Top Five Awesome Dad's in Books

In honor of Father's Day I thought I would list my top five Dad's in books.

And since this is my blog and pretty much the only place that I have full authority that is exactly what I am going to do.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Father - In this amazing post apocalyptic novel McCarthy tells the story of a father and son travelling in search of food, shelter and survival. In this new world there is little food so some have resorted to cannibalism. The unnamed father's only goal is the safety and survival of his son. In this ash filled burned out world the love for his son adds some light to this dark story.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Atticus Finch - My favorite of all fathers in books. Atticus is a widower raising his children with his sense of morality and justice. His empathy throughout the story is moving. His love for his children can be felt even as he puts his family in danger because of his support for racial equality. What I love best about Atticus is that he treated his children with respect and he never dumbed down the words he used when speaking to them. His fairness when dealing with his children's squabbles and the fact that he listens to them instead of just telling them is wonderful.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Mr. O'Hara - Any father who can handle Scarlett is a great father as far as I am concerned. Mr. O'Hara loves his wife, in fact he almost loses his mind after she dies, and his children completely. Although he can sometimes be selfish......well where do you think Scarlett got it from? He is still a loving father.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Mr. Bennett - Not the greatest father but not the worst. Mr Bennett really just wants to be left alone. He seems to be annoyed by his wife and most of his daughters, Jane and Elizabeth the only two he is able to tolerate. He is a man who just wants to sit in his study with his books......and who can blame him for that?

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Mr. Weasley - I love Mr. Weasley for his silliness and his joy in all things Muggle. He is a devoted husband and father. Adored by his wife and children. He always puts his family first and they are strongest when united together. I read somewhere that Mr Weasley was supposed to die in book 5 after Nagini's attack. I would have been devastated so I am glad she changed her mind.

So there you have it folks.

My list of top Dads in books

If I can take a minute to mention my own Dad

although he is not a Dad in a book he was always a Dad with a book. He loved to read and I am pretty sure that this is where my love of reading comes from. Like Atticus my Dad never dumbed down his words. If he used a word you did not know. He would have you look it up in the dictionary and then come back to him tell him the meaning and use it in a sentence. He did this from the time I was little until I was 24 which is the age I was when he died. I am certain he would be doing it now to my children if he were alive. My Dad loved his eleven children and worshiped my Mom.

This is him with his five daughter...you love the 1980's rainbow wedding attire and you know it.

I'm the little one.

He was not perfect. He tended to be strict with his rules and expectations and loved to say things like......

Do as I say not as I do

or

Yours is not to reason why yours is but to do or die

or

I may not always be right but I am never wrong

and my all time favorite

Well you know what they say in Guatemala? to which when said to you the first time you would reply What? and he would say Tough Shit. After you heard it once he never had to say the Tough Shit part He would just say Well you know what they say in Guatemala......and you would walk away shaking your head.

His grandchildren thought he had magic healing powers and would insist on his treatment for whatever ailment or injury they suffered.

My daughter Amber was especially close to him as he and my Mom helped in raising her for the first five years of her life until I got married. My dad picked Amber and my nephew Kyle up everyday after school and brought them to my parents house. They would fight over who got to see up front with Pop Pop....this of course being before car seats and booster seats and airbags. When he was gone I believe the two of them were hit the hardest. They felt the loss of his love and support too soon.

We were always told that we could be anything we wanted to be and we knew he meant it.

He may be gone but he lives on in his children and grandchildren.

Happy (early) Father's  Day to all of the Dads out there!

Have a Fabulous Friday