Dad always finds a way to create a special place in your heart that’s just for him.
The story follows an adult son, Jacob, as he grapples with the loss of his mother, his own failed marriage, and his Dad succumbing to dementia. Sounds like his 2020 was pretty on par with the rest of the world’s.
If you choose to read this book (which we highly recommend), we offer that you play a game as you go. It’s simple really; take a drink (the adult kind) every time you cry. And have some Saltines ready to go. You’ll need them.
There are so many reasons why we fell in love with Dad. The writing is super witty, modern, and out-the-side-of your-mouth snarky. The heavy life chaos that Jacob is dealing with is well balanced by humor. We found ourselves contemplating the many topics of Jacob’s research assignments, like the Waffle House Scale and the Marshmallow Test, which become running themes throughout.
Simply put; we fell in love with this story. Our MC, Jacob, is a normal guy who’s just trying to survive. After being laid off from teaching, he begins writing “academic essays” for college students on all levels – undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate. We love this concept of turning a passion for writing into something a little deviant and lucrative.
When his marriage fails, he lets his wife stay in the house while he moves into the laundromat office, sans shower and bed. (Think: former broom closet.) His sick father takes an impulsive road trip and Jacob is out the door at 2am driving hundreds of miles to go check on him. He is truly a man that does what he has to do.
The father/son relationship is incredibly powerful in this story. The reader follows along as Jacob can only watch his father lose critical pieces of his life. Devoted children will be able to identify with this element in a heartbreaking way.
Of course, we wouldn’t be Book Bin Divers if we didn’t discuss the romance of the story. This book pays huge tribute to love in all its forms. Jacob’s parents and siblings have those decades long marriages that make romantics, like us, swoon. Our heart breaks in realization that Dad has lost his best friend, and we related to his heartbreak in a profound way. Jacob’s brother, Sam, visits their sick father daily with his wife, Camilla, just to ensure that their father is okay and keeping up with his medication. There are some real examples of marriage and familial bonds in this book.
Love is on the horizon for Jacob as well, in the form of a hotel maid with an artsy flair. This chic, Amelia, is super cool in that I’m-just-going-along-for-a-few-hundred-mile-long-road-trip-with-a-guy-I-just-met-and-his-geriatric-father kind of way. We are, however, adamant in our belief that only literary characters should do this. Jacob and Amelia have some chemistry and we are rooting for a HEA for this couple.
Love. Loss. Humor. Truck Stop showers. $20 Grilled Cheese. This book has so much to offer. Bob Seay’s Dad is a fantastic read.
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From the Publisher
Bob Seay, Author
Bob Seay lives in Colorado with his wife Ginger and two Labrador Retrievers. When he's not writing, he can usually be found playing his guitar.
Dad by Bob Seay
A novel about families, love, and living.
"The elderly gentleman sitting across the table from me didn’t run away from home because he has dementia. He left because he’s looking for a reason to live. Just like me."
Jacob Martin's life is a mess. Things get more complicated when Dad forces Jacob into an unexpected road trip.
"Seay’s writing style is comfortable, witty, and fitting for his characters, all of whom are believable, likable, and/or as empathetic as any I’ve met in fiction." - Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite.
"Dad" is a winner!
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Winner 2022 Colorado Authors League Award, Literary/Mainstream Fiction |
Winner 2021 Colorado Authors League Award, Literary/Mainstream Fiction |
2021 Silver Medal Readers' Favorite Literary Fiction |
2021 Indie Reader Discovery Award |
About the author
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Reviews with images
A Journey for both Son and Dad
As soon as I started reading Dad it was not easy to put it down. "Dad" brings a person on a journey per'se of thinking about one's own relationship with their parent or anyone else in their family; or rather it did for myself. It's a beautiful read. I read it twice or at least a few different chapters the second time around because it meant something to me that I had to open my heart to that I never really realized until now. The author grabbed a hold of a person by the explanations through the steps of the dad and the son. I chuckled and I cried a bit. The plot gripped through the eyes into a person's soul. As dad is getting older his mind isn't as remembrance as it once was due to the dementia so his son is learning along the way about things he wished he took notice way before, however, at least he's got some time because his "Dad" is still available, still here. His son's life seems complicated due to his broken marriage and work but it doesn't stop them from trying as dad gets lost in his travels. I think this is a cute, sweet, heartbreaking at times, emotional, funny, and realistic story that I myself can reread again and will suggest to others. The son is rescuing himself, Dad, an abused woman, siblings, and relationships throughout the story. Going through dementia isn't something we experience on a daily basis, however, first hand experience this story touched my heart in many ways as I'm going through this with a family member right now so this was definitely pulling at my heart strings to read. Mr. Bob Seay wrote a remarkable story that touches on some deeply important topics that the readers can take away much needed information into their own lives with both empathy and sympathy. The son was finding purpose in his life through his "Dad" on their journey together and much needed for the both of them in the long run. Although there were many struggles in both their lives between Dad losing his wife, home, and uncertainties and then son losing his marriage, home which he gave to his wife, and his job, and his mother, now his Dad with dementia this story brings into life the many ups and downs of what families can go through while staying strong as possible for each other along the way. Family is important and without family one is completely alone. I give "DAD" a 5 star which if I could it'd be higher and I'd hope to one day see this as a Beautiful Film as I know I'd be first in line waiting to watch it if it goes this route too.Great Job Mr. Bob Seay!
