Title: This Much is True Author: Miriam Margolyes Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again) My Bookshelves:Actors, Biographies, Celebrity, Memoirs Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2021
I really struggled to get into this biography – I really, really wanted to like it. But I just, couldn’t. Which was incredibly disappointing. Maybe I’ll try again in the future.
Although I struggled to get into this, I still skim read the whole book and found it well written and humorous. Margolyesis self-deprecating and realistic about her flaws. She’s also quite witty in what she writes.
Honestly, I think that the reason I couldn’t really get into this was because there is a huge gap in lived experience. Yet, it’s still within the same culture, so it’s similar. There wasn’t enough of a gap for this to be a whole new experience, but too much for it to feel familiar. Plus, I seriously can’t relate to wanting to be the centre of attention all the time…
Title: Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries Author: Alan Rickman Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Actors, Biographies, Celebrity, Diary, Memoirs Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2022
I was really looking forward to reading this, so was a little bit disappointed when I found that it wasn’t as easy and enjoyable as I had anticipated. Definitely one of those books that I’ll go back to because it was difficult going and I felt like I missed a whole lot of details as I turned the pages.
One of the things that I only realised about halfway through reading this was the fact that you really need to read the footnotes. Or understand the social and political layout of Rickman’sworld at the time. I finally managed to understand a whole lot more of what was going on once I started to actually click on the footnotes and connect the different people that Rickmanwas actually talking to.
For all that this was a difficult biography / diary to read, it was an enjoyable one too. Particularly late at night. Because I had to concentrate quite hard on the words, I found that I actually was able to fall asleep pretty comfortably at the close of each section. The perfect tale to read as a wind down at the end of a long day.
The thing that I got the most out of reading this though? That Rickmanwas a kind, giving man with a brilliant English wit. One that I know the world sorely misses.
Title: Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing Author: Matthew Perry Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Actors, Addiction, Biographies, Celebrity, Memoirs Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2022
I’m not going to lie, I’d been warned before reading this that it was fairly self-indulgent and narcissistic. And I’m really glad that I was warned. As much as I enjoyed reading this, I did not enjoy the author. I mean, good lord man, you’d think that this was written by a petulant teenager, not a grown-ass man who has had a phenomenal career.
One of the reasons that I picked this up was because I was really interested in the pathway and experiences of Hollywood. I’ve read a few memoirs and biographies of different actors lately. And they all have vastly different experiences, but all have that one thing in common – they have a really, really lucky break. Again, I enjoyed other memoirs a whole lot more because they weren’t so damn whiney and negative.
I’ve also read a lot of memoirs written by those who have to deal with addiction as an aspect of their daily lives. Again, it is ridiculous how self-indulgent Perryis. I mean, yes, it’s a horrible disease. But, as an adult and someone who is serious about recovery, you really need to concentrate on what you can change and do. He just focuses on the fact that he’s been dealt a shitty hand (haven’t we all?). As a family member with someone who is self-indulgent and has issues with addiction, I can attest that having that kind of attitude really doesn’t help.
Look, this was an interesting read, and one that I don’t regret. But, it is also not one that I would suggest for anyone who looks upon Matthew Perry with rose-coloured glasses. Or wants to know heaps about his Friends days. Neither of these things happen. Worth reading, but not one that I would read again with any kind of excitement.
Title: Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard Author: Tom Felton Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Biographies, Celebrity, Memoirs Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2022
I, like I’m sure many others, just bought this because I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter. And, as we are all bombarded with the cast’s growth over the years, I’m actually pretty impressed with how they’ve all grown up in the spotlight. Plus, Tom Felton is one of those rare actors who managed to make a truly detestable character really sympathetic. And quotable, but that’s a whole other story. All in all, it meant that when I realised that this was a novel that existed, I was over the moon and very quickly added it to my bookshelf.
This novel starts with a truly beautiful forward by Emma Watson. It highlights the bond that they’ve built as they’ve grown and the truly meaningful friendship that they share. Straight up, you realise that there is an honesty and sweetness to their bond, and whilst Emma doesn’t feature heavily in Tom’s memoir, when he talks about her, you can see that that respect goes both ways. The kind of friendship that people dream of.
