"The Impostor's Daughter" by Laurie Sandell

The Impostor's Daughter
Author: Laurie Sandell

I have to tell you that when my copy of The Impostor's Daughter first arrived and I flipped through it, all I could think of was "How did I get myself involved in reviewing this book?" It's not long, it has a very colorful cover, but when I opened it up I saw a COMIC STRIP. Maybe not a comic STRIP - but page after page of a book written in comic book style. My gut reaction was to hand it over to our college aged reviewer, thinking that it would be more appropriate for him, but I figured I'd give it a try. At least it would be a quick read.

I've been known to be wrong (big admission coming) and YES, I WAS WRONG. DEAD WRONG. Not only is this not a light comic book. But it's a very unusual and compelling memoir of Laurie Sandell's quest to discover the truth about her father. The fact that she's an artist as well really allows you to SEE the participants in this engaging book.

Like all children, Laurie grew up listening to her father's stories about his life. As an outsider listening in to their most private conversations, I immediately got the feeling the something was not quite right with this family. Unfortunately, Laurie believed the tales of her father's life in Buenos Aires, his heroism in the Vietnam war, working with Henry Kissinger and more.

As an adult she set out to write a book about her father, as he led an extraordinary life....or so she thought. During her investigation she uncovered secrets about her father that stunned her. Not only were the stories untrue, but her father was a con-man who not only conned outsiders, but also defrauded his family.

The story overlaps her own life and her relationship with others as a result of her bizarre love-hate relationship with her dad. Ms. Sandell has a unique way of bringing the reader directly into her life and make them feel the family dynamics as though we are experiencing them ourselves. I truly believe that I would recognize her father if I passed him on the street.

From start to finish, I never put the book down. It was so compelling that I spent yet another sleepless night, book in hand.

I'll never again judge a book by it's cover (or artwork) as this is my pick of the summer (and to think I almost passed on it).