Bryan Cranston

If you are fan of the show, Breaking Bad, I am sure you’ve already read this memoir. Having never seen the show myself, I recently picked up this book after a recommendation from a dear friend. A LIFE IN PARTS is a wonderful memoir, beautifully written, and narrated by Bryan. Bryan takes the approach of telling short tales, experiences, and life lessons that he had throughout his life, all of which inspired, taught, and drove him to his current fame and success. Reading, or listening to these stories, is like walking down a hallway lined with doors on either side. Behind each door is snippet that feels like getting a sneak peek into Bryan‘s mind and life. He is an amazing actor, driven and fueled by his craft. His passion clearly pours out through his words. I highly recommended. Hope you enjoy.

“It’s ok to be afraid. Being afraid, can sometimes mean that you’re actually doing something worthwhile.”… (más)

This is a difficult one for me. When I was notified that A Life in Parts was available to download*, I jumped around excited to read this one. Would it be a tell all? Would there be tons of behind the scenes stories about Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle, or Seinfeld? Would it be part his life, but more story? What was this book going to be?

Cranston wrote a wonderful book. It is insightful, one learns about the rough beginnings of his life, how he hustled and grew up quickly, and the many parts he has had to play in his life.

This is where the difficulty comes in. Each "part" is only a few pages long (ebook version) and he treats one equally. His story on how he got the part to play a Mars bars spokesman got almost as many pages as how he got the part to be on Malcolm in the Middle or Seinfeld. Walter White gets a bit more, but not much more. I kept sensing there was more story out there, but the focus of this book is more about the role itself and how to play it, rather than behind the scene stories. It is more about the acting method he has and less personal stories about the actual role. This was a bit disappointing as a reader, ever though the story he is telling is a good one. If I were an actor, I would probably enjoy this a lot more, but I am a pastor who is a fan of Cranston and I was looking for a different book, I think.

I would say that if you want to get a taste of what it is like, jump to the chapter on Seinfeld, rather than reading from the beginning (although the opening is a great opening), and just read those 3 pages or so. That is what the book is like. If you enjoy it, then you will love the rest. If you were like me saying- wait, that's it? You might not like it as much.

Here is your Amazon link- A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston

*I want to thank Edelweiss and Scribner for the opportunity to read this book early. I received it for free in exchange for an honest review.… (más)

Years ago, first with 'Malcolm in the Middle' then later 'Broken Bad', I became a huge fan of Bryan Cranston. Listening to the audio version of this book, I became an admirer of so much more than his acting abilities. I never once lost my interest in his story, in part because Cranston uses his voice like an instrument, cultivating highs and lows that keep listeners engaged. He gives an honest and humble account of his life, taking readers from his early upbringing in a somewhat dysfunctional family to his present celebrity status. I learned much about the acting life, about the ups and downs of employment, its competitive nature, and how Cranston's risk-taking outlook, professionalism and capabilities make him a much sought-after performer. Definitely, this is a book worthy of several hours of reading or listening.… (más)