Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday Salon: Question of the Day - Fathers in Fiction

Today's post will be brief as it is a busy weekend for my family. My mother's retirement from teaching became official on Friday and my brother's getting married this evening. Add to that the fact that today is Father's Day. As a result, I thought I'd make you do all the work today.

Tell me, what are the most memorable fictional father figures you've come across in your reading? Is there a father you wouldn't mind having as your own? One you hate with a passion? Do tell! Anjin is betting that Atticus Finch will be the most popular choice.


This Week In Reading Mews:

Reading Now:
29
by Adena Halpern
The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst

Recent Additions to the TBR Room (All books were bought by me even though I really shouldn't have. I need a new refrigerator, but you can see where my priorities lay.):
Ireland by Frank Delaney (after reading Venetia's Traveling Show, I couldn't resist)
How to Escape From a Leper Colony: A Novella and Stories by Tiphanie Yanique (I bought this one for the upcoming
Spotlight Tour Series for Graywolf Press)
Taroko Gorge by Jacob Ritari (a book club pick)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (So I won't have to rush to the bookstore when I actually get to the first two books in the trilogy)

Reviews Posted:
The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari
"The Treatment of Bibi Haldar" by Jhumpa Lahiri (short story)

Posts of Interest This Week:
A Page in the Life of Jennifer from Girls Gone Reading
Monday at the Movies: Rachel's Getting Married & Favorite Baby movies

Coming This Week:
Review of Venetia's Traveling Show by Frank Delaney

© 2010, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

27 comments:

  1. What a very exciting weekend for you and your family!

    Well, Anjin was right (with me, at least). The very first father figure that came to mind was mild-mannered, moral, respectable, Atticus Finch.

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  2. Whoa, busy weekend of celebrations!

    Mr Bennett in Pride and Prejudice is a pretty nice dad.

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  3. Atticus was my initial response as well. An admirable man...

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  4. Atticus is one of the best. He's actaully a bit difficult at times, which people forget. But he is a man his children want to please.

    But the father from The Road certainly gives him a run for his money. There's a father who'll do anything to protect his son and provide him with hope for the future.

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  5. I have to confess Atticus was the first one to pop into my head, too. Heathcliff would be the worst.

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  6. The dad in Peace Like a River is pretty awesome.

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  7. I don't think I'd have thought of Atticus. Mr. Bennet from P & P is my personal favorite. He's funny and clever like Lizzy, but not without his faults. I just love him.

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  8. Atticus was the first dad that popped into my mind!

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  9. I think Anjin is right, because Atticus was my first thought.

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  10. Well, let's see..it seems that most of your readers have like minds when it comes to dads!! I agree with Mr.Bennett and I was moved by the father in The Road too!!

    Hope your brother's wedding was great!!

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  11. I agree with Word Lily. The dad in Peace Like a River is pretty great. I also really loved the father in The Well and the Mine, who, actually, if I think about, shares several of Atticus Finch's admirable characteristics.

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  12. I hate to be a copycat, but Atticus Finch is an awesome father! And I also really like Mr. Penderwick from The Penderwicks books by Jeanne Birdsall.

    Hope you had a great time celebrating!

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  13. Atticus Finch is the only one that readily comes to my mind. Have fun with your busy weekend!

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  14. Congrats to your mom! I've got one more year and will miss teaching but am ready for the rest of my life. (And more reading time!)

    Yes, Atticus, of course. But I also like Alex Cross and the dad in My Sister's Keeper.

    Hope your life gets back to normal this week!

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  15. The father in Danny The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl wins my vote!

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  16. Atticus, Atticus, Atticus! No question there. I hope you had a wonderful busy weekend. :)

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  17. Golden Richards from The Lonely Polygamist is my new favorite father. He is just so human and real, and deals with things in such an unusual way. A great character. I highly recommend the book!

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  18. I would have to really think hard about this. I always freeze up when I hear the question and then thoughts come a few weeks later. But I think Atticus Finch will be a very popular answer! What's not to love?

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  19. As soon as I saw the title of this post I thought of Atticus Finch. I can't think of any other memorable fathers. Only rotten ones!

    Looking forward to what you thought of Venetia--I'm taking it was good since you bought Ireland!

    Congrats to your mom and brother!

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  20. Atticus, of course, but I also always loved the father in Little Women. Until I read March and the The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott and some other things about the real Bronson Alcott and now I think he might have been one of the worst in real life!

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  21. Thank you so much for responding to my question! I won't be able to get around to all of your blogs until this weekend, but I do plan to. It's been such a crazy couple of weeks, I'm sure you can imagine.

    Molly - It was exciting, especially given all my brother had to go through leading up to the wedding. Poor guy.

    Atticus Finch is a great choice. He'd be among my favorites too. :-)

    Book Bird Dog - Thank you! I had a lovely time.

    Diane - Thanks, Diane. It was great seeing everyone again. It'd been a while since I'd last been up north for a visit.

    Word Lily - It was a whirlwind of a weekend, that's for sure.

    I adore Mr. Bennett. He'd probably be at the top of my list too. The dad from Peace Like a River is a good choice too.

    Jenclair - I agree. Atticus really is an admirable character.

    CB James - So true! Atticus wasn't perfect, but I imagine that only makes us love him more.

    I haven't yet read The Road, but I do want to. The father in the book sounds like a great man.

    Jill - Atticus was the first to pop into my husband's head too. :-) I'm with you on Heathcliff!

    Nancy - Me too! I like Mr. Bennett for much the same reasons.

    Gavin - I really like Atticus too. :-)

    Kathy - He's definitely the most popular choice--and for good reason.

    Staci - The wedding was really nice, Staci. The couple looked so happy. :-)

    I really need to read The Road . . .

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  22. Megan - I am not familiar with The Well and the Mine. I'll have to check that one out!

    Carrie - Atticus is awesome. :-) I haven't read The Penderwicks, but I have heard good things about it.

    It was a fun weekend, but I am glad to be home and sleeping in my own bed again.

    Jen - Thanks! It was a very nice weekend. Atticus is a great father.

    Linda - Thanks, Linda. My mom had a really rough year and that has made retirement all the more inviting. I don't think it's sunk in for her yet. She still has a bit of cleaning to do in her classroom.

    Alex Cross and the dad from My Sister's Keeper! I hadn't thought of those. Great choices!

    Nan - Another one I am not familiar with! I'll have to check out Danny The Champion of the World and meet this great father. :-)

    Andi - Thank you, Andi!

    Another vote for Atticus. :-)

    Heather - I will definitely have to give The Lonely Polygamist a try. The title alone is intriguing.

    Jenners - I'm the same way. I'm not the best person to give on the spot answers to questions like this.

    Trish - Thank you for the congratulations.

    Atticus has the lead by a mile. :-)

    My review of Venetia Kelly is up finally. I was afraid that I would stall out on what to write since I waiting until I got back home from my vacation to write it. Fortunately, it wasn't all that hard in this case.

    Suey - Excellent choice!

    Lisa - I never have read Little Women. From what I've heard he's a great choice too.

    I hadn't known that about Louisa's father. How interesting!

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  23. I wish your mother happy retirement and congratulations to your brother's wedding!

    I'm sorry I took so long to come visit you. I've been very busy with the relocation to another state for my new job and then there's the settling in to the new role. I'm glad that I'm slowly able to ease back into my blogging and reading routine. :)

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  24. Alice - Thank you, Alice! It still hasn't sunk in for my mother that she's retired. :-) I hope you are settling into your new home and job well. It's such a huge change for you, but definitely well worth it.

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