Book Review: Catch Me If You Can

Title: Catch Me If You Can

Author: Frank W. Abagnale & Stan Redding

Genre: True crime/ Memoir

Book Blurb: 

I stole every nickel and blew it on fine threads, luxurious lodgings, fantastic foxes and other sensual goodies. I partied in every capital in Europe and basked on all the world's most famous beaches'. Frank W Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams and Ringo Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and co-piloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as a member of hospital management, practised law without a licence, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks all before he was twenty-one. Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as 'The Skywayman', Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the run - until the law caught up with him. Now recognised as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades and ingenious escapes - including one from an aeroplane - make CATCH ME IF YOU CAN an irresistable tale of deceit.

Review:

I'll confess now: I watched the movie before reading the book. But to be fair, I hadn't known there was a book for Catch Me If You Can until afterwards.

Where to start? The plot (which is a true story!) takes readers along the journey of a 16 year old conman who poses as a pilot, lawyer, teacher and doctor all before the age of 21. He also manages to swindle over 4 million dollars and traveled all over the globe free of charge (thanks to his "pilot" status.) Sounds too improbable to be true? Just read this book. Needless to say, I was riveted from page one till the end.

There is no "slow" part at all in the book. Living the life on the run, Frank's memoir has no lack of excitement and suspense. I also loved how the author explains how he was able to get away with his acts. With the right mixture of confidence, intelligence and luck, Frank was able to become one of the most hounded after criminal in the 1960's.

Over all, I liked the narration and the author's character except for one thing: his attitude towards women. Yes, he liked them and treated them courteously. But I also felt like he had a very old fashioned mindset towards the female race and seemed to judge them by their looks. I understand all of this takes place in the 1960's, but the tone/attitude still irked me.

The writing was very easy to follow along and told with a light-hearted/carefree manner for most part. I would recommend this book if you've seen the movie. If you haven't seen the movie yet, I would recommend you seeing it after reading the book.

Rating: