Earthly Fathers

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding -- Must Read!
Review: A beautiful memoir about life and death in a small Texas town. Scott Sawyer is an incredible talent -- you must read this to believe it.

Rating:
Summary: A Keeper
Review: After reading the story of Scott Sawyer and his journey with his family of origin I am struck with the honesty, the fairness, the love that would move a man to write such a book. Obviously the events in his life have molded a grateful,tender, forgiving heart and a man who has passion for his walk with his heavenly Father. I suspect most mothers would give anything to have such a man marry their own daughters. He is truly a brilliant writer and more importantly for me, a real 'Keeper'. He is my son-in-law.

Rating:
Summary: A moving memoir of healthy doubt and enduring hope
Review: Scott Sawyer's Earthly Fathers is an incredibly vulnerable, poignant, inspiring and well-written memoir. Many times I laughed; many times I cried. His story, shared as a tribute to both his biological father and stepfather, has challenged me to dig deeper into my own story. His delving into the struggles of his faith, with its transcending glow, however dim, was subtle, yet pointed, daring, yet magnetically understated - inspiring a healthy, questioning, even doubting, faith in us all. This, is a work of art.

Rating:
Summary: A moving memoir of healthy doubt and enduring hope
Review: Scott Sawyer's Earthly Fathers is an incredibly vulnerable, poignant, inspiring and well-written memoir. Many times I laughed; many times I cried. His story, shared as a tribute to both his biological father and stepfather, has challenged me to dig deeper into my own story. His delving into the struggles of his faith, with its transcending glow, however dim, was subtle, yet pointed, daring, yet magnetically understated - inspiring a healthy, questioning, even doubting, faith in us all. This, is a work of art.

Rating:
Summary: A Tender and Compassionate Tribute to Fathers Everywhere
Review: This is a haunting and touching memoir unlike any others I've read. It brought tears to my eyes but reminded me of the love our Heavenly Father has for us even as we struggle to make a life here on earth. Beautifully written and inspiring!

Rating:
Summary: A journey through a lifetime of experience and memories
Review: This is a warm, and honest portrayal of a man living through time by capturing and re-evaluating his past. When the famous psychologist Alfred Adler was exploring how our identity is formed he made the following interesting and counter-intuitive claim: Our present effects our past to a greater degree than our past effects our present. This book, a journey through a lifetime of memories experienced again and bonds established for the first time, demonstrates that Alder's claim is often true. The perspective we have today influences how we view the events and feelings of the past. The author, Scott Sawyer, uses his present perspective to unearth a beautiful retrospective of his family and his fathers.

This book contains a wonderful journey, and those reading it will be blessed by the opportunity to experience it with him. I was moved and touched, and the depictions and images involved me as a member of this family for a fleeting few moments. I cried, I laughed, and I was humbled by the love that radiates off the pages.

The style of the book is more poetic than narrative. I would normally have given 4 stars on this review, because I am usually more drawn to a narrative style, in this case however, the events, images and emotions of this family and his life captured me so completely that I quickly adapted to the many transitions and sound bites of thought.

Please read this book. I found that once I settled into the story, my efforts were rewarded, and the images and emotions came to life. I had the pleasure of attending a reading of the book by the author at a local bookstore and can tell you first-hand that the emotion that went into this project is real. The scene was similar to the experience of reading the book. We all laughed out loud at the comic depictions of his childhood, and cried at the emotion of meeting and losing his father again. Highly recommended to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Scott Sawyer will become a familiar name in literary circles
Review: This is the true story of one young man's search for identity as he grew up in a small Texas town in the shadow of an older brother, both having lost their real father as very young children. Their stepfather was the only father figure Scott knew, yet he was acutely aware that they were not the same flesh and blood. It is also the story of his family coping with the death of Scott's older brother from cancer when he was only sixteen. His ongoing relationship with two fathers-the one he never knew and the only one he did know-ultimately helped him find his identity in the heavenly Father as well.

Rating:
Summary: Ward Clever, No Competition for These Earthly Fathers
Review: We all have a story--usually a bittersweet blend of angst and elation. When loss comes, whether through death or separation from someone we love, our hearts must wade through the complexity of emotion remaining.

There are many ways we can tell our stories...flanked with humor and shrowded by denial...cloaked with bitterness and oppressed by hatred...or creatively open and inspired by redemption.

This is the brilliant balance Scott Sawyer achieved in his own story. In choosing to share this story, he could have opted for denial or for bitterness. Instead, he chose a delicate blend of humor, creativity and redemption. He allows us a unique glimpse into his contemplation, his desire and his pursuit to comprehend what bearing loss has had on his life.

The focus encompasses much more than loss, however, and delightfully depicts sibling rivalry, a boy's adoration for his mother and his family, wonder at not one but two fathers, the pursuit of passion and dreams, as well as life-altering spiritual discoveries. And revelations about a Heavenly Father.

I was rapt with the flowing rhythmn of humor, contemplation, angst, passion, peace and JOY (you'll see the significance of this adjective when you read the book).

Scott was brave to bear his heart, was artful in how he did so, and gracious not to air unnecessary dirty laundry.

This is a story that will make you laugh out loud and bring tears to your eyes. And it will cause you to contemplate your own soul...journeys left midway...pain left untended...discovery still to be made.