Category: Reviews

Biography of a Rhodes Scholar and the father of the Harlem Renaissance by Oxford University Press

The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart is a formidable biography on the life and influence of this leading professor, art critic and aesthete.

The book is a solid but illuminating read at 944 pages and was first published by Oxford University Press USA in 2018.

Stewart is a Professor of the Department of Black Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

And is well equipped to lead us on the journey of Locke’s life during the 1800-1900s in segregate America.

Indeed, the biography has won huge acclaim, most notably as winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

So let’s take a look at what this model life-story on the father of the Harlem Renaissance is about and what we can takeaway to improve our own writing …

Continue reading Book review: Pulitzer Prize winner The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart

The quick way to find out what Barnesy’s second memoir by Harper Collins is all about

In his youth Jimmy Barnes reckons he was here for a good time not a long time.

And you definitely get that feeling from the start of the Australian rock-and-roll legend’s second memoirWorking Class Man released by HarperCollinsPublishers Australia Pty Ltd in 2017.

This fast-paced book is a follow up to Barnesy’s award-winning bestseller Working Class Boy (see my review here), which detailed moving to Australia and growing up in Adelaide. 

While the first book is about running away, Working Class Man is about running out of time and trying to put things right.

The two books have reportedly sold over 500,000 copies making them the most successful biographical series in local publishing history.

And hot on the heels of these two is Killing Time: Short Stories From the Long Road Home, due out in October.

But first, let’s find out more about Working Class Man and what it can teach us as life-story writers …

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

A revealing memoir about life before and during the office of US president Obama

The book Becoming by Michelle Obama has been a powerhouse bestseller for years.

This memoir’s been on my reading list since it was published by Penguin Books Ltd in late 2018.

However, a documentary about the Becoming book tour has also been released this year on Netflix.

I recently got hold of the audiobook version, read by the former First Lady of the United States of America herself.

It was an eye-opening account of a woman who is much more than what is portrayed on stage and in the media.

She has a fighting spirit and much to teach us as fellow writers who are planning, writing, polishing or publishing an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

Let’s take a look…

Continue reading Book review: Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Becoming by Penguin Books Ltd

‘Love in a world of liars, cheats, narcissists, fantasists and phonies’ by an ex-Fairfax Media staff writer

I love the book title of Fake by Stephanie Wood.

Such a simple name for such a complex story of love, lies and loss in the modern world of internet dating.

Fake was released by Vintage Australia (Penguin Random House Australia) last year and has been nominated for the Australian Book Industry Awards 2020.

Wood is an award-winning long-form writer and a former senior staff writer at Fairfax Media’s Good Weekend magazine.

A survivor of a toxic relationship, her book is a firsthand account and stark warning to others.

Fake has many highlights that can help us start and finish our own writing, whether that be an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

Let’s take a closer look…

Continue reading Book review: Journalist Stephanie Wood’s Fake by Penguin Random House

What everyone should know about a Kurdish-Iranian refugee’s time in Manus prison

Imagine a writer forbidden paper and pen.

Wouldn’t this be tortuous enough let alone being held prisoner for more than six years on remote islands?

This was the case to befall author Behrouz Boochani in 2013 but amazingly he discovered a way to write.

Using smuggled mobile phones the Kurdish-Iranian refugee wrote No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison via long text messages and with the assistance of translator Omid Tofighian.

The Pan Macmillan Australia book won Australia’s 2019 National Biography Award plus numerous other prizes.

As life-story writers we can learn much from this unique and historical story…

Continue reading Book review: No Friend But the Mountains by Behrouz Boochani

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