Category: Reviews

The quick and easy way to pick a new non-fiction book and get reading

“Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures anyone can have.”

I totally agree with this quote by author Lloyd Alexander.

A great book will take you to another world plus inspire and heighten your own writing.

This week I’m sharing my summer must-read list of autobiography books for 2019.

I’ve aimed for a shortlist diverse in authors, topics and accolades.

Plus I am giving away a copy of One Life by Kate Grenville to kickstart one person’s reading year.

Let’s get started …

Continue reading Best books of 2019: Must-read books about life stories to enjoy this summer

Amazing Allen and Unwin memoir by a Queensland courts judge’s associate

Australian memoir Eggshell Skull has been on my reading list for a number of reasons.

Author Bri Lee writes about working in many Queensland cities and towns where I have lived. 

And as a print journalist for many years I know the courthouses she refers to and also some of the cases.

But I’ve also been eager to read Eggshell Skull because it has been winning awards since it was published by Allen & Unwin in mid 2018.

It was shortlisted for the 2019 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in non-fiction, winning the 2019 People’s Choice Award, and also won the 2018 People’s Choice at the Nib Awards for research in writing, plus the 2019 ABIA for Biography of the Year. 

The publisher describes the work as “a haunting appraisal of modern Australia from a new and essential voice”.

Keep reading to find out more about Lee’s first book and be inspired to start writing your own life story …

Continue reading Book review: Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee

The surefire way to understand the NRL Cowboys and State of Origin great JT

My lasting memory of Australian Rugby League great Johnathan ‘JT’ Thurston is kicking a dream goal to win a grand final for the Cowboys in extra time.

As that ball sailed between the posts in 2015 millions jumped to their feet cheering and JT wrote National Rugby League history.

In 2018, after his retirement from the game, came Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography.

The book was written with the help of sports journalist James Phelps and published by HarperCollins Publishers (Australia). 

I recently listened to the autobiography as an audiobook and found it a story of highs, lows, passion and tears. 

Much like a grand final!

Keep reading to find out more and how we can learn from the book as life-story writers.

Continue reading Book review: Johnathan Thurston – The Autobiography, with James Phelps

The quick and easy guide to the 7.30 report journalist’s memoir-biography 

As a fellow journalist and writer, I was extremely keen to read Leigh Sales’s latest book.

Any Ordinary Day by Hamish Hamilton (Penguin Books) was released in October by the popular ABC broadcaster anchor.

It is an eye-opening book about “Blindsides, resilience and what happens after the worst day of your life”.

Part memoir, part biography, the work will make you think about how you live your life and love those dearest to you.

Keep reading to find out more and why this book is a must read for any life-story writer…

Continue reading Book review: Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales

What every autobiography writer should know about the bestselling memoir by Penguin Random House

I recently finished Tara Westover’s Educated.

The story is gripping, horrifying and intriguing all at once.

I had this international bestselling memoir on my must-read autobiographies list for 2018.

And I listened to the audiobook version over a few days – seriously I could not turn it off!

The book was published in 2018 by Windmill Books (Penguin Random House Company) and selected as a book of the year by Amazon plus numerous publications including The Times, Guardian and New York Times.

And its reputation continues to grow.

It has also been supported by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former American president Barack Obama.

The number of accolades is staggering, especially given Educated is Westover’s first book and that she is only in her early 30s.

Keep reading to find out what the book is about, my favourite parts and what it can teach fellow autobiography writers.

Continue reading Book review: Educated by historian Tara Westover

What a life-story writer has to say about Barnesy’s childhood memoir by Harper Collins

Cold Chisel is part of Aussie-rock folklore.

The band is renowned for furious and high-intensity shows that have become anthems for the working class.

When frontman Jimmy Barnes released his award-winning memoir Working Class Boy I first heard it talked about in revered tones by other artists.

They said it was a book that steamrolled over and above their own formative memories and autobiography-writing efforts.

It was a juggernaut of a memoir that blew everyone else’s out of the water.

Barnes had recently toured through our region in Queensland when Working Class Boy by Harper Collins came out in 2016.

Just like that show, I knew his story would be full of power and ferocity.

Continue reading Book review: Working Class Boy by Cold Chisel’s Jimmy Barnes

New autobiographies to inspire and learn from in 2019

I love holiday time for a number of reasons.

Free time off work from the newspaper and catching up with family.

But a definite guilty pleasure this time of year is reading.

I love reading and listening to all kind of books, especial non-fiction, autobiographies, biographies, memoir and life stories.

Here are my recommended best books of 2018 in an extended holiday article.

Some I have been suggested, some I have read about and others just look interesting.

They are by a mix of authors, Australian and overseas, and are sure to get you thinking about your own life.

I hope a number of titles catch your fancy too.

Happy reading!

Continue reading Best books of 2018: Must-read books about life stories to enjoy these holidays