Thursday, January 22, 2015

My Father's Wives by Mike Greenberg

Jonathan Sweetwater is the son of one of America's most famous and beloved Senators, Percy Sweetwater.  Not that he'd ever found it an advantage.  Percy left Jonathan and his mother shortly after Jonathan's ninth birthday, and the two didn't have a relationship after that.  Percy went on to marry five more times before his death.

Jonathan grew up determined to never be anything like his father.  He is a successful businessman.  His marriage to Claire and his two children make up his life and he is the quintessential family man.  At least, that's what he thought until a chance encounter makes him wonder if he has been fooled for years.

Jonathan sets out on a quest to determine what is important to him.  He is determined to put his feelings for his father to rest, and decides to go meet each of the wives to get a fix on what Percy Sweetwater was really like.  There is a doctor, a secretary, a dancer, a model and a psychiatrist.  They are all very different and live all over the world.  As Jonathan travels from place to place, he learns more about his father and more importantly, more about himself.

Mike Greenberg has written a novel that explores the question of what we're here for and what is important in our lives.  We are all shaped by our childhood experiences, and the relationships we form with our parents are essential in determining our adult lives.  Greenberg has created a character in Jonathan that readers will be interested in, and his quest leads to an end each of us can relate to.  This book is recommended for readers of family fiction and those interested in coming of age stories, no matter how long it takes to come of age.

2 comments:

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours said...

That "end each of us can relate to" is a part of the story I'm very interested in reading!

Thanks for being a part of the tour.

Literary Feline said...

I like the sound of this. I will have to add it to my wish list.