Title: The Friendly Stranger: One Man’s Struggle to Cope with Pedophilia
Author: John Veteran
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-6641-1159-2
Pages: 482
Genre: Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Aaron Washington

Read Book Review

Dalton Henson chronicles his life from childhood into young adulthood and beyond. He had a normal childhood and eventually grew into a normal young man, or so it seemed. He remembered the time two boys walked into the gym and stirred something in him. Since then, he discovered a part of himself he would forever try to hide from the world. He speaks of the numerous periods in his life and even the bike that would be his trusty companion for a lifetime. The Friendly Stranger is where different alter egos converge – or, maybe there is more to it?

Author John Veteran tackles a very sensitive subject. Writing this book must have been a brave endeavor because many would pre-judge and scowl, literally judging the book by its cover. His bravery allows the reader into the mind of a pervert. His stance is that nurture and the environment a person grows up in play a big role in what they become in the future. The subject of this book can be described as interesting. People rarely ever get to engage with a pervert; this book is an opportunity to do that. There is a certain transparency and honesty in John Veteran’s writing. He reveals it all at the risk of being possibly stoned to death at book signing events.

There are numerous sections in this book. There is a section on Dalton, an awkward boy who grows up into an awkward man. Then there is the section about Flip Menshaw, written by Dalton. Finally, the section at the end is sort of like a post-logue. Essentially, The Friendly Stranger is a literary Chinese doll. The author has done many things right but one thing readers will appreciate the most is the preface before each section. It brings you back to neutral ground, having lost yourself in a sea of detail, before plunging back into yet another story. The sections provide a full-circle account of Dalton Henson’s life.

This book feels unnecessarily long. At some point, the reader will find themselves furnished with information that is not quite relevant to the story, although these details do a good job of helping the reader create a mental picture of the characters. For example, details of how Dalton would sequester himself, help one understand just how desperate he was to keep his nature from everyone. This is a commentary on human behavior. Intentional antisocialism to cover up shame, perhaps?

Dalton dealt with his problem by hiding it from the world and restraining himself. This book could be useful as a case study for modification. Although chastising oneself and hiding is not exactly a healthy alternative, it does speak to the determination it takes to prevent an inadvertent behavioral imperfection from turning one into a social pariah. The Friendly Stranger provokes the idea that maybe these people simply need some encouragement to seek professional help.

You will experience a mixture of emotions while reading this book. It will evoke sympathy in some parts and outrage in others, but you will find yourself rooting for Dalton to maintain his desire to be “normal.”