Positive Press

Here are several biographies and autobiographies that I thoroughly enjoyed. Only one of them is about someone who was an established believer, so they are not meant to replace Bible study or good Christian theology, but I enjoyed them.

Jack’s Life by Douglas Gresham

This is one of my favorite books. A short volume that recounts C.S. Lewis’ life, his friendship with his brother, Warnie, his relationship with Joy Davidman, and his time with his stepson, Douglas Gresham. This sweet story is set in the English countryside and at university. It is not in the cozy genre, but it is a very pleasant read, and an inspirational one at that.

Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Spare is a great book. It is hard to read about how his family turned on him at one point, but the book begins with him growing up being the backup heir. This had its pluses and minuses, Then there was the tragedy of his mother’s too early passing and the villainy of the press and their merciless pursuit of the royal family. Later, Harry joins the military and finds purpose, and the part where he learns to fly helicopters is fascinating and educational. He also gets involved in charitable causes, and does a lot of good work. Towards the later part of the story, he meets his lovely wife, and his family is often harsh to her. I found this to be a great read, not for the insight into the royal family per se, but for a view into the life of a young man, who struggled with being second banana, with devastating loss, with trying to find his place in the world, and who found love and acceptance in the woman he married. I read this much more recently than Jack’s Life, so while they were equally good, my recollection of Spare, is much more vivid.

We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir by (Sir) Anthony Hopkins

A dear relative gave me this fine volume, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Hopkins was maybe not my most watched actor, but has a great stage presence, and one of the greatest and most distinct voices in the world of cinema. This book follows the actor as he struggles with being thought a loser and an outcast, to the times when he discovers his superpower of performing, thorough troubled relationships, addiction and divorce, to success on stage and screen, eventual stardom, and then into a relationship with a woman who is a very good fit for him. I relished tapping into the pages of this read, and would not be averse to rereading it in a few years, when a fresh view could likely be enjoyed again.

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino

The same person who gifted the Hopkins book to me gave me this one also, and it is very good. Pacino wasn’t my go-to actor either, but I like him a lot, and reading this book was a joy. I saw him in the Godfather movies, but loved him in Scent of a Woman, Sea of Love, Dick Tracy and Frankie & Johnny. In Sonny Boy, we meet a lovable if delinquent juvenile, Pacino, and follow him and his friends through lots of misadventures. We see him later lose lots of friends to drugs and other troubles, as he becomes a man and a famous actor. He is not the most learned about women early in life, which reminds me of myself. As he gets older, he has some more sustained relationships and even more successes in film and theater. I really enjoyed this intimate look at a very interesting actor and human being.

The Sport of Queens – Dick Francis

I have been reading Dick Francis books for over forty years. His tales of single men, involving horseracing, relationships, mystery and suspense, have entertained me, and even helped teach me perseverance, as his protagonists always seem to face a gauntlet of danger and aggression. This time out, I am reading his autobiography for the first time, and while it is not a Christian story, it has the same tone and feel as Douglas Gresham’s book Jack’s Life. Set in Great Britain, it recounts the man’s childhood and his life with horses from an early age. He is a hunter, trainer and groom, and starts his career at the age of seven. Right now, he has left the RAF and is becoming a jockey. The book is very well written, but I have not finished it as yet. I feel I can recommend it, however, and hope you enjoy it.