Messages from My Father

This is a biography of the writer’s father, Abe Trillin, a very opinionated and stubborn man with a strong willpower. If Abe ‘swore off’ something, it was permanent. There may never be an explanation for his decision, but it was a permanent decision.

Calvin Trillin, Abe’s son and the book’s author, is a well-known writer who writes for “Time” and “The Nation,” along with having written a number of stand-alone books. This book is and not just to his father’s stubbornness, but also the wisdom imparted from some of his father’s quotes and actions.

Growing up in Missouri in the 1950s, Calvin absorbed traits of common sense, integrity and responsibility from his father. The traits that have followed him through his life. show more This book is an affectionate look back at those years and the man who taught the author those traits.

There is humour, sensibility, caring and appreciation in the author’s perspective of his father. Also a visit back to a time where common sense, responsibility and integrity were a part of everyday life. For me this was a very enjoyable read. show less

Just the kind of memoir I like: short and floaty, almost more a collection of essays about memories and events related to a person, rather than a perfectly-executed, coherent book. I think it's one of the nicest ways to pay tribute to a someone.

Savory little book that effectively captures the layered personality of Abe Trillin. Wryly funny.

A moving tribute to a father he obviously loved, and to his family, foibles and all. Great reading! An easy and enjoyable way to while away a few hours.

Calvin Trillin’s father was born 3 years before my Dad. My father had his child (me) later in life that Abe Trillin had his two, so I am younger than Calvin, but I could really identify with the way Calvin’s father influenced his life and the reasons for this influence. Calvin was Jewish and my family was Presbyterian so the “language” was different but the values were very similar: hard work, integrity, fair play, and following the rules were rigorously taught and enforced. Abe and my Dad also used a similar method of influencing our actions—by suggestion rather than by order. It seemed that we could make up our own minds about things so it we did not feel the need to rebel against the “advice” we were so subtly given. show more This loving remembrance of his father resonated with me and I think will speak to anyone whose father had a significant impact on his life. I enjoyed getting to know this family and also learning about the immigrant experience of the East European Jews in the 20th century. Highly recommended. show less

This very short memoir regarding Calvin Trillin's father is interesting and sometimes amusing, but doesn't have the wit or or feeling of overwhelming love that Trillin gave to About Alice. I would have liked to know more. There was more to know because his father wrote about many things in his life, but Trillin doesn't mine that information. I think the book suffers for it.