The Nine Lessons: A Novel of Love, Fatherhood, and Second Chances [Hardcover]

Kevin Alan Milne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2009

August Witte is firmly against having children. But after seven years of marriage, his wife is delighted when she realizes she is unexpectedly pregnant. August is terrified, recognizing he never learned the first thing about being a good parent from his father London. A widower since August was a toddler, London has always valued the game of golf--a sport August has never had any talent for--more than his son.
In spite of how he hates the game, when August confronts his father, he finds himself agreeing to meet each month of the pregnancy for a round of golf. In exchange, London will give him the only thing that could make August agree to pick up a club again--memories of his mother, which he has written on golf scorecards since the day he met her. But August quickly realizes that his father's motive is not to teach him about golf, but to teach him about life--and he may discover that the old man just might know something about it worth sharing. (2008)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sappy melodrama reigns in Milne's second novel (after The Paper Bag Christmas). Haunted by childhood memories of his golf-obsessed father, August Witte balks when he learns that he is going to be a father himself. August goes to his widower father, London, to confront him about his failures as a parent and reach some measure of inner peace. London instead offers him a deal: meet every month for a golf lesson and in exchange, London will give August his journal of memories of August's mother, written on golf scorecards. August agrees and as the lessons pass, he realizes that his father knows about more than golf after all. It's aggressively soft-focused, and though the conflicts between London and August are believable enough, the overarching theme is heavy-handed, while the preachiness can reach gag-worthy levels. This hits just in time for Father's Day, and the low hardcover price may incite more than a few impulse buys for the golfing man already stocked with single malt. (May)
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Review

"No book has ever inspired me more to be a better father, son, and husband . . .Simply put, The Nine Lessons is a book every father and son should read. You will reflect on its powerful message long after the book returns to the shelf. Guaranteed." (Jason Wright, 'New York Times' bestselling author of 'Christmas Jars' and 'The Wednesday Letters' 2008)

"The Paper Bag Christmas is one of the most inspiring and emotionally endearing books I've ever read." (Shirley Howard, President, The Children's Cancer Foundation 2008)

"[An] affable yuletide yarn...The story is unexpectedly heartwarming, and Milne mostly avoids sap while delivering his warm fuzzies and dashes of Christmas hope and magic." (Publishers Weekly on "The Paper Bag Christmas" 2008)

"The Paper Bag Christmas reads like a Christmas classic -- warm, funny, sweet, inspiring, humbling, and nostalgic." (Gift Basket Review Debra Paulk )

"The Paper Bag Christmas is the rare kind of story that makes your eyes teary while your heart smiles. I was truly moved." (Jason Wright, 'New York Times' bestselling author of 'Christmas Jars' and 'The Wednesday Letters' )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; 1 edition (May 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159995074X
• ISBN-13: 978-1599950747
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #735,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Golf IS Life!, May 9, 2009

By 

Jennifer Lawrence (DC Metro) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nine Lessons: A Novel of Love, Fatherhood, and Second Chances (Hardcover)

When August Wilte learns his wife is pregnant, he's terrified. His own father, London, was less than perfect. To make things worse, his mother died when he was very young, so he's never been exposed to "good" parenting.

August confronts his father, demanding an explanation for his failures. Instead, London suggests that meet once a month for a round of golf. Both men get what they want: London gets the chance to reintroduce his son to the game of golf, and August receives tidbits of memories of his mother on golf score cards that London used as a sort of diary.

August soon learns that his father's motive isn't just golf. Each golf lesson is actually a life lesson. By the time his wife has reached the end of her pregnancy, August has received nine lessons in life from his father.

I'll have to admit, I was apprehensive about reading THE NINE LESSONS when I read the description. However, I enjoyed Milne's other book THE PAPER BAG CHRISTMAS I thought I'd give him another chance. I'm glad I did. Milne's characters are genuine and experience emotions we've all experienced. The messages relayed in THE NINE LESSONS are messages that we can all take to heart.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nine Lessons, five stars, two boxes of Kleenex, April 29, 2009

By 

Jason Wright - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nine Lessons: A Novel of Love, Fatherhood, and Second Chances (Hardcover)

Length:: 1:16 Mins

My quickie review of The Nine Lessons: A Novel of Love, Fatherhood, and Second Chances.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian MEN play golf & go weak knee, November 29, 2010

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Nine Lessons: A Novel of Love, Fatherhood, and Second Chances (Hardcover)

A GUY BOOK, novel, not a study. Powerful life lessons put into a story form with a golf greens setting. "The Nine Lessons" is better than football.

August, animal vet, age 27, is shocked when his wife's pregnancy test is +. 7 years of birth control found a loop-hole. Now August must face up with the fact he knows nothing about being a father, will likely fail, just like his widower father did with him. But after another fight with his golf-nut dad, and wanting to know more about his mother who died when he was only 4, he agrees to 9 monthly golf lessons from dad. One for each month of the pregnancy. With each lesson he gets information about his mom. Blackmail? Will Augusta, named after a golf course, learn to play the game, finally? Will relations improve? Will he be a real dad?

With this book came pleasant surprises. LOL fun; can't stop suspense; and each chapter is led with a golf quotation worth the book's bargain price in 2010. I was `GOT' with the final or 9th golf lesson. And that wasn't even the powerful climactic ending. The best Christian Men's book I've ever read. But beware, guys, after reading so many paragraphs, lines, and so much laughing out loud, my wife is reading it now. It took me an afternoon, and the next morning to read. I did sleep between, but it was hard to set it aside even for a good night's rest. When she's done, it goes to my sons, or I'll buy each one.

Best chapter started with the line "Other than the words `I'm pregnant,' the most terrifying thing my wife has ever said to me is `baby shower.'" Humorous chapter--almost red-neck jokes funny. Maybe it's because I've been drug to a baby shower. It's also enlightening, about mulligan's; forgiveness; do-over; & second chances. Actually I could relate to almost every chapter and each of the 9 golf lessons. But I'm a grandfather x 9.

A perfect gift for men (or pregnant women), fathers, couples just having had a new child, grandpas, golfers, duffers, and anyone who likes reading Christian novels. This is better than 5 stars. It's an `eagle' read.

Every golf course should have a supply of this book on shelves in the pro shop. Timeless reading.
Kevin Alan Milne also wrote "The Paper Bag Christmas" and "Sweet Misfortune."