The #1 Dad Book: Be the Best Dad You Can Be—in 1 Hour by James Patterson

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Just in time for Father’s Day, which is probably NOT a coincidence, James Patterson has a little book of advice about how to, well, be the best dad you can be.  It’s both a light-hearted and serious look at the best way to parent.  Patterson says not every suggestion will work for every parent, but he does give easy tips and things to think about.  It’s like having a nice chat with someone whose been there, done that, and here are the highlights of what he’s learned.

One tip I thought was interesting was the suggestion to talk to male friends about being a dad.  Patterson points out that men talk about all sorts of things from business to sports when they get together, but it’s also good to be able to talk about parenting—even if it’s just to vent.  There might be a new perspective from other fathers dealing with the same thing.

Another one I liked was about choosing a name for offspring which involved saying the name out loud many times to decide if it’s really a name that you like, day in and day out, in joy and in frustration. 

He also lists books on parenting and explains why he chose these particular titles.

The book is sprinkled with quotes from fathers, mostly not famous ones, which give insights or tips. 

Finally, he has 17 items on a checklist of things to look at and think about, distilled from the book.  He doesn’t expect everything will work for every dad, but if even a few of these resonate then the time spent with this book will be worth it.

I liked the friendly tone of the book and the simple suggestions.  There were a number of things worth thinking about and not just for parents: some of them are just ideas for human beings.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

 

 

Reviewed by Ambrea

Twenty-five years ago, Maggie Holt and her parents moved into an old Victorian estate called Baneberry Hall.  Less than three weeks later, they fled from their home in the dead of night and left everything behind.  Her father later penned a nonfiction book called The House of Horrors, chronicling their ordeal—and the hauntings that sent them running for their lives.

As an adult, Maggie has no time for her father’s lies and she’s not interested in rehashing her time at Baneberry Hall.  Not that she can remember any of it.  Instead, Maggie spends her days restoring old homes and flipping houses and avoiding her father’s book as much as she can—until, one day, after her father’s death, Maggie discovers she’s been left the keys to Baneberry Hall.

Now, she has the chance to return to her old home and figure out the truth behind the so-called “House of Horrors.”  When Maggie returns to Baneberry Hall, she soon discovers that her father’s book may have been more fact than fiction.

I don’t often read paranormal suspense.  Although I’ll dabble in lots of different genres, I’ve found I’m more drawn to rom-coms and fantasy novels, rather than thrillers and ghost stories.  However, I was intrigued by the premise of Riley Sager’s novel.  It promised to be interesting with the dueling narratives of father and daughter; likewise, it promised to be different—or, more accurately, it promised to be something entirely unexpected.

And I wasn’t disappointed.

Home Before Dark completely upended my expectations.  I found the story didn’t follow the path I imagined—and I think that’s actually a good thing.  One part ghost story, one part mystery, and one part family drama, Sager’s novel weaves together the stories of Maggie, her dad, and Baneberry Hall to create a twisty story full of tragedy, ghosts, secrets, and lies.  More than once, I found myself completely and utterly lost in the story, wondering what would happen next…and who was actually telling the truth about Baneberry Hall. 

Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive about beginning Home Before Dark.  It took me three separate checkouts to finally settle down and start listening to the book.  Ghost stories tend to turn me into a gibbering mess, so I was a little reluctant to dive into something that promised to frighten me—I mean, what if it was too scary?

Much to my relief, Home Before Dark is more suspenseful than scary.  Don’t get me wrong, I had a few moments where I had to pause the audiobook and take a breath or double check all the locks in my house.  (I am not a big fan of Mr. Shadow, okay?)  Sager builds a slow, ominous feeling of suspense—a creeping kind of fear that craws up your neck and makes your skin prickle, a tense kind of anticipation that leaves you hanging on every single word—but he never makes it outright terrifying. 

I loved the plot, but I also appreciated the skill and talent of the narrators, Cady McClain and Jon Lindstrom.  They do an excellent job of narrating both Maggie’s and her father’s stories, and they really bring Sager’s novel to life. 

Overall, Home Before Dark is a fantastic audiobook with a talented pair of narrators, a solid if tangled plot, and an eerie atmosphere that’s perfect for fans of both ghost stories and psychological thrillers.

