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Tėvas ir duktė
Mylima dukra. Širdį draskantis pasirinkimas. Vienintelė išeitis.
Trevisas vienas augina dukrelę Belą, kuriai dabar ketveri.
Kai Treviso bendraamžiai galvojo apie studijas ir vaikščiojo į pasimatymus su šauniomis merginomis, jis kantriai keitė sauskelnes naujagimei dukrai ir galvojo, kaip užsidirbti.
Dukrytė Bela – visas Treviso gyvenimas. Vaikinas nė akimirkos nesigailėjo pasirinkęs tėvystę. Tačiau be išsilavinimo ir patirties Trevisui sunku rasti gerai apmokamą darbą, be to, gaisrui nusiaubus namus, jiedu su Bela liko ir be pastogės.
Abu įsikuria namelyje ant ratų. Pinigų trūksta katastrofiškai, ir jei Trevisas greitai neras darbo, jis ir mažoji Bela atsidurs gatvėje.
Trevisui pasiūlomas rizikingas darbelis, už kurį žadamas neblogas uždarbis. Vaikinas viliasi, kad jam pavyks, tada, bent jau laikinai turėtų šiltus namus, tačiau susimovus – jį ilgam išskirtų su dukra...
Neturėdamas kitos išeities Trevisas apsisprendžia – vien dėl savo dukrelės.
Net jeigu tai reikštų, kad teks ją prarasti.
Vienas skaitytojas iš Japonijos apie mano romaną rašė: „Tavo knygos leidžia patikėti, jog gyvenimas yra gražus, nors jame ir nemažai skausmo.“ Šie žodžiai sujaudino mane. Žinutę prisisegiau ant sienos šalia kompiuterio. Ji man primena, kodėl rašau.
Diane Chamberlain
Trevisas vienas augina dukrelę Belą, kuriai dabar ketveri.
Kai Treviso bendraamžiai galvojo apie studijas ir vaikščiojo į pasimatymus su šauniomis merginomis, jis kantriai keitė sauskelnes naujagimei dukrai ir galvojo, kaip užsidirbti.
Dukrytė Bela – visas Treviso gyvenimas. Vaikinas nė akimirkos nesigailėjo pasirinkęs tėvystę. Tačiau be išsilavinimo ir patirties Trevisui sunku rasti gerai apmokamą darbą, be to, gaisrui nusiaubus namus, jiedu su Bela liko ir be pastogės.
Abu įsikuria namelyje ant ratų. Pinigų trūksta katastrofiškai, ir jei Trevisas greitai neras darbo, jis ir mažoji Bela atsidurs gatvėje.
Trevisui pasiūlomas rizikingas darbelis, už kurį žadamas neblogas uždarbis. Vaikinas viliasi, kad jam pavyks, tada, bent jau laikinai turėtų šiltus namus, tačiau susimovus – jį ilgam išskirtų su dukra...
Neturėdamas kitos išeities Trevisas apsisprendžia – vien dėl savo dukrelės.
Net jeigu tai reikštų, kad teks ją prarasti.
Vienas skaitytojas iš Japonijos apie mano romaną rašė: „Tavo knygos leidžia patikėti, jog gyvenimas yra gražus, nors jame ir nemažai skausmo.“ Šie žodžiai sujaudino mane. Žinutę prisisegiau ant sienos šalia kompiuterio. Ji man primena, kodėl rašau.
Diane Chamberlain
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
786 people are currently reading
14637 people want to read
About the author
Diane Chamberlain
80 books15.1k followersDiane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and (London) Sunday Times best-selling author of 28 novels. The daughter of a school principal who supplied her with a new book almost daily, Diane quickly learned the emotional power of story. Although she wrote many small “books” as a child, she didn’t seriously turn to writing fiction until her early thirties when she was waiting for a delayed doctor’s appointment with nothing more than a pad, a pen, and an idea. She was instantly hooked.
Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.
More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.
Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole
Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.
More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.
Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,526 reviews
August 28, 2019
How far would you go when you are at your wits end, when someone else is completely relying on you to provide for them, when all your other options have fizzled out?
I was totally engaged discovering just how far this “good father” would go.
Like usual, I went in blind and was surprised there was a bit of a suspenseful element.
Love, loss and starting over is the overall message in this storyline.
I also listened to this through my fabulous local library’s audiobook selection, and love, love, loved there were multiple narrators!
There is a very good reason I have read many books by this author and will continue to do so. She is an amazingly talented writer and has yet to disappoint.
August 6, 2020
Totally loved this book. Although I could have cried at ever written word. Travis and Bella completely got under my skin. Would definitely recommend.
December 21, 2018
Travis Brown – a young, single father to almost four-year-old Bella, the light of his life. But the day of the fire changed everything about their lives in an instant. Would they ever know happiness again?
Living from day to day in a trailer in Carolina Beach, then following a job offer to Raleigh, Travis was desperate to change their circumstances. He hated that Bella had to sleep in his van – to no longer have a home; to have to clean up in the rest rooms they passed along the way. So, would this job make a difference? But who could he get to care for Bella? He knew no one in Raleigh – and didn’t want to leave his precious daughter with strangers. All he wanted to be was a good father.
The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain has been languishing in my bookshelf here at home since the beginning of 2013 – almost 6 years! After reading and loving The Dream Daughter a couple of months ago, I wanted to read another and this is the one I chose. At first I found myself confused by the back and forth narration, plus the amount of characters, but once I became used to that, the story flowed well. Poignant, intriguing and toward the end, breathtaking – The Good Father was an enjoyable read which I have no hesitation in recommending. I’m fortunate that I still have a few more from this author to ahead of me 😊
Living from day to day in a trailer in Carolina Beach, then following a job offer to Raleigh, Travis was desperate to change their circumstances. He hated that Bella had to sleep in his van – to no longer have a home; to have to clean up in the rest rooms they passed along the way. So, would this job make a difference? But who could he get to care for Bella? He knew no one in Raleigh – and didn’t want to leave his precious daughter with strangers. All he wanted to be was a good father.
The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain has been languishing in my bookshelf here at home since the beginning of 2013 – almost 6 years! After reading and loving The Dream Daughter a couple of months ago, I wanted to read another and this is the one I chose. At first I found myself confused by the back and forth narration, plus the amount of characters, but once I became used to that, the story flowed well. Poignant, intriguing and toward the end, breathtaking – The Good Father was an enjoyable read which I have no hesitation in recommending. I’m fortunate that I still have a few more from this author to ahead of me 😊
December 28, 2018
I love Diane Chamberlain’s books! She knows how to write family drama. The Good Father was realistic with characters you care about. Great story about illness, parenthood, loss, and love. I was a bit confused with the alternating POVs at the beginning but loved the way the book came together at the end. Got a bit…
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4.5 stars!
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4.5 stars!
June 13, 2012
I finished reading this a few days ago but am just now getting to the review. I've already finished a book since then but I'll try my best to explain why I liked it so much.
I liked it's originality. I haven't read a book like this in a long time so I enjoyed every moment of it. It was a parenthood/love/semi-crime/minor-political/twist-of-fate novel with a wonderful plot. I don't recall ever reading a book by Diane Chamberlain before but I can tell you that it will not be the last.
