The Good Father

Every story has two sides, two perspectives. And when it comes to a relationship between a daughter and her father, separated first by divorce and then by both generational gaps and physical and emotional distance, those perspectives can colossally diverge.

Such is the case with Harry Bowes and his only daughter, Daphne. Harry is a mild mannered journalist turned teacher turned wine merchant who is content to putter around his home in Toronto eating things straight out of the fridge that both his doctor and his second wife, Elinor, would disapprove of, and procrastinate calling his daughter even though he senses something is amiss. Meanwhile, in Vancouver, Daphne seems intent on a course of nihilism, having gone from being a loving girl to a top student to a hostile young woman who is determined to destroy her life and relationships by self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. When a catastrophic event wrenches them out of their states, one of stasis and one of chaos, Harry and Daphne are forced to examine the ways in which their self-absorption has eroded their connection and discover whether a family's bond is truly ironclad or if their damage is irreparable.

Told in alternating perspectives,The Good Fatherdelivers a deeply satisfying and layered novel of love, perception, family and domesticity. Propelled by regret, compassion, frustration and comfort, this novel gives us Wayne Grady at the height of his powers. (From Doubleday Canada)

Wayne Grady is a writer and translator from Kingston, Ont. His other books include the nonfiction booksThe Quiet Limit of the World, Bringing Back the DodoandTree: A Life Story,co-written with David Suzuki, and the novelsEmancipation DayandUp From Freedom.Emancipation Daywon the 2013 Amazon Canada First Novel Award.

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Interviews with Wayne Grady

The Next Chapter14:05Wayne Grady on The Good Father

Wayne Grady talks to Shelagh Rogers about his latest book, on The Good Father.

Other books by Wayne Grady