Connie V. reviewed Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent writing, touching story, and encouraging testimony of God's faithfulness.
Gina C. (gdcleary) reviewed Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts on + 21 more book reviews
I really wanted to like the book Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me: A Memoir of Sorts but I just could not get over the feeling that Mr. Cron was always blaming his fathers drinking for his problems. I know that drinking is a problem in families and leaves deep scars that are hard to overcome. He concentrated so much on his father that he left out Jesus in most of the book. I really believe that the title should have been Me, My Father, the CIA, and Jesus. Because that is the order in which I felt he concentrated his time and writing.
I felt that he did tell a great story but he even stated at the beginning of the book that This work dances on the hyphen between memoir and autobiographical fiction. (pg. 4) With that being said, I never really knew whether or not to believe the details that he told. Where they fact, skewed facts, or just ficiton? I love autobiographical accounts of overcoming the odds but I just could never believe whole heartedly what was being said.
I did not exactly dislike the book but I could not really recommend the book by giving it five stars. I would also like to say that I do not think that the book is entirely fiction but I would like to know what was actually fact. I know that he was telling a story from forty year old memories but I just could not get into the stories that he told. I was expecting more information about how his father was involved in the CIA and the adventures around his fathers work. I was sadly disappointed.
I felt that he did tell a great story but he even stated at the beginning of the book that This work dances on the hyphen between memoir and autobiographical fiction. (pg. 4) With that being said, I never really knew whether or not to believe the details that he told. Where they fact, skewed facts, or just ficiton? I love autobiographical accounts of overcoming the odds but I just could never believe whole heartedly what was being said.
I did not exactly dislike the book but I could not really recommend the book by giving it five stars. I would also like to say that I do not think that the book is entirely fiction but I would like to know what was actually fact. I know that he was telling a story from forty year old memories but I just could not get into the stories that he told. I was expecting more information about how his father was involved in the CIA and the adventures around his fathers work. I was sadly disappointed.
I usually run away from memoirs, mainly because I believe most of them to be pretentious cries for attention but this title peaked my curiosity. Early in this book Cron tells us his father is responsible for ruining his childhood. Cron was born into affluence, he name drops and brags about how important his father was and then complains bitterly when his father's drinking and inability to keep a job lands them in a middle class neighborhood. His anecdotes with which he hopes to illicit sympathy are rites of passage, a part of growing up that many readers will identify with, some with fondness or laughter. Cron does not find them amusing and seems slighted that he had to endure them. He was a kid with an inferiority complex that sought the acceptance of his peers and craved the approval of his father. Didn't we all?
He speaks of feeling like an outcast and them describes his many friends and the frequent keg parties he attended. He whines of how standoffish his dad was, how unapproachable and unaffectionate. He describes a postcard he received from his father while away on one of his many trips that said "Want to know a secret? I love you." He immediately laments that fact that his dad's love for him had to be a "secret". Seriously?
There is a poignant moment during Cron's spiritual awakening. He feels God speaking to him and saying, "I'm sorry for letting you down." He questions whether a mighty, sovereign God would actually say such a thing to a young boy. A wise older women tells him "Why wouldn't Jesus humble himself and tell a little boy he was sorry for letting him down if it would heal his heart?" Cron cries, "But if Jesus is perfect...?" The woman explains, "Son, love always stoops."
Another such moment is when Cron relates how his own son needed to him as he summoned the courage to perform a daring act and how he remained steadfast by his side. I wasn't sure if Cron was teaching a lesson on fatherhood or trying to convince himself and his readers that he is not the lousy father that his drunk dad was.
He speaks of feeling like an outcast and them describes his many friends and the frequent keg parties he attended. He whines of how standoffish his dad was, how unapproachable and unaffectionate. He describes a postcard he received from his father while away on one of his many trips that said "Want to know a secret? I love you." He immediately laments that fact that his dad's love for him had to be a "secret". Seriously?
There is a poignant moment during Cron's spiritual awakening. He feels God speaking to him and saying, "I'm sorry for letting you down." He questions whether a mighty, sovereign God would actually say such a thing to a young boy. A wise older women tells him "Why wouldn't Jesus humble himself and tell a little boy he was sorry for letting him down if it would heal his heart?" Cron cries, "But if Jesus is perfect...?" The woman explains, "Son, love always stoops."
Another such moment is when Cron relates how his own son needed to him as he summoned the courage to perform a daring act and how he remained steadfast by his side. I wasn't sure if Cron was teaching a lesson on fatherhood or trying to convince himself and his readers that he is not the lousy father that his drunk dad was.
kickerdad -
Wow! "Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memior . . . Of Sorts" by Ian Morgan Cron has a simple intense, yet easy to read style that reveals aspects of the human experience to which many can relate regardless of whether you are familiar with the perils of parental alcoholism, the struggles of faith, or simply being a teenage boy. The entire book comes across like a modern day parable. Highly recommend for the faithful, the faithless, or the searching. [5/5]
Kathy G. reviewed Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts on + 329 more book reviews
This was a great great book. I loved it. I read it in a day. Could not put it down. I can relate to it since I grew up in the same time line and under similar conditions. Loved it!!!