Okay, not the best review but that's what I've got for today. :)
I liked it's originality. I haven't read a book like this in a long time so I enjoyed every moment of it. It was a parenthood/love/semi-crime/minor-political/twist-of-fate novel with a wonderful plot. I don't recall ever reading a book by Diane Chamberlain before but I can tell you that it will not be the last.
Okay, not the best review but that's what I've got for today. :)
June 12, 2025
The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain was an emotional and heart-tugging read. From the very beginning, I was drawn into Travis’s story and his love for his daughter. It’s the kind of book that makes you think about the sacrifices people make for the ones they love, and how sometimes life doesn’t go the way we expect. I really liked how the story was told from different perspectives. It gave me an idea of what was going on and helped me connect with each character in a different way. I found myself especially being for Travis, even when he made choices I didn’t agree with. His desperation felt real, and it was hard not to feel for him as a young father just trying to do his best.
May 10, 2012
Good story taken from POV of 3 different characters which I sometimes lose interest in when I don't like one of the characters...just so happened I liked all of these, so good solid plot line with likeable characters. I also liked the believability of how the economy can drive people to make poor choices.
September 12, 2013
I had to force myself to finish this book. I picked it up because people were comparing the author to Jodi Picoult, who I love. After finishing the book, I don't understand the comparisons at all. In Jodi Picoult books you tend to actually like the characters- I wouldn't have cared if they all died in this book. Also, in Jodi Picoult books you can generally understand why the characters do what they do. In this book Travis did idiotic thing after idiotic thing (none of which made much sense or were going to improve his situation), I didn't understand Robin's actions at all, Robin's father hurt his daughter 50 times more than he protected her, the Henricks family were the stereotypical cold, rich family and Savanna's motives were never explained. Now, I'm sure the moral of the story was that people aren't perfect but are redeemed by their ability to love, blah blah blah but their sheer stupidity frustrated me to the point of tediousness. I usually like characters that aren't perfect but these people took selfishness to a whole new level. Erin and Michael are the only people who behave in an understandable way but their sections read like a psychiatrist's report on dealing with grief most of the time. The prose was bland, the plot was cheesy and unbelievable and the ending was way too "happily ever after" for me. I may try another one of this author's books just to see whether her other books are any better.
July 15, 2015
What an awesome read! From the first page until the last you can't help but get caught up in the lives on these people. I couldn't stop turning the pages! I just had to know how it was going to end! I was so worried about Travis and the choices he was making! He truly loves his daughter and only wants the best for her.
Another great read from Diane and I have no doubt that this will be a #1 best seller!!
Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Another great read from Diane and I have no doubt that this will be a #1 best seller!!
Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2015
Not my favorite Diane Chamberlain novel, but certainly very enjoyable. Narrated by the three main characters; Travis, Erin, and Robin, this heartfelt story defines parenthood at its worst and best, but always with lots of love for an innocent little girl, Bella. Look forward to reading more of DC.
December 27, 2012
Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown made a choice: to raise his newborn daughter, Bella, on his own. While most of his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home, worrying about keeping food on the table. So far he's kept Bella safe and never regretted his decision for a second. But after a devastating house fire, he's lost his home and his mother, who was helping him raise Bella, and his job. The few dollars he has in his wallet is all he has left. As things spiral out of control Travis is offered a lifeline. A one-time offer to commit a crime for his daughter's sake. Even if it means leaving Bella behind. Even if it means losing her.
The Good Father is a gripping, touching and thought-provoking read. The three main characters are Travis (Bella's father), Robin (Bella's mother) and Erin (a woman Travis meets in a coffee shop) and each of the chapters in the novel is narrated by one of these characters. Some of the chapters do jump from the present to the past but I thought the story was still easy to follow. Some parts of the story were very unrealistic and far-fetched. Doesn't the US have a welfare system and emergency housing and stuff like that?? I found it very hard to believe that Travis would have turned to crime before trying to get financial aid from the state first.
The characters are all interesting, vivid and well-developed, although I did think Travis was too naive for a guy that grew up in a poor neighbourhood. All the characters were extremely likable – even Robin. I didn't think I'd like her at first but I did.
The ending of the novel was a bit of a letdown as I thought it was tied up too neatly for my tastes. There was no real twist at the end which made the ending very predictable. It really seemed like the author had rushed out an ending just to make a deadline.
Overall I didn't think this book was as good as the other novels I've read by Diane Chamberlain. The other ones were much better. This one was poorly researched and predictable!
3 stars!
The Good Father is a gripping, touching and thought-provoking read. The three main characters are Travis (Bella's father), Robin (Bella's mother) and Erin (a woman Travis meets in a coffee shop) and each of the chapters in the novel is narrated by one of these characters. Some of the chapters do jump from the present to the past but I thought the story was still easy to follow. Some parts of the story were very unrealistic and far-fetched. Doesn't the US have a welfare system and emergency housing and stuff like that?? I found it very hard to believe that Travis would have turned to crime before trying to get financial aid from the state first.
The characters are all interesting, vivid and well-developed, although I did think Travis was too naive for a guy that grew up in a poor neighbourhood. All the characters were extremely likable – even Robin. I didn't think I'd like her at first but I did.
The ending of the novel was a bit of a letdown as I thought it was tied up too neatly for my tastes. There was no real twist at the end which made the ending very predictable. It really seemed like the author had rushed out an ending just to make a deadline.
Overall I didn't think this book was as good as the other novels I've read by Diane Chamberlain. The other ones were much better. This one was poorly researched and predictable!
3 stars!
May 28, 2012
Diane Chamberlain has quickly become one of my favourite authors. Her writing style reminds of Jodi Picoult with the way she uses multiple narrators. In fact, I’d even say that I prefer Diane Chamberlain of Jodi Picoult. That’s saying something about how much I love Ms. Chamberlain’s books because Jodi Picoult has always been one of my favourite authors.
I read The Good Father at lightning speed even though it was 347 pages long. It’s one of those books that you cannot put down and I even found myself thinking about it during the day wondering what was going to happen to the characters. Now that I’ve finished reading it, it’s still with me and it’s one I would read again a second time.
The story follows Travis, a young single dad, and his little girl, Bella. I really felt for Travis. He had such a hard life with his dad dying when he was young, growing up poor and then raising a daughter on his own. Then his mother died in a house fire and he was in dire straits….quite literally. I could feel his worry about not having enough for him and his daughter to eat and not having a place to live. The stress of not having a job and living in a terrible economy really took its toll on Travis and I thought Diane Chamberlain was exceptional at conveying this.
Some of Travis’s choices I certainly did not agree with, but I understood where he was coming from. Perhaps if it was me in the same situation, I might have done the same thing. He was doing what he had to in order to survive. I found many of the situations he found himself in immensely stressful. Even reading it, I was holding my breath and wondering what was going to happen. It just goes to show you that good people can find themselves in bad situations.
The other main character, Erin, lost her daughter in a terrible accident and has never recovered. She’s an empty shell of what she once was and is consumed physically, mentally and emotionally by the pain of her loss. It’s her entire life. I enjoyed seeing Erin’s interactions with Bella and watching her healing unfold throughout the pages of the book. Her loss was so raw and painful and my heart really went out to her. I could not even imagine what she went through.
The other person we meet in the book is Robin, Bella’s biological mother and Travis’s ex-girlfriend. We learn the reasons why she gave up Bella and how she came to realize that she missed the daughter she never got to meet.
