Skip to main content

Book Review: Why Fathers Cry At Night

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review.

Kwame Alexander

Poet and educator Kwame Alexander has penned a revealing memoir whose lessons will leave a lasting impression. Why Fathers Cry at Night is a collection of heartfelt essays, thoughtful poems, and beloved recipes that gather Alexander’s reminiscences of loves and losses from various periods of his life. From childhood memories of growing up with a bookish and revolutionary father to the teachings of parenthood and divorce, Alexander shares profound ponderings on the nature of grief, regret, and humility.

It was easy to finish this book in one sitting because Alexander’s poetic gifts are beyond measure. Yet, each essay and poem deserves a second look, a deeper reading. This book is a must-read for followers of the prolific author’s previous works. Readers who are new to Alexander’s writings would become instant fans. Alexander writes of his loves; some lost and unrequited.

Alexander has a powerful way of describing people, places, and events that catapults the reader to experience the essence of a particular time and place. Whether he is writing about an emotionally distant father who was preoccupied with his ministry and studies, or difficult lessons from Nikki Giovanni’s poetry classes, Alexander brings the reader along to eagerly anticipate the next revelation.


 

Popular posts from this blog

Medicine Wheel for the Planet

Jennifer Grenz, PhD       Working toward ecological healing requires awareness of how Indigenous ancestral knowledge and living ways can complement Western scientific approaches to environmental restoration and protection practices. Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Nlaxa’pamux mixed ancestry) worked for more than two decades as a field researcher and practitioner for environmental nonprofit organizations, where she worked with different levels of government, including First Nations in Canada. "Medicine Wheel for the Planet" compiles Grenz’s most potent realizations about the lack of forward movement in addressing an impending ecological catastrophe.  A warming climate impacts not only human lives but also the natural balance that relies on reciprocal relationships rooted in deep connections to the land. She uses the metaphor of the four directions of the Indigenous “medicine wheel” to invite openness to Indigenous teachings, letting go of colonial narratives, merging lessons f...
Read more

Memento - Embracing the Darkness

Dennis "Dizzy" Doan Stories about overcoming and persevering through family dysfunction, poverty, and mental health challenges offer hope and the promise of better days. Dennis “Dizzy” Doan’s memoir Memento: Embracing the Darkness is one such story, with the added complexity of being raised in an immigrant Vietnamese family. Doan’s parents dealt with the mental and emotional aftermath of war, which forcibly uprooted them from their homeland. In the United States, they struggled to create a safe and stable life for their two sons. Doan shares his journey of finding himself, his craft, and eventually a successful tattoo business in Southern California despite personal strife and run-ins with the law. Doan is best known for developing the aesthetic language to combat anti-Asian hate that erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. His art series titled “Model Minority” went viral, sparking conversation about Asian American identities and harmful stereotypes. In Memento, Doan showcase...
Read more

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...
Read more