Great Book for Father’s Day; Every Father’s Daughter

I received a complimentary copy for the sole purpose of this review. 

Every Father’s Daughter is for any daughter who has lost their father. As I was reading the introduction by Margaret McMullan, the person who decided to put these essays into book form, my eyes filled with tears. As she retold her story of her relationship with her dad, I felt I found a kindred spirit. Her story almost mirrors mine. I could not help to recall the memories of my own dad as he slowly slipped away from us.

My dad was also such a vibrant person- involved in the community in so many ways as well as an amazing storyteller. I still recall some stories he told of growing up on what they called “The Farm”- his grandparents house.

As McMullan recounts the day before her father’s death, the tears started flowing as it hasn’t been that long ago since I lost my hero, my dad.

Seeing how this book hit me hard, I had to put it down several times. Sometimes days would go by without me picking it up again- because I just wasn’t ready. But in the end I found this collection of essays to be quite comforting. And the fact that it is a collection  of essays made it easier to start and stop reading.

Here is a little more about the book.

What is it about the relationship between fathers and daughters that provokes so much exquisite tenderness, satisfying communion, longing for more, idealization from both ends, followed often if not inevitably by disappointment, hurt, and the need to understand and forgive, or to finger the guilt of not understanding and loving enough? writes Phillip Lopate, in his introduction to Every Father’s Daughter, a collection of 24 personal essays by women writers writing about their fathers. The editor, Margaret McMullan, is herself a distinguished novelist and educator. About half of these essays were written by invitation for this anthology; others were selected by Ms. McMullan and her associate, Philip Lopate, who provides an introduction. The contributors include many well-known writers Alice Munro, Jayne Anne Phillips, Alexandra Styron, Ann Hood, Bobbie Ann Mason, Maxine Hong Kingston, among others as well as writers less well-known but no less cogent, inventive, perceptive, lacerating, questioning, or loving of their fathers.

I will say that this book inspired me to write my own essay of sorts. My essay is in the form of a letter to my dad which will be posted on the blog Sunday in honor of Father’s Day.

I will highly recommend this book for everyone. If you are interested in purchasing this book, here is a place you can buy it.

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