Literary Quote of the Month

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell...A Review!


The Impostor's Daughter by Laurie Sandell
An illustrated Memoir & Coming of Age Story...
..


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.

What Did I think? Even before I opened the book I thought the story was intriguing. What was the mystery behind this man that spun all these amazing believable tales? And what did Laurie eventually find out about her father and herself? Then I opened the book... It was not what I was expecting... it was illustrated... it was a graphic novel! (Laurie prefers graphic memoir)... I was intrigued even more!

One of the fun parts of this book is that it is a graphic novel! I had no idea when I received the review copy until I opened it up, but just glancing thru it turned into reading a few pages... then a few more... and I just kept reading! It hooked me! I could not put it down. Very colorful, funny, well written and a great read! For anyone not familiar with graphic novels a great starting point! And a very happy surprise for me!

We follow Laurie from a little girl growing up with her father's mysterious ways- stopping the mail anytime HE was going away, phone calls asking for her 'father' in many different aliases, his going away for months at a time with no notice and returning home just as mysteriously, and the stories!...CIA? Secret Service? Not by a mile... A fascinating story about Laurie's relationship with her father, but also a wonderful story about Laurie herself as she uncovers the layers of lies she's lived with all her life and how it changes her... A modern day detective story that shows us the honest quirky things that make up a family. We meet Laurie's sisters, mother, boyfriends plus as she searches out the truth. The drawings are great! We see Laurie's & her families expressions as we read the story. Never read a graphic novel before? Do Not let that stop you! This book is great! Want to see some of Laurie's art from the book? Learn a little more about Laurie? Here a link to Laurie's website. You can also find a link there to the original Esquire story Laurie wrote about her father that lead to this book!

Currently Laurie Sandell is a contributing editor at Glamour, where she writes cover stories, features, and personal essays. She has also written for Esquire, GQ, New York, and In Style, among other publications. In her twenties, she spent four years traveling around the world, having unsavory experiences she later justified as “material.”


76 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please enter me..

lovestoread0708(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am already a follower..

lovestoread0708(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jenni @ Falling Off The Shelf said...

I'd love to enter Suzanne!

Already a Follower :)

Posted on my sidebar :
http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com

I don't think I'd ever want to lie about who I am, because I honestly like who I am :) Although, on certain occasions I have lied when signing my credit card reciepts, but I'm pretty sure they know I'm not Betty Boop :)

jennilovevirgo AT aol DOT com

KR said...

I've been wanting this one.


mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

I follow.


mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Sara said...

Sounds like a great read! Thanks! Love your blog!

Mozi Esme said...

Would love to read this! janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Mozi Esme said...

And I'm a follower.

Mozi Esme said...

Scary, but I think I would pretend to be a doctor. Would have to do some studying, first...

A Reader said...

Thanks for the giveaway!
Kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

A Reader said...

Follower (liane66)

A Reader said...

If I were to lie I would tell people I'm Qiunn Cummings as I have been told I resemble her.

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I'd love to be entered. Please count me in. Thanks. jessica(at)fan(dot)com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

Lying about who I was I'd go with spy very elaborate spin it a million different ways.
jessica(at)fan(dot)com

HODGEPODGESPV said...

spvaughan yahoo com wants this boo

HODGEPODGESPV said...

new follower (see white dog) is hodgepodgespv

spvaughan yahoo com

HODGEPODGESPV said...

spvaughan http://bit.ly/u77cr bk giveaway "the impostors daughter"
tweet

HODGEPODGESPV said...

if i were to lie, i would tell...people that i am a lier...my dad said i have a face that would give me away every time.

throuthehaze said...

count me in please!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

already a follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

blogged
http://throuthehaze.blogspot.com/2009/07/giveaways_11.html

throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

I would maybe say that I was a successful artist
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

chey said...

Please enter me.

chey127 at hotmail dot com

Lesley (aka Upper West Side Writer) said...

I really, really want to read this book--thank you so much!

lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

Lesley (aka Upper West Side Writer) said...

I just became a follower via Blogger; thanks!

lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

Lesley (aka Upper West Side Writer) said...

I Tweeted about this great giveaway:

http://twitter.com/uwsreader/status/2590778946

Thanks!

lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

Lesley (aka Upper West Side Writer) said...

If I was going to lie about who I was, I'd go big: CIA agent, on-the-run assassin, that sort of thing. Why lie otherwise? :^)

Thank you!

lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

want to read it please
wheresmyrain@yahoo.com

Literary Feline said...

This sounds like a great book. My husband and I were just talking last night about his lack of female written graphic novels. I'll have to suggest this one to him (so I can read it).

