The Imopostor’s Daughter. Finished 10-25-14, 3.5/5 stars, Graphic Memoir, 247 pages, pub. 2009

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.

from Goodreads

I’ve read a few graphic memoirs over the years and while they are not my favorite medium I find them a good change of pace and a chance to read a memoir I never would have taken the time for otherwise.  I liked this presentation, thick pages and fun, colorful illustrations.  A memoir is unlikely to be written unless there something out of the ordinary and in this case that something was Laurie’s father.

Laurie’s father was a liar/hot head/bully/thief and as Laurie became old enough to understand that he wasn’t the multi-diploma, Green Beret, spy that she thought he was her life fell apart.  As most young adults with Daddy issues she tried some ill-advised activities until she started to take charge of her life.

I didn’t love Laurie, mainly because I didn’t understand her need to ‘out’ her father in a story so publicly.  I became engrossed in her story but never warmed up to her (at least the graphic her) so this book was both good and bad for me.

I bought this one with my own money.