Father's Day
by Buzz Bissinger, 2012.
I thought I'd seen this author recently on CBS Sunday Morning, but since it's been a few years since the debut of the book, it's probably been longer than I'd realized.
Buzz's twin sons Zach and Gerry were born within a few minutes of each other; Gerry is "normal," Zach is not (some form of autism). Buzz, who's been divorced from Zach and Gerry's Mom for years, and been divorced again and remarried after that, does not always have time for his son, even though he loves him and has a room for him at his home. He decides to go on a cross-country trip with just the two of them, even though travelling in a car for long periods of time can be difficult for Zach. However, Zach is a savant who likes people & maps, so he does have some outlet during their cross-country trips.
Buzz is not always a likable character. He's human; he gets frustrated, can get angry, makes mistakes . . . but he's also a loving, caring father who has fought to give his sons--especially Zach--the best possible life imaginable. The story of their bond is truly inspiring.
Bissinger also wrote Friday Night Lights; I should read that sometime, too. Since Zach likes travelling more when he can go places he's familiar with, they stop in places that include the setting for Friday Night Lights, and reconnect with "Boobie," one of the characters from that book that Buzz has mentored (and given money to) over the course of many years now. One of the interesting episodes is Zach trying to understand how Boobie fits into the Bissinger extended family, and society at large.
I thought I'd seen this author recently on CBS Sunday Morning, but since it's been a few years since the debut of the book, it's probably been longer than I'd realized.
Buzz's twin sons Zach and Gerry were born within a few minutes of each other; Gerry is "normal," Zach is not (some form of autism). Buzz, who's been divorced from Zach and Gerry's Mom for years, and been divorced again and remarried after that, does not always have time for his son, even though he loves him and has a room for him at his home. He decides to go on a cross-country trip with just the two of them, even though travelling in a car for long periods of time can be difficult for Zach. However, Zach is a savant who likes people & maps, so he does have some outlet during their cross-country trips.
Buzz is not always a likable character. He's human; he gets frustrated, can get angry, makes mistakes . . . but he's also a loving, caring father who has fought to give his sons--especially Zach--the best possible life imaginable. The story of their bond is truly inspiring.
Bissinger also wrote Friday Night Lights; I should read that sometime, too. Since Zach likes travelling more when he can go places he's familiar with, they stop in places that include the setting for Friday Night Lights, and reconnect with "Boobie," one of the characters from that book that Buzz has mentored (and given money to) over the course of many years now. One of the interesting episodes is Zach trying to understand how Boobie fits into the Bissinger extended family, and society at large.