Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion

Here is a place to post what you are reading and see if someone would like to read along with you.

I'll start. I'm reading John Adams by David McCullough. Would anyone like to read it along with me?

When I finish the John Adams book (which won't be for a while yet) I am going to start the new Barack Obama book A Promised Land. Anyone interested in reading along with that one?

Cal wrote: "Yes I’d like to read A Promised Land and it suits me to be in a while too."

I'm thinking I will be starting the book about the beginning or middle of February. Does that work?

Cal wrote: "Koren wrote: "Cal wrote: "Yes I’d like to read A Promised Land and it suits me to be in a while too."

I'm thinking I will be starting the book about the beginning or middle of February. Does that ..."

I know. Sometimes I get 4 going at once and wonder how I let that happen.

One of my librarian friends told me her husband gave her A Promised Land as a Christmas present, but she got him to take it back, because she hates reading about American politics.

He swapped it for two books on New Zealand politicians instead.

I'm planning on reading the following if anyone else is interested in famous singer memoirs -

The Meaning of Mariah Carey
Impossible: My Story by Stan Walker
The Dreamer: An Autobiography by Cliff Richard

Selina wrote: "One of my librarian friends told me her husband gave her A Promised Land as a Christmas present, but she got him to take it back, because she hates reading about American politics.
..."

I can certainly understand not wanting to read about politicians from other countries.

I dont care for Mariah Carey and I've never heard of the other two so I will pass this time. Maybe next time.

Yes well I'm not a big fan of politics in general especially if the book is really fat.

Sorry Obama. Even though I read his other two books. lol
I have no idea who John Adams is.

Mariah Carey was an absolutely massive star in the 90s when I was a teen. If anybody could out-sing Whitney Houston, it was Mariah. If you had any singing chops, you would definitely attempt to mimic MC.

Stan Walker is a kiwi singer who made it big on the Idol show.

Cliff Richard is UK's answer to Elvis Presley. He's pretty old now though. Still a bachelor boy though, which is his most famous song.

Selina wrote: "Yes well I'm not a big fan of politics in general especially if the book is really fat.

Sorry Obama. Even though I read his other two books. lol
I have no idea who John Adams is.

Mariah Carey w..."

John Adams was our second president after George Washington.

I think Mariah Carey has a fantastic voice and was a favorite at one time but she really turned me off when she was an American Idol judge. She really thinks she is a diva. If I see her book at the library I will give it a try.

Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "Yes well I'm not a big fan of politics in general especially if the book is really fat.

Sorry Obama. Even though I read his other two books. lol
I have no idea who John Adams is.
..."
Funny obviously not as well known as the first President!
I don't even know who the first NZ prime ministers were. I only know the ones that were in my lifetime. NZ history wasn't really taught when I was in school.

I think this may change though when it becomes part of the curriculum. We only have about 200 years or so of written history, though Maori landed here about 800 years ago and have oral history.

Up till then, in some schools English history was taught, and people were expected to know all the dates and names of all the kings and queens.

Concerning Mariah, I recall she had a breakdown at some stage, though her diva antics are well known. Though I haven't followed her throughout, it will be interesting to learn about how she got started and her take on fame and fortune. I didn't know she was an Idol Judge. I haven't watched or followed it since Paula Abdul was one. Then Ellen became one but I don't know why as Ellen can't sing and never was involved in the music industry so not sure why she qualified as a judge!

Selina wrote: "Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "Yes well I'm not a big fan of politics in general especially if the book is really fat.

Sorry Obama. Even though I read his other two books. lol
I have no idea who Jo..."

I totally forgot about Ellen being an Idol judge. Mariah was only a judge for one year. Apparently her and Nicki Manaj ( spelling error I know) were mortal enemies and both quit after the first year.

As far as English queens and kings, I know when I watch Jeopardy there are some people that know them but it amazes me how people remember all those numbers after the names.

Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "Koren wrote: "Selina wrote: "Yes well I'm not a big fan of politics in general especially if the book is really fat.

Sorry Obama. Even though I read his other two books. lol
I have..."

Well I'll read her book and find out what she has to say about that period of her life. In NZ, our own Idol ran for just three seasons.
Stan Walker won the last season of Australian Idol, even though he's a New Zealander and grew up here. I don't really know that much about him really, he just made it quite big, starred in some movies and became a celeb. That doesn't happen very often to NZers in the music world. You get more fame being a rugby player.

