Customer Reviews

Long Gone Daddy

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hemphill's debut novel, told in a fresh voice with a southern twang, is a delight. She intertwines a difficult father/son relationship, religious arguments, a road trip with a coffin in the car,and an unlikely friendship; the result is a moving story well worth reading.

In Long Gone Daddy, the author beautifully captures the conflicts, impulses, and humor of adolescence. Trapped in a difficult family, Harlan Q wishes only for escape and finds a window of opportunity in a cross-country trek to return his grandfather's remains to Las Vegas. What I liked most about the novel is the voices of the characters and the empathy we feel for them--even the difficult ones--thanks to Ms. Hemphill's writing. I highly recommend this book--as well as her historical "road trip" book, The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones, for any pre-adolescent or adolescent readers. Adults, too!

Helen Hemphill strikes a delicate balance in giving us a father-son feud that feels real, not cliched. Filled with memorable characters, a compelling voice and serious questions about faith and family, this story has lingered with me years after I finished the book.

Full disclosure:The author is a friend, but as a journalist and former member of the National Book Critics Circle, I would never review a book favorably if I didn't really like it. YA books are my passion, and there are plenty of great ones to promote. This is one.

The product description on Amazon made this book sound as if it was a biogrpahy of Hank Williams. It's not. It's fiction. Very disappointed.