I do not normally read autobiographies unless I really want to know about the person, and even then I am often disappointed by the puffery, self-indulgence and self-importance that makes up the story.
Scott Kelly was not someone I particularly wanted to know about. And though I grew up during the ‘Space Race’ years, I really haven’t followed much of it, especially since the US stopped sending missions into space. BUT, having read the initial excerpt from Bookishfirst site, I was intrigued to know more about the person who went from such a terrible student to doing such an extraordinary thing as being an astronaut and living in space for a year. Then, I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of the book.
I was amazed at his story. He tells it so naturally and with such humility that I found myself warming to the man the more I read. I admire him for the way he set and attained his goals from a seemingly impossible starting point. And how well he coped with living in space for a year – regardless of the physical and emotional risks to himself.
He interspersed technical-ish detail with the human story which provided a good balance. His sense of humor and wonder come though in from time-to-time, and he really conveyed the feeling of being there. This certainly added to the overall enjoyment of the book.
At one point, early on, I was concerned that the story kind of wandered from between time frames, but I realized that this is the way we TELL stories when we’re just telling them. It's like you just sat down with him and started talking.
I want to thank Bookishfirst, the publisher and author for my free copy of this book, in exchange for my review. I have to say that I don’t know that I would have read this book without the exposure Bookishfirst gave me, but I’m glad that I did.
Scott Kelly was not someone I particularly wanted to know about. And though I grew up during the ‘Space Race’ years, I really haven’t followed much of it, especially since the US stopped sending missions into space. BUT, having read the initial excerpt from Bookishfirst site, I was intrigued to know more about the person who went from such a terrible student to doing such an extraordinary thing as being an astronaut and living in space for a year. Then, I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of the book.
I was amazed at his story. He tells it so naturally and with such humility that I found myself warming to the man the more I read. I admire him for the way he set and attained his goals from a seemingly impossible starting point. And how well he coped with living in space for a year – regardless of the physical and emotional risks to himself.
He interspersed technical-ish detail with the human story which provided a good balance. His sense of humor and wonder come though in from time-to-time, and he really conveyed the feeling of being there. This certainly added to the overall enjoyment of the book.
At one point, early on, I was concerned that the story kind of wandered from between time frames, but I realized that this is the way we TELL stories when we’re just telling them. It's like you just sat down with him and started talking.
I want to thank Bookishfirst, the publisher and author for my free copy of this book, in exchange for my review. I have to say that I don’t know that I would have read this book without the exposure Bookishfirst gave me, but I’m glad that I did.