Ok. Here's what I want you guys to do if you want to do a buddy read. Start a new thread with the name of the book you want to read in the title box. Put the date that you are going to start reading the book and wait to see if anyone responds that they want to read with you. Of course, others can comment or start at any time. I'll start one so you can see what it looks like.

None of my proposed buddy read books have come in yet, still waiting to read them.

Selina wrote: "None of my proposed buddy read books have come in yet, still waiting to read them."

Let me know when you are ready to start the Mariah Carey book and I will see if I can get it from the library.

Selina wrote: "None of my proposed buddy read books have come in yet, still waiting to read them."

I put myself on the wait list for the Mariah Carey book. I'm first on the list so I may be starting it before you, Selina.

I'm now number 10 on waitlist, so might be a couple of weeks yet.

Selina wrote: "I'm now number 10 on waitlist, so might be a couple of weeks yet."

No problem. I'll start a discussion when I get the book and you can join in whenever.

Good news Mariah Carey book has just come in.
I'm reading something else at the moment, but when I finish that it will be my next book!

Selina wrote: "Good news Mariah Carey book has just come in.
I'm reading something else at the moment, but when I finish that it will be my next book!"

Ok. I'll start a new discussion for the buddy read "The Meaning Of Mariah Carey".

Well the Mariah Carey buddy read was fun. I expect it probably won't be the last book on her since Roc and Roe are yet to grow up and give their tell-all spin on having a diva singer for a mother.
One surprise I got from it was Mariah's adoration of Marilyn Monroe. I suppose this is where she gets her 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend' look from.

What's next on the list? My other books haven't come in yet. How about one on Aretha Franklin?

Aretha sounds interesting. Tell me what you have and I will see if the library has it and if not maybe we can read two different books and see how they compare.

Well surprisingly there's no recent full length bio in my library only some children's ones. I'll read them but the one I'm interested in is called
Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin by David Ritz

It's 520 pages and was published in 2014.

Selina wrote: "Well surprisingly there's no recent full length bio in my library only some children's ones. I'll read them but the one I'm interested in is called
[book:Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin|20980..."

My library has it. Not sure if I want to tackle such a large book. How long before you start?

Library says it's in transit so I can start when I pick it up. I'll see if its big print or something, sometimes that bulks out the pages, usually the last 50 or so pages are indexes, bibliography, references etc.

I am daunted when a book is 700 or more pages.

There's another one Aretha Franklin, The Queen Of Soul by Mike Bego thats 340 pages published 1989

Otherwise there's various pictorial bios.

Her autobiography is called Aretha: From These Roots but my library doesn't have it.

I was able to request the David Ritz book. Like you, I will see what it's like when it gets here. The older I get the less I like small print.

I can still handle it (small print) but I don't like it either.
I notice with children's books its the same.
I look at a sea of text and think 'they are not gonna read that'.

Otherwise try this one Aretha Franklin part of the Little People Big Dreams series of bios for young readers. They are pretty cute.

It's now in so I am going to pick it up this week.

It seems to have positive reviews on Goodreads.

Ok the bio is pretty fat and got 482 pages (not including end matter) but it looks pretty comprehensive. There are five parts to it and 39 chapters.

So maybe could read it in chunks if you want. I'll read it anyway but if you would rather read a shorter bio on Aretha that's fine.

Selina wrote: "Ok the bio is pretty fat and got 482 pages (not including end matter) but it looks pretty comprehensive. There are five parts to it and 39 chapters.

So maybe could read it in chunks if you want. ..."

It's not here from the library. I will see when it comes.

I started a post as I've started reading it but I haven't given any spoilers -- I think if you don't know much about Aretha there will be a lot to find out from this bio.

The text isn't too small in my hardback edition.

If you can get Aretha: From These Roots which is much shorter, it would be interesting to compare. It's ghostwritten by the same biographer.

Selina wrote: "The text isn't too small in my hardback edition.

If you can get Aretha: From These Roots which is much shorter, it would be interesting to compare. It's ghostwritten by the same biog..."


Just picked up the book at the library. The print is pretty large so I think it will be fine. Will start when I finish the James Herriot bio I'm reading now, probably in a day or two. I also picked up a bio on Carol Bayer Sager. If you're not familiar with the name I'm sure you've heard many of the songs she has written.

Selina wrote: "The text isn't too small in my hardback edition.

