BOOKIN' BINGO'S REVIEW: THE NINE LESSONS

THE NINE LESSONS

A NOVEL OF LOVE, FATHERHOOD
AND SECOND CHANCES
BY
KEVIN MILNE

(THIS IS A "DAD" LINK)

BINGO'S REVIEW

To say London Witte loved the game of golf was a bit understated as one only needed to meet London’s son, August Witte, who was named after the Augusta National Golf Club where The Master Golf Tournament is played, to understand the depth of London’s passion for golf. Imagine London’s dismay when with his son grew up without any talent for the game. August’s mother died of cancer when he was but a toddler leaving London to raise his son and their connection with each other was especially difficult as a result of the loss of his wife, August’s mother. Having never learned anything about parenting from his father, August is particularly shocked at the prospect of being a father and all the responsibilities that come along with that. August’s wife became pregnant quite by accident considering he was firmly against their having any children.

And so with this background and August’s well known loathing of the game of golf, it is amazing that he actually agrees to one round of golf each month with his father during his wife’s pregnancy. August goes to his father to confront him about raising him with poor parenting skills to go on and instead winds up to agreeing to monthly golf lessons during the nine months of his wife’s pregnancy. The only thing that convinced August to play golf again was the promise that London would give August golf lessons along with precious memories of his mother to cherish. August realizes that and since his father has kept notes on August’s mother since they first met on golf scorecards, he agrees to the lessons. It isn’t too long into the monthly lessons that August realizes that the cards and memories are not the only thing his father is giving him but rather he is giving him life lessons as well. To August’s surprise, these lessons are actually valuable.

Although the golf lessons are the premise of the book, the reader will find that as the nine lessons, and months, progress, father, London, tries to give son, Augusta, lessons in how to live a good life being a fine parent and compares it to golf to make it appear relevant. Here we get the theme of the father and son although not close, can learn FROM each other even while there is so much going against them from their past.

I must admit I am not a golf fan so that made it harder for me to judge this book fairly, perhaps. I do think it gave some good life lessons especially in parenting. I also think, however, that for me anyway, it just went about it in a much too complicated way. The lessons are good ones but I think would have been better served more in a “how-to” or guidance book rather than a novel. I will admit, however, that I liked the father, London, more at the end of the story because of his valiant effort to try and make amends with his son. I recommend this to new parents, parents to be, and golf lovers as it is a very intriguing and different presentation.