I’m a dad, I have a dad, and I work in a bookstore. Thus, I’m a qualified expert on Father’s Day recommendations.
There probably aren’t a lot of poetry books on lists like this, but hear me out. Young’s latest book consists of poems that mourn the death of his father in a hunting accident and lay them over poems about the birth of his first child. While these two things happened in the span of ten years, Young’s poems show the emotional connections between losing a father and becoming a father. And don’t let the poetry intimidate you: Young’s verses are easily accessible without being childlike. Perfect for dads who: are contemplative thinkers and enjoy quiet.
Bourbon: An American Spirit by Dane Hucklebridge
This isn’t a drunken memoir chronicling the author’s history of bourbon: rather, it’s literally a history of America’s (and my) favorite spirit. Hucklebridge gives an easy to read yet informative romp through the birth of bourbon, starting with a compressed history of distillation in Europe, then following it over the Atlantic to America, where corn (a new crop to Europeans) yielded not only nutrition but cocktails. Hucklebridge’s prose is anything but dry as it gives life to individual characters and the general culture(s) in which bourbon came of age. Pair this book with a bottle Bulliet (or whatever dad drinks) and you’ve got a winner. Perfect for dads who: like quirky trivia, enjoy bourbon, enjoy American history, or enjoy bourbon (that’s worth mentioning twice).
Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fenelley
This novel, set during the 1927 flood of the Mississippi River, follows the stories of a bootlegging husband and wife, a pair of Federal revenue agents, and a just-orphaned newborn. Franklin and Fenelley’s story is well-paced with lively, endearing characters and a fantastically researched historical setting. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away here, but trust me: this is a fun book. Perfect for dads who: like history (particularly Mississippi history), like telling stories, or like listening to them.
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