Author: Laurie Sandell
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, a Hachette Book Group
Genre: Nonfiction Memoir
Page Count: 256
My Rating: 3.5
Buy Link: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316033053.htm
Author Website: http://www.lauriesandell.com/
Blurb: Laurie Sandell grew up in awe (and sometimes in terror) of her larger-than-life father, who told jaw-dropping tales of a privileged childhood in Buenos Aires, academic triumphs, heroism during Vietnam, friendships with Kissinger and the Pope. As a young woman, Laurie unconsciously mirrors her dad, trying on several outsized personalities (Tokyo stripper, lesbian seductress, Ambien addict). Later, she lucks into the perfect job--interviewing celebrities for a top women's magazine. Growing up with her extraordinary father has given Laurie a knack for relating to the stars. But while researching an article on her dad's life, she makes an astonishing discovery: he's not the man he says he is--not even close. Now, Laurie begins to puzzle together three decades of lies and the splintered person that resulted from them--herself.
Review: This is a very unusual but interesting book. It is presented in graphic format – as cartoons - which made it a very fast read and more easily read than if it had been in normal print format. [To understand this format you can click on the "Browse inside this book" button on the picture above.]
Laurie struggled all her young life trying to do things perfectly to please her temperamental father. She is glad to escape to college but comes home to discover that her father has changed her room into an office and worse, copied her diary. The next problem she uncovers is a credit card in her name that was set up by her father. Things go down hill from there as she continues to discover that her father has told her lies all her life.
The tale Laurie presents of her life appears to be a journey to try to find self worth and acceptance. I imagine it was cathartic for her to write the book but it contains a bit too much information (“tmi”), including sexual details, for my taste. I did find the drifting into the Ambien addiction and the steps she finally took on her road to recovery interesting. This book would not be for everyone but if you are a person who has struggled with a tyrannical father or dealt with learning to accept yourself or overcoming an addiction, I think you would find this book appealing and entertaining.
[Content Warning – some of the cartoon graphics are explicit.]
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
1. Comment here telling me a fantasy person you have thought to be - like a dancer or writer or mercenary! Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.
2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.
3. For another entry, blog or Twitter about this giveaway and tell me where you did.
4. For another entry, go to the author's website [link above] and tell me something of interest you found there.
5. Leave a separate comment for each entry or you'll only be entered once. (This method is used to make it easier to put the entries into the random generator!)
(Four total entries possible.)
- This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
- No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
This contest will close Midnight (Central) on September 18, 2009. The three winners (one book per winner) will be randomly selected from all entries.
A Big Thank You to Anna and Hachette Book Group who have graciously provided the books for this Giveaway!
