Review: Thumbs up for this one.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 27, 2014
This was one fine read.A read that gave loads of background info on Jeff Resnick and Richard Alpert and what makes both of them tick.This read starts when Richard finally goes to visit his Mother. An action he has put off for years. An action that finally lets him see the conditions his Mother and half brother are living in. He also learns that his Mother is a drunk and dying of cancer. He gets an idea of the life Jeff has been living.Richard agreed to become Jeffs guardian when his Mother dies. A promise that he didn't really think about before giving it.Jeff for his part has no use for Richard. A brother he's heard about all of his life. A brother who, in his Mothers eyes, was perfect. A brother who never made an effort to see his Mother or Jeff. Jeff has no use for Richard, his haughty, mean spirited Grandmother or a Grandfather who takes no notice of anything.The stories catalouges the four years Jeff lived with Richard and his Grandparents. Not a happy time for Jeff. Well it did have its bright moments but for the most part Jeff would rather have been anywhere but where he was.Richard, for his part, had no idea that being a guardian would be hard. He thought it would be a breeze which it sure as hell wasn't. He is dealing with a very private, mostly silent younger brother. A younger brother who keeps everything to himself. A younger brother who won't talk with anyone about anything he's feeling.  Richard learned that dealing with Jeff isn't anything like what he thought it would be.These little stories take us from the Jeff of fourteen to the Jeff who had a job as an insurance investigator. A job he was very good at. A Jeff who had a wife that he loved.  The downhill slide that took place when his wife got into drugs. A wife who left him after cleaning out their bank account. A wife he had to identify when she was murdered. To the Jeff just prior to the attack that left him with the powers he has.It also takes us from the Richard who was an internist to the Richard who became a doctor. The Richard  with a great job in California and the love of his life Brenda Stanley.Just a great read full of insights and the life of Jeff Resnick and Richard Alpert before the attack that launched Jeff into the life he now leads.Just a great book. Five Stars