Fiction About Fatherhood
February 14, 2018 2:40 PM

I'm looking for feel-good fiction books that feature the relationship between father and child.

In search of the best fiction books about fatherhood to give as a gift to a new dad. Great writing is preferable, but lighter fare and/or genre fiction would work too. Given the occasion, I'm looking for stories on the more uplifting side of the spectrum. So The Road, for example, wouldn't be the best fit. Thanks!
posted by lakemarie to Writing & Language (11 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
Roald Dahl's Danny, the Champion of the World.
posted by popcassady at 2:45 PM on February 14, 2018


Full of Life by John Fante is a wonderful, overlooked mid-century novel about fathers. (There's a pretty comprehensive review by the late DG Myers that will help you decide whether it's right for your friend, but I found it hilarious and very warm.)
posted by Polycarp at 2:58 PM on February 14, 2018


Moonglow is a bit complicated but I found it to be uplifting in the end, and it was fantastic. I’m not sure if I could say it was primarily about fatherhood.
posted by ftm at 2:59 PM on February 14, 2018


Fathers and Sons probably isn't what he's looking for now, but it'll probably be nice later as his kid gets older and more rebellious. Maybe Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella (the book on which Field of Dreams is based on)?
posted by kevinbelt at 3:16 PM on February 14, 2018


The film Big Fish was based on a book by Daniel Wallace and might inspire him to fill his child with wonder and adventures.
posted by noloveforned at 3:22 PM on February 14, 2018


Thunder Boy Jr.
posted by brookeb at 3:43 PM on February 14, 2018


Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
posted by Redstart at 3:50 PM on February 14, 2018


The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban, marketed as a children's book, but with complex undertones.
posted by ovvl at 4:08 PM on February 14, 2018


Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary
posted by Tandem Affinity at 7:32 PM on February 14, 2018


The knuffle bunny books.
posted by brujita at 10:35 PM on February 14, 2018


Maybe Knausgaard's My Struggle: Vol. 2 (A Man in Love)? Lots of lovely, funny, tender, honest reflections on fatherhood there.
posted by 826628 at 10:48 AM on February 15, 2018


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