Genre Fiction
![Simon Van Booy - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001JOVM80.jpg)
Father's Day
"Van Booy's great triumph comes in using a family secret to underscore the message that family is as much a choice as a blood tie. Although any reader will find something to love here, someone who has benefited from a perfectly imperfect family will wear the widest smile. This little book with a big heart is suitable not just for Father's Day, but for any day." - Shelf Awareness
When devastating news shatters the life of six-year-old Harvey, she finds herself in the care of a veteran social worker, Wanda, and alone in the world save for one relative she has never met-a disabled felon, haunted by a violent past he can't escape.
Moving between past and present, Father's Day weaves together the story of Harvey's childhood on Long Island and her life as a young woman in Paris. Written in raw, spare prose that personifies the characters, this novel is the journey of two people searching for a future in the ruin of their past.
Father's Day is a meditation on the quiet, sublime power of compassion, and the beauty of simple, everyday things-a breakthrough work from one of our most gifted chroniclers of the human heart.
When devastating news shatters the life of six-year-old Harvey, she finds herself in the care of a veteran social worker, Wanda, and alone in the world save for one relative she has never met-a disabled felon, haunted by a violent past he can't escape.
Moving between past and present, Father's Day weaves together the story of Harvey's childhood on Long Island and her life as a young woman in Paris. Written in raw, spare prose that personifies the characters, this novel is the journey of two people searching for a future in the ruin of their past.
Father's Day is a meditation on the quiet, sublime power of compassion, and the beauty of simple, everyday things-a breakthrough work from one of our most gifted chroniclers of the human heart.
Editorial Reviews
"In this novel, Van Booy is at his most poignant, showing how redemption can arise from heartbreaking circumstances." - Boston Globe
"There's so much to enjoy along the way, from Mr. Van Booy's muted lyricism to the profusion of quiet domestic moments rendered in the strangely captivating way of Andre Dubus." - Baylis Greene, East Hampton Star
In Father's Day, Van Booy again deftly demonstrates that he is a master at the craft of storytelling. - Portland Press Herald
"Moving, redemptive new novel...The third-person narrative gives both characters their own, distinctive voices that nonetheless change over time. Van Booy creates refreshing, humorous, yet poignant childhood milestones that the two reach with emotional honesty." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Van Booy's great triumph comes in using a family secret to underscore the message that family is as much a choice as a blood tie. Although any reader will find something to love here, someone who has benefited from a perfectly imperfect family will wear the widest smile. This little book with a big heart is suitable not just for Father's Day, but for any day." - Shelf Awareness
"[Van Booy's] facility with word choice and sentence structure can leave a reader swooning...[a] movingly understated drama punctuated with moments of quiet reflection." - Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic
"The moving account of a unique relationship between a parent and child, thrust together under the worst of circumstances. With fine, nuanced prose and much tenderness, Booy guides this unlikely father-daughter pair into a beautiful maturity, showing us with great heart what it really means to be a family." - Elizabeth Crane, author of The History of Great Things
"There's so much to enjoy along the way, from Mr. Van Booy's muted lyricism to the profusion of quiet domestic moments rendered in the strangely captivating way of Andre Dubus." - Baylis Greene, East Hampton Star
In Father's Day, Van Booy again deftly demonstrates that he is a master at the craft of storytelling. - Portland Press Herald
"Moving, redemptive new novel...The third-person narrative gives both characters their own, distinctive voices that nonetheless change over time. Van Booy creates refreshing, humorous, yet poignant childhood milestones that the two reach with emotional honesty." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Van Booy's great triumph comes in using a family secret to underscore the message that family is as much a choice as a blood tie. Although any reader will find something to love here, someone who has benefited from a perfectly imperfect family will wear the widest smile. This little book with a big heart is suitable not just for Father's Day, but for any day." - Shelf Awareness
"[Van Booy's] facility with word choice and sentence structure can leave a reader swooning...[a] movingly understated drama punctuated with moments of quiet reflection." - Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic
"The moving account of a unique relationship between a parent and child, thrust together under the worst of circumstances. With fine, nuanced prose and much tenderness, Booy guides this unlikely father-daughter pair into a beautiful maturity, showing us with great heart what it really means to be a family." - Elizabeth Crane, author of The History of Great Things
Readers Top Reviews
JS. Taylorbookclubbe
The story turned out to be something completely different than I thought. It was a good read and moved along. Nice ending.
Judith Rolnicki
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a light read, but very well-written and mesmerizes the reader from page one. It's topics are very varied and not only deal with human interaction and friendships, but also offers history and suspense. This lovely book should appeal to anyone who enjoys a good read. "Father's Day" is the author's first book. I am now eagerly awaiting the second one.
Denyse Holt
A heart-warming story with a twist. Illusion of Separateness, also by Van Booy, is one of my top 5 favorite books. And while this novel is not as nuanced as that it is a worthwhile page turner.
Diking77
An interesting take on a parent’s love and growth through the selfless daily acts of parenting. All the emotions and struggles of parenting are well presented.
RueRue
A lovely story of parental love and redemption. I just wish the ending was a bit more conclusive. It was a let down after the beautiful, honest relationship that had developed between Harvey and Jason.
