In Honor of Father’s Day I have put together this brief list of some of my favorite book dads. It’s not that all of these dads are ideal dads. In fact, a couple of them really, really aren’t. But I love them for being dads in the only way they know how. I think of them often and quote them in random situations. Here’s to you, Dads.
Arthur Weasley (Harry Potter series by JK Rowling)
“‘Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain.'”
Possibly the most obvious to include, Mr. Weasley is the dad we all want. He loves his kids and makes no secret about it. He’s comfortable with who he is and makes it clear to all his children that they should be and do what makes them happy. Let’s be honest–would Fred and George be the brazen delights that they are if they’d had a different dad? I highly doubt it. Mr. Weasley shows us it’s okay to be quirky, affectionate, proud, idealistic, and also that if you’re not a little bit afraid of your wife you probably picked the wrong woman.
Homer Noline (Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver)
“God, why does a mortal man have children? It is senseless to love anything this much.”
For anyone else who has read my favorite book, Doc Homer might seem like an odd choice for this list. He’s restrictive, distant, and unemotional–not the traits you’d hope for in the single dad of two girls. What we come to learn throughout the book, though, is that Doc Homer’s seemingly dictator-like rules are born out of the incredible depth of love he has for his daughters and, therefore, his paralyzing fear of losing them. He’s not a great example of how to behave as a dad but we can still learn from him about family, pride, and love. His observations about his girls and the world are beautiful. I think about Doc Homer a lot on difficult days.
Edward Bloom (Big Fish by Daniel Wallace)
“But he liked to leave me laughing. This is how he wanted to remember me, and how he wanted to be remembered. Of all his great powers, this was perhaps his most extraordinary: at any time, at the drop of a hat, he could really break me up.”
Edward is another one that, in practice, may not be the best dad, but as we get to know him throughout the book we, along with his son William, learn more about the incredible guy he is. In fact, the entire book (or movie) Big Fish is the perfect Father’s Day story. Edward tells fantastical tales about his life, and it’s up to William and the reader to decipher how much of himself Edward reveals in his stories. Ultimately, I think anyone would benefit from having a father who places such importance on imagination and identity.
Hans Hubberman (The Book Thief by Markus Zusak)
“Papa knew what to say, though. He always knew what to say.”
I had to include Hans because besides being one of the best father figures in literature, his epic dad-ness shows us that blood is not always thicker. He is the steadying, encouraging presence in Liesel’s life as everything around them goes to shit. Plus, I have a major soft spot for a dad who teaches his daughter how to read. I have some very early memories of my dad doing the same. Hans is never unrealistically perfect, either, making him all the more lovable.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! Tell me who your favorite book dads are in the comments!
Readvive 