The Practical Navigator

by Stephen Metcalfe

Michael Hodge is a struggling contractor living in Southern California raising his autistic son, Jamie, on his own. When his long-absent wife Anita returns unannounced wanting--Michael isn't sure what--a reconciliation? A new relationship? Her role as their son's mother back? Michael must decide whether to give her a second chance or protect his son from more hurt. Meanwhile, a burgeoning relationship that could be heading towards love is put on hold while Michael reexamines his feelings for this woman who abandoned them years earlier.

With pitch perfect emotion and a beautiful portrayal of the relationship between a father and son , Stephen Metcalfe has drawn a rich and layered portrait of a what it means to be a family and what it means to be truly loved.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Family

563 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 2016

About the author

Stephen Metcalfe’s writing career has encompassed theater, film and fiction. His first novel, THE TRAGIC AGE, was published by St. Martin’s Press in March of 2015. His second novel, THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR, will be released by St. Martin’s in August, 2016. He has also written a fantasy novel both for children and the child in ever adult, THE WELL OF EVERY AFTER, that he will self publish in 2017. His stage plays include LOVES & HOURS, VIKINGS, STRANGE SNOW, SORROWS AND SONS, PILGRIMS, HALF A LIFETIME, EMILY, WHITE LINEN, THE INCREDIBLY FAMOUS WILLY RIVERS, WHITE MAN DANCING, A WORLD OF THEIR OWN and THE GIFT TELLER. He has been produced in New York and at regional theaters throughout the United States as well as in Europe and Japan. Screen credits include HALF A LIFETIME, COUSINS (with Isabella Rossellini and Ted Danson), JACKNIFE (with Robert De Niro and Ed Harris), ROOMMATES, EL ABUELO and BEAUTIFUL JOE (with Billy Connelly and Sharon Stone). He also wrote the production drafts of PRETTY WOMAN, ARACHNOPHOBIA, IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, DANGEROUS MINDS, THE MARRYING MAN and MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS. Other screenplays include TIME FLIES, THE OLD BOY, JONAH, THE INFIELD, THE HARROWER, SCYLLA, PASSING FANCY, ROCK, PAPER, BONE and AN INNOCENT ABROAD.


He is an Associate Artist at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and has been an adjunct professor in dramatic writing at University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego and San Diego State University.

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 After his wife walked out on he and their young son, Michael has been taking care of his son, Jamie, a young autistic boy, and trying to get his fledging construction business of the ground. Times are tough and now he mother is showing signs of dementia and on top of that, Anita, the boy's mother returns.

At times I felt as if the character of Michael was almost too good to be true, but as you read on you realize everything he has been through, professionally and personally. Once a award winning surfer, his life changed drastically when an accident ended his career. The author, at the beginning part of his chapter, uses a quote from the book of navigation and I loved seeing how he built the chapter around the advice in the quotes. Some of my favorite moments in the book are those between Michael and his young son, extremely touching. Even Anita, who I wanted to dislike for leaving her family, I came to understand and have sympathy for, well somewhat. Once you meet her family you will understand why.

The author wrote and treated her characters with a great deal of tenderness and compassion. Hard not to relate to this book, a book about an everyday family trying to weather life's challenges, deal with what they are confronted with and find a way to have a future, a life. A quiet book and a meaningful one.

Arc from Netgalley.

[TamW · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love to read a book where a character has autism, or special needs of any kind...but as much as I love these characters, I am also VERY apprehensive, unsure if the author will develop the character realistically, or stereotypically. I have 3 children with Fragile-X Syndrome and Autism, and I'm involved in Special Olympics...I like to see that an author can write the character with a great deal of individuality and that the author can understand the emotions of the family - and to be honest, it's a rare occasion, sadly. I will say that I think Stephen Metcalfe did this beautifully - stereotypes were there, but obliterated - there were comments made by ignorant characters that show what families hear. The Occupational Therapy that was briefly shown was beautifully done - and I suspect that perhaps Mr. Metcalfe has personal experience and didn't just simply do his research??? or if research, then he talked to and observed real people.

I also loved the quotes periodically inserted between some chapters about navigating - nice touch ! Brilliant, actually.

The book read more like women's fiction than what I was expecting - expectation is on me, as is my preference. There are times when I need a book like this, especially after a heavy read. The writing was smooth and comfortable, making it a quick read, a good one to take on vacation, perhaps.

