Dora A. Martin > Recent Status Updates

I’ve been starting and stopping reading this book since 2012. And I just can’t seem to finish it but this year I am determined to. I keep starting from the beginning to refresh my memory. The good thing is that each time I read it again from the beginning I understand a bit more. Maybe that’s the whole point. This book is a very interesting read it helps me understand how companies work in today’s world.

This book popped up on my Amazon account. The title sounded interesting, so I bought it. Exceptionally awesome read. So, I began reading this book 9th of May 2025. I’m less than a quarter into the book but I can congratulate the authors on its content so far.

Enjoying the reading.

Excellent biography. I am enjoying the reading.

This historical fiction novel is brilliantly written. It is indeed interesting and intriguing; every chapter was exciting definitely a page turner.

The descriptions of surroundings, places and characters were amazing. I was loathed to read the last chapter as I didn’t want the story to end,

If you love history, this is a ‘must buy book.’ Very well written by the Author. A superb novel.

This is a fantastic read for any avid reader of fantasy fiction. Depending on your level of consciousness, each reader will get a different viewpoint. I'm currently in the process of preparing the sequel to this book. Watch this space.

This is a really heavy spiritual book. Not for the faint hearted. The 'old English' is hard to get my head around sometimes but I enjoy the book. It sings to my soul.

I am only up to chapter 12 and yet I am finding this book absolutely breathtaking. I can talk about it forever. Catherine The Great – a fantastic read so far.

Whenever I have down days, I think of Catherine The Great; I project a vision, an end goal and I keep going through the rough times until I get there.

When I look at people today who have grown up with similar childhood traumas; today they are whinging adults who spend their time telling a ‘poor me’ story. I love the biography of Catherine The Great because she created for herself one vision which kept her going through her ordeal; to marry a man of high ranking and she herself was titled; Her Imperial Highness, a Grand Duchess of Russia (page 64).

marry – not just any husband, but one who would raise her in rank as far as possible above Johanna, her mother.”

Sophia soldiered on as her inner power continued to grow. At thirteen, she became aware that the way to make people like her was not to behave seductively, but with intellect and taking an interest in people; listening to them. Such is the brilliant mind of this young person; she went on to recognise (page 13) that “her only means of escape from her present life and from her mother was to marry

As I read on, I marvelled as “Threatened, Sophia drew around herself a cloak of meekness, deference and temporary submission.” She shows great wisdom as she used her governess’ traits as a role model. I absolutely love this part of Sophia’s character. I have had to use such tactic myself in myself; using traits of a role model to over a particular obstacle.

Still this crushing of her esteem did not break the spirit of Sophia who continued to show strength. She remained respectful to her mother and submitted to her commands. She kept quiet her own opinions. Sophia shows great emotional intelligence as I read how “later, concealment of pride in humility came to be recognised as a deliberate and useful tactic which she used when confronting crisis and danger.”

How she made Sophia kneel and kiss the hem of the skirt of all visiting women of rank. And Sophia obeyed.

Yet this did not stunt the growth of Sophia’s character. As written on page 9; “the more independence Sophia displayed, the more she worried her mother.” It is interesting to note how her mother mistook her daughter’s inner strength as arrogant and rebellious and saw fit to “stamp it out of her.” My heart went out to Sophia as I read how her mother repeatedly told her how she was ugly as well as impertinent.

I love the way how Sophia (Catherine) as a very young child, recognised the rejection of her existence by her mother and in order to survive and deal with this emotional/psychological abuse, to avoid more hurt, Sophia sealed off her emotions; nothing was being given and nothing was expected.

I thoroughly enjoy reading Catherine The Great. I bought this book because as a Life Coach, (and author) I love stories about people, especially women who, despite hardship in their young life, manage to overcome enormous obstacles and traumas and become great figures in their own right. It gives me hope and belief that the impossible is possible. All obstacles can be overcome.