The Truth Within is a real life coming of age story crafted into a memoir. Leonard Cachola recounts his experiences, large and small, as he seeks answers to life’s biggest questions and, ultimately, acceptance. He endures the death of his father, a devastating cancer diagnosis, job loss, relationship troubles, and religious disappointment. To balance out the negatives, Cachola finds joy in a myriad of hobbies. The author has many interests and, as readers, we get to discover them all for the first time as Cachola does. His foray into photography is especially touching as he documents the events surrounding the death of his father and finds catharsis in doing so.
At times the story stalls over trivial details, such as specific pizza toppings on a particular dinner date. “I’m going to get mushroom and pepperoni on my half. How about you?… I’ll take black olives and tomatoes.” However, the detailed retelling of events does give the book an authentic feel. Cachola really finds his stride once he begins to address the gnawing questions surrounding his quest for God. Cachola’s passion comes alive as he struggles to make sense of life and finally settles into a belief that is intelligent and inclusive.