I'm a huge advocate that I don't need to like a character in order for me to recognize they are well developed...and that is most definitely the case with this book, still, with so many unlikeable characters, it did dampen the reading experience and enjoyment for me. That Michael was the "hero" of the story, and how he was attempted to be portrayed as the good father (which he was), I often didn't like him....but there were worse characters - Anita, for one - not just because she ran out on her son (which I can safely say without spoilers because it is in the synopsis), but because of her attitude and behaviour. Then there was Anita's family - ugh, what a circus. I just found myself so frustrated with these characters....I wouldn't want to have any of them in my life and didn't care to read about them, which lessened any investment or emotion I might have had in the story.

There were two 'side' characters - Luis and Leo- who I really loved....I would have much rather read more about them - but I'm not really sure of their necessity in the story.

The story? mostly uneventful, but definitely realistic. The ending might not be what most would want to see, but I'm glad it ended the way it did.

3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Mr. Metcalfe and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

So first and foremost, I hate to be that totally sexist person who assumes a guy can't write a story like this but I am 100% guilty of that. I am, and I am a jerk. I am a jerk who was 100% dead wrong. Here's a story about a guy who just treads water no matter what is thrown his way. He has a son with Asperger's, and he isn't sure what to really do with that, what would be best for his son long term. He has a wife who he never divorced from, but who has been gone since their son was young, who randomly shows up and wants to be a mom. The problem is that she doesn't know how to be a mom, let alone to her son with Asperger's, and she then looks at that as another reason why she's such a failure. Michael also runs a contractor business, with employees dependent on him to keep finding jobs for them, and he doesn't know how to make that business grow in the current economy. Add to this and Michael's mother, Penelope, may or may not have the beginnings of Alzheimer's so he's struggling at keeping her independent but always keeping an eye on her. He depends on her to help with Jamie's care so the fact she might not be able to much longer adds more stress. The greatest thing about this book is that no matter how many things are seemingly out of control in his life, Michael navigates it calmly and perfectly. He does his absolute best for everyone around him, even when it means more on his plate.

In between all of this, we have glimpses of Anita (the ex-wife) to give insight as to why she's such a mess. Her family, which are HUGE messes and the highlight of dysfunction. We have Michael's relationship with Fari, who struggles with intimacy and really likes Michael but doesn't know what really to do about it. But heartbreakingly, we also have small glimpses from Jamie, Michael's autistic son, and what things are like for him. And there is a scene where Jamie is at school and there is a bathroom incident and while everyone else is panicking, my heart just goes out to Jamie and I think- what must life be like for him? As a mom I can't help but want to hug him and tell him things are OK.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I said above I wasn't sure how much I would get into it, but I finished it in a day because I couldn't put it down. I just wanted things to be OK for Jamie, and I wanted him to know even though his mom is a mess that she loved him. I wanted her to pull her crap together. I wanted Michael to tell her to beat it and keep his relationship with Fari. And man alive, I really wanted Anita's mom to tell her dad where the hell to go and how exactly he could get there. The author does such a great job at telling this story, from all points of view, and nailing each one. I absolutely have to give this book 5 stars, and you know I don't throw those out often. But this book just grabbed me from the first page and didn't let me go until the end.

Sara's Organized Chaos

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book before its release date in exchange for my honest review. I can tell you that in no way do I allow winning a book to affect my opinion.

The title of this book might make you think it's about the navigation of a ship or a plane, but it's not really. A ships navigates through as a metaphor for the following chapters.

The book switches between different scenes, it's not really a story that constantly flows BUT that doesn't make it bad!

This is a story about Michael and his son, Jamie, who is slightly autistic. The beginning tone of the book feels morose - Michael living a boring and routinely mundane life...let's face it, as almost all of us do. The story never really gets an exciting tone, but it's good enough to continue. It'll remind you somewhat of a biography because the characters and story seem so real.

Anyways, Michael owns a failing construction company. Jaime is the love of his life. He does everything to try to make him happy and through doing so, teaches him to be more outgoing and shows him skills that you wouldn't think an autistic child could handle. One day Michaels "ex" wife, Anita, comes home after abandoning he and Jaime for years. She tries to be a good mom but can't quite figure it out. Her crazy family also comes back into Michael's life because she's home. Coincidentally Michael and Anita are seeing the same therapist and Anita meets up with a man who tried to kill them both. Everything turns volatile, then calm and that's the end.

The one thing I absolutely hated was that Michael employed Spanish speaking people. I don't like language class courses in the books I read.

