Rating: 
Summary: Halfway Home: My Life 'til Now
Review: "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"!
Rating:
Summary: A Book Filled With Humanity and the Richness of Life
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: Halfway Home: My Life 'til Now
Review: "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"!
Rating:
Summary: A Book Filled With Humanity and the Richness of Life
Review: "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.
Rating:
Summary: Courage
Review: A most well written book. Surely this man runs Job a close second in adversity. The way he has reliazed so many of his dreams thru so many problems, with his since of humor in tact is a lesson to us all. Have to warn you tho, I had to stop reading many times because I could not see thru my tears. I hope he writes another book.
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars is insufficient
Review: As an admirer of Dr. Ronan Tynan's voice since his first PBS special, there's been the need to learn as much as possible about the man. This book halfway answers that need. His story is so incredible and his spirit so indominable, his talents so varied and so exceptional, his attitude so hopeful and his heart so large, he's an inspiration to us all. He has suffered much but he has been blessed as much. And he has kept his youthful innocence and exuberance. his love of life and hopefulness for the next step. Thank you, Dr. Tynan, for sharing yourself with us.
Rating:
Summary: The life and dreams of an Irish "MAN"
Review: Few book have the power of Halfway Home. Mr Tyana shows us by example the way to live life. No matter how we come into this world it is up to us as how we choose to live. Let us all take a long look at the way we are now living and reread Halfway Home.
Rating:
Summary: A life worth talking about...
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: A Big Man With A Big Voice And An Ego to Match?
Review: I am a huge fan of the Irish Tenors and so waited anxiously for this book to appear in our local book store. While I found the first half of the book to be an excellent read and found the story of how Ronan, though the love and good sence of his parents, was encouraged to go beyond his abilities to reach for the stars, the second half of the book was difficult to get through. There is no doubt that this man is really an inspiration to others with disabilities, but halfway through the book you find there is little information about others that helped him in his journey and the book becomes all about his Ego - it was a struggle to finish the book as I could not believe the long winded accounts of what he would do next. I would have liked to have read more about his association with the Irish Tenors and his travels there .. instead all you got was Ronan crowing from the rooftops with an Ego the size of Ireland itself. I almost expect any follow up book to announce that he can now walk on water! Very disappointed in this book.
Rating:
Summary: A truly thankful person...
Review: I had the pleasure of meeting Ronan a few weeks back at a restaurant in NYC. It was an unplanned meeting, I was there having dinner w/ clients, he was there with a group himself. As Ronan was making his way to the door, one of my dinner guest ask him a quick question, that question open what turned out to be an amazing journey with truly a magnificent person. Ronan, spent the evening sharing in laughs (many which he offered) and tales that only a person that has perservered as much as he has. In the days following our unique night I dove head first into HALFWAY HOME, after reading it (in one sitting) I realized that what had happened was a life changing event. Do yourself a favor, learn about Dr. Tynan's life, for it surely will change yours...forever.
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