The Boxmaker's Son

by Donald S. Smurthwaite

On the surface, Hal Rogers is far from a heroic figure. A member of what has bee called "The Greatest Generation" and a veteran of both World War II and the Korean Conflict, Hal is a modest man, an ordinary husband and father, working without complaint or fanfare at a mundane occupation to provide for his family.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Inspirational

192 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Linda Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

LDS fiction that reads like autobiography. Sweet reminiscences of a boy growing up in the early 60's with many good metaphors re: the things that matter most.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting. Kind. Mormony. If you are in a Mormon book club this will be a hit. It is essentially a series of short stories tied together as a fictional memoir of a young boy's middle school years at church. All the stories happen at church or in the capacity of a church calling. There was a sweet part where a romance between a nerdy man and a beautiful girl is described and it made me cry. In fact, I got teary eyed several times reading this book.

The author used to be in a ward with us and he is a very nice guy. He also wrote the Wallace Whipple books (a must read for 10-14 year old boys).

[Joni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tired of this book quickly, but continued with it. The more I read, the more it grew on me and I understood. It suddenly hit close to home, as it reminded me of my late grandfather who was a lot like the father in the book. I enjoyed his description of the simplicity of life, things as simple as taking care of your lawn, so the neighborhood kids could play there - "The grass will come back, but will the boys? Lawns were made for boys." Enjoy those simple things in life. "Time is a bandit." It may be silly and seem insignificant to some, but I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood where the children play freely and the adults talk over lemonade and homemade cookies. Even if it isn't the 50's anymore. Simple things shown in actions can reveal the type of person one is, "...he'd first noticed something that caused me to stand out. He'd noticed I tried extra hard not to slide on the grass, not to leave a brown smear where the lawn grew. He said it was there he knew that I knew what it meant to respect others. He said he thought I would be a good missionary, because I didn't slide on the lawn." My Grandfather represented those type of simple things. Because "You can tell a lot about a fellow by how he keeps his yard and if he keeps his shoes shined." The profound yet simple life lessons taught by a father to his son (or grandfather to a granddaughter) by example are the most powerful of all.
"Kindness lives. It is real and tangible and it lives somewhere and will always be there. Kindness and love is matter and cannot be destroyed, but it can be recalled and found over and over again. It's out there. It lives."
"I have learned that greatness is not often born at the head of armies or standing before large gatherings of people. I have learned that it is only rarely manifested in grandiose words or bold action and that it has little to do with position or title or authority. Rather, true greatness most often comes from small turnings within the soul, in quiet ways, in actions that the world will little note. Greatness is around us, below us. It is not often above us. We need to reach down for greatness, where the small things are at our feet. It comes in small, simple words and sublime magnanimity."

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donald Smurthwaite is one of my favorite LDS authors. My favorite is "Fine Old High Priests". Smurthwaite was raised in Portland, Oregon. "The Boxmaker's Son" seems autobiographical. It reminded me a great deal of my dad. It is a good read.

[Heather Jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sweet story, but I stopped and started it so many times because I just felt like it dragged and was pretty slow.

[Jen Barnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories he told were good, but I didn't like that each chapter had two stories he was writing about and jumped back and forth between them. Got really annoying!

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender story, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It was fun reading about earlier days in the LDS church when we had Gold and Green Balls and we went to church twice on Sundays--in the morning for Sunday School and in the evening for sacrament meeting. I also enjoyed reading about different people in Neal's community and ward, and especially about his father's generosity and selflessness.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to read this for my Sunday read. It is a short book of fiction but reads as a memoir of the author and his father, a box maker. It was a little hard for me to get into because there isn't really a story, more just short thoughts of things that happened in his neighborhood and at church--lessons learned from his father and other ward members.
I would give this a g rating.

[Lisa Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boxmaker's Son

I love the lessons this book teaches about kindness. This is written as a memoir from a son to honor his father. It's a beautiful story. Full of love, growth and lessons to learn. It's a feel good book. Well worth reading.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book years ago and it made me happy because I had finally read a book by an LDS author that was written for LDS people about our lives, without being preachy or instructional. Now reading it again I’m still impressed with his writing vision. Great book.

[Wendy Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a perfect book of a perfect lesson of a father who taught about life, through and by his example to his children.
Eloquently written so much detail and heartfelt expression.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little book. Helped me realize even more how much I appreciate my father and all he did for our family growing up.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boxmaker's Son follows the growing up years of a boy who learns honor and honesty and obedience from his father, a hard working, but simple man who works at a box manufacturing company. This is another warm and comfortable book about life and living from the pen of Donald Smurthwaite. I have seen other reviews of his writing that are less positive than my own, but to me his books fill a much needed niche wherein one can find peace, joy, and gentleness in abundance, a refuge from the excitement and tension and "reality" of many other popular works of fiction. They give us a view of the possibilities of what life could be like if people simply lived obedient to God's commandment to love one another. I hope he continues writing, for in his books I feel like I can retreat into a warm and gentle embrace for a time.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores the relationship an LDS boy had with his dad, who was a veteran of WWII and Korea. The dad, after serving in the war, gave up a lot of his dreams to settle down in a factory job so he could support his family. One of those dreams was playing college baseball. The book is fictional, but feels as though you are reading a memoir. As a memoir, it is not chronological, but rather a collection of scattered memories. That made it more challenging to read at first, until you understood the way it was unfolding. I thought the book was very well done, very touching, and enjoyed it, however, Robert was in tears by the end. So maybe it's a guy thing? Or maybe you get it more if your father went to war? In either case, I recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those of you who know me know that I rarely read sentimental books. I think it is because I spent too many years teaching junior high! But this book was an exception. The Boxmaker's Son by Donald Smurthwaite is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up as a Mormon. It triggered so many memories of the great moments of my youth!