*There are some terms and phrases that someone who considers themselves proper will not like...let's say you can tell a man wrote this book (sorry to sound sexist). There aren't any disgustingly detailed romance scenes so that's a plus.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of The Practical Navigator by Stephen Metcalfe in exchange for an honest review. This was an endearing story centered around a dad and mom of an autistic son. Many years ago, while working on my masters, I developed and ran a respite program for adolescent autistic children. With memories of experiences from that endeavor I related to the sentiments both of happiness and frustration felt by Michael Hodge, the father of Jamie and Anita his returning mom. This story takes place in California where Michael Hodge is a contractor trying to make the best life he can for his autistic son, Jamie. Anita, Jamie's mom, left when he was just an infant and returns to try and be a mom again to now eight year old Jamie. Anita is saddled with mental health issues, especially depression, but tries to be part of Jamie's life. It is hard for her to know how to react and how to respond to Jamie after all these years. One thing remains, though, there is nothing that can be compared to the unconditional love between a mother and child. Michael Hodge touched my heart the most. As a father, he was Jamie's rock. All he ever wanted in life was what was best for Jamie. In my eyes, not only was he a stellar father but a good person, loyal and caring for those in his life. He always tried to do his best. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly.

[Holly Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Hodge is a single parent trying to raise his autistic son, Jamie. His estranged wife, Anita, returns after leaving them both ten years ago. Michael has enough to contend with. What does she want from them? Why did she abandon them? Does he still have feeling for her? What would her reemergence into their lives do to their son, Jamie? As the title suggests, his navigation through these questions form the struts for the book.

As the story unfolds, we are drawn to Michael, formerly a famous surfer now turned struggling contractor, whose main focus is his son. Penelope, Michael's mother, who assists in Jamie's care, presents additional challenges for him. Interspersed with the story are sea faring navigational subjects, reflecting any current crisis Michael faces. The deep emotional aspects of this character-driven novel will pull your puppet strings. Sympathy and understanding of special-needs individuals shine. Themes of family dynamics, priorities, protection of children are explored. Filled with warmth and love, the novel is bittersweet and satisfying.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a complimentary advance copy of this book for honest review.]

The Practical Navigator is full of lovely, spare prose. The story of a man, a woman, and their son who's on the autism spectrum, this character-driven novel is beautiful in its simplicity. Michael Hodge in particular will endear himself to readers. I found myself struggling to truly care about the Beacham family, although the characters were by no means flat. Never artificial, the ending is perfection. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an entertaining, nuanced look at relationships and self-examination.

[Cindelu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads.
It was a beautiful written story of a man with an autistic child whose wife had left them and then returned. I applaud this mans courage, generosity and strength in his situations. I love the way the child was portrayed and also the wife with her struggles. The deep emotional aspects of this book were so well written and explored. A truly lovely book to read.

[Donna Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story line in this book. I won it on a Goodreads give away and am so glad I did.

[Reem Fakhry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has a story. If you look at every member of every family, you'll find that each one of them has a separate story. The stories parallel but rarely are they identical. Each one diverges based on view point. 

This story follow Michael Hodge, a surfer, son, father, husband, contractor, ex-husband and many more to come in the future. We follow his life and see how many people he has touched, the people who surround him and love him, hate him, or just somewhere in between. 

He thinks he has his life together ever since his wife left him. He lives with his son and cares for his mother. He owns his own company and a girlfriend. He's happy but left frazzled as we all often are when life comes at us full speed. He watches as his mother shows signs of Alzheimer's and the everything in his house of cards seems to be falling apart. 

Then his ex-wife comes back into his life, he hopes this is the beginning of something wonderful. He wants it to be perfect but any decision he makes will change the world for his son. Michael needs to be careful and he is. 

This book has all the feels. It's amazing to see how one life touches so many others. Stephen Metcalfe writes with such feeling that it is hard to not experience every emotion that any one man can experience. Beautiful, heart wrenching, and joyful all at once. Fantastic! 

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. This was also a different type of story. I enjoyed it very much.

[Carolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up the book just to pass time. As a mother of an autistic son, I loved how the author described dealing with autistic children. The story was not very interesting.

[Nicole Bravo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book blindly off the shelf at the library. It took me a day to actually finish the first 2 pages but once I got started enjoyed the story.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a total surprise--I really liked it. The characters were well drawn; some likable, others unlikable. Situations were realistic and it was all-in-all a feel good story.

[Rebecca Gernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel, but very realistic characters, and the ending worked.

