Customer Reviews

Halfway Home : My Life 'til Now

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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This beautiful and touching memoir is not just for music fans of this larger-than-life tenor, but for all of us who face challenges in our daily lives. Ronan so honestly and simply tells the story of his life to date, that you will live through the good times and the bad times with him. You will laugh, cheer, cry and then repeat the cycle. In addition to being a wonderful singer, a doctor, a world-class athlete and an incredible and kind human being, Ronan now adds "writer" to his list of accomplishments. His writing style is so natural and easy to read, that you feel that he is at your shoulder reading the book aloud to you-I could almost hear his voice. His portrayal of the people in his life is very effective. They jump off the page at you as the real people that they are, particularly his beloved father, who now owns a piece of my heart. If you feel in need of inspiration to face any challenges that you may be facing-this is the book to reach for.

"Truly, an inspiring book" - I have seen that phrase on more book jackets than I care to count over the years. Perhaps some were truly inspiring to certain people. This book is universally inspiring. I can't imagine anyone, from any walk of life, not being moved by Ronan Tynan's story.

He may be well-known to many people or a total enigma to others.
In his unpretentious way, he describes his journey from a small
farm in Ireland to become one of the most popular singers of our time. And just to make things interesting, he did it without the use of his lower legs which were, eventually, amputated. Fitted with prostheses of varying quality he became a star disabled athlete, a top-rated equestrian, and picked up a few degrees along the way - physical education, music, and medicine.

He is now known in the great opera houses of the world as a tenor with few peers. To most of us he is known as one of the
Irish Tenors. You simply MUST read his autobiography to really
know the many obstacles he overcame by unwavering determination and faith in himself.

The book is as unpretentious as Dr.Tynan, beautifully written,
and shows you just how good life can be - no matter how many things were against you as you passed through life's starting gate.

This uplifting book is for anyone who treasures family values. One moment it brings laughter the next tears. Dr. Tynan writes with such sincerity and such humor. He does not hesitate to make fun of himself and his wild way of life as a young man trying to find a niche in which he would feel comfortable. As a doctor he has finally found it and as a singer he has learned how to make use of all the emotions he had experienced by rotating through the various levels of medical school. The book is an inspiration to anyone, whether physically challenged or not. It is also an inspiration to all who for just one moment have the thought of not being able to accomplish something. When I read the last page and closed the book, I had only one word to say, More!

When reading Ronan Tynan's newly-released autobiography, I thought of a favorite quote of mine: "The only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them." This man has encountered many stumbling blocks in his forty-one years, on his path to manhood, champion athlete, physician, and world-class singer, but he has approached them all with grit and heart, and used them as stepping stones. In this book, he takes the reader on that path with him, writing so as to allow the reader an insightful, and sometimes amusing, look into his experiences, fears, dreams, and triumphs. He writes with the same style with which he performs--with wit, sensitivity, and passion. I can only hope that the title of the book, "Halfway Home..." is ominous, that God grants Ronan Tynan a long life, so that he can continue to touch us with his music, inspire us with his courage, and, if we're lucky, bring us up-to-date on his life by writing another autobiography forty-one years from now!

I second the emotions of readers who applaud Dr. Tynan for both his life choices and his generosity in sharing them with us in this book. I would add however that as the parent of a child with a disability (and as an attorney who represents these families) this story can uniquely help those not only in Ronan's position: but also in the position of his parents. Too often, we parents of physically or mentally challenged children feel compelled to overprotect them: to spare them any additional struggles or pain. Yet I learned from this book that teaching my daughter to take risks (and to learn "the hard way" from them!)is a far more lasting benefit to her than anything else I can teach her. I will share this book with my friends and clients. And on behalf of my daughter to Dr. Tynan: Thanks for getting my Mom to lighten up!!

I loved every page of this book. It was written in an amusing way,I enjoyed it as a story of growing up in Ireland and as a story of Ronans singing career. It is amazing how many other things he has made a success of, also the way he has nearly killed himself doing dangerous things. I found myself thinking - what is he going to do next ? . It has some lovely photos

"Halfway Home" is an incredible book written by an incredible man. It's written in such a way that you feel that Ronan's right in the room talking to you. If you haven't read the book yet, then you need to! You'll laugh, cry, and be inspired, by the man known as Dr. Ronan Tynan. So here is my book review (in rhyme):

An awesome book that's written
in Ronan's inimitable way,
His writing comes straight from the heart
No ghost writer was paid!

