Book Review: ‘The Imagined Life: A Novel’ By Andrew Porter

by | Apr 8, 2025 | Books | 0 comments


The book is in stores on Tuesday, April 15th from Knopf. Click on the link to buy a copy. https://amzn.to/4cnWzwP

Stephen Mills’s father left home in 1984 and never came back and he has often wondered what happened to him. Now at age 50, he has quit his job, separated from his wife and son and has gone on a quest to learn more about his father’s life. He saw a lot as a kid, crazy parties, troubles with his wife and losing his job. He interviews his uncle and former friends and co-workers at the college he worked at. We get flashbacks to Stephen’s life during these days as well, his close friendship with another boy, seeing his father with naked men, drinking and getting stoned. He’s hoping that tracing his father’s life will give him answers that he has craved for years and he learns shocking things along the way, including what happened to his father. This is an intense, well-written character-driven novel that you will not want to put down. This book is GREAT!