The surrealistic opening scene of Most Precious Blood by Vince Sgambati establishes the tone for the first act of this engaging fictionalized coming-of-age memoir about home as a refuge and a burden.

When one character says on page 254, "Scratch through the veneer of fiction and you found real people, places, and events," it underscores the ring of truth in this cautionary tale about parents and children--particularly fathers and sons. Like the evolution from child to adult, the narrative tone of Most Precious Blood starts with a sense of the fantastical, then shifts into sober practicality.