[Tiffany Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything about this book. I love the ending. I love the characters. I love to hate the characters I'm supposed to hate. I love it all. There was a few points that felt as if the story could careen off into mediocrity, but it never did. The ending was perfect and realistic and just.. oh, just read this book. It's wonderful.

[Edwin Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR by Stephen Metcalfe is about Michael Hodge, a contractor struggling through life with a autistic son, a co-dependent estranged wife, a mother starting to suffer from Alzheimer's, and a cold and narcissistic father-in-law.
The story follows Hodge and all of the people around him as they meander through life, and the writer, Metcalfe, has taken great care to craft all of the characters in the book as flawed, gritty and unsettled, just as we all are in our lives. So many of the characters have blissful, desperate, and anxious moments and Metcalfe weaves in the nuances of everyone seamlessly into the story. Our main character, Hodge, is a likeable soul, who follows his heart when making life decisions. While not aspiring for much more than what he has, he wants a good and loving life for his son, Jamie, who while affected with autism, seems to put a smile on the faces of everyone he meets. As with life, the book resolves some problems, leaves some untended, and creates some new ones, but all along, I was wanting the best for these characters that I only started reading about a few days ago.
THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR's presentation of life as a gritty, imperfect series of events that one tries to find hope and contentment hit close to home for me. I would definitely think most people would enjoy this, but especially young and middle age parents, like myself, who just try to not make the wrong choices each day. Also, fans of Jonathan Tropper and the TV show Parenthood will particularly enjoy this book.
***I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway!***

Merged review:

THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR by Stephen Metcalfe is about Michael Hodge, a contractor struggling through life with a autistic son, a co-dependent estranged wife, a mother starting to suffer from Alzheimer's, and a cold and narcissistic father-in-law.
The story follows Hodge and all of the people around him as they meander through life, and the writer, Metcalfe, has taken great care to craft all of the characters in the book as flawed, gritty and unsettled, just as we all are in our lives. So many of the characters have blissful, desperate, and anxious moments and Metcalfe weaves in the nuances of everyone seamlessly into the story. Our main character, Hodge, is a likeable soul, who follows his heart when making life decisions. While not aspiring for much more than what he has, he wants a good and loving life for his son, Jamie, who while affected with autism, seems to put a smile on the faces of everyone he meets. As with life, the book resolves some problems, leaves some untended, and creates some new ones, but all along, I was wanting the best for these characters that I only started reading about a few days ago.
THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR's presentation of life as a gritty, imperfect series of events that one tries to find hope and contentment hit close to home for me. I would definitely think most people would enjoy this, but especially young and middle age parents, like myself, who just try to not make the wrong choices each day. Also, fans of Jonathan Tropper and the TV show Parenthood will particularly enjoy this book.
***I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway!***

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Practical Navigator, in exchange for an honest review.

Michael Hodge is plagued with nightmares, but he still must get up and pretend that everything is fine for his 7 year old son Jamie. Managing a construction business while juggling the needs of his autistic son, this single father has finally found some time for a new love. When an unexpected person comes back into town and health worries with Michael's mom become an issue, Michael will have to decide the best way to keep Jamie's life as normal as possible.

The Practical Navigator started off with a strong premise and well developed characters, but the introduction of Anita's story split the focus a little too much. Had the author kept the story firmly from Michael's perspective only, it would have help its cohesiveness. The reaction that Jamie had to his mother was genuine in some ways and implausible in others. Autistic children usually do not deal well with change, especially with regards to strangers. It also seemed unlikely that Jamie would not have behavioral issues with Michael, but the author chose to focus on his issues with his mother. The different relationships that Fari has with both Michael and Anita are interesting, but the plot line was not taken far enough. I would recommend The Practical Navigator to readers who enjoy contemporary women's fiction and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