All three characters eventually become intertwined as the story unfolds. This is a book that is about the characters, but it also has a fast moving plot too. If you are looking for a summer read, pick up this book. You won’t be able to put it down once you start!
I read The Good Father at lightning speed even though it was 347 pages long. It’s one of those books that you cannot put down and I even found myself thinking about it during the day wondering what was going to happen to the characters. Now that I’ve finished reading it, it’s still with me and it’s one I would read again a second time.
The story follows Travis, a young single dad, and his little girl, Bella. I really felt for Travis. He had such a hard life with his dad dying when he was young, growing up poor and then raising a daughter on his own. Then his mother died in a house fire and he was in dire straits….quite literally. I could feel his worry about not having enough for him and his daughter to eat and not having a place to live. The stress of not having a job and living in a terrible economy really took its toll on Travis and I thought Diane Chamberlain was exceptional at conveying this.
Some of Travis’s choices I certainly did not agree with, but I understood where he was coming from. Perhaps if it was me in the same situation, I might have done the same thing. He was doing what he had to in order to survive. I found many of the situations he found himself in immensely stressful. Even reading it, I was holding my breath and wondering what was going to happen. It just goes to show you that good people can find themselves in bad situations.
The other main character, Erin, lost her daughter in a terrible accident and has never recovered. She’s an empty shell of what she once was and is consumed physically, mentally and emotionally by the pain of her loss. It’s her entire life. I enjoyed seeing Erin’s interactions with Bella and watching her healing unfold throughout the pages of the book. Her loss was so raw and painful and my heart really went out to her. I could not even imagine what she went through.
The other person we meet in the book is Robin, Bella’s biological mother and Travis’s ex-girlfriend. We learn the reasons why she gave up Bella and how she came to realize that she missed the daughter she never got to meet.
All three characters eventually become intertwined as the story unfolds. This is a book that is about the characters, but it also has a fast moving plot too. If you are looking for a summer read, pick up this book. You won’t be able to put it down once you start!
November 5, 2021
Nuo paskutinės skaitytos Chamberlain knygos, praėjo metai. Ieškojau kažko lengvo ir įtraukiančio ir akis užkliuvo už šios. Pataikiau. "Tėvas ir duktė" tikrai ne pati įspūdingiausia Diane knyga, lyginant su ankščiau skaitytomis, bet labai bloga tikrai nebuvo.⠀
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Autorė tikrai mėgsta jausmingus ir dramatiškus siužetus. Šį kartą pasakojimas sukasi apie keturis žmones - jauną, keturmetę auginantį, vienišą tėvą Trevisą, jo dukrelę Belą, jos mamą Robiną ir moterį, vardu Erina.⠀
⠀
Viskas gana painu - Treviso ir jo dukters namai sudega, pinigų nėra, todėl Trevisas ieško išeities. Išeitis yra - neaiškaus bičo pasiūlytas darbas. Tik nelabai švarus ir legalus. Tam, kad galėtų to "darbo" imtis, palieka dukrą su vos kelias savaites pažįstama moterimi, Erina. Kodėl ne su mama? Nes Robina, pagimdžiusi Belą, jos atsisakė. Kodėl? Nes... painu čia taip, kad net papasakoti nesugebėsiu. ⠀
⠀
Knygos idėja gera. Tik tiek dramos, kiek čia jos prikrovė autorė, užtektų mažiausiai trims romanams. Daaaug netekčių, gedulo, daug tėvų paliktų vaikų, draudimų, melų ir kitų smagybių - ta nesibaigianti SantaBarbara, truputį erzino.⠀
⠀
Žinau, kad jei nuotaika ir laikas, pasirinktas knygai, būtų kitas, vertinčiau ją prasčiau. Sakyčiau, kad per daug banali ir perspausta. Bet matyt, šiuo metu, kažko tokio ir reikėjo. Įsijaučiau į tą keistą veikėjų pasaulį ir susilydžiau dėl mažosios Belos. Tikrai iki skausmo mielas personažas. Ir kriminalinė linija, antroje knygos dalyje, pralinskmino. Didieji "nusikaltėliai" puikiai pasirodytų "Bukiausiuose Amerikos nusikalteliuose", ar kaip ten ta laida vadinasi..? ⠀
⠀
Šiek tiek pasigraudinimų, šiek tiek akių vartymo, truputis įtampos - jaučiuosi kaip įveikusi dozę literatūrinio greitmaisčio. Skanu, bet sekančiam kartui, norėčiau kažko rimtesnio.⠀
⠀
Autorė tikrai mėgsta jausmingus ir dramatiškus siužetus. Šį kartą pasakojimas sukasi apie keturis žmones - jauną, keturmetę auginantį, vienišą tėvą Trevisą, jo dukrelę Belą, jos mamą Robiną ir moterį, vardu Erina.⠀
⠀
Viskas gana painu - Treviso ir jo dukters namai sudega, pinigų nėra, todėl Trevisas ieško išeities. Išeitis yra - neaiškaus bičo pasiūlytas darbas. Tik nelabai švarus ir legalus. Tam, kad galėtų to "darbo" imtis, palieka dukrą su vos kelias savaites pažįstama moterimi, Erina. Kodėl ne su mama? Nes Robina, pagimdžiusi Belą, jos atsisakė. Kodėl? Nes... painu čia taip, kad net papasakoti nesugebėsiu. ⠀
⠀
Knygos idėja gera. Tik tiek dramos, kiek čia jos prikrovė autorė, užtektų mažiausiai trims romanams. Daaaug netekčių, gedulo, daug tėvų paliktų vaikų, draudimų, melų ir kitų smagybių - ta nesibaigianti SantaBarbara, truputį erzino.⠀
⠀
Žinau, kad jei nuotaika ir laikas, pasirinktas knygai, būtų kitas, vertinčiau ją prasčiau. Sakyčiau, kad per daug banali ir perspausta. Bet matyt, šiuo metu, kažko tokio ir reikėjo. Įsijaučiau į tą keistą veikėjų pasaulį ir susilydžiau dėl mažosios Belos. Tikrai iki skausmo mielas personažas. Ir kriminalinė linija, antroje knygos dalyje, pralinskmino. Didieji "nusikaltėliai" puikiai pasirodytų "Bukiausiuose Amerikos nusikalteliuose", ar kaip ten ta laida vadinasi..? ⠀
⠀
Šiek tiek pasigraudinimų, šiek tiek akių vartymo, truputis įtampos - jaučiuosi kaip įveikusi dozę literatūrinio greitmaisčio. Skanu, bet sekančiam kartui, norėčiau kažko rimtesnio.⠀
January 22, 2014
Initial reaction: A surprisingly engaging narrative from the perspective of three individuals whose journeys intersect quite notably throughout the narrative. It came together so well and I'll admit it kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Full review:
I think it's official: Diane Chamberlain's a new favorite author for me. The way she crafts the characters in her narratives feel so real, even when the scenario itself is a little out of the ordinary.