Felton is irrevocably honest, grateful and after reading this, I kind of want to be his friend. He doesn’t flinch from his mistakes and the challenges he’s faced in his past. There is no shying away from some of his dumber mistakes, and a kind of silent pride in his finer moments. Felton is able to look at the past through a lens of humour and acceptance that is seriously hard to come by as an adult.
Rather than being written in chronological order, Beyond the Wand jumps around the timeline, with each chapter having an underlying theme. Or a central story that then feeds into other, smaller tales. I love that I had no idea of what to expect with each chapter. I mean, the witty titles give you a bit of a hint, but then I mostly just got distracted by how witty the titles are. And then I’d get distracted by the wit in Felton’s retellings.
Although I couldn’t stop thinking about this, I also took quite a while to read this. Mostly because I really didn’t want this experience to be over. It’s an amazing journey that gave me a whole lot more insight into the filming of Harry Potter and what it was like growing up on screen. But, it was also about family and friends and the people you need to get through the most difficult moments of your life.
Title: The Mapmaker’s Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon Author: Robert Whitaker Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Biographies, History, Science, Strong women Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2004
This is an incredibly intense story, one that I completely fell in love with and enjoyed. It’s almost two stories in one, truth be told, but it’s still an epic journey. Well, two epic journeys. With a lot of backstory and a number of political implications and social nuances in fact, Whitaker manages to not know tell the tale of Isabella and Jean, but also a whole set of scientific breakthroughs, political battles and social norms which have changed throughout time.
To start with, I really just wanted to know about Isabella’s journey across the Amazon. That is still a feat that I think is amazing today, to do it on the 1800’s is a whole other, unbelievable story. A journey that literally killed all of her companions was survived, all for the sake of a man that she hadn’t seen for 20 years. A love story in a time that didn’t necessarily put a premium on love.
Although it was Isabella’s story that I was looking forward to, I got pretty stuck into Jean’s story. The idea of a scientific endeavour to prove the theory of gravity and how that effects the equator is intense in and of itself. But then, to add to that, there is murder, espionage, and a whole slew of other scientific discoveries. Some of which I remember using a little during my university degree.
This is an incredibly factual memoir, but one that is also highly emotional. Whitaker hits that perfect balance between facts and emotion when writing about the past. He also provides a great epilogue at the end which shows how everyone lived out the rest of their lives. A wonderful read that I look forward to picking up again in the future.
Title: A Woman in the Polar Night Author: Christiane Ritter Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Biographies, Memoirs, Nature Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 1938
A Woman in the Polar Night is a stunning and incredibly emotive memoir. I can see how it is a popular classic. Ritter’s writing is just filled with emotive imagery that I doubt I’ll ever get out of my head. You can feel her love for the landscape and journey with every passing paragraph. You can also feel the different challenges she faces to her mental health as she undergoes a night that lasts for over 100 days.
Living at the north pole like this would be a phenomenal journey all on its own. But to do this almost 100 years ago? I can’t even imagine the intensity and difficulties of such a journey. I love how as you go on this journey with Ritter, you can slowly begin to process the difficulties of this life right alongside her. As Ritter realises that there are unforeseeable and dangerous challenges, you grow to appreciate them too. As Ritter falls in love with the landscape, so do you.
There is something incredibly soothing about the whole tale. I’m not sure if it’s the idea of the endless night and solitude, or the beauty of the landscape. But there is most definitely something about the dark Polar nights that leave you with a sense of serenity and peace. Again, I think that’s just the incredibly powerful and emotive way with which Ritter writes about her journey.
I loved this memoir and will definitely look forward to picking it up again in the future. It is a wonderful tale of triumph and hardship. But also, the majestic beauty of the far-flung corners of the earth.