[Adriana Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read that ties the knot between dysfunctional families, abandonment, depression, autism and Alzheimer's.
Michael, a single father who works hard to keep his business as a contractor in the middle of a recession, has a life that is not without complications. His son Jaime is autistic, his mother is beginning to suffer from Alzheimer's disease, the woman he is seeing has issues with emotional attachments. To make things worse, the wife that ran out on him and his son several years ago, Anita, has come back with unknown intentions.
Metcalfe's book masterfully creates a setting where deeply flawed characters interact and try to exorcise their personal demons to the best of their abilities. What they all have in common is a deep fear of love and commitment, convinced that their experiences, traumas and emotional shortcomings make them incapable of an attempt at moving forward.
The author's prose flows neatly including the flashback sequences; the narrative is engaging and gives us a wide glimpse into the minds of all the characters with the use of multiple POVs, which Metcalfe manages to do brilliantly.
No, some of the characters aren't likeable or even remotely inspire empathy. But I found that in knowing their stories and their past, I could understand the motivation behind their decisions, even if I didn't entirely agree with them, particularly in the case of Anita. 'The Practical Navigator" is a wonderful chronicle of family, love and newfound hope.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received The Practical Navigator as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Michael Hodge is a single father to seven-year-old Jamie, who has Aspberger's, and son to Penelope, a spirited woman struggling with the early stages of Alzheimers. A failed professional surfer turned contractor, he is navigating a complicated relationship with a Iranian-American psychologist Fari when his troubled estranged wife Anita returns, wanting to be a part of their son's life. In dealing with the fallout caused by Anita's reentry into their lives, combined with additional pressures at work and home, Michael is thrown into doubt about his future and the direction he wants it to take. Faced with choices regarding his family and career, he must sort out what is most important to him or risk being overtaken.

I really enjoyed this novel. It's a "slice of life" piece in the truest sense. Nothing grandiose or incredible happens; it's simply a story about regular people living regular lives, with all the complicated messiness that entails. Michael, Fari, Penelope, and Jamie are all wonderful characters, likable without being perfect. While I can't say I "like" Anita, I certainly understand the forces that led her down the rode she chose, and it was encouraging to see her take steps towards being a better, more present mother at the novel's conclusion.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance Uncorrected Proof of The Practical Navigator in a Goodreads Giveaway

On the whole I enjoyed the book. I really liked the ending and throughout most of the book I was convinced it was going to end a different way that I would not have been happy about, so I was pleasantly surprised. Relieved both that it was not as predictable as I thought and that it ended on a more satisfying note. The character development in the book was very strong for the most part, but perhaps too many characters got a voice and it felt "clunky" in parts. I'm also not sure the navigation notes were even needed between sections. I could not stand Anita and I found her to be selfish and unsympathetic. I felt for Michael and liked Jaime, Penelope, Fari and Leo and Luis. The story grabbed me right away and kept me hooked throughout.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of "The Practical Navigator" through a Goodreads giveaway.
This is the story of a man, Michael Hodge, raising his young autistic son Jamie, when his wife Anita abandoned them due to her own mental health instabilities. Anita returns after a years-long absence hoping to re-establish a connection with her son.
I really enjoyed this book, in fact I woke at 3am to finish up the last 60 pages!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised by the depth and feeling of this book. I tend more towards female authors if the story is one about emotions and hardships. Sexist, maybe, but it just is what I prefer. Metcalfe did a great job with this story, developing it slowly and completely. My one complaint is that the main character could have used some flaws to make him more easily relatable to the reader!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This made for a "good" story, but there was something about it that did not ring authentic for me regarding the behavior of the autistic son. He seemed to be quite well adjusted on the autistic spectrum, especially when his mother reentered the picture. Autistic children do not do will with change but this boy seemed to have no problem with his mother returning after quite a long absence. Of course, there are levels of autism, but this just wasn't real for me.

[Amy]

Michael Hodge is a down-and-out contractor living in California and raising his autistic son, Jamie, alone. When his long-absent wife Anita resurfaces, unannounced, Michael isn't sure what the future holds or what her intentions are. Michael is faced with the decision to giver her a chance at being a parent, or whether to protect his child from any future hurt. Plot twists, character foibles, and interwoven story lines made this a truly enjoyable read.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from page one. Didn't want to stop reading and couldn't wait to pick it up again. The storyline is interesting and it flows nicely from one part of the story to the next. This book would be a wonderful movie. I received my book from Goodreads Giveaways and St. Martin's Press. Thank you for a wonderful read. Loved the ending!!!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought he did a great job of describing the live of a typical 30 year old male. Michael deals with marital strife and relationship issues, an elderly mother showing early signs of dementia, being a single parent to an autistic son that he loves and completely supports, job stress and accepting and releasing his past. All written in a very believable, poignant and hopeful way.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I love the way you love our son." If only all the characters in this book could have known love, like the kind of love Michael has for Jamie. There would have been less pain & loss for each of them to work through. So sweet and heartfelt. A touching read.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Relationship stuff that mostly works out fine. Touches on issues that make it feel real - kid on autistic spectrum, mom with the beginnings of Alzheimers, mental health issues. Nothing too belabored. A nice read after the heaviness of the Faludi book!

[Megan Beatie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read, especially for any parent with an autistic child.