Non fiction books

Annierob ...^and just finished Nella Last war - diary of a housewife during the second world war. Really shows how the war could show what women can achieve.

I enjoyed that too, and it was made into a TV drama starring Victoria Wood (in a straight role) and she was excellent.

Try John Mortimer with his “Murderers and other friends”
An absolute joy, “A Voyage Round my Father”. His books are hilarious at times, but also very emotional too.

On a lighter note for thise old rnough to remrmber Dirk Bogarde, his books are a good read from childhood in England to his books about life in France in later years. I also enjoyed books by Michael Caine.

Try Michael Pallin books,the ones on travel,I have enjoyed several of his,well written & just a touch oh humour.

Thanks for that suggestion, Lexisgranny. I’m struggling a bit with the book I’m reading now - lots of unfamiliar words but I’m ploughing through it.

I rarely read fiction either.
Last Christmas I rashly told my daughters that my plan for 2024 was to read through the 8 vols of the Penguin History of Europe. Three vols turned up under the tree, but here we are in mid Feb and I’m on p.9 of vol.1…. They’re all well-written and thoughtful so I shall persevere.
Have also been re-reading the hilarious Correspondence of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh.

I recommend Jeffrey Archer s Prison Diaries . A fascinating insight into the world of prisons ( albeit 20 years ago but I wonder if much has changed. Probably a lot worse now!) and the terrible toll that drugs take on society.

Just got Dominions by Tom Holland, and just started politics on the Edge by Rory Stewart.

Old rage by Sheila hancock was a good read. Blunt to the point and speckled with humour

I read mainly fiction but am reading Making it So, Patrick Stewart's autobiography which is excellent (not necessary for you to know anything about Star Trek or x-men) a good amount about his childhood and early life in theatre, his Shakespearian roles etc and very well written

I read fiction and non fiction. Reading The Red Prince (about John of Gaunt) by Helen Carr and just finished Nella
Last war - diary of a housewife during the second world war. Really shows how the war could show what women can achieve.

From my (quite random!) non fiction library pile.
Everything is Everything- Clive Myrie’s memoir.
Blue. John Sutherland - his life in Met police .
Remarkable People. Dan Walker.
The Courage to Care . The Language of Kindness. Christie Watson.
A Nurse’s Story ( in Covid pandemic) .Louise Curtis.
The Fiddle. Natalie Cumming. Remarkable , harrowing at times,true story tracing a family’s precious violin through generations, from Russia to Nazi death camps.
The Book about Getting Older. Lucy Pollock.
A Smudge of Ashes- Poetry for Lent. Liz Crumlish.
Food for Life. Tim Spector.

I liked this www.amazon.co.uk/Richer-Poorer-Love-Affair-Poker-ebook/dp/B002RI9UFY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LLHL2XODI5N7&keywords=victoria+coren+mitchell+books&sprefix=victoria+coren%2Caps%2C108&tag=gransnetforum-21&qid=1707481931&sr=8-1
by Victoria Coren and her other one too about making a porn film
www.amazon.co.uk/Once-More-Feeling-Tried-Greatest/dp/1841154377/ref=sr_1_3?crid=LLHL2XODI5N7&keywords=victoria+coren+mitchell+books&sprefix=victoria+coren%2Caps%2C108&tag=gransnetforum-21&qid=1707482004&sr=8-3

I also found Bill Bryson's ' At Home' very interesting.

I have just bought Unruly: A History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell (off the telly). So far it is educational and amusing.

Also Normal Women by Phillipa Gregory - as mentioned by other posters

Years ago I read Toast which is the autobiography of Nigel Slater the chef. They made a tv film of it a while ago. Both were very good.

I am quite fancying reading the Agatha Christie bio by Lucy Worsley. She has done other bios - Jane Austen, Queen Victoria - and other interesting historical non fiction.

SueDonim. When you have read your book, you might also enjoy The Bible as History by Werner Keller. We read it in the VIth form more years ago than I care to remember, but I believe it is still available on Amazon. I have read it since, but no idea what happened to my copy. I assume that as it was used as a school text book, it was considered to be quite authoritative.n air found it fascinating.

If you are interested in spiritual topics,' Autobiography of a Yogi' is a fascinating book. Not just about Hindism but a life of a remarkable man.

I've got

Pioneer Women, The Lives of Women on The Frontier by Linda S Peavy and Ursula Smith.

Oklahoma paperbacks Edition.

£18.51 from Blackwell's. Fascinating reading!

Rather to my surprise I am enjoying "The Diary of a CEO" by Steven Bartlett.

I read a mix of books. I keep most of my Non fiction, Ancient History, books to reread & do the same with many of my SF & Fantasy Fiction. I do like Jodi Taylor’s novels around the Librarians of St Mary’s, ‘ dont call it time travel’! Have read & reread so many times. Also Terry Pratchett because he is not serious & JRR Tolkien for more serious fiction! Having worked in many Libraries from 16 years old, now 79, I have always been able to find most books I have wanted to read. Cannot live without my books & my Rock Music playing, vinyl is best! Sad old bat me & dont care now!

I’m reading The Stratford Murder by Mike Hollow at the moment. Nice easy ready.

I’ve just finished Sir Patrick Stewart’s autobiography, which I quite enjoyed.

I mostly read fiction, but I do read a few non fiction ones too, usually biographical ones.
A couple of years ago I read A Woman of No Importance the untold story of Virginia Hall, WWII’s most dangerous spy by Sonia Purnell. It’s an incredible story of a woman who spent years in France behind enemy lines, here’s a bit of the blurb. She was an incredible and incredibly brave woman.

In September 1941, a young American woman strides up the steps of a hotel in Lyon, Vichy France. Her papers say she is a journalist. Her wooden leg is disguised by a determined gait and a distracting beauty. She is there to spark the resistance.

I also prefer non-fiction- with occasional fiction. Currently ‘The Hundred Years War on Palestine’ by Rashid Khalidi and ‘On Palestine’ by Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé are really informative on an issue of great importance where many simply regurgitate
misinformation.

Clever me ....it did work!