Ed Lynskey's Blog: Cracked Rearview Mirror - Posts Tagged "father-s-day"

Shopping for Father's Day is more difficult for me than Mother's Day is. If you dad is a reader, you might consider these male-oriented books in your gift search.

#1. A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block.
If your dad is a fan of the hardboiled tale, the newest P.I. Matt Scudder should hit the spot. I've enjoyed all his titles.

#2. Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone.
If your dad likes war stories with a psychedelic twist or a literary bent, I found this 1974 book on the Vietnam War to be a winner.

#3. The Shotgun Rule by Charlie Huston.
If your dad leans more toward the neo-noir, Charlie Huston delivers an impactful, gritty yarn (see my short review in Paste Magazine---> http://tiny.cc/al0or).

#4. Shane by Jack Schaefer.
If your dad is more of a Western fan, I really liked this classic if he hasn't read it yet.

#5. A Feast of Snakes by Harry Crews.
If your dad favors a Southern slant to his books, Harry Crews doesn't pull any punches in his wicked, funny rattlesnake round up thumper.

So there you have it, three older titles and two newer ones. The books range from hardboiled, wartime, noirish, western, and Southern.

Good luck and have a good one with your dad.

By Ed Lynskey
@edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Satisfying."
The Rap Sheet/Kirkus Reviews

The Lost and Last Hayride North
-- for Hank Williams (1923-1953)

I'm driving Hank Williams to his next gig
up north, lost on Highway 61, and he's
drunk in the back seat telling me how
damn queer it feels to be a daddy, lots of
money coming in. My own? He left us,
Mister Williams, ran clear to Cincinnati.

Pontiac running blind in a snowstorm,
he's broken out his guitar, mumbling
lyrics about a log train coming home soon,
his pa limping up to their porch, gone
off again to a cypress cutters' camp.
That's one jim dandy picture of your boy,

I mention to him, watching my mirror.
A spike in the spine, he grins the pain's
dead and, yes, you already said he's
a junior, I reply. No children of my
own right now I guess is sad but how
much further tonight in my new hearse?

Reprinted from Fathers: A Collection of Poems. Edited by David and Judy Ray. St. Martin's Press, 1997