Biography

This is an interesting and fascinating book about the lives of the brilliant Italian Guiglielmo Marconi and Doctor Harvey Crippen.

I like the way the author combines the two plots and his detailed descriptions of life in America and London at the beginning of the 20th century. There is a wealth of information in this book and I learnt a great deal about Wireless Telgraphy and the world wide race to become the first person to use it successfully.

Are you a Glee fan - I certainly am - I love the shows with their deep felt story lines, from issues dealing with being Gay to relationship problems and all inbetween. Plus the many songs that are sung complete with chorography!

This book gives all the behind the scene gossip of all the cast with their characters plus as a bonus there is a fairly large wall poster at the back of the book. Definitely a book to recommend for Glee fans.

This is one of the most fascinating Biographies that I have ever read. The author brilliantly brings to life the
intelligent and complex man who is Arthur Conan Doyle.

Orginally Conan Doyle trained as a Doctor while starting his writing career, which helped to supplement his income. The Sherlock Holmes books were just a small part of his large output of published material. There was something about the character of Sherlock Holmes that captured the public's imagination and we are still fascinated by him today.

'Love in a Torn Land' is Jean Sasson's biography of Joanna Al-Askari Hussain's journey with her husband and child from war torn Kurdistan to England.

It is an extraordinary story wonderfully told by a writer with a gift for writing the experiences of other people. She makes us feel every step of the way the incredible danger Joanna and her family were in. We cannot forget that Saddam Hussain appeared to be on a mission to annihilate just about every Kurd in sight, by what ever means possible which is why this story is so amazing that people survived to tell the tale.

'Franklin' explores the life and times of Captain Sir John Franklin, who led the ill fated expedition to the Arctic in 1845, with the loss of 129 men and reports of cannibalism.

Having read an awful lot of historical fiction regarding the Tudors, I approached this latest offering with some trepidation expecting a pale repetition of stale material, even considering the excellent reputation of the author. I am delighted to report that this is not so.

By concentrating on the women that surrounded Elizabeth, Tracy Borman presents an insider's view of her life conveying a very personal and detailed account of an extraordinary woman. A fascinating amount of detail of the everyday existence of women in those times is included from clothing to customs.

I enjoyed this book tremendously about the relationship between Elizabeth and Leicester - a subject that has fascinated people for centuries.

Sarah Gristwood has written a very powerful book about Queen Elizabeth, who fullfilled her destiny to become Queen, remain a virgin and unmarried - and her childhood friend Robert Dudley. I believe that Elizabeth did love Robert Dudley, but her duty to England and the English people came first.

This is not just a history of London but a personal view by Peter Ackroyd. He explores every aspect of London life - from prehistoric times to the present day.

An entertaining and stimulating book, brimming with energy and enthusiasm - and a masterpiece of research. A book I found to be truly unique which I more than highly recommend.

'Ring of Fire' by Rick Broadbent is also the title of a Johnny Cash song - a man who definitely lived a very full life with all it gave him!

Another excellent funny book from Dosh Archer - I would have loved to have been in that Urgency Emergency department when the Melting Snowman came in! Can you imagine giving him lots of icecream from the local shop - or even the snowman feeling sick from eating too much of the stuff. Wonderful! A book for all ages, especially those young at heart. Dosh certainly has a wicked sense of humour that he uses well with his story line that are beautifully illustrated. More than once I have laughed out loud! Again another one to recommend.