"The Good Father" toggles between three perspectives. The first is Travis, a father who's homeless after a tragedy takes away his home, former life and dreams. He struggles to make a living while caring for his 4-year old daughter, Bella. He decides to take a chance on a job that's guaranteed to him by a friend, and ends up making one of the worst mistakes of his life. The second is Robin, a young woman who's trapped in a life that's a lie. She struggled with a heart condition most of her life and suffered under the hand of an overprotective father, who always dictated her actions and choices. And now she's about to be married into a family who seems to deliver her to the same fate, but a past encounter starts throwing into question everything. And lastly, Erin is a woman in her 30s who's tragically lost a child and is barely coping from the grief in the aftermath. It's only when she meets Travis and Bella by chance at a coffee shop over a series of times that she starts to feel some measure towards moving on, but then gets caught in a whirlwind situation that's more than she bargained for.
This is a terrifically plotted story, one that I did see some of the turns coming a little before they landed, but it was still satisfying to watch the characters and situations unfold as they converged. I did sympathize with each of the characters (even if I wanted to smack some sense into Travis's head for all the opportunities he could've seen what would happen and how it was a bad idea.) But Chamberlain crafts the characters so well that you do feel for them as they not only have their own situations of grief and internal struggle for past events and relationships, but also end up having a common tie that's gradually pulled together through the narrative. It unfolds like one dynamic movie that places the characters in a scenario that's a little out of the ordinary, but feels grounded enough alongside the dramatic events to pull the story along right up to its conclusion. I was happy with the way it ended, and certainly didn't put the book down as I read it (unless I had to - I wish I could've read it in one sitting). It has a blend of grief, drama, romance, action/suspense, and crime for those who enjoy those genres, and I think those who enjoy character driven stories would like it as well.
Recommended, and I look forward to reading more of Chamberlain's works in the future.
Overall score: 4/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Harlequin.
Full review:
I think it's official: Diane Chamberlain's a new favorite author for me. The way she crafts the characters in her narratives feel so real, even when the scenario itself is a little out of the ordinary.
"The Good Father" toggles between three perspectives. The first is Travis, a father who's homeless after a tragedy takes away his home, former life and dreams. He struggles to make a living while caring for his 4-year old daughter, Bella. He decides to take a chance on a job that's guaranteed to him by a friend, and ends up making one of the worst mistakes of his life. The second is Robin, a young woman who's trapped in a life that's a lie. She struggled with a heart condition most of her life and suffered under the hand of an overprotective father, who always dictated her actions and choices. And now she's about to be married into a family who seems to deliver her to the same fate, but a past encounter starts throwing into question everything. And lastly, Erin is a woman in her 30s who's tragically lost a child and is barely coping from the grief in the aftermath. It's only when she meets Travis and Bella by chance at a coffee shop over a series of times that she starts to feel some measure towards moving on, but then gets caught in a whirlwind situation that's more than she bargained for.
This is a terrifically plotted story, one that I did see some of the turns coming a little before they landed, but it was still satisfying to watch the characters and situations unfold as they converged. I did sympathize with each of the characters (even if I wanted to smack some sense into Travis's head for all the opportunities he could've seen what would happen and how it was a bad idea.) But Chamberlain crafts the characters so well that you do feel for them as they not only have their own situations of grief and internal struggle for past events and relationships, but also end up having a common tie that's gradually pulled together through the narrative. It unfolds like one dynamic movie that places the characters in a scenario that's a little out of the ordinary, but feels grounded enough alongside the dramatic events to pull the story along right up to its conclusion. I was happy with the way it ended, and certainly didn't put the book down as I read it (unless I had to - I wish I could've read it in one sitting). It has a blend of grief, drama, romance, action/suspense, and crime for those who enjoy those genres, and I think those who enjoy character driven stories would like it as well.
Recommended, and I look forward to reading more of Chamberlain's works in the future.
Overall score: 4/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Harlequin.
March 4, 2012
3.5 Diane Chamberlain has mastered the art of creating fascinating characters and infusing them into stories of moral and ethical dilemmas. Travis, a single father of only 23, is depending on his mother for her help and childcare in taking care of his four year old daughter. Due to circumstances of fate, he loses this help and his job, finds himself living in a broken down trailer unable to adequately provide for her. Erin is a woman dealing with her own set of problems, but her fate becomes entwined with Travis and his daughter. What choices does one make when he is desperate? Definitely disagreed with many that Travis made, but people often make wrong choices when they can see no other way. Loved the way this novel was related with alternate chapters narrated by the different characters. So much easier to keep track of. Also like how things are slowly revealed, such as answering the question of what happened to Bella's mother? Read this right through, the book hooks the reader and makes them want to find out, what is going to happen?
May 26, 2012
At 23 years old, Travis is the father and sole carer of four year old adorable Bella. Following a house fire where he lost his mother and his home and all his savings, followed by the loss of his job, he and Bella are left homeless and penniless. Desperate to find work he accepts a vague job with a guy called Roy that his friend Savannah recommends. Unknowingly he gets roped into doing a drug run and Travis is too tempted by the one-off cash payment for a few hours’ work to turn it down.
He takes the risk of leaving Bella at the local coffee-shop with a kind woman named Erin who they have developed a friendship with. He trusts Bella in her care and leaves her without explaining to Erin what he will be doing and when he will be back.
Erin is trying to deal with her own issues, mainly the loss of her young daughter Caroline who would be the same age as Bella if she survived the accident. Erin has separated from her husband who grieves differently to her and feeling alone and grief-stricken she moves out and stumbles into the lives of Bella and Travis. Erin is in a tough position when Travis does not return to pick up Bella the next morning, she is tempted to call child services and hand her over, but her protectiveness for Bella and her gut feeling that Travis was in trouble, she sets out in search of a young woman in a photo named Robin, Bella’s mother.
Robin should be ecstatic, engaged to a powerful man soon to be mayor, she has overcome a life-threatening heart condition following a transplant and she is living the life her father always dreamed of for her. But when her sister-in law falls pregnant at just 17 years old and delivers a beautiful baby girl, Robin is haunted by the baby girl she never got to see, the one she tried so hard to forget.
I really felt for each of the characters in The Good Father. Travis is a likeable young guy, who really wants the best for his daughter. Despite him providing her with love, affection and stimulation, he struggles to meet her physical needs of shelter, food and clothing. I trusted Erin and was glad this strong woman was able to step in and protect Bella while her father tried to sort out his mess. I also empathised with Robin whose father had manipulated her trying to serve his best interests in making Robin a success but ultimately stripping her of her happiness and her identity.
It’s a suspenseful ending with a heart-warming reunion and a very satisfactory ending that left me smiling and very happy that Bella will have a more comfortable life thereafter.
I will surely seek out more of Diane Chamberlain’s novels after this enjoyable read.
He takes the risk of leaving Bella at the local coffee-shop with a kind woman named Erin who they have developed a friendship with. He trusts Bella in her care and leaves her without explaining to Erin what he will be doing and when he will be back.
Erin is trying to deal with her own issues, mainly the loss of her young daughter Caroline who would be the same age as Bella if she survived the accident. Erin has separated from her husband who grieves differently to her and feeling alone and grief-stricken she moves out and stumbles into the lives of Bella and Travis. Erin is in a tough position when Travis does not return to pick up Bella the next morning, she is tempted to call child services and hand her over, but her protectiveness for Bella and her gut feeling that Travis was in trouble, she sets out in search of a young woman in a photo named Robin, Bella’s mother.
Robin should be ecstatic, engaged to a powerful man soon to be mayor, she has overcome a life-threatening heart condition following a transplant and she is living the life her father always dreamed of for her. But when her sister-in law falls pregnant at just 17 years old and delivers a beautiful baby girl, Robin is haunted by the baby girl she never got to see, the one she tried so hard to forget.
