Replacing Dad

by Shelley Fraser Mickle

Set on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the Marsh family faces what many American families have experienced in the last few decades: the reorganization of the family through divorce. This bittersweet novel has been called by one reviewer the funniest story since Auntie Mame. As mother Linda Marsh re-enters the dating world at the same time that her 15-year-old son does, comic, realistic situations develop. Eventually the three Marsh children and their mother, Linda, learn that the change in the family demands that they embrace the future and change with it. This novel became a CBS/Hallmark Channel movie in l999, starring Mary McDonnell, Tippi Hedren, Camilla Belle, Eric Von Detten as well as other renowned actors. The novel has been used in high school classes, college literature courses, and family study groups in discussions on adjustment to divorce.

Genres: Fiction

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 1993

Reviews

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly, I would give this book 4.5 stars if I could. I really enjoyed this read. I recently saw the 1999 made for television film adaptation, and although the film wasn't what I would call "good", many aspects of it quite charmed me, so when I found out it was from a book, I simply had to read it. The book is DEFINITELY higher quality than the film.

I love the two main characters, the story's two narrators, Linda (the recently divorced mother of three) and Drew (her 15 year old son). They are both relatably flawed and good-hearted characters with sharp wit and a wonderful sense of humor. The narrative is somewhat dated in that it allows a lot of what would now be considered politically incorrect opinions. But in a way I enjoyed this aspect of it, because it made the characters feel more honest somehow and less designed purely to meet the reader's preconceived expectations. It also provided an appropriate sense of time and societal temperament in order to fully appreciate the backdrop of the story.

There were a few times when the more "tell" over "show" style of the writing made me wish I could have experienced some of the scenes in a more fleshed out form (rather just be told after the fact that things happened), times when I would have liked to have read the characters' dialogue for a conversation written out rather than read something like, "and then I told him all about what had happened to me and what I was afraid of, and he was very sweet and said all the right supportive things at the right times" (my invented example, not a quote from the book). But overall, the experience was very visceral and memorable. The sense of place -- a small town on Florida's gulf coast -- was VERY strong, and I relished the experience of life in a place I've never spent much time and found myself enchanted by the beauty of the environment.

The humor was lovely, and that's saying something since words like "humor" or "funny" on a book cover are much more likely to make me put a book down than want to read it.:D. But this author struck a perfect balance between amusing antics and the serious emotions of a genuine human story.

This book may not be to everyone's taste, but for me it was a lovely experience, one I'm likely to return to at some point in my reading future.:)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family called the Marsh's live in Palm Key, Florida. A nice and small town where George (the father) is a elementary school principal who left Linda his wife, Mandy,George,Jr, and Drew there three children. For a fifth grade teacher who was Mandy's teacher. The problems of the divorce are told in chapters by the poor old mom, Linda, and the 15 year old Drew. The emotional things that happen in this story are mostly true. Linda works as a clerk at the town dump in the payroll office, later Drew has an accident with the doctor's (mark Haley) Mercedes. Then Mark decides to hire Linda to work in his office, eventually Mark and Linda fall in love. But then bad things happen the roof gives way, also the roofer Rex sneaks into Linda's bedroom! Linda makes many calls after that Linda gets a list of numbers, soon the dog dies, and a new dog must be found and named, life of the Marsh's is never easy.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice, simple read portraying a mother and son's journey through the process of divorce and the feelings that engenders. The characters were likeable, the diction had shining moments, and I enjoyed the image of Drew running Mark through the gamut out of a sense of love toward his mother.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very realistic. I could relate to all of the characters.