Biographies & Memoirs of Other Generations discussion

In order not to be overwhelmed by all the contemporary bios out there, I'd like to keep the list to people who might be considered "historical" personages, so those who mostly made their mark pre-1960 and are now no longer with us. I'm afraid that Barbara Walters doesn't qualify for that. : )

Okay...sorry!!

No problem! I'm sure it's well worth reading. It's that historian in me that just wants to read about dead people. : )

Gabriele wrote: "No problem! I'm sure it's well worth reading. It's that historian in me that just wants to read about dead people. : )"

Okay.

Gabriele wrote: "No problem! I'm sure it's well worth reading. It's that historian in me that just wants to read about dead people. : )"

Haha! I like reading about dead people too! I refuse to read about anyone who hasn't died yet; because they haven't died yet, they still have time to make their mark on the world, and all their secrets {good or bad} are still secret, more or less. :)

I defintiely prefer the historical bios too! Eleni is highly recommended. It concerns a woman of the Greek Civil War. I wish more people would read this fabulous book. Here follows my GR review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Heart-wrenching!

Elaine wrote: "Gabriele wrote: "No problem! I'm sure it's well worth reading. It's that historian in me that just wants to read about dead people. : )"

Haha! I like reading about dead people too! I refuse to r..."
We don't really need to read Justin Bieber's life story do we?

Chrissie wrote: "I defintiely prefer the historical bios too! Eleni is highly recommended. It concerns a woman of the Greek Civil War. I wish more people would read this fabulous book. Here follows my..."

Sounds like a fascinating but difficult book, Chrissie.

Gabriele wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I defintiely prefer the historical bios too! Eleni is highly recommended. It concerns a woman of the Greek Civil War. I wish more people would read this fabulous book..."

It is an eye-opener, a book that should be read.

I would also like to recommend Olga's Story: Three Continents, Two World Wars and Revolution--One Woman's Epic Journey Through the Twentieth Century and The House by the Dvina: A Russian Childhood. Excellent books!

Another excellent, but a bit more modern bio, still before the 60s, is No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II.

Thanks, Chrissie. Have you added these to our bookshelf?

Gabriele wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Gabriele wrote: "No problem! I'm sure it's well worth reading. It's that historian in me that just wants to read about dead people. : )"

Haha! I like reading about dead people too! ..."

Totally. ;) I don't even like Justin Bieber!

I just completed Ava's Man, which I very highly recommend. My GR review explains why: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... It is about the author's grandfather, who lived in the Appalachian foothills during the Depression. It is true that part of the book takes place after the 60s, but mostly before!

One of my all-time favourite is 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain. She writes about going to Oxford before The First World War and the terrible effect that the war had on her generation.

Lisa wrote: "One of my all-time favourite is 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain. She writes about going to Oxford before The First World War and the terrible effect that the war had on her generation."

I agree, Lisa!

Members, please post only books that fit into our mandate of pre-1960s personalities.

I just finished a great memoir about a Turkish family and the impact WW1 had on them. It is marvellously written.

Portrait of a Turkish Family

For those curious, here is my GR review to help you decide if the book fits you: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I guess I wonder about the relative difficulty for people nowadays of projecting themselves backwards in time and being able to connect with others longer and longer ago. Because my number one favorite biography, which I've read many times, is Boswell's classic "Life of Samuel Johnson." That book really talks to me, but I'm a trained historian, and I don't know if every single person can enjoy it.

Or take Forster's Life of Charles Dickens, based on Forster's almost lifelong personal friendship with Dickens. Forster's bio came out in the 1870's, but the era he covers is hard for many people to imagine now. I have no problem at all restraining myself to biographies of people who died before 1960, but is there another, earlier cutoff date that should be imposed? I would hope not, but if you're trying to be realistic that question comes up.

I'm afraid I haven't had time to moderate this group, Rozzer, and would be happy if someone else would like to take over. Please let me know if you are interested.