Dadolescence

by Bob Armstrong

Bill and Julie live in thrifty middle-class wedded bliss with their 12-year-old son Sean. Julie brings home the bacon while Bill keeps house and frets over his never-ending PhD an anthropological study of the role of men in society. All is relatively well until Julie's ex-fiancé, the dashing and successful Blake Morgan, returns to Winnipeg--with his wife and kids.While Bill takes solace in Blake's premature grey and pot belly, next to Blake's professional success Bill feels emasculated and questions what it means to be a man--especially a domesticated one. Suddenly he starts seeing himself and his neighbours--also stay-at-home dads with successful working wives, as research subjects for his thesis.Having reached a breakthrough in his PhD procrastination, Bill launches into a series of embarrassing, ridiculous, and goofy attempts to finish his "research," prove himself a mature and capable husband and father, and above all, prove his manliness.Rather than look directly in the mirror, Bill creatively tries to save his neighbours Dave and Paul, from self-destructive home-renos and delusional dream careers.

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2011

Reviews

[Rosemary Szabadka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hoot to read especially if you live in Winnipeg, are middle-aged, married and have kids. Bill Angus, a stay at home dad, finds his true self after researching other stay at home dads for his so called thesis in his suburban neighbourhood of Winnipeg

[Dennis Maione · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and poignant jaunt through middle-age (is that what 40 is?) dad-dom.

[Barrette Plett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Not too heavy. Liked Winnipeg references. Not uproariously funny, but not bad either. Wouldn't necessarily re-read.