A Tree of Life

The book is narrated by an upper financial class teen who sees things from only the world he knows around him. He narrates the story from his point of view based on the stories his surrogate grandfather tells him. He hasnt seen enough about life to be able to relate to others, so if he is thought to be, "in his own world," as the expression goes, it really isnt his fault. Rick who is having a miserable time, feeling people are taking unfair advantage of him. He learns from his surrogate grandfather that the way he feels hes been treated, has happened many times to others as well, through out history. He learns that he is not alone in what he experiences, because it happens in other situations, with other people and circumstances as well.

There is a great deal of fun in the story with use made of exciting literary clichs, gothic mystery and romance as well as there are always many problems to be resolved. Part of the fun in the book is finding out how they are worked out. The story also explains other basic things that happens or has happened in life as well, including many interesting facts about art history and technique, music theory, as well as facts about history, Ive learned from reading books at the library. Behavior and attitudes of the time Ive written about have been learned from watching many old movies made in the thirties and forties. I can only thank God much has changed since then about them, although not everywhere in the world as it should be.