…
‘A Divided Life’ by Bryan Forbes
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Writer, director, and actor Bryan Forbes has contributed much to British film-making, and in this informative autobiography he recounts insights into the industry, including his time as head of production for EMI at Elstree. I’ve long been a fan of Bryan Forbes as an actor and director, though…
‘Hag-Seed’ by Margaret Atwood
My Review (4 stars out of 5) Theatre director Felix loves working at the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival. Planning a ground-breaking production of The Tempest, he suddenly finds himself booted out by the treacherous Tony. Relegated to living in a wooden shack, Felix is provoked by thoughts of vengeance, and haunted by memories of his dead…
‘Berserker’ by Adrian Edmondson
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Writer, comedian, and actor Adrian Edmondson tells his own story from his schooldays, through The Comedy Store, anarchic sit-coms The Young Ones and Bottom, to more serious work. Charting his long comedy partnership with Rik Mayall, Ade also investigates his (possibly Scandinavian) heritage, discusses the Jacobite Rebellion of…
‘Masquerade: The Lives of Noel Coward’ by Oliver Soden
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) As a playwright, Noel Coward is best known for his most popular stage plays ‘Private Lives’, ‘Hay Fever’ and ‘Blithe Spirit’, though he wrote many works that are largely unfamiliar to the theatre-going public. He also wrote novels, screenplays and serious and comic songs, such as ‘Mad…
‘Did I Ever Tell You This?’ by Sam Neill
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) During 2022, Ireland-born Sam Neill began making a few notes which eventually became a book. This is the story of his life from doing odd jobs on farms to working with the likes of Meryl Streep, Isabel Adjani, Sean Connery, Steven Spielberg and Jane Campion. Sam Neill…
‘Forever Young’ by Hayley Mills
My Review (4 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Actress Hayley Mills recounts her journey from an untroubled childhood in post-war Britain, to worldwide fame as a child actor. Coming from a well-known theatrical family (John Mills, Juliette Mills etc), she got to know a host of famous actors, writers and directors, including Walt Disney, Bryan…
Colin Garrow 