I'd like to be entered in the drawing if that's okay. I follow you on Google Reader, does that count?

As for who I would want to tell people I am if I was up to lying about it . . . Lesley stole my answer. LOL Hmm. I think I'll go with telling them I'm a famous published author researching my new book idea by going undercover. Something like that. LOL

literaryfeline AT gmail DOT com

mindy said...

sounds like a great read minsthins at optonline dot net

budletsmom said...

I really want to read this book please enter me in your giveaway.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

budletsmom said...

I follow.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

budletsmom said...

I can't lie but if I could I would say I was an artist or author.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me. I've been a slacker about posting this, anyway (apologies. It's been a WEIRD weekend.)

This is my usual thanks for the e-mail message. It's finally up at Win a Book.

Pam said...

I've read so much about this book. I'd love to read it.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

Follower

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

The only time I've ever lied about who I was was in a bar with friends when guys we weren't interested in were hitting on us. I was Ingrid and visiting my cousin from Germany. I didn't speak English very well.

melacan at hotmail dto com

Sharon said...

Sounds like a great read, thanks for the giveaway

sharr1226 at yahoo dot com

wendy wallach said...

I love the concept of a graphic novel to tell a story.

madamerkf at aol dot com

dag888888 said...

I would like to win this book!

dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com

dag888888 said...

More of a trick than a lie... hearing folks in an elevator speak a foreign language you speak as well but telling them you only speak English!

Sue said...

I'd love a shot at winning this! Thanks for the giveaway~

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Dixie said...

I'd love an entry also. Thank you.
southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

Dixie said...

I'm a follower.
southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

Dixie said...

I'd tell people that I am actually Madonna's younger, prettier sister and that my name is Immaculetta. I don't sing but I can dance the tango.;-)
southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

Mishia said...

Looks like a great book!

mishiareads(at)gmail(dot)com

Mishia said...

I follow!

Belinda said...

I don't think I've ever read a book like this. I would love to win a copy.
Thanks!
1bmore @ gmail . com

Marie said...

I don't read many graphic novels so this would be something rather different for me, it sounds great!

marielay@gmail.com

Marie said...

I am a follower.

marielay@gmail.com

Marie said...

I would tell people I'm a distant relative of England's royal family -- that should at least get me a couple meals or drinks :-)

marielay@gmail.com

wheresmyrain said...

it would be a shameful thing ineed,if I did not get ahold of this book. please enter me
wheresmyrain@yahoo.com

Jess said...

Please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks,
jedziedz@hotmail.com
jess
barney's book blog

Jess said...

I am already a follower.

jedziedz@hotmail.com
jess
barney's book blog

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

would love to read mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom

jemscout425 said...

pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

jemscout425 said...

already a follower
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

DarcyO said...

I would love to read this one!

dlodden(at)frontiernet(dot)net

DarcyO said...

I'm a follower.

dlodden(at)frontiernet(dot)net

DarcyO said...

I'd say I was a prize-winning author!

dlodden(at)frontiernet(dot)net

patrick m said...

your review makes me want to read this..
ppoverboard@aol.com

Debbie F said...

Please enter me

dcf_beth(at)verizon(dot)net

thanks!

Debbie F said...

I follow - Google Reader

dcf_beth(at)verizon(dot)net

Debbie F said...

I would pretend to be rich royalty of some sort
Not a good actress so no one would believe me though!

dcf_beth(at)verizon(dot)net

Mia J. said...

This book sounds great. Please enter me. Thanks!

Lady Roxi said...

I would love to read this.

Thanks,

darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Hi!

I am a new follower, thanks to Jenni :)

My email is jtcallaway@yahoo.com

I am not sure if I would lie about who I was because honestly I don't lie but if I was forced to, I would say Julia Roberts because people say that I remind them of her.

Miranda Ward said...

Looks like an awesome book

Sarah Z said...

Sounds like a great read!
Thanks
Sarah
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com

nan said...

I'd love to be entered.

vtgoat[at]gmail[dot]com

Nan said...

I am subscribed through google reader.

vtgoat[at]gmail[dot]com

Ellie Wright said...

Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Ally said...

I'm a follower!

allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

Ally said...

please enter me!
\
allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the give away, I am a new follower!!!

jbb141@yahoo.com

Suzanne Yester said...

Thank you to EVERYONE who joined in on the fun and entered the giveaway, blogged and tweeted about it! It's been almost a year since I posted this giveaway, and I thought I would delete the giveaway "rules" and leave this post as a review. In the future I will also list the winners in this last comment, because I deleted those names posted on the top of the post as well and someone may want to look back and see who won...

Happy Reading....

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