John Mark Read

The setting for this little book is the Midwestern states of Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota in the years just prior to, during, and following World War II. It is a distressing tale of an alcoholic who was a husband, father of four, and preacher of the gospel. It also is a story of how profoundly an alcoholic spouse and parent brings mental and physical anguish to those who love him the most. It was not until the author's father was in his mid-fifties did he finally stay sober, which by the grace of God, enabled a degree of normalcy of life to come to pass.

Roughly, the first half of the book chronicles the life of the author's constantly uprooted family as they moved from town to town that was necessitated because the father lost his job (and money) due to alcoholism. The behavior of the father wrought a heavy toll on all who were close to him.

The second half of the book documents numerous family stories that are in the main positive and include brief bios on each member of the family. His final 16 years of sober living enabled the alcoholic father to use his God-given talents in the area of carpentry and home repair; working in his son's construction business. The book ends on the positive words of Proverbs 4:1-15.… (more)

John Mark Read, now in his seventies, is a preacher's kid who writes the story of his life.

The fun little biography really does go from “A to Z.”

Chapter 1, “A” for “Anatomy,” is where we learn when and how the author discovered the differences between girls and boys. In Chapter 2, “B” for “Brother,” we learn about the author's only brother who was a “runaway” and sadly, died an early age. In Chapter 3, “C” for “Cars,” we learn how important the automobile has been for the author throughout the years. And so through the alphabet we are taken, all the way to Chapter 26, “Z” for “Zeal,” where the author assures us he has zeal for life, wife, work, and God.

I particularly enjoyed Chapter 5, “E” for “Education,” which includes a brief description of how the author opted to go to Minnesota Bible College in Minneapolis (now Crossroads College in Rochester, Minnesota). Chapter 10, “J” for “Jobs” was fun, especially learning about jobs the author had when working for Grays Campus Drug Store in Dinkytown (near the University of Minnesota and Minnesota Bible College) as a student.

The author deserves a standing ovation for his willingness to tell so many personal stories as he works his way through the alphabet. As stated in the Prologue, the telling of his story “has brought peace to my soul,” and he hopes readers “will be enlightened” as they read it.

Readers of the Christian Church/Church of Christ stream of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage may find themselves having much in common with the author's story. Especially, if they too attended Minnesota Bible College when it was located in Minneapolis.

Due to the overlap of the author's and reviewer's involvement with college and campus drugstore, there is much to which I can relate and appreciate. The story has the power to make one laugh -- or cry. In the end, it has the power to bring happiness and comfort to the reader as it surely has to the author.… (more)