This is so impactful - not just the honesty from all the participants from 1986 to 1991, the good and the bad and the demons of someone with so much sThis is so impactful - not just the honesty from all the participants from 1986 to 1991, the good and the bad and the demons of someone with so much success his disconnection from everyone, parents, children and even any real sense of himself for so much of his life his loss, his loneliness, difficulty trusting in others disparate personalities of the ornament and the orphan with the emotional anesthetic of alcholic, always an observer of his own life a private man with a need for people around, people not looking for him but the characters he protrayed...more
based on the extraordinary tale of a woman in her 60s in 1950s US, travelling across the country by horse, with little resources or planning, dealing based on the extraordinary tale of a woman in her 60s in 1950s US, travelling across the country by horse, with little resources or planning, dealing with ill health touches on the changes in the country, becoming more rural and the growth of interstate highways for all that, not sure it is that well realised here - becomes quite repetitive, little sense of grandeur of the country, those she meets seem to fall into two broad camps with little variation - those that are indifferent or fearfui of stranger, and those that embody hospitality and purported older values get little real insight into Annie or those she interacts with...more
great audiobook no holds barred in this first person account from a man who has seen the decline in our ecosystems, powerful also includes detail on howgreat audiobook no holds barred in this first person account from a man who has seen the decline in our ecosystems, powerful also includes detail on how we can prevent further damage...more
honest and emotional recounting of author's mother's death - alone in hospital this was well done, just dominated at the expense of other motherhood ashonest and emotional recounting of author's mother's death - alone in hospital this was well done, just dominated at the expense of other motherhood aspects...more
beautiful and poetic at times, very much of its place on the river and among fly-fishermen a love letter to an environment and a pursuit also, for some beautiful and poetic at times, very much of its place on the river and among fly-fishermen a love letter to an environment and a pursuit also, for some reason at this time trout and this river have popped up in a few different places, which is interesting...more
personal account of athlete, dealing with body dismorphia and her mental health through exercise, and the impact having to stop running through injurypersonal account of athlete, dealing with body dismorphia and her mental health through exercise, and the impact having to stop running through injury had, regressing her. Eventual realisation that she was disguising rather than dealing with the problems, her inner "bastard monkey" alway insisting she's not enough, and then helping address this by embarking on CBT and picking up cycling along the way...more
interesting life story from rural Irish upbringing through to a scientific career good detail on links between ancient medical treatments and modern uninteresting life story from rural Irish upbringing through to a scientific career good detail on links between ancient medical treatments and modern understandings at times the "last of the line of ancient celtic"... felt overdone to me, and some of the pronunciation of Irish terminology jarred with the account of being immersed in Irish culture - might just be my localised and limited knowledge...more
touches on the author's experience visiting Gaza and those she met there, but much more of the focus seemed to be on the political history does give a touches on the author's experience visiting Gaza and those she met there, but much more of the focus seemed to be on the political history does give a good account of precarious life there, precarious, subject to collective punishment ordinary people trying to live leaders on both sides are castigated...more
decent memoir, highlighting alot of the author's accomplishments and his approach to life did almost read like a political hagiography at times not suredecent memoir, highlighting alot of the author's accomplishments and his approach to life did almost read like a political hagiography at times not sure it really spoke to all the life skills...more
Brutally honest account of author's devastating experience of near fatal cancer diagnosis and years of treatment and the impact on her life and relatiBrutally honest account of author's devastating experience of near fatal cancer diagnosis and years of treatment and the impact on her life and relationships during early adulthood the recovery, lingering symptoms and struggle to re-engage with life are also described a lot of her acquaintances and friends do seem to be of a type - exotic (to western mindset), extraordinariluy accomplished, mindful...more
really wanted to like this did get good perspective on early career, challenges to establish himself beyond role as The Fonz, struggles as establishedreally wanted to like this did get good perspective on early career, challenges to establish himself beyond role as The Fonz, struggles as established actor but typecast or aged out and late career resurgence and willingness to take chances the short interjections from Stacey worked well despite protestations he really does seem to revel in nce guy image hints at the issues with his family life as a child, but didn't really get much perspective here or detail - felt this was where he could have been more forthcoming...more
autobiography of Michael Collins, astronaut great mix of extraordinary achievements and drive to succeed with a genuine sense of humility at his good fautobiography of Michael Collins, astronaut great mix of extraordinary achievements and drive to succeed with a genuine sense of humility at his good fortune and opportunities. Got a real sense of the excitement and peril of the program. Surprised at the lack of any real personal relationship between the three Apollo 11 crew Technical at times, but got a real sense of the impact it has had on his life, for better or worse, certainly he and Buzz seem to struggle with the sense they had peaked, where to go or what to do from here, but Mike does seem to have appreciate the perspective it gave him of our fragile home...more
mixture of philosophical and more personal short essays some exquisitely good, on distance and art and relationship, one or two of the more personal mixture of philosophical and more personal short essays some exquisitely good, on distance and art and relationship, one or two of the more personal ones seemed more formulaic for me...more
strange mix of timelines of a diary of his post star trek world with later injections and then series of 20 years later footnotes interesting to see thstrange mix of timelines of a diary of his post star trek world with later injections and then series of 20 years later footnotes interesting to see the difference in mindset in his relationship to star trek (initial racing away from it, then embracing it) and with his family (initially seems quiet loving and caring but everything, absolutely everything is recast in his telling once he discovers they have apparently been spending all his money and exploiting him) gets repetitive for me...more
enjoyed all of the author's adventures and her humour and her obvious developing love of food and of the people she encountered. touches on family strenjoyed all of the author's adventures and her humour and her obvious developing love of food and of the people she encountered. touches on family struggles, especially in youth with family dominated by manic depression of mother, and the refuge she found in extended family. levels of privilege and racism reflective of the time at times seemed almost fantastical, especially in light of the caveat she provided in the introduction, so not sure how much was entirely true to life, which did detract a little. short relevant recipes inserted along the way...more
memoir revisiting film maker's youth, relationships, professional work, in context of Aids in early 90s, with backdrop of seaside cottage and garden omemoir revisiting film maker's youth, relationships, professional work, in context of Aids in early 90s, with backdrop of seaside cottage and garden over two years no holds barred, at times a degree of bitterness, mostly revelling in the natural world and support of friends...more
fascinating account of a young man's life in RAF during second world war much of it revolves around training and eventual experiences during war, but tfascinating account of a young man's life in RAF during second world war much of it revolves around training and eventual experiences during war, but the most telling aspect for me is the extreme contrast between his resolve, endurance of severe risk to life in context of his youth, 18 to 21 years old over the course of the war the reminders of his age occasionally were jarring, would forget and picture older man...more
personal memoir of man surviving second world war, holocaust and concentration camps, the impact on him and his family and his determination to truly personal memoir of man surviving second world war, holocaust and concentration camps, the impact on him and his family and his determination to truly survive and thrive...more
no holds barred account of another epic journey for the couple, attempting to turn back the tide of Moth's illness. Lots of struggle and frustration ano holds barred account of another epic journey for the couple, attempting to turn back the tide of Moth's illness. Lots of struggle and frustration and arguments, support and achievement and living reflections on our exploitation of the environment and its deterioration occasional intrusion of early community fears and confusion during Covid...more
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