I really felt for each of the characters in The Good Father. Travis is a likeable young guy, who really wants the best for his daughter. Despite him providing her with love, affection and stimulation, he struggles to meet her physical needs of shelter, food and clothing. I trusted Erin and was glad this strong woman was able to step in and protect Bella while her father tried to sort out his mess. I also empathised with Robin whose father had manipulated her trying to serve his best interests in making Robin a success but ultimately stripping her of her happiness and her identity.
It’s a suspenseful ending with a heart-warming reunion and a very satisfactory ending that left me smiling and very happy that Bella will have a more comfortable life thereafter.
I will surely seek out more of Diane Chamberlain’s novels after this enjoyable read.
February 11, 2012
It takes more than sperm to make a man a father, Travis certainly proves that as the lead character in Chamberlain's "The Good Father." Yet, this story's strength is that it is not just Travis's story we hear or even that of his precious daughter with her pink purse but of everyone whose life is changed by one child on one night by one choice, a choice Travis made because he wanted to be a Good Father. In this book you hear from Travis as he struggles to overcome life in a recession when everything is going wrong and he only tries to do what is best for his daughter. You will hear from Erin who needs a little girl in her life and is drawn to Travis' small family and ends up in over her head. Finally you hear from Robin who doesn't yet know that her whole life is about to change for this little girl, a little girl she thought she had forgotten. A very well written story that will grab your heart, you will not be able to put it down and when you do you will still be wondering if a happy ending is possible for a "Good Father".
February 17, 2012
It might be I'm not the best person to be doing a review of Diane Chamberlain's newest book - I've never read a book of hers that I haven't enjoyed, and all my critical faculties are suspended. But standing back a little, this one really was quite excellent, a powerful tale of families, grief and love. If Jodi Picoult has a recognisable formula (and why do the publishers feel the need to keep using the "If you like Jodi..." sticker?), so does Diane Chamberlain with her different narrators. This one's told by three. There's Travis, single father of Bella (one of the most real little girls I've encountered in a while), who reaches the point when he will do just about anything to provide for her. Then there's Erin, a bereaved mother who meets up with the pair at a mall coffee shop and gets tangled in their lives. Then there's Bella's young mother, who has a heartbreaking story of her own. The three voices are totally distinct, and the story twists and turns, goes backwards and forwards in time with the characters' perspectives, all coming together in a nail-biting finale. Forgive me for not revealing any more of the plot - beyond the "blurb" it really would ruin it for people. The pivotal moment of the story comes right at the beginning, then the story restarts, and it's a device I thought worked really well. This isn't real life - thank heaven that not many of us would ever encounter so many secrets and disasters in a lifetime. But my word, can Diane Chamberlain tell a good story that doesn't release you from its grip until the very last page!
My thanks to NetGalley for an advance e-copy to review.
My thanks to NetGalley for an advance e-copy to review.
June 17, 2018
Diane Chamberlain dažnai papuldavo į mano akiratį, bet nei vienos knygos iki šiol nebuvau skaičiusi. Jei paklaustumėte kodėl, atsakymas būtų paprastas ir kasdieniškas - tiesiog nežinau. Kažkaip vis aplenkdavau jos knygas knygynuose ir bibliotekose. Dažniausiai nugalėdavo viena iš mano mėgstamų autorių Jodi Picoult, kuri tikrai sukrečiančiai rašo šeimos dramas, paliečianti socialines ir psichologines temas. "Tėvas ir duktė" pasirinkta, galbūt banaliai ir nuskambės, dėl ryškių spalvų viršelio ir mažos mergytės nuotraukos ant viršelio. Prieš pasiimdama ją iš bibliotekos net neskaičiau knygos anotacijos. Tiesiog leidau sau paimprovizuoti pasiimdama šią knygą į savo namus ir pradėdama pažintį su autorės kūryba. Vos pradėjusi skaityti, tikrai greitai "užsikabinau" ir norėjau viską kuo greičiau sužinoti. Pati istorija pasakojama trijų veikėjų žodžiais: vienišas tėtis, kuris augina dukrelę, kuri jam yra visas gyvenimas, tačiau būdamas jaunu tėčiu jis pristinga pinigų dukros išlaikymui. Todėl gauna rizikingą pasiūlymą, kuriam ryžtasi žinodamas, kad galbūt gali ir prarasti savo mylimą dukrą. Kažkur kitame mieste gyvena mergaitės mama, kuri savo meilę prižadėjusi jau kitam vyrui, bet vis dažniau prisimena savo paliktą dukrą. Ir kita veikėja - mama, kuri dar visai neseniai netekusi savo mylimos dukrelės. Visus šiuos tris veikėjus jungia ši maža mergaitė, vardu Bela. Kaip viskas klostysis, paaiškėja perskaičius šią knygą. Skaitydama šios autorės knygą tikrai negalėčiau teigti, kad ji yra saldi ar banali, man kaip tik pasirodė labai įdomi tuo, kad kaip būdamas vienišas vyras ir tėvas stengiasi dėl savo vaiko gerovės, kad gali paaukoti tiek daug, kad jo vaikas būtų sveikas, pavalgęs, turėtų šiltus namus. Nors knygoje nemažai ir skausmo, bet jis čia tikrai tiko ir netrukdė, gal netgi sakyčiau "pagyvino" pačią istoriją. Tai knyga, kuri nenustebino, bet tikrai ir nenuvylė. Pirma pažintis su autorės kūryba užskaityta :)
November 4, 2016
Almost, but not quite, 4 Stars.
Remember the good 'ole Woody Woodpecker from the 80's? There was this line repeated in a deep voice in nearly almost episode:
"If Woody Had Gone Right to the Police...... this would never have happened"
Well, that voice couldn't help but run through my head over and over and over, bad decision after bad decision. So yeah, I kinda wanted to smack Travis upside the head and knock some sense into him. But alas, I had no choice but to follow him down the rabbit hole.
Regardless, Diane Chamberlain knows how to create relatable characters that you can't help but root for. She hasn't let me down yet.
Remember the good 'ole Woody Woodpecker from the 80's? There was this line repeated in a deep voice in nearly almost episode:
"If Woody Had Gone Right to the Police...... this would never have happened"
Well, that voice couldn't help but run through my head over and over and over, bad decision after bad decision. So yeah, I kinda wanted to smack Travis upside the head and knock some sense into him. But alas, I had no choice but to follow him down the rabbit hole.
Regardless, Diane Chamberlain knows how to create relatable characters that you can't help but root for. She hasn't let me down yet.
October 24, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I’m not sure whether it merits four or five stars, but only because it isn’t a great work of literature. The writing is fairly simple. But after abandoning Donna Tartt’s The Little Friend after 222 pages (of 658!), “great literature” wasn’t what I was looking for. The Good Father proves that not every tale must be told with brilliant prose in order to be great.
And make no mistake, The Good Father is one heck of a story! Actually, it deftly interweaves three different but related and equally compelling subplots. Each of the three characters (Travis, Robin and Erin) has absorbed his or her own share of tragedy, and consequently is about as touching as any fictional character can be. In a plainspoken, almost simplistic way, The Good Father shows us what anyone might be capable of under desperate circumstances—in other words, what it means to be human. We all like to think, “Oh, I would never do that.” But you never know until you are faced with the situation—whether it be lack of money, a life-or-death health condition, or the devastating loss of a child. The Good Father does a beautiful job of showing how these three ordinarily people flounder and nearly fall when life seemingly turns against them.
