My Father's Keeper

By Kip Vander Hyde

Jack Macmillan, the coddled middle-aged son of a WWII veteran, travels to the island of Guadalcanal seeking answers to the strained and distant relationship he shared with his recently deceased... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977245101
• ISBN13: 9780977245109
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Sea Lark Press
• Length: 449 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Exceptional historical novel

This is one of the best books I have read in years. "My Father's Keeper" is the story of Jack Macmillan and his unintentional, yet incredible, journey back in time. Jack's father, Tom, is a 19-year-old medic on the island of Guadalcanal during World War II. Jack is 43 and visits the island in August of 2002 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Marines landing on Guadalcanal. Having studied World War II for much of his life, Jack decides to tour some famous battle sites and even camp out at one. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, for him, he wakes up after the first night and it is no longer 2002. He has somehow gone back in time, it is 1942, and he is smack dab in the middle of the World War II Guadalcanal campaign. The story that unfolds from there is a gripping, action-packed and gritty tale of sacrifice, devotion and redemption. It is the story of a son's second chance.a second chance to know the father he never really knew and to become the son, the man, he always wanted to be. The characters in this book are an original and endearing group. They are developed brilliantly and the dialog is first rate. Jack, although at first misguided, is a riveting character and his journey of self-discovery and redemption is inspiring. He grows on you with each passing page and by the end you are hoping against hope for him to make it back to his wife and children. Jack's relationship with his 19-year-old father is completely intriguing. Imagine getting to know your father as a teenager when you, yourself, are middle-aged. It is a fabulously original concept and one that the author pulls off brilliantly. The pacing of the story is pitch perfect. Tension builds from the first page to the last, the kind of book that you want to "read just one more chapter" and before you know it, it is 4:00 a.m. By the time you are a third of the way though the book, you just can't put it down. You have to know what happens to Jack and the boys. The backdrop of World War II is tremendously interesting. I have always enjoyed historical fiction, and the actual historical figures and events that are woven throughout the book are fascinating. It gives the book a very authentic feel. The author's descriptions and imagery are superb and allow the reader to really see and feel the events almost as if they were there. Obviously a very well-researched book, with impeccable attention to detail. All in all this is a superb work of historical fiction. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great story as well as to those who have an interest in World War II.

My Fathers Keeper

Mr Vander Hyde has crafted a introspective and faithful to fact book. The combat descriptions are as entertaining as Mailer or Jones and the universal father/son struggle gives the drama a new stage. What if the child could return to protect the parent? The possiblities for all of us are endless and provoking. Mr Vander Hyde has done a splendid job with his initial work. Let us hope that his next one will be as engaging and compelling. Tony Coulter Havertown PA

A brilliant original story packed with emotion

If you like a book that packs an emotional wallop, this is the one for you. Consider it "Field of Dreams" meets "Saving Private Ryan". An incredibly entertaining and original story, this book is riveting from beginning to end. The characters are authentic, compellling, and endearing and they jump out from the pages to pull you into their world. The action sequences have you on the edge of your seat, and almost breathless. The descriptions are so vivid it is as if you are there with them, you can almost smell the jungle and feel the oppressive heat of the island. It is a raw and gritty tale filled with hardship, heartbreak, healing & redemption. A book that is hard to put down and impossible to forget. It will inspire you in your own relationships and search for personal understanding.

Brilliant writing, original story

This novel is a remarkable mixture of history and imagination. A true work of art, the characters are compelling and jump off the pages to pull you into the powerful, poingnant, and exceptionally written story -- a story of a son's second chance to know the father he never truly knew and to be the man he always wanted to be. The actual history incorporated into the book is fascinating and gives one a real sense of life on Guadalcanal during World War II, very enjoyable to anyone interested in history. Both entertaining and thought provoking, this is a book you won't want to miss.

Wow!!! What a moving yarn.

A truly remarkable read. The story is a fascinating blend of historical fact and fiction. The descriptions and writing style of the author are so real that you feel as if you are actually a part of the story. The character development is outstanding and draws you in from the very beginning. I could not put the book down. I can't imagine any reader, interested in history, or for that matter, a good story, being able to resist the lure of this book. The ending is explosive and compelling. The best book I've read in years. Read it.