Neal Thompson

Although I've decided I don't very much like the man Robert Ripley became, I must give this four stars for an excellent and engaging biography. Ripley seems to me to have been a very selfish man---the epitome of a man ruined by fame and fortune. The last 30-40 pages bummed me out as he declined and died as most men like him do---unhappy and alone.

There is a Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in Newport, Oregon that I've visited a couple times. It's spooky---but not scary. I never really understood why I felt so weirded out there, but after reading this, I sorta get it. There were so many interesting parts to his life and story that I can't do them all justice in a short review. As a blogger, I thought it was fun how the author compared Ripley's travel narratives to blogging. I'd always wondered about shrunken heads and how that was even possible---now I'm thinking these heads were without skulls. I did feel like too much was made of his buckteeth; calling them a handicap, even, at one point. Surely someone with a real handicap might beg to differ---or maybe this straight-toothed girl just can't sympathize.

Definitely a good read---but don't expect to think highly of Ripley when you're through.… (mehr)

The Kennedy family has always been of interest to me, so right away I knew I wanted to read about the couple who started their family in America. I knew they were Irish, but had no idea that their ancestors lived through the famine and came to the United States with nothing but hope and determination.

Initially the Irish immigrants were not welcomed in Boston. Over the years, as more and more immigrated, they changed the demographics of Boston. Along with the demographic changes, came changes in education, housing and employment opportunities that gave the immigrants a much better way of life.

The Kennedy family is the perfect immigrant success story. Within three generations, they rose from poverty to great wealth and privilege. What is so amazing about this is that Bridget, the family matriarch and first young woman from the family to come from Ireland, managed to raise four children as a widow, gradually raising her earning potential as the children grew up. It truly seems she was the backbone of the family and a big reason her son Patrick was so successful.

The bulk of the story focuses on Patrick, who held many titles during his adult life. He is most known for his role in politics and as a successful businessman. Patrick also embraced his Irish Catholic heritage. He was a listener and very good with people.

I was impressed at the amount of information the author was able to find about Bridget during that time period, since there are so few records for women. It’s a shame there wasn’t more recorded of Bridget’s life, because she was really the person who cultivated the family’s future success.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to offer my honest review.… (mehr)