Biography – Page 14 – Ryan’s Book Blog

Victoria the Queen

November 14, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Julia Baird’s biography of Queen Victoria was published in late 2016 and was named one of the best books of the year on Amazon but I couldn’t find the reference. I did find this though. Not every monarch has a whole era named after them but Victoria was ruled for a long time and over a time of great change and expansion. This book takes us from her birth to her death and gives the context through those years.

My Thoughts

I guess the biggest revelation was that she was short and plump. I knew about her being linked to hemophilia but didn’t know she was in as good of health as she was purported to be. I also didn’t know how devoted to her husband she was. I don’t recall the name Albert being linked to her at any point before. I had heard to John Brown though and I had no idea of how much of her life was edited by her daughter.

Reading about the royal families is difficult. I wish I had started with this before I read Elizabeth II’s autobiography. It would have made a lot more sense having this background.

Recommendations

An interesting read. I would recommend it if you are interested in the Queen.

Leonardo Da Vinci

November 8, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Walter Isaacson‘s biography of Leonardo Da Vinci was released in 2017 and sat on the #1 best seller’s list. It is 600+ pages all compiled by Leonardo’s notebooks and what we know of him from others.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this. Leonardo is a fascinating figure. It really is amazing what he was able to do and, even if half the things attributed to him were true, he is still one of the most influential people who ever lived. I knew some of what he was and what he did but not really the half of it. The biggest surprise was how the work was done. How collaborative he was with his students and others.

Recommendations

There are some adult themes so I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone but it was a great read and I didn’t get bored the whole time.

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

November 6, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Catherine the Great was the Empress of Russia during the time of the American Revolution. Robert Massie details her life from birth to death in just under 700 pages.

Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman

My Thoughts

This was a much better read than that of Elizabeth the II but the lives of the royals are pretty messed up. Maybe just from my perspective as a middle class American…

She led a pretty interesting and full life given the attitudes toward women. It seemed she played a good hand and things fell into place during her life. Oddly enough, there was a parallel with her daughter in law (Paul’s 2nd wife) and it makes me wonder what would have happened if she had been engaged to Peter instead of Catherine. By the account of the book, this other Sophia (later Maria) was well loved by everyone who met her.

It was an interesting read. I didn’t know so many things were going on in the world at that point. My education was mostly in the West so I knew about the French Revolution and, of course, the American Revolution but I didn’t know much about the rest of the world and how they viewed it.

Recommendation

I would recommend it!

Elizabeth The Queen

October 31, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This biography of Queen Elizabeth II was done by Sally Bedell Smith in 2012. It is 663 pages long to mirror the long life of Queen Elizabeth II who is currently 92 years old. This work takes her through her girlhood all the way through the wedding of her grandson William highlighting many of the events along the way.

My Thoughts

While I was interested in the life story of Queen Elizabeth and I was keen on understanding more about the monarchy in general, I was pretty bored by the story. It was very long and felt formal and stuffy. I guess that was appropriate given the subject matter. It was a chore to get through it…

I did learn a lot and found I have more respect for the Queen as a whole.

Recommendations

I won’t be reading it again any time soon but I do have other royals to read up on. I can’t say I would recommend it.

A Life in Parts

October 26, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This is a story of Bryan Cranston. To quote Google Books “With BREAKING BAD, Bryan Cranston created moments that had the world on the edge of their seats and coined catchphrases that became famous all over the globe. Now, at last, we can learn of the man behind one of TV’s most successful programs ever.
Bryan Cranston’s profile has skyrocketed, due to his portrayal of chemistry teacher turned drug manufacturer Walter White, for five seasons in the award-winning BREAKING BAD… Told with honesty and intrigue this will be Bryan’s first – and – definitive autobiography. “

My Comments

Reading an autobiography of someone is always a risk. You can lose some of the character you enjoyed if you know more about the actor creating them. You can lose respect for them and it taints the image you have of them from that time onward. Sting is one of those people. I loved the music and thought he must be much more than what his words made him out to be. Then there is the opposite. You can enjoy the performance that much more if you have grow to respect the actor. Bryan Cranston is one of the latter.

I was glad to have heard of his exploits and honest dealing with the world. I was happy to hear he didn’t get sucked into the world of drugs and alcohol like so many of his peers. I was pleased to hear of his solid relationships despite his rough beginnings. I liked his; honesty, humility, and overall depth of character. A very interesting person and a very interesting read.

My hat is off to you, sir!

Recommendations

A great read from a great person. I wish him all the best.

