This is the first memoir I've read in quite a spell. I'm really glad my library had a copy, but if yours doesn't, it's well worth buying one! Another time, Lew manages to call off a relative's cancer operation at the last minute. One time, Philip comes into his dad's office to find him giving directions on exactly where to locate a missing hiker thousands of miles away, as well as a report of the condition they'll find him in (not great, but okay). if you are not at all interested in "faith healing" and such (like my mom), this is not the book for you: stay away! If you are interested, or neutral, the stories of his healings and related activities proved fascinating to me, and there were a lot of them to chalk all of it up as coincidence. Another chapter involves Philip taking a date to a spiritualist reading service in a sketchy part of town that date wasn't particularly successful, although Philip did get an accurate message.Īs for his dad, Lew Smith. Coincidentally, I happened to be reading Leah Remini's story of her time in Scientology as well. His dad was unaware of the group specifically, but told Philip "There's a really bad energy there, if you continue with them, you'll certainly regret it." He was able to extricate himself later, but it wasn't easy. A couple of the incidents that really stood out were the author's brush with Scientology (in the 60s). He's clearly a kid at the beginning, while the last few chapters have a mature tone. Smith pulls of something that I hadn't realized until sitting down to write this - the "voice" he uses matches his age well as the story progresses. To start, there's a strong sense of place, both the familiar image of Miami and the not-so-touristy sides. unusual death.Ī few factors come together to make this a terrific story. Still, they are very close throughout the story, until his father's slightly.
Meanwhile, poor Philip is a teenager who wants anything but a "weird" dad.
His father becomes a healer whose "powers" seemingly know no bounds. After a few chapters, the focus pivots to the author's dad and his interest in New Age philosophy, eventually leading to his folks' divorce (they continued to live separately on the same property). I'm giving this one five stars, as I really couldn't think of what would cause it to earn less.Īs a brief summary: starts out as the story of a boy in 1950's Miami, before it was quite the "hot" city.
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