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: Autobiography
‘They Have Their Exits’ by Airey Neave
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Long before he became a senior member of Thatcher’s Government and his subsequent assassination by the IRA, Airey Neave had a distinguished war record. Taken prisoner in 1940, he made several escape attempts and was one of the few British prisoners to successfully make a ‘home-run’ from Colditz…
‘Before and Laughter’ by Jimmy Carr
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Comedian Jimmy Carr’s autobiography is part memoir, part self-help and gives an insight into his outlook, background and overall view on life, the universe and everything. Stuck in a boring day job he made the leap into comedy, gathering useful tips and advice along the way. …
‘Old Rage’ by Sheila Hancock
My Review (5 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Actor and writer Sheila Hancock writes about her life from (and before) 2016, recalling incidents from her childhood, her long acting career and her marriage to actor John Thaw. But she also talks a lot of about politics, Covid, lockdown, racism and the difficulties of getting old.…
‘The Best of Me’ by David Sedaris
My Review (5 stars out of 5) This is a collection of David Sedaris’s best stories. From the absurd and the bizarre, to the touching and profound, we learn about his family, his relationships, and his often-hilarious insights into the human condition. I’ve read several of this author’s books already so, unsurprisingly, some of these…
‘Earth to Moon’ by Moon Unit Zappa
My Review (4 stars out of 5) (Audiobook) Oldest daughter of musician Frank Zappa and his wife Gail, Moon Zappa tells the story of her life from childhood to adulthood. She delves into her film career, her sudden celebrity status following her inclusion on one of her father’s records, and her often bizarre relationship with…
‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Cheryl Strayed’s story of an 1100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail that helped her to rebuild her life after her divorce and the death of her mother. From the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State, Cheryl faced everything from rattlesnakes and bears, to…
‘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…
‘A Woman of No Importance’ by Sonia Purnell
My Review (5 stars out of 5) In September 1941, a young American woman posing as a journalist arrived in Vichy, France. Her task was to work with the French resistance to sabotage, upset, and divert the Nazi invaders. By 1942 the Gestapo were hot on her heels, but Virginia Hall continued to slip through…
‘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…
Colin Garrow 