Running As Fast As I Can
An Unforgettable American Drama of Surviving Abuse and the Journey to Find Redemption, Forgiveness, and Love
by John David Graham
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Pub Date Dec 01 2023 | Archive Date Nov 27 2023
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Description
"A good writer makes you either laugh or cry. John David Graham did both. Daniel’s story had me struggling at times to read through my tears. Truly a masterpiece."
- Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Growing up in the mill slums surrounding Pittsburgh, all that 16-year-old Daniel Robinson ever wanted was a family who loved him. Instead, he was ignored by a mother who hid in her room praying to an unseen God, and a drunk for a father who used everyone as a punching bag. After yet another beating, he runs to the only man he trusts—his pastor. He welcomes Daniel—then assaults him.
Devastated, and frightened out of his mind, he runs away again, spending the next ten years wandering the country throughout the turbulent 1960’s, desperate to forget the bedlam he called home. While traveling he gets caught up in the hippie drug invasion in San Francisco, racial violence in Cleveland and Detroit, and especially a deadly anti-war protest at Kent State.
Disillusioned, and nearly killed several times on his journey, Daniel loses hope he will ever be happy—until he meets Kate Fitzgerald, who was running from her own demons. Together they get a second chance at love and the family they both want.
Daniel is now determined his new family will be different than the abusive home he came from, but can he ever run far enough to leave behind his haunted past?
Because of his experiences with street people, he is offered a job helping men coming from prison. When asked to find housing for Charles Vickers, a black man who spent twenty years in prison for a rape Daniel is convinced he never committed, he and Kate open their own home to him. This enrages the community, especially when a local girl disappears. Violence erupts—with Daniel as the focus of their rage.
Should he stay and fight for Charles—and put his family at risk, or run away again?
Daniel’s story, with its harrowing social themes, conveyed through an intense personal odyssey, bridges the gap between literary and commercial fiction. It would be enjoyed by readers who were moved by the heartbreaking, yet hopeful narratives of Forrest Gump and Where the Crawdads Sing.
TW: domestic violence, molestation, gun violence, thoughts of suicide, death, grief
A Note From the Publisher
Prior to that he was a door-to-door salesman, a children’s home counselor, substitute school teacher, truck driver, fireman, building contractor, minister and a journalist. Sometimes the road home takes many twists and turns.
That long and winding road is the best preparation for writing. John’s philosophy is the best writing occurs after a life has actually been lived—when we have had time to develop calloused hands and a tender heart.
His current novel, although fiction, is the very real story of too many of us who struggle to overcome generations of poverty, neglect or abuse that have left us totally incapable of the life, and love, we desperately want. It is everyone’s story because we all deserve a second chance.
Advance Praise
"All Daniel Robinson ever wanted was a normal loving family. To escape an abusive father and mentally ill mother, he leaves home at sixteen to seek refuge with a pastor. But a man he believed would protect him — a man he should have been able to trust implicitly and depend on — sexually assaults him. From thereon, his life takes many twists and turns as he struggles to find his place in the world, facing repeated challenges and betrayals and becoming increasingly disillusioned with the church and the authority figures he looks to for help and protection. While benefiting from the wisdom and caring guidance of a few good people he meets along the way, he also learns a great deal from troubled folk to whom he extends the hand of friendship. Eventually, he finds his soulmate in Kate Fitzgerald. Together, they build the family he always wanted. But can he ever outrun the demons that haunt him?
