I’ve been on a roll of good books from Hoopla. I sure hope it continues. The most recent book I tried was The Pale-Faced Lie by David Crow. The book is nonfiction which I often enjoy if it’s told in first person and reads like a story. I admit to being drawn in by the picture on the cover. I like books set in the past and this one looked like it might be set in the 60’s. I hoped this one would be good.
This was a coming of age book and dealt much with disfunction in a family. This family unfortunately had a lot of it. It always amazes me what happens behind closed doors…and makes me wonder how some kids can grow up and be functioning members of society. I was fortunate to have liked through none of that during my childhood.
Here’s what Amazon had to say:
“Growing up on the Navajo Indian Reservation, David Crow and his siblings idolized their dad. Tall, strong, smart, and brave, the self-taught Cherokee regaled his family with stories of his World War II feats. But as time passed, David discovered the other side of Thurston Crow, the ex-con with his own code of ethics that justified cruelty, violence, lies – even murder.
A shrewd con artist with a genius IQ, Thurston intimidated David with beatings to coerce him into doing his criminal bidding. David’s mom, too mentally ill to care for her children, couldn’t protect him. One day, Thurston packed up the house and took the kids, leaving her nothing. Soon he remarried, and David learned that his stepmother was just as vicious and abusive as his father.
Through sheer determination, and with the help of a few angels along the way, David managed to get into college and achieve professional success. When he finally found the courage to stop helping his father with his criminal activities, he unwittingly triggered a plot of revenge that would force him into a showdown with Thurston Crow. With lives at stake, including his own, David would have only 24 hours to outsmart his father – the brilliant, psychotic man who bragged that the three years he spent in the notorious San Quentin State Prison had been the easiest time of his life.”
Amazon readers gave the book 4.8 stars….I think I’d say 4.5 stars. The book really kept my attention. I love when I find an engrossing book and it makes me want to find things to do that allow me to listen to the book..including going out and getting some exercise!! If wanting to listen to an audiobook gets me out to exercise, you know it has to be a pretty good book. I recommended it to Kayla and she’s going to listen to it too.
If you have Kindle Unlimited, the book is now available for free. Here is a link to Kindle Unlimited.