Father of the Rain

A Novel

By: Lily King

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Prize-winning author Lily King’s masterful new novel spans three decades of a volatile relationship between a charismatic, alcoholic father and the daughter who loves him. Gardiner Amory is a New England WASP who's beginning to feel the cracks in his empire. Nixon is being impeached, his wife is leaving him, and his worldview is rapidly becoming outdated. His daughter, Daley, has spent the first 11 years of her life negotiating her parents’ conflicting worlds: the liberal, socially committed realm of her mother and the conservative, decadent, liquor-soaked life of her father. But when they divorce, and Gardiner’s basest impulses are unleashed, the chasm quickly widens, and Daley is stretched thinly across it. As she reaches adulthood, Daley rejects the narrow world that nourished her father’s fears and prejudices and embarks on her own separate life until he hits rock bottom. Lured home by the dream of getting her father sober, Daley risks everything she's found beyond him, including her new love, Jonathan, in an attempt to repair a trust broken years ago. A provocative story of one woman's lifelong loyalty to her father, Father of the Rain is a spellbinding journey into the emotional complexities and magnetic pull of family.

©2010 Lily King. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2015 Audible Inc.

How Far Will an Adult-Child Go To Please a Parent?

I found this book fascinating for its in depth look into the lives of not only the main character, Daley, but also of her father and all those involved in Daley's life. Daley is a young adult with a top-notch education behind her when she becomes involved in "helping" her father who is a die-hard alcoholic who has always been able to keep-up-appearances in his community. In this novel, Daley reveals the lengths to which an adult-child will continue to try to mold a parent into the parent that he/she always wanted. This is not a trivial novel by any means. It is multi-faceted delving into the life of the '50's man who is lost to himself for many reasons. His personality is one I am all too familiar with. This is a "coming of age" novel for the daughter of a broken and alcoholic family. Two thumbs up. Lily King is a gifted writer. Cassandra Campbell narrating was superb (as always). It was a pleasure to listen to this novel, transporting. I recommend this novel for readers/listeners who enjoy in-depth character development and real life inner turmoil presented with great understanding and color. It's all in the family!

Misleading reviews, this is fantastic

The first Lily King novel I read was Writers and Lovers, and I enjoyed it enough to read Father of the Rain. Many of the reviews here talk about this novel being about "deplorable" and "evil" people who do awful things. But I'm not convinced those reviewers finished the novel. The father is a terrible alcoholic bigot, yes, but that's sort of the point. King captures a particular brand of WASPy alcoholism and racism that usually exists behind closed French doors. and she captures the desperation that so many daughters feel (myself included) to gain their fathers' approval, the way some children feel compelled to sacrifice their own values and their own accomplishments so they can care for their parents. It's a beautiful story.

Horrible

This book had the most filthy language and situations.. I.would not recommend this book to anyone

Strong, beautiful story

Have you ever had a feeling or feelings that you can’t put into words because you are certain that if you say it out loud everything you know and love will crumble? This book puts into words the complicated, painful and necessary journey of the life that a family lives when the patriarch is an alcoholic. Yes, some of it is cringeworthy; some of it is delightful and funny. All of it is necessary. This author has captured the unknowing, the unseeing and all the feelings of a family that is living the years of a patterned life dictated by alcoholism. Please read. Those of us who have been there now have words. Those of us who haven’t now may have some understanding.

Nothing gained

A story about awful, boring, sad spineless yet self righteous, nasty characters who go through life giving what they get. Endless negativity and sabotage. Very difficult to get drawn into the story. Not even the erotic memories of the main character spice things up. Unfortunately the narration makes the story even more unbearable .

Moving story

I don’t often review, but this book was very, very good. It took on social issues, and can make you feel uncomfortable. Performance was very good.

What in the world?!?

This is one of the most horrible books I’ve ever read. I didn’t even get halfway through it and I had to stop. I love love love Cassandra Campbell which is why I got it but really I can’t even listen to her read this book. Terrible!

I almost stopped listening to this book

But I kept going. I usually teally like Lily King but I guess I just know too many bigoted people like the father in this book. I was painful listening to how many lives he could damage. But if you want to read abiut that kind of thing, it might br a boik for you. Should have stopped listening.

Boring and depressing

Couldn’t finish this because it was just too depressing and boring. Got to the 8th chapter but I just could not go on. The father was horrible, the mother and her boyfriend were weird and unrealistic. The brother was awful. The main character was just sad. Wish I could say better things but I can’t.

Family

This was a beautifully detailed, descriptive book.This book portrayed the complications of family and our desire to always return despite the dysfunction . A love lesson and great listen!