There were moments when I feared Ms. Chamberlain might veer into tired and trite territory, but thankfully she never does. Rather, The Good Father offers tried-and-true reminders about class and status, grief and healing, and the essence of enduring love. It’s a sweet yet gripping book that I couldn’t put down and highly recommend.
And make no mistake, The Good Father is one heck of a story! Actually, it deftly interweaves three different but related and equally compelling subplots. Each of the three characters (Travis, Robin and Erin) has absorbed his or her own share of tragedy, and consequently is about as touching as any fictional character can be. In a plainspoken, almost simplistic way, The Good Father shows us what anyone might be capable of under desperate circumstances—in other words, what it means to be human. We all like to think, “Oh, I would never do that.” But you never know until you are faced with the situation—whether it be lack of money, a life-or-death health condition, or the devastating loss of a child. The Good Father does a beautiful job of showing how these three ordinarily people flounder and nearly fall when life seemingly turns against them.
There were moments when I feared Ms. Chamberlain might veer into tired and trite territory, but thankfully she never does. Rather, The Good Father offers tried-and-true reminders about class and status, grief and healing, and the essence of enduring love. It’s a sweet yet gripping book that I couldn’t put down and highly recommend.
November 10, 2014
I have read several of this author's books, and always loved them. This one? Not so much.
There was not a whole lot of mystery in this. I thought it was a sappy, too romancey, and very predictable book.
In this day and age, I couldn't believe the characters were so naively stupid. I had a hard time wrapping my brain around their gullibility. The story could have been believable if hadn't been so "perfect". I just couldn't buy it.
It almost felt like Ms Chamberlain wanted to get a new book on the shelves, so she hurried to write this. I felt it lacked any real depth.
There was not a whole lot of mystery in this. I thought it was a sappy, too romancey, and very predictable book.
In this day and age, I couldn't believe the characters were so naively stupid. I had a hard time wrapping my brain around their gullibility. The story could have been believable if hadn't been so "perfect". I just couldn't buy it.
It almost felt like Ms Chamberlain wanted to get a new book on the shelves, so she hurried to write this. I felt it lacked any real depth.
August 14, 2016
Soooo my thoughts:
Many times I was thinking is this a Nicholas Sparks book?
Very predictable
Everything was all wrapped up in the end and sometimes I like a little wonder.
Many times I was thinking is this a Nicholas Sparks book?
Very predictable
Everything was all wrapped up in the end and sometimes I like a little wonder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
This book caught my attention right away. I wanted to keep reading it and ignore other things that needed doing. It was narrated by the 3 main characters. Sometimes the choices they made were frustrating and you wanted to get angry at them. Great read! One of my favorites by Diane Chamberlain.
January 7, 2013
The Good Father
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 0778313468
ISBN-13: 978-0778313465
Format: Kindle ebook
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
First Line: “It was nine-forty when I woke up in the back of the van."
Synopsis: When Travis was 19 years old he made a decision that would change his life -- to raise his newborn daughter on his own. Instead of heading to university and partying with his friends Travis spent his days changing diapers and caring for his daughter, Bella. She is the light of his life and he has never regretted his decision.
When Travis suddenly finds himself without a job, family support or a home he knows that he will have to make some drastic decisions. When he is offered a job in Raleigh that will turn things around he jumps at the chance. But the job is not what he was expecting. It's a one-time illegal job that promises money and no negative repercussions. Now Travis has a choice. Does he do the job in order to help secure a home and food on the table even if it means he might lose his daughter forever?
Erin is a young woman who has endured every mother's worst nightmare. When she befriends Travis and Bella in a local coffee shop she begins to heal a little from her devastating loss. Unfortunately she soon finds herself tangled in Travis' problems.
Robin has had a tumultuous four years but has her life on track and a wedding to an influential and charismatic young man in her future. Though she has barely thought about the little girl that she walked away from four years ago she has no idea that her life is about to dramatically change.
The story is told from these three very distinct points of view culminating in various plot twists and a very tense and exciting ending.
My Thoughts: "The Good Father" is a compelling and exciting read that tugs at your emotions throughout the book. Everything from sadness, loss, anger, betrayal, fear, joy, unconditional parental love ... it's an emotional rollercoaster as you follow the lives of the three main characters, Travis, Erin and Robin.
I really enjoyed the fact that the story was told from the viewpoint of the three main characters. Going from viewpoint to viewpoint helped to keep up the momentum of the story while divulging important facts in a deliciously slow and deliberate way.
This story was character driven but also plot driven which, in my vast reading, is a rare find indeed. The characters are so honestly written that they are believable and relatable to the reader. Each of the three main characters have their own issues and demons to face before they will be able to move on with their lives. At the same time the plot is almost non-stop giving the reader little tidbits of insight into the three storylines and how they converge into the ending.
The story deals with multiple subjects in an interesting way that isn't bogged down with too much detail. Some of the subjects are: teen pregnancy, adoption, elitism, homelessness, loss of a child. These are pretty heavy issues to deal with but the author does so in a way that is compelling, engaging and truly heart-felt.
It's hard to believe that this is the first book that I've read from this author. Ms Chamberlain writes a gripping and, at times, emotional read filled with flawed characters that I loved to root for. I am excited to read more from this author.
Thanks go out to the publisher Harlequin Books, via NetGalley, for providing me with this Advanced Digital Reading Copy, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
For more of my book reviews (and tried and true recipes) please visit my blog www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.com
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 0778313468
ISBN-13: 978-0778313465
Format: Kindle ebook
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
First Line: “It was nine-forty when I woke up in the back of the van."
Synopsis: When Travis was 19 years old he made a decision that would change his life -- to raise his newborn daughter on his own. Instead of heading to university and partying with his friends Travis spent his days changing diapers and caring for his daughter, Bella. She is the light of his life and he has never regretted his decision.
When Travis suddenly finds himself without a job, family support or a home he knows that he will have to make some drastic decisions. When he is offered a job in Raleigh that will turn things around he jumps at the chance. But the job is not what he was expecting. It's a one-time illegal job that promises money and no negative repercussions. Now Travis has a choice. Does he do the job in order to help secure a home and food on the table even if it means he might lose his daughter forever?
Erin is a young woman who has endured every mother's worst nightmare. When she befriends Travis and Bella in a local coffee shop she begins to heal a little from her devastating loss. Unfortunately she soon finds herself tangled in Travis' problems.
Robin has had a tumultuous four years but has her life on track and a wedding to an influential and charismatic young man in her future. Though she has barely thought about the little girl that she walked away from four years ago she has no idea that her life is about to dramatically change.
The story is told from these three very distinct points of view culminating in various plot twists and a very tense and exciting ending.
My Thoughts: "The Good Father" is a compelling and exciting read that tugs at your emotions throughout the book. Everything from sadness, loss, anger, betrayal, fear, joy, unconditional parental love ... it's an emotional rollercoaster as you follow the lives of the three main characters, Travis, Erin and Robin.
I really enjoyed the fact that the story was told from the viewpoint of the three main characters. Going from viewpoint to viewpoint helped to keep up the momentum of the story while divulging important facts in a deliciously slow and deliberate way.
