Father Found

by R.M. Johnson

Book Overview

With the same passion and insight he brought to The Harris Men, RM Johnson offers a gripping look at a pressing social issue -- and a rare window into the contemporary male psyche.
Father Found
As founder of an organization that tracks down deadbeat dads and holds them accountable to the children they abandoned, Zale Rowen is no ordinary nine-to-fiver. Fiercely devoted to Father Found and its mission, he is all but obsessed...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074341246X
• ISBN13: 9780743412469
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

I was disappointed with This One

The author is a good writer but this one left me disappointed and angry. From all the praises from other well know writers, I thought for sure this would be a winner but it rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps it resonate with the male psyche but i was left shaking my head. The first thing I found was the story was much too long and lacked some substance. All of the men truly had issues with their wives and girlfriends but the focus was on lost, abused and absent fathers. The story was too focused on male responsibility and the lack of it. I would like to read more about Zale background and it took forever before the author delved into his background which was too quick and not fulfilling. A lot of the scenes were embellished and without belief ( how can you beat someone so severe and yet they get up and walk away with little discomfort.)? Those men that Frank abused was so gullible and out of context that sometimes it felt like watching a tv series. Frank has so many problems and he could never confront them because he was not willing to face himself and his troubles. I found that Martin was a bit odd in his marriage troubles and how to deal with losing his first wife and accepting his second wife infidelity. Zale was out of an another planet and I found it hard to believe how he could work so hard and not eat or take care of his body. His reaction to the news of him being a father was a bit selfish. Trying to describe how he suffered a stroke was confusing . At least the ending was more acceptable. I had read other books by this author that I enjoyed much more because he is a good writer but this one failed for me. The plot was unusual yet met with many flaws.

A Very Dark Story!

Father Found is a provocative, riveting and emotionally chilling sophomore effort by RM Johnson. The story is graphically violent and not for the weak of heart that faint easily; this is not a warm, fuzzy book. In Father Found we travel down the mean-streets of Chicago with Zale Rowen who's on a mission to reunite every child with its father. The mission isn't a bad one but its one that's to the expense of everything else in Zale's life including his health, relationships with others and mental well-being. Zale and his partners, Frank and Martin, utilize measures to reunite fathers with family members which are sometimes ruthless, questionable and in some instances just downright violent. Zale justifies his actions by his past; Frank justifies his actions by his past, and Martin well he is just so confused and mixed up that he fits in with the other two dysfunctional characters. Johnson does a superb job in providing vivid imagery and scenery to help the reader witness the actual acts that occur throughout the book as well as the emotions of the key characters. These men were filled with so much rage, anger and conflict that sometimes one had to put the book aside and shake off that negative feeling before continuing on. Father Found was very well written and was raw, gripping and intense along with being very violent, dark and depressing. The plot twists and turns were shocking and emotional and oftentimes left you aching in the pit of your stomach. In the end, Johnson tried to leave us on an upbeat note but it might have been too little, too sugar coated and too late. I recommend this book to all that enjoy excellent writing no matter the subject/title; books that challenge you emotionally and books which are insightful and hard-hitting.

Be Careful Where You Dip Your Stick...

Or Zale will be coming to get you! Man! Talk about drama. This brother did not play. He went all out for those fellas who were trying to duck out on their kids. I've never read anything like this in my life. 'Father Found' is some seriously heavy stuff. R.M. Johnson took me places no book has ever tread before.

R.M. JOHNSON IS THE MAN

THIS BOOK IS GREAT. AS A SURGEON, I RARELY GET TIME TO READ, BUT SOMETHING ABOUT THE COVER OF FATHER FOUND GRABBED ME, AND ONCE I READ THE JACKET I KNEW I HAD TO GET IT. THIS BOOK KEPT ME UP ALL NIGHT. I WAS EVEN READING IT ON BREAKS AT THE HOSPITAL. THE WRITING IS MASTERFUL AND THE CHARACTERS ARE DARK AND LAYERED, JUST LIKE I LIKE 'EM. IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT EXCELLENT LITERATURE IS NOT A THING OF THE PAST. FATHER FOUND WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME WANT TO START READING FICTION AGAIN.

Bought It. Read It. Love It.

"Father Found" is dark, deep, fantastic. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page. My husband was ready to hook me up to an I.V. The kids lived on pizza and pop tarts for two whole days. I was about to start reading "The Harris Men" but my husband hid the book. Not until I cook enough meals to last through a reading, he insists. Need I say more?

Mr. Johnson Just Won A New Fan

I recently saw this author in my hometown, Richmond, CA, after I was dragged to his booksigning by a friend of mine. It was a Sunday and the Lakers were playing their last game against Portland. I still can't believe I went. Nothing comes between me and Shaq, sometimes not even friends. Apparently it was meant to be. It was one of the best things I ever did. I had never heard of him, even though I had seen his book "The Harris Men" before, but never connected who the author was. Boy, was I impressed. I bought "Father Found" because I was impressed with his reading. This book is excellent. It is gripping, intense, deep, dark, a page-turner. I'm glad I got the chance to see him. I can say I witnessed history in the making. This author is going to be big, an important literary voice for our time. This is the best book I've read in the past five years. I just went out and bought "The Harris Men". I can't wait to dive in.