Dad Interrupted: A Novel [Paperback]

Van Whitfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2004

Single guy Shawn Wayne has a problem . . . actually he has three problems:

(1) His girlfriend, a no-nonsense TV star named Dawn, expects the New Year’s broadcast of her new BET talk show to produce a long-awaited proposal from Shawn.

(2) His “sort-of” ex-girlfriend, the shapely and seductive Troi, announces that she’s pregnant and coming to be with Shawn in Washington, D.C.

(3) Shawn doesn't know if the baby is his, though he would never deny it, and now he must decide if he should tell Dawn about the baby. He simply can’t afford to risk losing his one and only soul mate without first knowing he is, indeed, the father.

Shawn’s embarrassing, nationally televised confession is the centerpiece of this much-anticipated follow-up to Van Whitfield's smash debut romantic comedy, Beeperless Remote. Taking an uncompromising and revealing look at the state of black fatherhood, this hilarious new novel includes the Official “Baby Mama” Checklist, the Why Men Are Lost Quotient, and the What It Takes to Be a Dad Inventory.

With Whitfield's trademarked witty, fast-paced style, Dad Interrupted brings back Donnie, the recovering crack addict who now works as a drug counselor; Kelly, whose crush on Shawn may finally be realized; and Shawn’s lovable parents, who spin their special brand of wisdom from the great beyond. Everybody has a take on what Shawn should do and, more importantly, who he should do it with . . . Dawn or Troi.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A story that is read-aloud funny, achingly self-effacing, but ultimately self-affirming.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune on Something’s Wrong with Your Scale!

“Good, fast-paced fun.”
—Washington Post Book World on Guys in Suits

From the Inside Flap

Single guy Shawn Wayne has a problem . . . actually he has three problems:
(1) His girlfriend, a no-nonsense TV star named Dawn, expects the New Year?s broadcast of her new BET talk show to produce a long-awaited proposal from Shawn.
(2) His ?sort-of? ex-girlfriend, the shapely and seductive Troi, announces that she?s pregnant and coming to be with Shawn in Washington, D.C.
(3) Shawn doesn't know if the baby is his, though he would never deny it, and now he must decide if he should tell Dawn about the baby. He simply can?t afford to risk losing his one and only soul mate without first knowing he is, indeed, the father.Shawn?s embarrassing, nationally televised confession is the centerpiece of this much-anticipated follow-up to Van Whitfield's smash debut romantic comedy, Beeperless Remote. Taking an uncompromising and revealing look at the state of black fatherhood, this hilarious new novel includes the Official ?Baby Mama? Checklist, the Why Men Are Lost Quotient, and the What It Takes to Be a Dad Inventory.With Whitfield's trademarked witty, fast-paced style, Dad Interrupted brings back Donnie, the recovering crack addict who now works as a drug counselor; Kelly, whose crush on Shawn may finally be realized; and Shawn?s lovable parents, who spin their special brand of wisdom from the great beyond. Everybody has a take on what Shawn should do and, more importantly, who he should do it with . . . Dawn or Troi.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harlem Moon; 1st edition (June 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385508182
• ISBN-13: 978-0385508186
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,258,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!!!!....Dwayne S. Joseph author of The Womanizers, June 21, 2004

By 

Dwayne S. Joseph "author of The Womanizers" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dad Interrupted: A Novel (Paperback)

Dad Interrupted was an excellent, excellent story about a man struggling to come to grips with the fact that, as we men tend to do, he screwed up and he's got a baby on the way. Van did a great job of delivering an important message while making you laugh out loud at the same time. His characters were funny, real, and believable. This is Van at his best. Dad Interrupted won't allow any interruptions because you won't want to put it down! Read this book. This is a book that deserves to be on the best-seller's lists!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good man who made a bad mistake, March 17, 2005

By 

Nothing BUT Page Turners "Book Club" (East Orange, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dad Interrupted: A Novel (Paperback)

Shawns meets Troi after loosing his mother to death. He and Troi starts a relationship that looks promising until she suddenly dissappears one day. Then he meets Dawn who mends his confused and broken heart. Again, their relationships looks promising until Troi returns out of nowhere with a baby she claims Shawn to be the daddy of.

Confused on what to do, Shawn turns to his close friends for advice, which only confuses him even more. Ultimately, at the end he decides on the right thing: Being there for his child.

This book was a good read for me. I enjoyed it, but would have liked to have read more about Shawn and Troi's relationship. Mr. Whitfield leaves his readers hanging with their vauge interactions. Other than that, I would recommend this novel especially if you enjoy humor in the midst of serious situations.

Rolanda,
Nothing BUT Page Turners Book Club

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daddy Dearest at it's Best!!!, June 22, 2004

By 

La -La "Reader 4 Life" (VA Beach, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dad Interrupted: A Novel (Paperback)

Dad Interrupted was one of the funniest, well-written books I have read in quite a while. The scenes were so vivid that I actually felt like I was there while they were happening and could not help laughing out loud as I read. Van Whitfield's smooth easy flow kept me entranced as he captured the emotions of a father caught in a situation most men know all too well. As a female, I got to witness the internal dealings of an unplanned pregnancy from a totally different point of view and I now have a newfound respect for single fathers and what they go through. I love a light hearted read with a message and that's exactly what I got with this novel. Tastefully written and hard to put down, Dad Interrupted is a great read for men and women alike.