Publisher's Synopsis
Every life holds pain in some form, but the means by which we find joy and connection can give existence purpose. As "The Last Lead Holder" author Richard Deatherage invites readers into his mind and memories, the trials and tribulations of his past, as well as his remarkable rise and fall. It is a memoir of family, of brutal perseverance, and of coming back from the edge only to find that life will always be worth living.In some ways, the author experienced the epitome of American life. Being raised on different military bases as a brat since birth, he not only saw different parts of this sprawling country, but also spent his formative years in some of the most turbulent times in American history. The 1960s and 70s were both profound and painful, with war, social turmoil and interpersonal conflict acting as the permanent backdrop for existence, and so for this tumultuous story. Deatherage finally settles into a slightly more stable, but no less challenging, life in California. His near-prodigious skill at drafting and being the visionary behind buildings all across that booming state make his life the stuff of dreams, but from every peak comes an eventual descent. The raw nature of his struggles bleeds out on these pages, and he wields the gift of creativity like a sword. Much of this book consists of reflections of his youthful years and the rapid rise towards success, interspersed with the dark days of the 2009 recession, when life didn't let up. The leaps forward and back in time create a more comprehensive image of the author, making it easier to see how the past can shape the present, and provide guidance for the future. Like Proust's madeleine, the author is thrown back into this parade of memory at the sight of his family photos while remodeling his parents' bathroom, a project that takes on an almost Sisyphean quality by the close of the book, in the fallout from his father's failing health. Fixing a room may seem like a heavy-handed allegory for the repairs we make on ourselves, but Deatherage never comes across as preachy, only profound and brutally honest about his own recollections.The Last Lead Holders is a tightly written memoir that will make readers laugh, cry, reminisce and dream of simpler times - although the times were never actually simple at all. Yet while nostalgia plays a big part of this story, the powerful themes are universal, and important for everyone to remember, regardless of their generation. The love that Deatherage holds for his father, despite the challenging and contentious roads they walked together (and apart) through life, is beautifully framed and laced with sincerity.The feelings readers are left with by the final page will be nothing less than profound. A painful and powerful story of American life, The Last Lead Holder is highly recommended. "Self-Publishing Review 4.5 stars" 2019Note from the author; " I had this book re-edited and proof read by a professional in May 2020, thank you for your feed back and enjoy the new version of the book." Sincerely, Richard Deatherage June 2020
