Customer Reviews

Above the Clouds: A Reunion of Father and Son

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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This is a really great book, by a young man who is a superb writer in his own right. I picked up the book at the library (since it's now out of print) because I was devastated to learn (under the reviews of Bridge Across Forever) that Richard Bach and Leslie Parrish-Bach had split up. I was surprised to learn that Richard Bach even had six (!) kids, and even more surprised to learn that one was a writer. I thought it would be interesting to read his story, because I wanted a more realistic view of Richard Bach, the "guru of soulmates" (as Jonathan amusingly refers to his father in Above the Clouds).

It was good to get this other view of Richard Bach. It's so easy to idealize the guy, even though he is clearly far from perfect. In Richard's books, he and Leslie come off as so mystical and always in tune with each other. Jonathan's book provides a refreshing point of view on Richard Bach, the man who couldn't hack fatherhood and who abandoned his family to find his own fulfillment. (He could well be the patron saint of the Me Generation.) Lord knows what happened to split up Richard and Leslie, but Jonathan's account of his reconciliation with his father was inspiring -- a great reminder that those of us with less-than-perfect parents can ultimately come to peace with them. I recommend this for all Richard Bach fans ... it really does cut the guy down to size and bring him back to earth.

I'm looking forward to the next offering by Jonathan Bach ... it's been seven years since this book came out. Anyone know what he's been up to since then?

The author of Above The Clouds, Jonathan Bach, was two years old when his father, famous author Richard Bach, decided he must leave his family and follow his dreams. Jonathan, named after his father's most famous character Jonathan Livingston Seagull, tells us what it was like growing up with an absentee father.

His description of family life with his brothers and sisters is vividly told and the tragic death of a family member is especially poignant. When his mother re-marries we experience the confusion and adjustments that have to be made to accommodate his strict new stepfather. Jonathan's decision to study Journalism was obviously a good choice as he shows in Above the Clouds that he has a rare talent for keeping his readers captivated.

Jonathan eventually makes the agonizing decision to call his father and let him know what he thinks of him. We experience the chest pounding fear first hand when he finally dials the number and talks to his father for the first time in years

I bought this book out of curiosity about Richard Bach; I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself more interested in Jonathan and his story and at how well he told it. Jonathan's style is easy to read and well organized and you'll find yourself experiencing his pain and joy as the book unfolds.

If you can find a copy of this book I enthusiastically recommend it! Jonathan, write another one!

I read this immediately after finishing The Bridge Across Forever. It was like watching a "behind-the-scenes" documentary about one of my favorite movies!

Perhaps that's an exaggeration, but it's interesting to see how the events in Richard's life from "Bridge" are reflected in Jonathan's account. It's not often enough that you get to see the same story told from different points of view. It was fascinating to be able to attach the events in "Bridge" to the events in this book. Also, because Jonathan is about my age, it was interesting to remember what *I* was doing at the time he made some of his journal entries.

Originally I picked up this book to get a look at the nonfiction side of Richard Bach. I had always wondered what kind of dad a guy like Richard would be, and whether or not he truly managed to live up to his ideals. The answers were indeed in this book. But I realized two other things as well:

1. Forget about Richard, this is a great book about parents and children and the difficulty of mending (or in this case, demolishing) fences between the generations. Even if no one had ever heard of Richard Bach, this would have been a great book in that respect.

2. Jonathan Bach is a GREAT writer, and I really hope he has another book in the works! I had wondered if Jonathan would be a sort of Richard Lite. Having read Above the Clouds, I would have to say no, Jonathan Bach is Jonathan Bach, period. His style is similar, but distinctly different.

I'm sorry I waited so long to read this book! Not a Daddy Dearest novel as I had expected, and not a book that got published just 'cause the author has a famous father. Jonathan Bach is a solid author in his own right... has the potential for surpassing his dad's ability to WOW me. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I was inspired. I look forward to reading more from Jon.

This was a tough book for a young man to write. Besides following in famous feet, he had to determine and then expose his feelings for his father...difficult for most at any age.

If you are a fan of Richard Bach, you have to get your eyes on this book! It is a factual account of another side to a terrifically talented writer.

It is also a good introduction to a writer (Jonathan) who will show himself again in the future to be insightful and inspirational.

If you can find 'Above the Clouds', get it while you can and place it on the shelf with all the other Bach books where it should be.

Jonathan had true courage on writing this book, where he exposed himself and his family life thru his childhood. And also explained hidden things that Richard's fans wanted to know about him. Most of all, his example of how he reached his father, althought initially with anger, later with curiosity, and finally with respect, is what many people need to learn and bring to their own lives. How can someone approach to a unknow and important figure in its life? This book is ONE of the possible answers.

Wow! This book works on so many levels. As many have explained in prior reviews, this is a different look at the life of Richard Bach, author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' et.al, as told from the eyes of his youngest son. It is really his son's autobiography, of course. But most importantly, it's a tale of courage, growth, healing and understanding from one generation to another. The author, Jonathan Bach, eventually reconciles with his father at the end of the book. But the feelings expressed in between the first and last page (from abandonment to reconciliation) were so very REAL and easily relatable. It takes tremendous courage to express such raw experiences, particularly the death of his sister, the fear of his step-father, the abandonment of his biological dad. Wow! I couldn't put the book down once I'd started it; I read it straight through to the end. (It also takes tremendous courage for Richard Bach to admit in the afterward how hard it was to read things he'd rather not see in print about his own personal history. Wow! Very reminiscent of Luke and Anakin Skywalker at the end of Return of the Jedi - but in 'real life.') It's been 17 years since this book was published and I'd love to know - what happened next? (Sequel?!) This is a valuable contribution to both the literary and the psychological world. Thank you, Jonathan! Hope you're still up there (literally and figuratively) flying, 'Above the Clouds.'

This is a wonderful book! It is essential reading - not just for fans of his father, but for everyone! Reading about Jonathan's coming to terms with his father's desertion is inspiring. He is terrifically talented.

Young Jonathan Bach, named for the lofty seagull in his father's famous book, grabbed hold of me in the opening pages of this book and didn't let go. I really didn't want to leave it in my car to go to work or on my nightstand to go to sleep. I'm sure I broke land, air, and light year speed records as I flew through it.

Yet, there were also times I came to a dead stop mid-air, mid-sentence, mid-universe to savor the author's wisdom, his style, his genetic predisposition to a craft for which he was surely well suited.

The most perplexing thing about finishing the book was learning that there are apparently none to follow. In the 18 years since the young Bach, who seemed destined to be a writer, penned this one, there seem to be no more. What a shame. Jonathan, where are you? Please, please, tell me you're still writing - something, at least!