He expresses all his feelings
of joy and pain and sorrow,
Seldom giving in to pity,
but looking to tomorrow.

Ronan was born into this world
deformed below the knees,
The priest told Mam "He'll make you proud,"
"With those lungs, he'll surely sing!"

Mam's greatest trait, her iron will,
imparted to her son
And yet, in Ronan, that's tempered with,
his father's wit and fun.

Accidents and errant horse rides,
things done with reckless abandon!
A good thing Mam didn't always know,
and Dad was understanding!

Fiona was a helpmate,
A blessing to be sure,
While Tom required a little more time,
to form a bond, now pure.

Braces helped this child to walk,
painful though it was,
But still a horseman he became,
winning honors and awards.

The braces could not last forever,
There would come a time,
When amputation was the answer,
to spasms that paralyzed.

And Ronan forged ahead through trials
of a double-amputee,
To win at the Paralympics,
Setting records, he felt so free!

With that same determined spirit,
there was more his mind conceived!
Becoming a medical doctor,
was the next goal he achieved!

Meanwhile, this young man learned to sing,
with a voice that's strong and pure,
He realized his life's next goal,
was to sing for venues full!

The first step came when he won first prize
(his Mam and Dad were proud!),
in the "Go For It" competition,
"Return to Sorrento" stunned the crowd!

And having sung across this world,
He joined a special trio,
The Irish Tenors, as they're known,
have world-wide appeal!

So no matter what the obstacle,
Seems he always overcomes,
With sheer determination,
What an example he's become!

And now his life seems blessed and full,
There's so much that he's done,
But we must remember who this is....
And he's only "Halfway Home"!

The saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction." has to apply to this moving biography of Ronan Tynan's. His life so far has been filled with more trials and tribulations than any one person I have ever heard of...and he's only 43 years old!!!!! What can possibly happen to him in his next 43 years to top this??? I can only hope he keeps us up-to-date with another fascinating book. As a singer, he is the best. I have been lucky enough to see many of his solo concerts and many of his concerts with the Irish Tenors, and all are as exciting and pleasurable as this book. The man is just a wonder.

Good luck, Ronan, in all you endeavor, and please keep your fans up to date on all your activities. You are truly an inspiration to us all.

I recently met Ronan, he makes you feel like he wants you to call him by his first name, at one of his inspirational talks for the physically challenged. I bought his book at that event,
I simply could not put it down. The pain that this individual has suffered in his life would destroy most of us. Yet every day he awakens to whatever joy or challenge the world will present him.
After each episode of reading I would start to tell my family of Ronan's latest episode, only to find my voice breaking, not from sadness but from the shear joy and courage of the man.

When you meet him in person his exuberence for people and life just overwhelms those around him, and he looks much younger in person than on TV.

Fiction writers would have a hard time creating a story as compelling and inspirational as that of Ronan Tynan's. As an amputee, he's done more in 41 years than 5 able-bodied people could have. He's broken world records as a disabled athlete, and recorded records as a beloved Irish Tenor. Plus he's also helped a few other people continue to live their lives as well, as a doctor. Whew....

So at times, it seems like he's telling the story a little fast: your mind starts swimming as he goes from quickly goes from one phase of life to another. At one point, he knows for sure he's going to be a medical doctor. But a mere six paragraphs later, before he even steps foot in med school, the seeds have already been planted towards a singing career. But that's how he's lived: by always moving forward. It's been said that the man has no reverse gear.

There's a roller coaster of sadness and success in his story. But there's also a lightheartedness that comes through his dry humor, a love of food, women, and pints of Guinness. Simply, he's achieved a lot, but he's still basically a normal man.

Tynan's writing style is British English, so you do have to pay a little more attention than usual. But the payoff is worth it.
It's mind-boggling that this man can add one more accomplishment to his long list: author.