Of course it is much more than that. It is a tribute to an unassuming, subtle man that touched and influenced all those around him by being honorable and loving. It is a roadmap of how to be a good father, neighbor, and friend. All of you with a Mormon background or those of you who would like to understand what Mormons are really like deep down should read this book.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donald Smurthwaite writes an excellent book about a son's view of his father's profession and its meaning on the rest of his father's life and how it intertwines with his own life. At first I was getting annoyed with the writing style moving and shifting from one story to another without apparent reason. However, as I moved through the book, I began to enjoy the writing and his memories of his father and his life as a boxmaker.

There was nothing particularly standing out as far as to say this is a must read for everyone, but I do think that anyone reading it will have memories of their own lives and their own mothers and fathers. I really enjoyed it.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book...just didn't love it. I think some of that is that I'm really in a reading slump lately. Little is holding my interest. That said, I started this LDS book about a month ago. It was slow going for me...easy to put down without getting lost... then last week I picked it up and finished it in one evening. I don't think it was so different from the first part...more just me...but I enjoyed the second half. I do love the analogy of what a boxmaker makes...but it seemed to get pounded in a little too much. I also liked the nostalgic feel to so much of it. Good clean reading with fun little stories throughout.

[Chris Yorgason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boxmaker's Son, by Donald Smurthwaite, is a very satisfying read. It is a fictional story, told like a selective biography of a boy's life. The chapters are not chronological, but each chapter tells the story of an incident in the boy's life and compares it to another situation in his life. The stories are sprinkled the thoughts of a boy, the insights of a grown man and bits of advice from his. The story is a reminder that even though someone may not appear great by worldly standards, they can still be great leaders and teachers. You will likely find yourself thinking about your own childhood and the lessons learned from seemingly small situations in life.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this from my mom for Christmas. More like 3 1/2 stars, but I'll round up. There were things I absolutely loved about this book and one thing that really bugged me. I loved his story telling, the great inspiring messages, the way the stories made me laugh, cry,choke up from joy. It's a very sweet heartfelt story. I didn't like a lot of the dialog. It was very, very very repetitive, to the point of being obnoxious. For me, it detracted from the story. Still, some great little messages, and funny scenarios (even a couple I read out loud to Donald because I loved them so much).

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm, comfortable memories from a man recalling his growing up years. The author protrays these memories in a way that draws out your own memories as well. As he recalls the "safe harbors" of his childhood, his neighborhood, home ward and church building, you can't help but relect on your own safe harbors. It is a page turner, but not because of any dramatic shifts in plot. I found myself wanting to read more and more because of the sweetness of this book.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very tender story about growing up and the love between a dad and his son. It is an LDS story and some of it took place back when you went to Sunday School in the morning and Sacrament Meeting in the later afternoon and it brought back a lot of memories for me The dad was a boxmaker and there is a lot more significance to the box making than just a job. The way they lived their lives and took care of each other and their yards had so much meaning.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Relief Society President gave this to me to read & I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the feelings I have towards the people that surrounded me when I was growing up. I share some of the same awe & gratitude as the author does towards people who shaped him into who he is today. I liked the time period it is told in & that is isn't meant to be entertaining but is in a few parts. Great for quotes.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet sentimental story full of reminisces of the author's childhood in Oregon. His memories of his father are inspiring, and you can't help but want to be like him by the end of the book. As he is a member of the LDS church, his memories revolve around church activities and church responsibilities. I was able to take a stroll down memory lane myself as I read about his childhood days. This was a nice read.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inciteful book. Not for everyone. I happen to be from Oregon, born in Portland and know of the area he writes about, including my hometown. I know this author's sister and mother. Recommend you go to google and research under his name. There is an interview with KSL's Doug Wright in March of 2007 about this book. Good to read first.

[Nancy Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was reviewed in our Relief Society Book group a year ago. This book has a knack about making your look back and reflect on your own childhood. As the main character reflects upon his childhood, you can't help but reflect upon your own.
I passed this book onto my mother and she also enjoyed this book

[Jilyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think that I would give this 2 1/2 stars. I wanted to like, even love this book. I am such a daddy's girl and it promises to be sentimental about fathers and the lessons they teach. It was, but in such a random writing style that I could not feel what the author was feeling and so anxiously wanting me to feel. I was sorely disappointed.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching book that made me reflect on my relationship with my father and the good he has taught me through the years. Having grown up in the Northwest (Seattle) at a similar time to that in which the story takes place, I enjoyed many details which I could relate to my experiences as a child and which made the story ring very true with me.

[Tracey Dunning · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book about a boy growing up in the 50's as a mormon. Had some touching stories. I liked just reading about what it was like growing up then. As a mom I always wonder about what it would have been like to raise my kids at a time when they could play outside and life were much simpler.

[Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began this book with a very skeptical attitude, but dutifully read it for our book club. It didn't take long, though, before I was hooked--mainly for the feelings engendered. I haven't analyzed it for whether or not it was written well. I just know I really enjoyed harking back to my own childhood through it.

[Melissa T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some sweet moments--but it read more like memoirs than a novel. I kept forgetting I was reading a novel because it didn't have a timeline or a story. I That said, its sweetness and life lessons did bring me to tears several times. As Lisa said, it made me remember my neighborhood growing up and brought back fond memories of childhood.