This story was character driven but also plot driven which, in my vast reading, is a rare find indeed. The characters are so honestly written that they are believable and relatable to the reader. Each of the three main characters have their own issues and demons to face before they will be able to move on with their lives. At the same time the plot is almost non-stop giving the reader little tidbits of insight into the three storylines and how they converge into the ending.
The story deals with multiple subjects in an interesting way that isn't bogged down with too much detail. Some of the subjects are: teen pregnancy, adoption, elitism, homelessness, loss of a child. These are pretty heavy issues to deal with but the author does so in a way that is compelling, engaging and truly heart-felt.
It's hard to believe that this is the first book that I've read from this author. Ms Chamberlain writes a gripping and, at times, emotional read filled with flawed characters that I loved to root for. I am excited to read more from this author.
Thanks go out to the publisher Harlequin Books, via NetGalley, for providing me with this Advanced Digital Reading Copy, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
For more of my book reviews (and tried and true recipes) please visit my blog www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.com
March 17, 2012
The Good Father was a compelling story of a young father who makes difficult and poor choices while trying to take care of the precious daughter who means everything to him. Travis Brown was a likeable character who had more than he could deal with at his young age. His daughter, Bella, was a wonderful addition to the story. Erin and Michael were great characters who were trying to find their way back from deep despair after losing their daughter. Robin is the mother who had powerful reasons for giving up Bella and who is finally strong enough to let herself wonder about the daughter she gave up. This book had a great and intriguing storyline to go with the remarkable characters, and has made Diane Chamberlain a must-read author for me.
At age nineteen, Travis Brown decided to raise the infant daughter that he hadn't been aware of. With his mother's help, he has given Bella a comfortable life and infinite love. When tragedy strikes and Travis loses both his mother and his home, he is unable to continue with his construction job. Trying to take care of Bella, he rents a place to stay and searches for work. Having no luck and on the verge of becoming homeless, Travis accepts an offer to work for a friend of his new neighbor. Travis and Bella travel to Raleigh for the job, where they will have to live out of their van until payday. Upon arrival, Travis finds that the job is not what he was led to believe. He is place in an untenable situation and makes decisions out of his desparation.
Erin is a thirty-something woman who is drowning in grief after losing her daughter. Her marriage to Michael has seemingly crumbled, and she hasn't been able to face returning to her job as a pharmacist. When Travis' dilemma places Bella in her care, Erin also has tough decisions to make.
Robin is the young mother of Bella who wasn't able to care for her when Bella was born. Robin has made life for herself and her engagement to the son of a powerful family has given her esteem in the town where she has settled. She is under misapprehension about the events surrounding Travis and their infant daughter, just as Travis has been misled about Robin.
The decisions that Travis has made to try to take care of his daughter cause all of these characters to come together, and put some of them in great danger.
I loved the characters and storyline in this book. I was rooting for the characters and hoping that they would come through the trials they faced stronger and happier. I enjoyed every minute spent reading this book. I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.
At age nineteen, Travis Brown decided to raise the infant daughter that he hadn't been aware of. With his mother's help, he has given Bella a comfortable life and infinite love. When tragedy strikes and Travis loses both his mother and his home, he is unable to continue with his construction job. Trying to take care of Bella, he rents a place to stay and searches for work. Having no luck and on the verge of becoming homeless, Travis accepts an offer to work for a friend of his new neighbor. Travis and Bella travel to Raleigh for the job, where they will have to live out of their van until payday. Upon arrival, Travis finds that the job is not what he was led to believe. He is place in an untenable situation and makes decisions out of his desparation.
Erin is a thirty-something woman who is drowning in grief after losing her daughter. Her marriage to Michael has seemingly crumbled, and she hasn't been able to face returning to her job as a pharmacist. When Travis' dilemma places Bella in her care, Erin also has tough decisions to make.
Robin is the young mother of Bella who wasn't able to care for her when Bella was born. Robin has made life for herself and her engagement to the son of a powerful family has given her esteem in the town where she has settled. She is under misapprehension about the events surrounding Travis and their infant daughter, just as Travis has been misled about Robin.
The decisions that Travis has made to try to take care of his daughter cause all of these characters to come together, and put some of them in great danger.
I loved the characters and storyline in this book. I was rooting for the characters and hoping that they would come through the trials they faced stronger and happier. I enjoyed every minute spent reading this book. I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.
June 10, 2012
Thought provoking.
This was a highly thought provoking read, centred around the question of what really constitutes a 'good father'. Yes, he'd have to be loving, caring, thoughtful etc, but how far should he go for his child - should he commit crime to keep her fed and watered?
I was gripped from the first page of this book, which was expertly narrated by the three main characters: Travis, Bella's father, Robin, her mother, and Erin, recently bereaved of her own young daughter, but who is drawn to the waif-like child.
The characters and their backgrounds are gradually revealed as we read and I'm hesitant to give too much away here for fear of spoiling your enjoyment. I think it was this gradual insight into the characters' backgrounds and the subsequent events that made the book such an excellent read.
Bella is just six and has been raised by her teenage father with the help of his mother. She has never met her mother. Travis has managed to make ends meet and provide for Bella and his mother with his carpentry and building skills. Then the recession hits the building trade and work becomes harder to find. On top of this, tragedy strikes and Travis has to make some very difficult decisions in order to keep Bella from being taken by the authorities.
Erin, having lost her own daughter, is struggling to lead a normal life. The heavy blanket of grief that she carries with her is momentarliy lifted when Bella comes into the coffee house where she is checking her e mails, and goes into the bathroom with her father to wash and clean her teeth. Gradually their paths become more and more entwined and Erin's decisions become pivotal to the story.
Although Bella's mother, Robin, gave her daughter up at birth, she had good reason. As she makes a new life for herself, thoughts of the baby that she never knew begin to creep up on her. All she knows is that the child is baing raised by Travis.
This is only the second book by Diane Chamberlain that I've read but both books were five star reads. Definitely an author that I will choose in the future.
This would be an excellent book for a book group discussion. Highly recommended to all readers with a concience.
Also read:
The Lost Daughter - 5 stars
This was a highly thought provoking read, centred around the question of what really constitutes a 'good father'. Yes, he'd have to be loving, caring, thoughtful etc, but how far should he go for his child - should he commit crime to keep her fed and watered?
I was gripped from the first page of this book, which was expertly narrated by the three main characters: Travis, Bella's father, Robin, her mother, and Erin, recently bereaved of her own young daughter, but who is drawn to the waif-like child.
The characters and their backgrounds are gradually revealed as we read and I'm hesitant to give too much away here for fear of spoiling your enjoyment. I think it was this gradual insight into the characters' backgrounds and the subsequent events that made the book such an excellent read.
Bella is just six and has been raised by her teenage father with the help of his mother. She has never met her mother. Travis has managed to make ends meet and provide for Bella and his mother with his carpentry and building skills. Then the recession hits the building trade and work becomes harder to find. On top of this, tragedy strikes and Travis has to make some very difficult decisions in order to keep Bella from being taken by the authorities.
Erin, having lost her own daughter, is struggling to lead a normal life. The heavy blanket of grief that she carries with her is momentarliy lifted when Bella comes into the coffee house where she is checking her e mails, and goes into the bathroom with her father to wash and clean her teeth. Gradually their paths become more and more entwined and Erin's decisions become pivotal to the story.
