Book Review: A Life in Parts

Read from Sept. 29  to Oct. 10, 2016

Ok, so I received another early copy of a solid book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  (Thank you, NetGalley!)

Let me start off by saying this.  A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston is not a "tell all" memoir, but more of, well, 'parts' of his life (hence the title) that give a glimpse into the mind of one of the most talented actors of the current generation. Bryan invites us to see the moments he's etched out in his life that made him the husband, father, and actor we all know.

I walked into this book with one thing on my mind... "I want to read the book of the man that brought Walter White into my life." I feel Breaking Bad is easily the most well rounded and near perfect TV shows to ever hit the mainstream media. And, I've never watched a single full episode of Malcolm in the Middle. Now, with that said, I took away more from this book than expected. I learned that it takes far more than just great writers to create amazing characters, but a lifetime of experiences, good, bad, and even tragic, to mold the actors and actresses that do their best to portray them. Bryan Cranston, through this memoir, is proof of that.



This book starts off hot. And what I mean by that, is it opens with the telling of the authors mindset and method of what made one of the most intense scenes in the Breaking Bad saga.  (Sorry, no spoilers here, gonna have to read it).  Cranston talks of where his mind was in a grueling / character defining moment of the series, and how his own personal life brought forth the emotions into the Walter White character on the set.  (I'm getting chills just thinking about it all over again.)  This opening chapter sets the tone of the book and what you're going to experience throughout. Cranston provides glimpses of his life, from early on to near present, that brought him back and forth into the world of acting. Like any successful career, there were struggles, heartache, embarrassment, and small wins that paved the way for his success.

Cranston has proven for years that he can play many types of characters. Beyond being a well rounded actor, the man is a solid story teller. A Life in Parts is a very quick and easy read, because he made it that way. It's a witty, smart, and full of life. This book is easily for anyone who's a Breaking Bad fan, or just a fan Cranston in general, but it doesn't need to be tied down to that audience. I feel anyone can pick up this title and get pure entertainment from it. I mean, isn't that what books are for?

I give this an entertaining 4 stars out of 5.  Please, pick this one up.  You won't regret it.
A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston is available for purchase now!