Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I completely adored this book and everything about it! Brilliantly written with just the right amount of humor!

Book review: Dad’s Maybe Book by Tim O’Brien

I’ve never read any of Tim O’Brien’s previous books, but this one has given me the feeling that I need to do so before time runs out. In fact, that is the same premise for this excellent book which he has written for his sons. As an older Dad, Tim recognized years ago that he may not be around to celebrate some adult events with his sons that younger dads enjoy. However, rather than dwell on his mortality, he decided to put together a wonderful family biography of the times and moments that he has shared with them.

Throughout the book, Tim also reveals his struggles as a writer, as well as a survivor of the Vietnam War. He doesn’t hold back on what he feels about the conflict, nor of his anti-war stance. He wants his boys to understand some of what he went through in order for them to try to understand who he is and was.

I enjoyed reading the whole book. There are some very touching moments and childlike responses from Tim’s kids. In a special way, they all wrote the book together, even suggesting its title. As a dad of two girls, I appreciate the candid honesty of the author in expressing his paternal love for his sons. The last chapter – ‘One Last Lesson Plan’ was a perfect way to end such a very clever and outstanding book.

The publishers gave me a copy to read and review. I am delighted to have received such a well-thought-out and exceptional book. And as I stated at the beginning of this review, I have now gladly started to read some of Tim O’Brien’s earlier books.

A very moving, emotionally stirring, example of how we want our children to see our lives and remember us when we are no longer here to lecture them on how life used to be. Tim Obrien decided he wanted his sons to know him and his story even though there was a good likelihood that he would not be alive to see them grown and building a life of their own. His recording of life's observations and his thoughts on everything under the sun, are left in written form for his sons to read and absorb. His efforts to insure his sons know his feelings for them and their futures will make you wonder how the future will record your life and time.

Tim O'Brien's book The Things We Carried is one of the best books ever written. However, this is not the same caliber of writing, if that is what you were expecting. This book is notes from a older father trying to leave a written legacy for his kids' of their childhood in case he is not around when they are grown. I am an older parent as well, and frankly I don't think about the kids futures that much except planning financially for them. You never know when you are going to leave this earth, it could be today or tomorrow. Hopefully my children will have good memories. I would say this is not his best book, but that's a high standard to hold the author to.

I have read most of Tim O'Brien's books throughout the years and have loved his writing style, the descriptions and the emotions that are common especially to folks of our generation. I was especially excited to get to read Dad's Maybe Book, the collection of his letters to his "later in life" sons. Tim's love for those boys is so intense and wonderful, and even though their dad may not be around for much of their adult life, they are lucky boys now, to have a dad that has dedicated so much energy in preserving his love for them in his words.

I wish I had just finished a Hemingway tutorial before reading this book. I have not picked up a Hemingway story for probably 30 years, and I have forgotten so much of the stories that Tim compared his own life experiences with. Also, I had a little trouble staying engaged with the chapters containing Tim's writing lessons.

I got teary reading much of the book, as I related Tim's parenting adventures to my own. The last chapters are motivating me to give instructions for the future to my daughters as he gave to his sons.

loved Tim O'Brien's stories about his sons and fatherhood. This will be very popular among parents and children, which includes pretty much everyone. He's a wonderful writer.

There’s plenty to unpack in this advice book. It’s a great story to read for Father’s Day. The author talks a lot about his experience being a first time dad in his late 50s. He gives writing tips, shares their family experiences, he talks about some provocative things on what he believes in and what he writes about. The most memorable part and the part where this book becomes a non-sappy book was when he recounts an anecdote about his son’s first words that brought about a negative reaction. He also talks about the future and he opens a window into his mortality.

What a beautiful collection of letters. This book is particularly special for dads or sons, but anyone who is a parent or child can relate to some of these letters. I love the format of this book. There is so much honesty in this book about being a father and what he hopes to leave his son.

I found it to be slow moving and not a memoir that my high school readers will be interested in. Since that is my screening audience, my reviews reflect that.

I think this book is worth more than it is written....would give this to all my children because he passed away before making amens with the children who knew and there is one who does not.