Robin Williams was a contradictory star. He had a larger-than-life stage persona even though he was an introvert at heart. A hilarious man who could improvise with lightning-fast speed, he was also wracked by depression and addiction. Robin is the first biography about this late, great genius and while it covers a lot of territory, you…
Tag: bio
BOOK REVIEW: ADAM HILLS – BEST FOOT FORWARD
Adam Hills is the nicest guy in comedy. Thanks to his memoir, Best Foot Forward, he can also claim to be a “top bloke” in the world of publishing. In this book he reflects on both his personal life and his career, offering up lots of funny anecdotes and inspirational stories. As with his stand-up, it’s hard…
BOOK REVIEW: MICHELLE SCOTT TUCKER – ELIZABETH MACARTHUR- A LIFE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
We so often read about history but what about her-story? At school many of us learned about the contributions of John Macarthur to Australia’s agricultural industry. But little has been said about his wife, Elizabeth Macarthur, another integral player in this story. Michelle Scott Tucker rectifies this with her debut, the engaging biography: Elizabeth Macarthur: A Life At The Edge…
DVD REVIEW: REBEL IN THE RYE
There is a line in Rebel In The Rye where famous author, J.D. Salinger declares that fiction is “More truthful than reality.” The same can also be said of this bio-pic. The plot is all about the notoriously private and reclusive author of the classic novel, The Catcher In The Rye, and while much has…
BOOK REVIEW: GORDON BASS – THE LAST GREAT AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURER
The name Ben Carlin may not mean much to some people, but American author, Gordon Bass is trying to rectify that. Bass has penned a biography called, The Last Great Australian Adventurer that chronicles the life of this world-record holding explorer. Carlin circumnavigated the world in an amphibious jeep in an arduous journey that took him…
BOOK REVIEW: ROBERT WAINWRIGHT – MISS MURIEL MATTERS
Muriel Matters is a name we should all know but probably don’t. She was an inspiring woman, activist, and social re-former who played a vital role in the suffrage movement. Journalist and author Robert Wainwright has penned her biography, Miss Muriel Matters, and it’s a book that should restore Muriel’s name to the history books…
BOOK REVIEW: JOYCE MORGAN – MARTIN SHARP – HIS LIFE & TIMES
If you don’t know the name Martin Sharp it’s still likely you’ll be familiar with his artworks. The Australian artist was responsible for designing the covers of Cream’s two studio albums, was the co-founder and principal cartoonist at Oz magazine and produced famous posters of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and more. Martin Sharp –…
BOOK REVIEW: ARIEL LEVY – THE RULES DO NOT APPLY
The John Lennon lyric, “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans” is applicable to Ariel Levy’s book, The Rules Do Not Apply. The New Yorker writer has penned a memoir about her life and when she had a fleeting glimpse of having it all before tragedy hit. This is…
BOOK REVIEW: NEIL MCDONALD WITH PETER BRUNE – VALIANT FOR TRUTH – THE LIFE OF CHESTER WILMOT, WAR CORRESPONDENT
Valiant for Truth is the first complete biography of Australian war correspondent, Reginald William Winchester (“Chester”) Wilmot. It’s a meticulously-researched and comprehensive look at Wilmot’s life. It covers his studies in Melbourne through to his passage into the world of journalism as well as the important stories he covered during the Second World War before his…
BOOK REVIEW: LIL.Y BAILEY – BECAUSE WE ARE BAD – A MEMOIR OF OCD
Because We Are Bad is a devastating memoir where the author actually lived, breathed and believed the title. The book is a chronicle of Lily Bailey’s years spend living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) from her initial diagnosis as a child through to becoming a young woman. The story is a relatable, first person…
