NO GHOSTS IN THE GRAVEYARD

A debut memoir of one man’s childhood in the Pacific Northwest and his later diverse career.

Crites, a retired guidance counselor, engagingly tells a story of his earliest years, starting from his home birth as one of triplets. His life, initially, was a rough one, filled with multiple parental remarriages and multiple moves to dwellings that were too small for his family; he also describes a period of houselessness and forest living in the summer of 1954. Yet this book is also about Crites’ commitment to his education and Peace Corps service, and eventually “giving back” through work and philanthropy. Indeed, Crites’ varied career over the decades included driving large vehicles, financial services, guidance counseling, and philanthropy. Highlights of his career included two years as an associate Peace Corps director in Guatemala, as well as arranging the American hosting of Mozambican Olympic track and field champion Maria Mutola and temporarily becoming her agent. The author also speaks of how his work in Latin America led him to a love of the culture of Brazil; his wife hails from that country. Overall, Crites presents readers an engaging narrative. However, it takes some time to make its themes clear, and given the breadth and scope of Crites’ life, one can imagine multiple, more detailed books that delve more deeply into specific occupations. The book is full of family photos, with an especially long album at the end that makes up a good portion of the book. Crites also provides lists of all the schools he attended, his homes, and even his marriages, which can seem a little excessive for most audiences, even for reference purposes; it may be of most interest to the author’s own friends and family. Still, the book as a whole is ultimately an enjoyable read.

After a slow start, this book presents an engaging account of a wide-ranging life.