The Favorite Daughter by Patti Callahan Henry

Reviewed by Kristin

Lena Donohue left Watersend, a small town on the South Carolina coast a decade ago when her wedding day went awry. She’s made few fleeting trips home to see her mother, her father, her brother Shane, but not her sister Hallie. With careful planning, Lena has managed to avoid Hallie, her closest confidante and her greatest betrayer. But when Shane calls to say that their father Gavin’s health is declining, Lena immediately books a flight to return to the family she left so many years ago.

Gavin is well-known in Watersend. He runs an Irish-styled pub called The Lark, expertly pulling pints of Guinness and making easy conversation with locals and tourists alike. As his memories begin to fade through the haze of Alzheimer’s disease, Lena, Hallie, and Shane must band together to help him reclaim the events of his life.

With the two sisters, Patti Callahan Henry vividly shows the sharp pain of betrayal of a family member. The characters feel real, as Lena and Hallie attempt to work together for the good of their father. Hallie has moved on and made a life with her husband and two little girls. Lena has created her own life as a travel writer in New York City, choosing to be called Colleen while having loose and fleeting relationships. When she returns home, she must make a conscious decision to remain there to be a part of a family long separated.

Although Gavin is beginning to have memory issues, he is still aware of what is happening to him, and aware that he may lose more of his past and his present. Lena, Hallie, and Shane decide to create a memory book for him so that he can look back to see his life in stories and in pictures. Of course the book must be finished quickly as they are planning a birthday celebration for Gavin. This memory book is the one part of the novel that felt contrived to me, as it seemed to be a device to carry the plot along. Inevitably, discrepancies in dates and events come to light as the siblings talk to Gavin and to the people around him, creating more questions than are answered.

While I enjoyed this novel, after finishing it I realized that it has some common themes with the other Henry novel that I have read:  Between the Tides. Coastal South Carolina? Check. A young woman who moves away and must return? Check. A father who she loves but finds that she did not entirely know? Check. Just because there are similarities does not mean that I did not enjoy both books. Sometimes it’s nice to have a book that is slightly predictable. The author made me care about the characters and that kept me reading to the end. I will definitely be checking out more of Henry’s writing.

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Trooper

Reviewed by Ambrea

After learning of the death of his father, Judd Foxman has reluctantly agreed to sit shiva and mourn his father’s passing, spending seven full days and nights in his childhood home—with the rest of his dysfunctional family.  But more than coping with the loss of his distant and enigmatic father, Judd must come to terms with his wife’s infidelity (with his boss) and the deterioration of his marriage, his impending role as a father, and old memories and feelings that can never seem to leave well enough alone.

For Judd and his family, seven days might just last a lifetime.

In This is Where I Leave You, Jonathan Trooper presents a seriously compelling and enjoyable novel that’s simultaneously well-written and brilliantly executed.  Packed with interesting—and, more frequently, absurd—characters, Trooper fabricates a novel of incredible depth and emotion that kept me glued to the pages.

More importantly, Trooper creates a curiously gripping and hilariously funny narrator for his novel.  Judd Foxman manages to weave a compelling story about life and love, divorce, sibling rivalries and family that reveals just how complicated (and, sometimes, constricting) even the strongest bonds can be.

It’s a candid account that delves into the deepest and most searing parts of memory.  Judd bares all and tells all in his story, which means his deepest secrets and his most embarrassing moments are put on display for the reader to see—including the moment he walked in to find his boss and his wife together (and subsequently set fire to his boss with a birthday cake).  It’s hilarious and shocking, but it’s simply part and parcel of Judd’s past.

As a reader, I liked that Judd was so open and honest about his feelings, about his faults and his insecurities, and, most importantly, about his experiences.  He matures as a character, evolving to suit his ever-changing environment, and he develops new characteristics and learns from his mistakes—and I liked that I was a witness to that growth.

On the other hand, while I liked that Judd was candid in recounting his life, I feel like it’s important to mention that his honesty sometimes makes his story difficult to read.  I mean, he shares some of the worst moments and most embarrassing moments of his life.  He doesn’t spare the reader’s feelings.

Moreover, I should note that his mother is a psychotherapist with little to no discretion when it comes to discussing private matters and she has absolutely no filter.  She tells her children exactly how she sees it.  As for the rest of the Foxman family, it’s a highly dysfunctional unit.  They swear, they drink, they smoke, and they generally manage to make a spectacle in public, Judd included.   It’s a bit disorienting and certainly cringe-worthy.