My Father's War: And Other Stories

Sutter, Barton

ISBN 10: 0670837776 / ISBN 13: 9780670837779

Published by Viking, New York, 1991

About this Item

Presentation signed by the author on the half-title page.

Seller Inventory # 9010996

Bibliographic Details

• Title: My Father's War: And Other Stories
• Publisher: Viking, New York
• Publication Date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670837776
• ISBN 13: 9780670837779
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st.
• Condition: Book fine, Dust jacket fine.
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature
  • Book

About this title

Synopsis

A collection of six stories includes "You Ain't Dead Yet," about a young man who spends one summer working as a grave digger, and the title story about two brothers, protestors against the Vietnam War, who come to an understanding of the impact of World War II on their father's life

Reviews

YA-- A superb collection of six stories. Sutter's mastery of dialogue is brilliant, and his settings are wonderfully drawn. He conveys the interrelationships between friends and family members with such skill that readers actually hear the characters' voices. The selection that stands out the most is the title novella in which adult sons cajole their quiet, unassuming father to tell them of his part in World War II, and they are stunned to realize how little they know him. A must for all YA collections; word of mouth will keep it in steady circulation. --Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Poet Sutter ( Pine Creek Parish Hall ) makes a compelling fiction debut with this collection of stories about bonds within male communities. His characters are ordinary Midwesterners whose otherwise unremarkable lives are touched by a moment of raw clarity and truth. In the title novella, a father recounts his experiences as a soldier in World War II to his sons, who had been Vietnam War protesters. The older man's revealing tale forges fraternal links among himself, his sons and past generations of warriors and peace-lovers. In "Happiness" three young men on a camping trip narrowly escape death and share an appreciation of their love and friendship. Sutter lays bare the depths of the human experience with economy and precision. Looking back on his mother's slow surrender to cancer, a young man's tremendous guilt and loss are conveyed in a simple recollection: "She wanted kisses, but he was horrified by her breath." The five stories offer leisurely exposition and character development; though some are drawn out too long, their honesty and sensitivity will resonate.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

These are old-fashioned stories, firmly grounded in reality, with a beginning, a middle, and an end. The themes, too, are traditional: coming to terms with maturation, family relationships, war, and death. While these subjects are always current, the title story is particularly topical. In it, three brothers learn greater understanding and respect for their father after hearing of his World War II experiences. Set in the Midwest, the stories all have a solid sense of place, complete with jack pines, blizzards, muskrats, and hawk migrations. The dialog and the artistic unity are also especially noteworthy. Recommended.
- Dorothy Golden, Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.