Title: The Gender Games: The Problem with Men and Women, from Someone Who Has Been Both Author: Juno Dawson Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Biographies, LGBTQI, Memoirs Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2017
This memoir is fantastic, intense, and seriously wonderful. It was also very thought provoking and sometimes confronting. Dawson has a great style of writing that makes you want to dive into her story page after page. Even in those moments that you might feel a little bit uncomfortable. There is just something about her writing that is enjoyable and emotional, even when the topic is sometimes difficult.
As one would expect, this memoir is a very intense look at gender and how it makes life difficult. Dawson is a lot more brutal with her analysis of that, but that’s the overall idea. I also love that Dawson is able to highlight the different challenges that come to each gender. Whilst she was identified to society as a male for the first twenty, thirty (I can’t remember exactly) years of her life, and then has started her transition, the expectations which are placed on us for an arbitrary classification are all encompassing. And Dawson has the unique experience of seeing this from both sides.
This was one of those slower reads for me. Not because it wasn’t brilliant, but because every single chapter was thought provoking. It took me a long time to absorb everything that Dawson had to say. And I honestly felt like Dawson’s words deserved that time to process. Gender and sexuality is something that has long fascinated me, and I really wanted to understand more of Dawson’s experiences. As much as someone who identifies as the gender, I was born ever can…
This memoir is brilliantly written, impossible to forget and just all round fantastic. I definitely fell completely in love with Dawson’s voice. And now that I know she is a YA author, I just want more of her work on my shelves!!!
Title: 50 Years at Gombe Author: Jane Goodall Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Biographies, Memoirs, Nature Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2010
Personally, I would recommend that you read In the Shadow of Man before reading 50 Years at Gombe. Mostly because it gives a much more in-depth insight into Goodall’s first experiences in Gombe. Which, then gives you so much more of a base from which to understand this wonderful 50th anniversary insight into Jane’s work.
This novel is a great overlook at all of the ground-breaking work that has occurred at Gombe over the years. It’s filled with images and snapshots into the many different aspects of not only life at Gombe, but Goodall’s life and her j fluency throughout the world.
I’ve always admired people like Jane and wished that I could accomplish what they have. But, for a long time, I didn’t actually understand the sacrifices that have to be made for this to happen. Goodall spends approximately 3 weeks a year at her home. She is amazing and so important to the survival of earth, but I can’t imagine the sacrifice that that would be.
I loved revisiting the world of Jane Goodall and Gombe, it’s reminded me that I want to dive into more of her books. And even watch the documentary about this phenomenal woman’s life and contributions not only to science, but the way we move through the world.
Title: Island of the Lost Author: Joan Druett Rating Out of 5: 2 (Managed to read it… just) My Bookshelves:Biographies, History, Oceans Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2007
This was an incredibly well researched book. It was even well written, a little dry, but not overbearingly so. It stated the facts and gave you a bit of a personality insight into each of the key players without taking too many liberties.
This book really wasn’t my thing. Partly because although it was great that it didn’t take liberties, I actually wanted a little more drama to the story. There was nothing to inspire me to keep reading.
And then there’s the fact that I actually have zero interest in maritime history. So, maybe not the best book for me to try and read in hindsight, but still 1uite interesting.
Title: Shotgun Angels: My Story of Broken Roads and Unshakeable Hope Author: Jay Demarcus Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Biographies, Memoirs, Music Pace: Slow Format: Novel Year: 2019
I absolutely love the music by Rascal Flatts. So I was excited to know a little bit more about their history and the journey to becoming a band. This really wasn’t about that. It was more about Demarcus’ faith. Which is fine, but definitely not my cup of tea.
I’m really funny about anything that is a little too Bible heavy. Again, just not my cup of tea. And although this was a sweet journey, it is incredibly obvious that this is a HUGE aspect of Demarcus’ life. It literally permeates everything in this story. And whilst I can see how a lot of people would find this incredibly uplifting, I just felt incredibly uncomfortable.
Because I did enjoy this, but also felt uncomfortable, I’m going to write a short review here. This was good and interesting. Definitely not too pushy with the belief. But also, not what I was expecting, anticipating and looking forward to reading.
Earth and Skye 