If you can get Aretha: From These Roots which is much shorter, it would be interesting to compare. It's ghostwritten by the same biog..."

So far have only read the preface. Interesting how the author explained how the first book he wrote about her was all her words and she had to approve it but this book is a biography and he decided she did not get to approve or disapprove anything in it.

Look forward to hearing your take on it Koren.

I guess this is why unauthorised bios exist.

I hadn't heard of Carol Bayer Sager, I looked in wikipedia - I know just a handful of her songs. It's interesting in the music biz of all the songwriters, background singers, session players there are who are on a heap of records but don't get the credit because they aren't the main vocalist. But when you listen to a song sometimes you might be listening to an entire team of musicians. A lot goes into making a 'hit'.

I think I will give celeb musician bios a rest for now! The others haven't come in yet but I want to read about someone different. Not a politician or artist.

I was thinking Thomas Edison might be interesting. An inventor or engineer this time?

Selina wrote: "I think I will give celeb musician bios a rest for now! The others haven't come in yet but I want to read about someone different. Not a politician or artist.

I was thinking Thomas Edison might b..."

I don't think I would be interested but perhaps some others might be. Anyone interested?

Staying with the topic of inventors...I do have this one I have been wanting to read...

The Wright Brothers

Richard Pearse is New Zealands' equivalent, some claim he invented flight before the Wright Brothers did.

Another aviator who I haven't read much about but heard was really famous was Jean Batten. She was the first to fly solo somewhere. Not sure why, but she was called the 'Garbo of the Skies'.

Anyone reading about the British Royal family, particularly Queen Elizabeth 2? I think maybe to be objective bios probably need to be published after the subjects death, but I don't know if we will see a rash of bios published on Prince Phillip now.

I'm just reading one now that's not really a bio but is quite interesting called Long Live the Queen: 23 Rules for Living from Britain's Longest-Reigning Monarch by Brian Kazlowski

hmm upon reading the rules don't know if they can apply to us ordinary mortals.

Here's one of them

Rule 22. Be a jar of Marmite, always open to change

?!

Cliff Richard bio has come in, so if anybody is interested in him I will be reading that in a few days.

I'm a bit curious about his faith journey over the years. And of course what being a bachelor is like in his old age, as he famously never married, a bit like Kylie Minogue. I guess it means he stays forever young in some ways.

My other Stan Walker book has also come in.

I don't think anyone is interested, but I'll be reading them anyway. I won't put it into Buddy Reads though when it's just me.

Otherwise... I can't think of anyone else at the moment.....

Selina wrote: "My other Stan Walker book has also come in.

I don't think anyone is interested, but I'll be reading them anyway. I won't put it into Buddy Reads though when it's just me.

Otherwise... I can't th..."

Sorry, I have no idea who he is. I think it's funny how you know so many American singers but I don't know any Australian singers. Although I love Keith Urban but I think he might be more of an American singer. I don't know if he is popular in Australia but if he comes out with a bio I would love to read it.

Do you know....Kylie Minogue?
Although any bio on her will be incredibly dated lol. But then she's forever young too.

Selina wrote: "Do you know....Kylie Minogue?
Although any bio on her will be incredibly dated lol. But then she's forever young too."

I've heard the name but I don't really know who she is.

Because the soap opera Neighbours never screened in the US, it's likely you don't know who Kylie Minogue is...
Only the most famous Australian singer who's sold 70 million records worldwide, and apparently is a Dame now. She's been knighted by the Queen!

First single was a cover of Little Eva's Locomotion back in the 1980s. Sang lots of Stock Aitken Waterman songs. Named the singing budgie. Wore gold hot pants. Went out with Michael Hutchence of INXS. Got breast cancer, but survived. Sorta gay icon. Known for wearing wonder bras. Was a blonde Pop Princess before Britney Spears was born. Taylor Swift would probably be Kylie's equivalent in the US.

Now reading the Cliff Richard bio. He's in his 80s.
I am sure I must have read a memoir of his before when he was younger. Actually there are several.

I'm sure I've read this one too You Me & Jesus:
He's my Dad's generation - the baby boomers who always listened to Rock n' Roll and never gave it up. I like reading about what life was like as a teen in the 50s and 60s. It was another world.

Koren
What I know of Keith Urban is he's married to Nicole Kidman.
Would you be interested to read a bio of Nicole Kidman? If there is one.