Biography/true story recommendations?

[cjcouple]

Hi. I am new on this board but was looking for recommendations.

Nothing too heavy though. No kid murders or anything that difficult (sad) to read.

Thanks
Cj

[charlatti]

Most of the nonfiction I've liked has been sad and heavy. But here are a few lighter/happier books (not biographies, but true stories and memoirs):
The Penguin Lessons
An Embarrassment of Mangoes
Mrs. Kennedy and Me
The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly

[dorothyinAus]

Some of my favorite biographies:
>> The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, though you may have to search for this one

>> Born to Rule and Victoria's Daughters, which are both very interesting looks at how much Queen Victoria's children/grandchildren influenced the world

>> Nicholas & Alexandra and A Lifelong Passion, which are fantastic looks at the last days of Imperial Russia from the royal family's view

Some of my favorite historical fiction based on real events:
>> An Innocent Traitor, Alison Weir's take on Lady Jane Grey

>> The Secret of Sarah Revere, which while written for a teen-age audience, is really very good, and very thought provoking. In fact, all of Ann Rinalidi's Great Episodes are very well done

>> The Coronation, Boris Akunin's mystery set around the coronation of Czar Nicholas, II

And a couple of random historical periods/moments books:
>> The Northern Lights, a look at the early attempts to explain the Northern Lights

>> Newton and the Counterfeiter, a look at Isaac Newton's life outside of mathematics, very interesting and I didn't know anything about it before I read the book

>> The Assassination of the Archduke, a very interesting take on the events that lead to the assassination that started World War I

[aurora]

I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai
Paramedic to the Prince - Patrick Notestine (interesting insight into Saudi Arabia)
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage - Ann Patchett (actually a series of essays on various topics but I thought really well written)

[mrspez07]

I really enjoyed Elizabeth. (The current queen). It was a beast of a book, but fascinating.

I've also enjoyed Undress Me In the Temple of Heaven and MWF seeking BFF: my year-long search for a new best friend

[2curlydogs]

My 5-star biographies/histories/memoirs:

Nicholas & Alexandra by Robert K. Massie
Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Lost in Shangri-la by Mitchell Zuckoff
Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen
As you Wish by Cary Elwes
Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser
So, Anyway by John Cleese
Nuremberg by Joseph Persico
Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie
Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir
Madam Secretary by Madeline Albright
The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
The Lady in the Tower by Alison Weir
John Quincy Adams by Harlow Giles Unger
In my Father's Country by Saima Wahab
She Wolves: The Women who Ruled England Before Elizabeth by Helen Castor
Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama
Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow
A Treasury of Royal Scandals by Michael Farquhar
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Mighty Be our Powers by Leymah Gbowee
While America Sleeps by Russ Feingold
Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie
Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff
Terry Jones' Medieval Lives by Terry Jones
Diaries: The Python Years by Michael Palin
Halfway to Hollywood by Michael Palin
Winter King by Thomas Penn

[cjcouple]

thanks so much - this is great!!

[MrsAxilla]

I thoroughly enjoyed My Beloved World by Sonya Sotomeyer.

[MrsAxilla]

Jan 5, 2016 11:27:12 GMT -5 2curlydogs said:

My 5-star biographies/histories/memoirs:


Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

I have these two on my kindle but I don't remember reading them. Weird.