Running As Fast As I Can is a genuine page-turner. A good writer makes you either laugh or cry. John David Graham did both. Daniel’s story had me struggling at times to read through my tears. Graham is a truly great author, in my view, because long after putting the book aside, the characters still live with you. Graham takes you into their world to walk in their shoes, to feel what they feel, to think what they think, and to know what they know. You learn with them. You love with them. You cry with them. And in the end, you draw on the experiences you share with them to shape your view of the world. This book shines a light in dark corners. The author does not hold back in his judgment of human behavior and a society shaped by prejudices. But he reminds us that life is written in pencil so that we can erase a mistake and start over. As we join Daniel on his journey, I suspect most of us will reflect on the times we needed to erase a chapter and rewrite it. We ponder the race we are running; our own search for love, for a place to belong in the world, and for a way to light the path for those who struggle in a dark place. Running As Fast As I Can is told with deep compassion and understanding. It’s a story of love and forgiveness. Intensely emotional, it is also timely and relevant, highlighting social issues our society still struggles with today. It is, in my opinion, truly a masterpiece."
- Readers' Favorite 5 Star Review
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Featured Reviews
Deb L, Reviewer
This wasn't a book; this was an experience. At times early in the book it was reminiscent of Tara Westover's memoir "Educated," a book that I likewise devoured.
As Daniel's story progressed, I connected with him in a number of ways--his losses, his inability to move on from abuse, his hopes that build up only to be dashed again by the unfairness of life, his doubts and struggles with God...
I found myself getting angry with Daniel again and again, wondering why he couldn't seem to get himself together and keep himself together, all the while realizing that I struggle with the same thing.
The other characters in his story were as varied as his life experiences, and each and every one added something to the story, whether pastors who were ill representatives of the God they supposedly served, hippies who showed him a new facet of the world, or lost and hurting people who in some way lit his path and eased his pain.
This was not an easy read, but it was rich and satisfying.
Edna G, Reviewer
Running As Fast As I Can
An Unforgettable American Drama of Surviving Abuse and the Journey to Find Redemption, Forgiveness, and Love
by John David Graham
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review! This book is beyond perfect. It is sad, very sad in parts. You proved you can feel everything. I want to share this with all I know.
Aidan R, Reviewer
It's been more than 20 years since I've read a novel; I typically stick to non-fiction. But this is the best book I have read in a very long time.
The characters are relatable. The settings are inviting. You just get wrapped up into this story, and you can't help but be invested. I could feel myself slamming my steering wheel, just the way Daniel does. To be honest, I would love to see this novel adapted into a movie. It would hit a huge audience.
I was a little surprised to see this in the Christian section on NetGalley. It's...not your typical Christian book. It doesn't really make much of a point about God, so far as I gathered, and never really settles on matters of the faith, though they run as a constant thread through it. So it's a thinking book, and I really like that.
A note, though, for Christian readers - it's pretty gratuitous with the profanity. Some readers may find that offensive, and if they did, they'd miss out on a very good book. But it's important to note anyway, just to be honest with folks. I am a Christian, but I grew up in the world, not the church, so I have a bit of a thicker skin for these things sometimes.
I will be highly recommending this book to everyone.
Sheila B, Reviewer
Graham book is a master class on how a riveting ,descriptive novel should be written . Simply put, it was beautifully told, well thought out, character driven, and cinematic. Yes , I found myself emersed in the story, could vividly experience the settings, smell the different aromas of the cities.
Graham also makes you feel these huge emotional experiences that Daniel is going through. I connected with the story on so many levels. His pain, the inability to move on after trauma, and trust again.
I laughed and cried and was angry as I followed his journey to find love and acceptance despite his flaws and mistakes.
I loved this story, this journey of hope and discovery, and the people I met along the way. I would highly recommend it to everyone who needs a little hope in their lives.
I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of John Graham's book.
Thank you to him, and and my own opinions. Netgally. My review is voluntary
Keith M, Reviewer
I picked this book on a whim, because the cover looked good and the title sounded interesting with the cover, now everyone has heard the cliche ‘never judge a book by its cover’, and there’s ample proof of why it’s a bad idea to do so but fortunately this isn’t one of those times, this book is deep and it brought up issues and situations I genuinely didn’t expect it would touch upon.. I’ve been trying to find the words that best describe what the book is about and I cannot seem to string anything coherent together that encapsulates the book.
So with that said I do recommend reading the book, just don’t spoil it for yourself by looking into it before you do.
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