Alright, let’s talk about them books, the ones they call “biographies,” you know, life stories. Folks are always writin’ ’em, and some are just better than others, ain’t that the truth? This year, 2024, they say there’s a whole bunch of ’em out there. Heard tell of some big shots writin’ about their lives, like that fella, Al Pacino, and that Presley girl, Lisa Marie, God rest her soul. Even that bike racer, Chris Hoy, he’s got one too.
Now, I ain’t no scholar, mind you, but I like a good story. And these biographies, they’re supposed to tell you the real deal about folks’ lives. Some say they can even make you see things differently, make you understand folks better. Like that book, “Spare,” everyone was talkin’ about it. Said it made you feel for the fella, even though he’s a prince and all.
What Makes a Good Life Story?
Well, I reckon it’s gotta be honest. You don’t wanna read a bunch of lies, do ya? And it’s gotta be interesting. Nobody wants to hear about someone sittin’ around doin’ nothin’ all day. They say autobiographies are the most real, ’cause the person’s tellin’ it themselves, like they’re right there talkin’ to ya. They can tell you what they was thinkin’ and feelin’, not just what they did.
- Ben Franklin – Heard he wrote one, smart fella, that one.
- Mark Twain – Now there’s a fella could spin a yarn. His life story must be a good one.
- Malcom X – A fighter, that one. His story’s probably got some fire in it.
- That yogi fella – Param something-or-other. Heard his book is about more than just livin’, but about thinkin’ different too.
- Gandhi – A peaceful fella, they say. His experiments with truth, might be somethin’ to learn there.
- Helen Keller – Bless her heart. Imagine livin’ without seein’ or hearin’. Her story’s gotta be somethin’ special.
- That young girl, Anne Frank – Breaks your heart, it does. Livin’ in hidin’, poor thing.
And they been writin’ these life stories for a long time, you know? Way back when, they mostly wrote about saints and such, churchy folks. Then they started writin’ about kings and knights, all them fancy people. But nowadays, they write about everyone, cooks, singers, even regular folks like you and me, I guess. Though I ain’t got nothin’ fancy to write about, that’s for sure.
The Queen and Others
This year, they got a big book about the Queen, that Elizabeth lady. They say it’s a real whopper, tells you all about her life. And that fella, Rushdie, almost died, they say, and he wrote a book too. Lots of different folks, with lots of different lives. From that cookin’ lady, Ina Garten, to that fella, John Lewis, who fought for what he believed in, to that RuPaul, who dresses up all fancy, they all got stories to tell.
Pickin’ a Good One
So how do you pick a good one to read? Well, I reckon you gotta think about what you like. You like hearin’ about famous folks? Or maybe you like hearin’ about regular folks who did somethin’ amazing? Or maybe you just want a good cry, or maybe somethin’ to make you laugh. There’s a life story for just about everyone, I figure. This year, seems like they got more than ever. So go on, find yourself a good book, settle in, and listen to someone tell you their story. It’s like sittin’ on the porch, hearin’ the neighbors gossip, only it’s all written down nice and neat, well, most of the time anyway.
Some books I’ve heard about this year: Seems like there’s a lot, too many to remember. But I heard tell that there are stories about all kinds of people – queens and regular folks, actors and activists. That’s the thing about life, ain’t it? Everyone’s got a story to tell, if you just listen.
So go on, find a good life story to read. You might just learn something, or maybe just feel a little less alone in this big old world. And that, I reckon, is worth more than a pocketful of gold.
Tags：biographies, memoirs, autobiographies, 2024, best books, reading list, life stories, celebrity memoirs, historical biographies, book recommendations
