My Perfect Life Except For The Crime And Terror is a work of 'slice of life' storytelling based largely on autobiographical content and tells the coming of age tale of its author Ron Goade. Growing up during World War 2 in Webb City, Missouri, he recounts the pivotal influences of both his mother and father, who approached the rearing of their son in very different ways. This leads us through different events as he journeys from boy to man and reveals a unique narrative experience that captures a part of history known to only a few. From schoolyard friends to the wider world, nostalgia and history spark from every page.

A truly engaging narrative based on real-world facts and personal experiences, and this sense of the personal runs from cover to cover with a unique storytelling style and a strong first-person narrative voice. The author's personality endears us to everyone we meet, though the grammatical formatting is sometimes rough around the edges because of the mode of speech. The work comes most to life when its characters speak in dialogue. Goade has a true strength for capturing the varied voices of those who have influenced him in both childhood and the man he would later become. I was especially fascinated by the lines from his mother, which were so unique to her yet so typically mother-ish to all of us. Overall, My Perfect Life Except For The Crime And Terror is a highly engaging read from any perspective.