Keep Moving

October 25, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

“Keep Moving and Other Tips About Aging” is a non-fiction book by journalist and author Dick Van Dyke, which offers practical advice on how to maintain a healthy and fulfilling life as one ages. The book covers a range of topics including physical fitness, mental health, diet, and social connections. Van Dyke draws from his own experiences as a performer and his personal journey with aging, as well as from the expertise of medical professionals and other experts in the field. The book offers a message of hope and optimism, emphasizing that aging is not a time to give up on life, but rather an opportunity to embrace new experiences and perspectives. “Keep Moving and Other Tips About Aging” has been praised for its practical and engaging approach, as well as for its positive outlook on aging.

My thoughts

Dick Van Dyke is simply delightful. That hasn’t changed in his 90s. So was this book. Delightful! I felt better just listening to him. He has the air of an older gentleman and makes you want to be a better person. You can’t really beat that.

It was interesting to hear about his struggles with smoking and alcohol but not really much of a surprise as an actor. That seems to be something they are known for and the only surprise is if they managed to stay out of it.

His love life also was pretty refreshing. He was married for more than 30 years until she died of cancer. He then met and married someone 40 years junior to him. He made a pretty good case as to why this shouldn’t be anything really to remark on. You’ll have to read the book to understand I guess. I can’t really explain it as my wife would tell you.

Recommendation

Surprisingly, I wouldn’t rate this suitable for anyone under 14. There is some blue humor in it and I don’t know anyone younger would understand much of it. But for those 14 and older, I would consider this a must read.

Seriously… I’m Kidding

October 24, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Ellen’s book number 3. “Seriously… I’m Kidding is a lively, hilarious, and often sweetly poignant look at the life of the much-loved entertainer as she opens up about her personal life, her talk show, and more.”

My Thoughts

This was really a book about Ellen’s thoughts. Her thoughts were largely unfiltered and meandering in that off hand way she speaks. It really is her. Just her talking n’ stuff. How much you can take as gospel is anyone’s question. She riffs and then riffs on her riffs. I really enjoyed it but then again I find her very likeable.

Recommendation

If you like Ellen you will like this book. If you don’t like her, you really won’t get much out of it. It will seem like a waste of time… Which it may well have been.

Wishful Drinking

October 23, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

The autobiography of Carrie Fisher who is best known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars. She was the daughter of famous people and became famous herself. This is the story of her life, largely trying to escape from it.

My Thoughts

Ah, Princess Leia. As a boy growing up in the 80’s, she was pretty much the top of female desirability. (Well her; Belinda Carlisle, Kelly LeBrock, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daryl Hannah, Erin Gray, Elisabeth Shue, and a dozen others that made the 80s so fantastic.) Of course, I didn’t really care for the real names of these characters. I saw them as their on screen personas. After reading this, it is pretty hard to see Carrie Fisher in the same light.

I knew she had had her struggles with drugs and mental illness. However, I really didn’t know much about it. I wouldn’t do it justice by talking about the particulars here. Suffice it to say, she is very open. What a tragety that she passed just recently and her mother (who is very prominent in her life and her book) passed away as she was planning her daughter’s funeral.

Recommendations

This book is not for the weak in heart nor for children. If you want to keep Princess Leia pure in your mind then leave it alone.

The City of God

October 20, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

Yet another of the Great Courses lectures. This one was by Charles Mathewes, Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

To steal from the Great Courses page “Augustine of Hippo’s magnum opus The City of God is one of the greatest works of the Western intellectual tradition—so powerful, in fact, that one could argue all of Christian theology has been a series of footnotes to Augustine. Written during the transition from antiquity to the rise of Christianity, it is one of the key texts in defining our ethical framework into the 21st century. Yet even serious readers can be intimidated by a book that spans over 1,000 pages.”

My Thoughts

This was a pretty time consuming listen though I feel it was worth it. Pretty much most of the “ah hah” moments I’d had were discussed by Augustine of Hippo or “Saint Augustine” as we’ve likely heard of him. This lecture points out that not much is “new under the sun”. The ancients were pretty bright and most of the drama that we take on a daily basis had all been done before.

Recommendations

This work left my mind reeling a few times. If you can understand it all then you should start your own church. (You won’t be alone out there…)

A Child Called It

September 22, 2018 by Ryan Leave a Comment

Background

This is the story of David Pelzer and how he grew up as an extremely abused child. This book tells the story of his daily life as a child and the things that happened.

A Child Called "It" — A Child Called “It”

My Comments

This was a grueling read and anyone reading it may think they had a perfect childhood! Mr. Pelzer lived through things that bordered on the unbelievable and the longer I sit and think about it, I am in the unbelievable camp. Still, there is evil in the world…

Recommendation

I wouldn’t read this book. Truthfully, I prefer innocence.