Dance Real Slow

by Michael Grant Jaffe

Calvin eats dirt.  He never actually swallows it, just places loose clumps onto his tongue and sucks, I think....He knows better, my son, but he is still
young and needs to be watched.

So goes the poignant journey of discovery for Gordon Nash, a journey that began two years ago when his wife suddenly walked out on him, leaving him alone to
raise their son.  Calvin is now four, fragile yet stubborn, devoted to his pet, a dead Portuguese man-o-war he calls Mom.  Faced daily with the struggle and
joys of raising this bright little boy, Gordon learns the vast reaches of his affection and the limits of his patience.  He plumbs the deep well of rage within himself, to find there disturbing echoes of his own father.  And he comes to understand that nothing is as important as this complex, imperfect love--a lesson he must turn to when his wife reappears one day, threatening to turn his and Calvin's world upside down once again

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a meditation, a lullaby. There is beauty at every step of this story about a father raising his young son. It is like listening to the heartbeat of someone you love unconditionally. I strongly recommend this.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful portrait of the love between a man and his four year old son just after the break up of his marriage. It is a simple story of unyielding love and the anguish when the son is threatened. Very well written.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Calvin eats dirt. He never actually swallows it, just places loose clumps onto his tongue and sucks, I think." So begins Michael Grant Jaffe's DANCE REAL SLOW, a debut novel written in 1996 by a young Ohio-born author. He tells a story from a father's perspective, whose wife and Calvin's mother abandons them unexpectedly, leaving him to raise the child on his own. If these few sentences were all I knew of this book, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. However, there it was on my Goodreads "To Read" list, added so long ago, I'd forgotten why, perhaps due to someone's recommendation. Not one to delete from my list, I finally decided to read it. What a gem of a book, so well written, it tells more of the father's coping with being not only a single parent, but starting his life over, in a new location, a small town in Kansas. He thinks about the difficult relationship with his own father, the hurt and anger he carries still over his wife's leaving, letting a new woman into his life, and fitting into this new community. Just when he thinks he is moving forward, his ex-wife contacts him, wanting to get back into their son's life. It is not the KRAMER vs KRAMER story, but one told with wit, a sense of humor, and a sense of irony. It proved to be a memorable book, one I will recommend.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book that examines the mixed emotions and frustrations of a single parent ( or I would guess any parent). I liked it.

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Jaffe perfectly captures the highs and lows of parenting in this impressive debut novel. Gordon's wife has left him to raise their son Calvin alone, and it's clear that he wishes he had an owner's manual (don't we all!) for the tough situations which constantly arise. This is a story about love, forgiveness and growing up, among other things. Well-plotted with great characters and excellent writing. I can't wait to see the movie with Vince Vaughn (titled A Cool, Dry Place). I'll be back with an update.

[Hunter Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are parts of this book that I really liked and parts that I really didn’t like. It offers an interesting perspective on the struggles of parenthood and has some excellent writing at times. I don’t know that the overall story arc felt impactful not cohesive enough for me and some of the depictions of rage felt extreme and harmful maybe? Idk it made me a bit uncomfortable at times but that was also the point. Overall, I’m not upset that I read this but I am also not sure how quick I would be to recommend it.

[LozioPepo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordon Nash, giovane avvocato, si ritrova improvvisamente a dover crescere da solo il suo figlioletto Calvin, dopo essere stato abbandonato dalla moglie. Trasferitosi in una cittadina del Kansas, Gordon sperimenta le sfide e le gioie della paternità, affrontando momenti di gratificazione e frustrazione. Proprio quando sembra aver trovato una certa serenità con Zoe, la sua ex moglie torna improvvisamente nella sua vita, sconvolgendo di nuovo il suo equilibrio.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girlfriends father wrote this book, and after 5 years of dating her I have finally read it. Reading a book by someone you know is a new experience, and I often heard the book in his voice while I read or imagined him at a typewriter stamping out each word.

It was fantastic, and a prescient portrayal of fatherhood from someone who did not have any children at the time of writing. It was also made into a movie with Vince Vaughn called A Cool Dry Place, which I can now watch.

[Chip Cliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of a single father raising his four year old son. Well written. Made me deeply sad, knowing all that I have missed not having my own children. The simple moments of interaction between father and son are so well crafted.

[Lindsay Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read but showed the meaningful relationship between a single dad and his young son. I didn't like the level of anger that Gordon expressed,even though much of it was internal. I would recommend.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very reminiscent of the movie Kramer vs Kramer. Single father raising a 4-year old son after the mother leaves them. Straightforward writing style with some very sweet (but not overly sweet or corny) scenes between father and son.

[Judith Yeabsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of the relationship between a single father and his four year old son. A warts and all tale that holds no punches. Very refreshing to see honesty ( sometimes a little too much) in a book about parenting!,

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful book about a father and son

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching story. Very realistic.

[Kellie Eizensmits · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read, would have loved to know what happened with Zoe though....

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/28/10, I don't remember reading this book!

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a book about almost nothing, but enjoyable to explore the relationship of a single-ish father with his young son.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

R
I read this in elementary school, but I don't remember much of it. I'll have to read it again. (Don't ask why I read it so young. I think I just needed a challenge.)

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in two days. It was a beautiful story about a father and son. I loved the boy Calvin. His character seemed very real and cute, although maybe a bit too good to be realistic.

[Sherrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet

[Kalen Cap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Read it sometime ago. Not my usual tastes, but remeber it as a stand out.

[Janet Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich language, beautiful use of metaphor. The plot line was a little slow and predictable, but the slice of life quality was excellent.

[Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little book. A quick read.

[Donna Grodus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Michigan references and honest outlook on parenting!

[Dana (dana_reads_books13) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Romi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely quiet look at a man's struggles to raise his six year old by himself when his wife leaves him. Very nicely done.

[Kyle Glispie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ron Antonucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a 2nd time in 1998.