Fathers, Sons, & Brothers: The Men in My Family - Softcover

Bret Lott approaches his family history from the perspective of father, son, and brother, allowing him to interweave three generations of experience and communication with the intent to both teach and learn. The individual stories are not laid out chronologically, but the essays serve as a sort of memoir and, when combined, create a clear picture of the family dynamic. In recalling stories of his childhood, Lott compares his interaction with his brothers to the relationship between his two sons, noting the subtle ways in which life comes full circle. Almost unwittingly he finds himself passing on some of the same paternal advice he received, often with undesired effects. Without lapsing into sentimentality, Lott negotiates his family album with sincerity and a keen eye for detail, unafraid to admit that his memories are not always based in reality. There are plenty of tender moments here, from childhood revelations and shared secrets among brothers to tacitly conveyed declarations of love and respect. Not all of the stories end happily, though, despite Lott's optimistic tone. What emerges is the understanding that the male relationships in this family, or in any other, are cause for reflection, wonder, and quiet celebration.

Bret Lott is a native of Los Angeles. Jewel, his internationally celebrated novel of love and loss in 1940s Mississippi, was a national bestseller and a popular Oprah's Book Club™ selection. The author of four other highly acclaimed novels -- The Man Who Owned Vermont, A Stranger's House, Reed's Beach, and The Hunt Club -- Lott has also written two collections of widely anthologized short stories, A Dream of Old Leaves and How to Get Home. He lives with his wife and two sons near Charleston, South Carolina, and teaches writing at the College of Charleston and Vermont College.