After Visiting Friends

A Son's Story

By: Michael Hainey

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Michael Hainey had just turned six when his uncle knocked on his family's back door one morning with the tragic news: Bob Hainey, Michael's father, was found alone near his car on Chicago's North Side, dead, of an apparent heart attack. Thirty-five years old, a young assistant copy desk chief at the Chicago Sun-Times, Bob was a bright and shining star in the competitive, hard-living world of newspapers, one that involved booze-soaked nights that bled into dawn. And then suddenly he was gone, leaving behind a young widow, two sons, a fractured family - and questions surrounding the mysterious nature of his death that would obsess Michael throughout adolescence and long into adulthood.

Finally, roughly his father's age when he died, and a seasoned reporter himself, Michael set out to learn what happened that night. Died "after visiting friends," the obituaries said. But the details beyond that were inconsistent. What friends? Where? At the heart of his quest is Michael's all-too-silent, opaque mother, a woman of great courage and tenacity - and a steely determination not to look back. Prodding and cajoling his relatives, and working through a network of his father's buddies who abide by an honor code of silence and secrecy, Michael sees beyond the long-held myths and ultimately reconciles the father he'd imagined with the one he comes to know - and in the journey discovers new truths about his mother.

A stirring portrait of a family and its legacy of secrets, After Visiting Friends is the story of a son who goes in search of the truth and finds not only his father, but a rare window into a world of men and newspapers and fierce loyalties that no longer exists.

©2013 Michael Hainey (P)2013 Tantor

Son's Search for Father Brings on Self-knowledge

What made the experience of listening to After Visiting Friends the most enjoyable?

The writing is amazing. This author looks at everything through a wonderful poetic prism.

What did you like best about this story?

The places his search took him -- both physically and mentally-- are an engaging journey.

What about Dan John Miller’s performance did you like?

He was able to capture both the male and female voices without sounding silly.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Sometimes you've got to know where you came from to figure out where you're going...

Any additional comments?

I adored this book in a very personal way, having lost my own father in a different way -- though divorce -- at the same age of 6. In the 50's, broken homes were not like today. Dads became visitors and mysteries. It has given me inspiration to continue writing my own memoir that goes back two generations of mysterious fathers. Would I could do it with the skill that Michael Hainey has displayed.

Wrong Turn Down Memory Lane

I’m certain of 3 things after reading this book: (1) the search for information about his father was a critical and fulfilling journey in the personal development of the author; (2) the author is a skilled writer capable of both telling a story and setting a scene; and (3) I just do not care. The problem here is that the search is deeply personal for the author, but there no effort expended in developing why the reader should really care about this father or this son. As a result, the reader does not really share in the fulfillment of the author, and at the end of the day, the question I really want answered is why I just spent 8 hours listening to this book.

I echo the comments of other reviewers in saying that the book is just too long and contains too much filler. It’s a mildly interesting story that would be better told in an article. As it is, it’s a book that should be skimmed in a couple hours on an airplane. It’s not a story in which you can get immersed.

Two stars.

Nice story...

Would you consider the audio edition of After Visiting Friends to be better than the print version?

Yes, I thought the reader was wonderful...

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved the old friend from the hometown.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not sure

too much filler

What three words best describe Dan John Miller’s voice?

The reader was fine although I found his interpretation of female voices annoying.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from After Visiting Friends?

This story would have made an interesting New Yorker article. Instead, there were lots of musings that did not make for a more compelling story. I did find the descriptions of the newspaper culture interesting. Just not enough core material to make for a compelling full length book.

Not book-worthy

This was a selection for my book club. While most of the members mildly enjoyed it, I truly did not. I do not believe there was enough substance here for a book. If this had been a series of articles I may have found it somewhat interesting but there were just too many words, too many descriptions that didn't accomplish anything except boring me to tears.

I would not recommend this book.