RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN - Book Review

"Running As Fast As I Can" by John David Graham is a gripping tale that follows the remarkable life journey of Daniel Robinson from his childhood in the mid-1900s to his adulthood years. The story is told in 1st person by the protagonist, Daniel Robinson. If you were a child of the fifties or sixties, you will find his tale ring true. He talks about his dealing with his angry, drunken wife-beating philandering father. He and his brothers hated him so much that they had decided to not refer to him as dad or father but simply as "him." His brother Robert said, "To me, he's just him—some abusive stranger who happens to live in the house with us."

Daniel's father was a factory worker by day and spent evenings watching TV, getting drunk, and sleeping. Sadly, he was a harsh and abusive individual towards his three sons and wife. The beatings were frequent and often severe. Daniel wanted to know why his mother married him, and she said it was because she had felt sorry for him and all the hell he had gone through before they married. But his mother's decision transformed her into a solitary and forgotten soul, burdened by the constant domestic violence and the grief over the loss of her beloved mother.

This book profoundly portrays adolescent life in the 1950s and 1960s. It delves into the hustle of earning money through delivering papers, the joy of building balsa wood models, the excitement of weekend cowboy movies, and the tender yet complicated emotions of first love. It's a compelling journey through a transformative era.

It is a story of being betrayed by the influential and revered and the heartbreaking truth that society ignores the pleas of the less fortunate, rendering them powerless in their pursuit of justice against the established powerful. Daniel experiences betrayal multiple times in his journey. He experienced it in childhood, love, and work – one betrayal became his nightmare. Daniel's mentor, Dr. Samuels, shared a profound insight with him, “Life is written in pencil, so we can get a lot of second chances.” When encountering hardships, this profound concept inspired Daniel to remain resilient and gracefully adapt whenever necessary.

Seeking a fresh start after a devastating heartbreak, he embarks on a journey from his college in Kentucky to the vibrant city of San Francisco. He hopes to find solace and begin anew amidst the thriving counter-culture movement there. Despite encountering kind-hearted souls during his cross-country hitchhiking adventures, his arrival in San Francisco is marred by a disastrous event that makes him second-guess his decision. Nevertheless, amidst the initial hardships and emotional turmoil he endures, he eventually finds solace and a sense of purpose.

Detroit is another city that becomes a part of Daniel's story. There, he encounters an unexpected new love interest, Kate. Will she prove to be just like Elizabeth? Can he trust her love to be genuine, or will she judge a man based on his family and wealth instead of the true essence of his being?

It is a captivating book that offers a profound reading experience. It delves into various aspects of life that resonate with all of us, provoking deep introspection into one's own journey. It portrays an authentic depiction of a society in constant change and uncovers the gritty truths and unforeseen obstacles that life frequently presents. I found "Running As Fast As I Can" a fascinating read that I was glad to have had the opportunity to review. I LOVED IT.