THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH is a touching story, sometimes funny, often sad, told by Lucresse Briard, motherless, living with a very nomadic and unconventional family. It's the late 1920's and while others are struggling financially the Briards are blessed financially. Walter Briard describes himself as a merchant. He has a roving business and sells art objects, junk shop specials and makes investments. They move constantly. Brother, Ben, a year older than Lucresse has no problems with adjusting, as he is always busy preparing to reach his dreams of becoming an actor.

Fred their houseman, is "like an old woman" and takes care of everything for the family. He is the housekeeper, nanny, manager, and best of all he loves to don the chauffeurs cap and uniform and drive them anywhere. He adores Lucresse and Ben and worships Walter.

Lucresse is always the new girl and tries hard to be accepted. She never is and it is time to move again. She tries to lie and create a new persona for herself and that too, is a failure. Her father tries to help her adjust at every move, by throwing her a birthday party and inviting her new classmates. No matter what month it is makes no difference even it is the third time that year, he still has her party. But she never makes close friends who she can ask all those questions about growing up that she has no answers to. How will she ever find out her place in life when she never stays in one place long enough?

Their father never took them to theme parks. Instead he took them to plays and the opera. He did not read his children Dr. Seuss but instead introduced them to Chaucer and Tolstoy. He was, I think, a wonderful father.

THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH reads like a collection of short stories. How Lucresse becomes a woman after being a lost little girl who struggled to discover who she is is an enjoyable journey. Many funny events had me laughing. Her learning to play a piano in two days was hilarious. Walter was my favorite character. He was relaxed and objective in dealing with his children, never bound by or conforming to convention. His last words to Lucresse were, "People can only tell the truth as they see it." In the end, Lucresse knows her father loved her, she finds her own truths, marries and has three children. THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH is a really sweet read.