FEBRUARY 2025 BOOK CHOICE
Father’s Day by Simon Van Booy
Eleven Members were welcomed to the Meeting with several apologies with some thoughts and views to be added to the discussion pot. Pam also welcomed two new WI visitors, Lorraine and GayLynn, who previously have been Members of other Book Clubs and explained how ours was organised.
The discussion began with one Member saying that it was an OK book and an easy feel-good read, but feeling a bit “fairytale-ish”. Another agreed with this, saying that she felt the story had nothing really to take the reader anywhere, so did not like the ending. The travelling back and forth at times proved confusing to follow for a few, but other Members said they thought it flowed quite well and was well-written Several Members liked the way Harvey “talked” the story but it came as a surprise twist to some that Harvey had been adopted at birth as the story unfolded. A lengthy discussion ensued as to the whether the social worker, Wanda, would have been able to be so instrumental in this case allowing Jason (Harvey’s uncle), an ex-con, unemployed disabled, “swearing” man to adopt 6-year-old Harvey even though he was her only living relative. Throughout the story, Harvey, at this tender age, also wanted to be with him, elaborating her storytelling to Wanda to help this need along.
But several Members noted that Jason, following his terrible childhood, protecting his brother (Harvey’s father) from their alcoholic father’s mistreatment of them, learnt to control his rage and demons after a long struggle and with the help of Harvey. Although appearing to be hidden, his love showed through when he knew he had and wanted to fund her orthodontics treatment and then again when he sold his treasured Motor Cycle to fund her going to College. As one Member said “The plain and rooted caring between the reluctant father and the daughter he inherits is a heart warming tale of family unconditional love and belonging.” Harvey, as an adult with the giving of her Father’s Day gifts to him, each with a profound meaning to his life, each symbolising the turning point in their lives of their loving relationship.
Pam asked whether the Group thought that the fact that the book having a male author would have been written differently from a female aspect which prompted an interesting re-think and discussion with many Members thinking it may well have done.
A question left unanswered with Rita Vega written as Harvey’s mother on the Birth Certificate was it thought whether Jason could be her father? Or maybe not? This received a mixed and divided response from Members so ….?????
To summarise, most agreed that it was an OK book and that they did not actually dislike it. Several Members said they loved and enjoyed it and just one who did not really like it overall, thus making for an evening of great discussion.