Tag Archives: Biography

The Dark Side of American Politics: ‘The Power Broker’ by Robert A Caro (1975)

Posted on November 8, 2016 by shoshibookblog

It takes a long time to read, and even longer to digest Caro’s ‘The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.’  Not including notes, the book is well over 1,000 pages long and you’re left with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, New York Reading, Robert A Caro | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Another Must-Read Biography: ‘Wild Swans’ by Jung Chang (1991)

Posted on July 10, 2016 by shoshibookblog

I first tried reading ‘Wild Swans’ many years ago.  I distinctly remember making it through a description of Jung Chang’s grandmother’s bound and rotting feet (in chapter 1: ‘Three-inch Golden Lillies’).  I stopped reading in the section where the narrator’s mother … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Jung Chang | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

What a Life! Casanova’s Memoirs

Posted on July 6, 2016 by shoshibookblog

I’m a little late with the review of my 6th non-fiction book this year.  In my defence, even in this abridged version, Casanova’s ‘History of My Life’ weighs in at well over 1,000 pages.  Few autobiographies could sustain such detail, here … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Giacomo Casanova, Italian Literature | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Best Biography So Far: ‘The Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands

Posted on April 28, 2016 by shoshibookblog

I’ve been doing well on my resolution to read more non-fiction this year.  In January I reviewed Eva Hoffman’s ‘Lost in Translation,’ February took me into outer space with Michael Collins’ ‘Carrying the Fire‘ and I was bowled over by … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Mary Seacole | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Reading out of my comfort zone part II: Life Writings

Posted on December 3, 2015 by shoshibookblog

I’ve been loving my year of Russian reading, but I realise that this has meant other books have had to wait for quite a while to get noticed.  As 2016 approaches, I’m lining up some new volumes to tackle and this time … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Book Lists | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments