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[susanmay]

Just finished reading 'My Beautiful Game' By Nancy Dell'Olio.

Though Nancy Dell'Olio is no stranger to the front pages, her real story has never been told. Now, for the first time she talks about herself, her life and the passions which have inspired her. It's a story which millions think they know already, from the acres of purely speculative newsprint which this fascinating woman has generated. Prepare to be surprised! The real story is far more gripping than the fictional one.

Born and brought up in New York City, Nancy is a true woman of the world. She has the temperament and style of an Italian, yet she lives in London and has adopted an English lifestyle. She is also a proud European, a Catholic, a Jew and a true internationalist. She is also a successful lawyer with a keen interest in politics and world affairs - a woman for all seasons.

Nancy has always emerged serene from scandal that would break most people. She values her sense of humour as her saving grace. Remember that scarlet cat suit entrance to Downing Street and all those classic red carpet moments? Nancy is just as at home in combat jacket and fatigues on the streets of Ramallah as lunching at Claridges. Fashion is fun and life is too serious to be taken seriously.

Nancy's book tells the whole story of her life so far. From her childhood in New York and Puglia in Italy and the accident which nearly killed her, to the successful career in in commercial law and the passions which drive her on, despite all too public crises which would be the end of most of us. This is an inspirational and entertaining glimpse into the life of a fascinating and enigmatic woman.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it. She doesn't harp on about Sven's 'other women' but comes at it from a philosophical type of view - all men are persuaded by temptation type thinking!

If your looking for a good scandal this book is not for you! We don't hear much about Sven and his affairs; only a quick run over them.

Some might say Nancy Dell'Olio is a woman of reserve and dignity.

I think she left a wonderful husband to go off into the sunset with Sven and of what I've read I think she makes far too many excuses for him.

I bet she kicks herself to this day she ever left hubby number one!

[megan]

Thanks for this review, Susan. Just spotted it.

[fionnuala]

I do love a good autobiography girls and have read several lately which I'd like to reccommend to you!

Gordon Ramsey's book is absolutely fabulous and if you are a fan of his cooking and show's like Hell's Kitchen and Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares then you will appreciate knowing about his life - he had a very turbulant relationship with his father and his brother is a heroin addict, how he met his wife, his brief football career and how he rose to his current status are all really interesting stories.

If you are a fan of the comedian Peter Kaye I would really recommend his book (The Sound of Laughter) as well - he writes the way he talks on stage and it is a hilarious read about life with his family and how he always felt compelled to make people laugh. I found it particularly interesting as he talks about going on holidays to his granny's house and she lived in Coalisland (co Tyrone) which is about eight miles from where I live!

Anne Robinson's book (Memoirs of an unfit Mother) is also very interesting as in it she talks about her career in journalism and how she met her husband working for one of the English papers. She talks of her battle with alcohol and how her daughter was eventually taken from her (although they have rekindled their relationship now.)

At the moment I am on the lookout for Nicky Campbell's book (Blue Eyed Son) as I kow that I would find I would empathise with his story - he is adopted (as am I) and his autobiography talks about how he traced his parents and found out about his ancestry.

[susanmay]

Look forward to reading Ann Robinson's.

I'm reading Eden Falling at the moment by Maria Flook.

Here's a review of it I took from another website. I think this very much sums it up - couldn't agree more with this:

Basing it somewhat on the style of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Maria Flook has a new nonfiction title -- Invisible Eden: A Story of Love and Murder on Cape Cod -- a true crime/memoir piece about the unsolved murder in 2002 of 46-year-old Christa Worthington. Worthington and Flook both lived in Truro, on Cape Cod, although the author did not know the doomed fashion writer.

The book is neither here nor there. It is not truly a memoir, nor solely about the killing. The book is about Flook almost as much as it is about Worthington. A lover of both mysteries and memoirs, I found almost none of the characters sympathetic, and I certainly wanted to.

Invisible Eden has just barely come out and is already raising quite a ruckus on the Cape's southern tip. Worthington came from old Cape money but had lived for years in New York, and later in both London and Paris. City weary, she returned to the Cape to a small family house a few years ago. As she entered her forties, her main goal in life was to have a child. She became a spokesperson for a group of women trying to have children without spouses or partners. She had a few boyfriends in Truro, notably Tony Jackett, a charismatic, married father, and Tim Arnold, a divorced father with physical disabilities. She became pregnant, gave birth and began to raise her child. When Ava was about two, someone murdered Christa in their home. Ava tried to revive her.

No one has yet been arrested, although there are several suspects, including Jackett and Arnold. A website in Worthington's memory, with her photograph (something this book did not have, sadly) asking for clues and offering a reward, is still online.

One of the difficulties of Invisible Eden is that Flook doesn't make Worthington out to be likeable; we simply don't care much for her. Between the lines, she comes across as a confused, lonely, poor little rich girl whose father set a terribly bad example for male/female relationships. Flook paints Worthington out to be promiscuous and sloppy, albeit a good fashion writer. Flook does also admit that the writer was a good mother, terribly attached to beautiful Ava, even if totally undisciplined with her.

Flook is always in the story, telling us about writing it and who she interviewed. She at times feels somewhat of a kindred spirit to her subject and carries on a mild flirtation with the Federal Assistant D.A. in the case, Michael O'Keefe. Flook has strong opinions about the towns of Truro and Provincetown, an area populated by "wannabe artists, dilettantes, losers, pirates and profiteers, eccentrics and misfits" as well as dwindling fishing and Portuguese communities. She loves to drop famous names and fills her readers in on a lot of history and culture of the area. These latter two things provide fun reading but seem a bit gratuitous.

However, perhaps the biggest disappointment is that one feels no real insight or wisdom here. Having just picked up an older memoir, Love and Other Infectious Diseases by Molly Haskell, I find so much wisdom -- about relationships and the reasons things seem to happen -- in the first 50 pages that I am entranced. This reflection does not come through in Flook's work. Invisible Eden is modern, gossipy and somewhat empty.

Flook, author of other memoirs and novels, has done an immense amount of homework, and Worthington's story remains quite fascinating, but the author is too much in the center of this story. Is Invisible Eden about Worthington or about Flook's clever retelling of Worthington's murder?

[fionnuala]

Read the inside flap of another good one today Susan - Graham Norton's autobiography - my friend has it and is giving it to me after she has finished but even the first few pages made me laugh! Has anyone else read it?

[susanmay]

I haven't read it Fionn. I really like Graham Norton. He's hilarious. Must check it out.

I ordered a book last week written by an ex of George Harrison's and Eric Clapton. It looks a great read - she let's rip at both men! Nothing held back apparently.

[susanmay]

I'm reading a biography on the lives of Bob Geldof, Paula Yates and Michael Hutchence. Its a great read. Very well written. I was impressed to read that Paula woke up at 3am in the morning to write!

Paula, Michael and Bob by Gerry Adgar.
'Everything you know is wrong' - this was the message to the world that Paula Yates posted above her doorbell. Once upon a time, a rock god met a brainy bombshell TV presenter who was married to a media 'saint'. When their lives collided, the events that unfolded were too bizarre even for fiction; the very public seduction and intense love affair, the fights, the drugs bust, heartbreaking custody battles, financial deals and the deaths of Paula and Michael were front-page news for months. But the vital facts of the web the lovers wove together were kept secret, and the reasons for their deaths were never clear, even to their family and friends. Only one person was there to witness every aspect of the story - Gerry Agar. A former publicist and Paula's long-term friend, Gerry's life, both personal and professional, became inextricably tied to those of the star-crossed lovers, and to the one who would be left behind. This is the stuff of modern legend; a red-blooded tragedy played out in the merciless glare of the media spotlight. Now - five years after Paula's death, on the eve of INXS's comeback, and the twentieth anniversary of Bob's Live Aid triumph - here are the facts, divulged in painful and deeply moving detail, and told with an intimacy that could only be disclosed by one caught in the centre of the storm. Published for the first time in paperback, this is Gerry Agar's story of Paula, Michael & Bob.

[claire]

this sounds like a good one. I did read one before on Bob and loved it

[filmbuff]

hi guys,

two years ago i read maureen o'hara's autoiog abso fab! her stories about old hollywood were class! a true film legend!

all the best
laura

[hannah24]

Laura I must get hold of hers you mentioned, have to confess Maureen O'Hara & Deborah Kerr are my all time favourite actresses! ...was it from the library? Susanmay thanks for those you mentioned the ex of Harrison/Claptons has me intrigued I'll make sure to read that one!...and especially Paula Yates...Gordon Ramsay's would also be a fabulous read I've no doubt..heard him here on the local tv lately after some cooking promotional tour just love his a la natural' personality ... cussing or not..as if any of us are saints!

[filmbuff]

hi hannah,

i bought it in the duty free at the airport i read it on hols in greece its called 'tis herself'

laura

[hannah24]

Thanks Laura will see if I can order it online. great title!

[susanmay]

Laura, I ordered Maureen O' Hara's book it looks good.

I'm shameless when it comes to biographies so I happened to get a copy of Lynne Spears book 'Through The Storm'. I must be a glutton for punishment!

[Jacqui]

girls a few years ago my sisters were in new york and maureen o hara was in macy's signing her book, so thay got to meet her and got a signed copy....I read it myself it is very good. I love thse books too!

x

[filmbuff]

it is good girls i might even read it again myself!

laura

[fionnuala]

Saw Paul O'Grady's autobiography in Eason's today and reckon it would be a good read. Flicked through it briefly and have a good feeling about it.

[Jacqui]

Paul o grady was on jonathon ross tonight.....his book sounds great but it is only done up untill he was 18yrs there is another one to follow. but he is great love him. girls I have the following if any of you wish to borrow....dale winton/ pamela stephenson's billy/ richard and judy/sheila hailey life with arthur...author of roots/ and sheila handthingy's the two of us wife of John Thaw, also got Colleen Mc Loughlin- welcome to my world, and ronan keatings life is a roller coaster.

x

[claire]

who is paul o grady

[Jacqui]

He is a tv presenter of sorts in england claire, he used to dress up as a woman....called Lily Savage...now does an afternoon show on channel 4

[katied]

I just read Russell Brand's autobiography, My Booky Wook. (Love the title) He's had a life full of ups and downs, many self-inflicted but he mines it so well for his comic material. Well written too

[claire]

thanks Jacqui, I do know Lily but didn't know his name