Not Without My Father

By: Andra Watkins

Narrated by: Andra Watkins

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Can an epic adventure succeed without a hero? Andra Watkins needed a wingman to help her become the first living person to walk the historic 444-mile Natchez Trace, as the pioneers did. She planned to walk 15 miles a day for 34 days. After striking out with everyone in her life, she was left with her disinterested 80-year-old father. And his gas. The sleep apnea machine and self-scratching. Sharing a bathroom with a man whose gut obliterated his aim.

As Watkins trudged America's forgotten highway, she lost herself in despair and pain. Nothing happened according to plan, and her tenuous connection to her father started to unravel. Through arguments and laughter, tears and fried chicken, they fought to rebuild their relationship before it was too late. In Not Without My Father: One Woman's 444-Mile Walk of the Natchez Trace, Watkins invites listeners to join her dysfunctional family adventure in a humorous and heartbreaking memoir that asks if one can really turn "I wish I had" into "I'm glad I did".

©2015 Andra Watkins (P)2015 Andra Watkins

So Bad pass this one by! Istruggled to finish .

This was so Bad! And the singing at the beginning of each chapter! Gag. Problem is this could have been a great book. It definitely wasn't Edited well.Sorry Andra. Please don't try the AT or PCT.

Another wonderful writer from South Carolina!

Have read both of Ms Watkins' books re Natchez Trace/Lewis. Highly enjoyable; highly recommend! Humorous and finely crafted.

More than what the title implies

I began enjoying this book after the first chapter. For those who enjoy hiking, and alone time.

Thoroughly enjoyable book

Would you listen to Not Without My Father again? Why?

Yes. Very entertaining during a recent long car drive.

What other book might you compare Not Without My Father to and why?

Wild by Cheryl Strayed, which is another memoir about a woman's journey and her relationship with a parent.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were many, but I laughed when her father kept badgering her to sign books so he could sell them.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The father's chapter on getting older and the health problems it brings.

Any additional comments?

Great book that will make you laugh, think, feel, and relate!

I love when the Author reads their work

What did you love best about Not Without My Father?

This was clearly a deeply personal book... All of the characters were realistically flawed, but very likable. It made me reflect my familial relationships.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Not Without My Father?

I liked all of the interaction with people along the Trace... My favorite was when a shoe salesman said something like, "There is no cushion that will cure crazy..." That made me laugh out loud...

Have you listened to any of Andra Watkins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

I really like when the author reads their work. They know exactly what they meant and it brings an additional depth to the words. I really enjoy it when Neil Gaiman reads his work and the same goes for Andra Watkins.