Although Bella's mother, Robin, gave her daughter up at birth, she had good reason. As she makes a new life for herself, thoughts of the baby that she never knew begin to creep up on her. All she knows is that the child is baing raised by Travis.
This is only the second book by Diane Chamberlain that I've read but both books were five star reads. Definitely an author that I will choose in the future.
This would be an excellent book for a book group discussion. Highly recommended to all readers with a concience.
Also read:
The Lost Daughter - 5 stars
March 17, 2012
The Good Father from the title of Diane Chamberlain's latest novel is Travis. Travis is in his early twenties and is single handedly bringing up four year old Bella. Bella is his child from a doomed relationship with his childhood sweetheart Robin.
The story begins half way through, the reader is introduced to Travis and Bella just as he has to make an enormous decision that could change their lives.
And so, we see Travis leave his beloved daughter in the care of Miss Erin - a sad and lonely woman in her mid-thirties, and someone that Travis only met a few days ago. This prologue leaves the reader gasping for more, I wanted to know why? who? what?
The story is narrated by the three lead characters in turn; Travis, Erin and Robin. Each narrator has their own back story, each one of them are realistic and likeable, but each one of them sees their situation in totally different ways.
Who couldn't fall in love with the wonderful Travis? A young man who loves his daughter with every ounce of his being, who would (and indeed does) do anything to make sure that she is happy and secure. A young man with faults, but with a vulnerability that would melt the hardest of hearts. My heroine was Erin - a woman who has suffered a tragic loss and who can't see a future for herself. It is her heartache and her experience that make her behave in the way that she does and although she is a complex character, she also is vulnerable. And finally, Robin. The mother who left her child, the mother who hasn't thought about her child or her childhood sweetheart for many years. The reader should dislike her - after all, we love Travis, how could we like the woman who hurt him so badly? Again though, Diane Chamberlain has created a realistic character in Robin and it soon becomes clear that she too has her sadness and her pain to deal with.
The Good Father serves up a story of enduring family relationships, of pain and sorrow and loss with a plot that is fast-paced, maybe at times a tiny bit far-fetched, but totally gripping nethertheless.
Published by Mira Books on 1 June 2012, I have no doubt that Diane Chamberlain has another hit on her hands.
The story begins half way through, the reader is introduced to Travis and Bella just as he has to make an enormous decision that could change their lives.
And so, we see Travis leave his beloved daughter in the care of Miss Erin - a sad and lonely woman in her mid-thirties, and someone that Travis only met a few days ago. This prologue leaves the reader gasping for more, I wanted to know why? who? what?
The story is narrated by the three lead characters in turn; Travis, Erin and Robin. Each narrator has their own back story, each one of them are realistic and likeable, but each one of them sees their situation in totally different ways.
Who couldn't fall in love with the wonderful Travis? A young man who loves his daughter with every ounce of his being, who would (and indeed does) do anything to make sure that she is happy and secure. A young man with faults, but with a vulnerability that would melt the hardest of hearts. My heroine was Erin - a woman who has suffered a tragic loss and who can't see a future for herself. It is her heartache and her experience that make her behave in the way that she does and although she is a complex character, she also is vulnerable. And finally, Robin. The mother who left her child, the mother who hasn't thought about her child or her childhood sweetheart for many years. The reader should dislike her - after all, we love Travis, how could we like the woman who hurt him so badly? Again though, Diane Chamberlain has created a realistic character in Robin and it soon becomes clear that she too has her sadness and her pain to deal with.
The Good Father serves up a story of enduring family relationships, of pain and sorrow and loss with a plot that is fast-paced, maybe at times a tiny bit far-fetched, but totally gripping nethertheless.
Published by Mira Books on 1 June 2012, I have no doubt that Diane Chamberlain has another hit on her hands.
March 29, 2012
Three narrators. One little girl. One story. Choices that will affect everyone.
Travis and Robin fell in love at a young age. Robin literally had a fragile heart due to a genetic heart condition. Travis had to make a hard choice: allow their newborn daughter to be adopted or raise her alone. He chose the latter. After a house fire and loss of his construction job, Travis really fell on hard times. Damn near homeless and desperate to keep food on the table, Travis takes a job in Raleigh, North Carolina to make some fast money. But the job isn't construction; it involves criminal activity. Now he is in too deep and needs to make choices for his daughter's sake.
Erin is grieving the loss of her daughter, who was killed in a sudden accident. She takes a hiatus from working as a pharmacist, separates from her husband and moves to a small apartment in Raleigh. Never could she imagine how the father and little girl in the coffee shop would change her life.
The Good Father is a great choice for book clubs and for discussion with friends. Themes include child welfare, parenthood, survival, loss, trust, the effects of social status and responsibility. Diane Chamberlain has a way of weaving a story with enough flashbacks and history, character development and suspense. This story will stay with me long after turning the last page. It also leaves you with a question: What makes a good parent?
The Good Father will release on April 24, 2012. You may click the title below to pre-order a copy or to add this must-read book to your wish list. Also be sure to visit the author's website at www.dianechamberlain.com
Literary Marie of Precision Reviews
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January 28, 2013Diane Chamberlain books are more than just a read, they are an emotional experience. She has a unique ability to write material that affects you deeply, giving you characters that are easy to love. She uses subject matter that pushes the limits of your own comfort and causes you to ask yourself just how far you’d go, if the situation were your own. This book did just that.
The characters that the author has created are complex, raw and real. They all have their own personal demons to face, pasts that they are constantly reminded of, and internal conflicts that we, as readers can at some point relate to on a very deep level. The character that the story centers on, Travis is an incredibly likeable guy. He would move Heaven and Earth for his little girl, Bella, and he’s traded in his immaturity and youth for the responsibility of raising a child. It’s a beautiful scenario, set up wonderfully. So when everything falls apart for him, it’s difficult not to tear up, and feel his desperation. And when he’s faced with an extremely difficult choice, it’s impossible not to feel torn, just as he does.
This story is a true testament of the extreme lengths so many of us would go to protect those that we love and hold dear. There is no greater love in the world than that of a self-sacrificing love between a parent and their child, and this book brings such an instance to life with a beautiful story that is touching, emotional, and deep. If you’ve not read anything by Diane Chamberlain, I would recommend this as a great introduction, as it’s exactly why I love reading anything she writes.
The characters that the author has created are complex, raw and real. They all have their own personal demons to face, pasts that they are constantly reminded of, and internal conflicts that we, as readers can at some point relate to on a very deep level. The character that the story centers on, Travis is an incredibly likeable guy. He would move Heaven and Earth for his little girl, Bella, and he’s traded in his immaturity and youth for the responsibility of raising a child. It’s a beautiful scenario, set up wonderfully. So when everything falls apart for him, it’s difficult not to tear up, and feel his desperation. And when he’s faced with an extremely difficult choice, it’s impossible not to feel torn, just as he does.
This story is a true testament of the extreme lengths so many of us would go to protect those that we love and hold dear. There is no greater love in the world than that of a self-sacrificing love between a parent and their child, and this book brings such an instance to life with a beautiful story that is touching, emotional, and deep. If you’ve not read anything by Diane Chamberlain, I would recommend this as a great introduction, as it’s exactly why I love reading anything she writes.
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