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Songs of My Father and Other Essays

By: Gardner Landry
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: January 14, 2025
ISBN: 979-8891325074
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: November 26, 2024

In Songs of My Father and Other Essays by Gardner Landry, we are introduced to the Landry family. At first, it appears that the family is ordinary until you meet Fred, the author’s father. Meeting Fred will immediately change your mind that this family is ordinary. You see, Fred loves seeking attention no matter where the family goes. He will stop at nothing to cause a scene to guarantee people notice and talk about him. This has gone on for years. Every time that the family goes to a special event or out for dinner, the rest of the family walks away from Fred because they know he’s immediately cooking up his next stage performance in front of everyone. The father’s behaviors have been so troublesome that it has left a negative impact on every family member, most especially Gardner. What kind of behaviors has Fred stooped to in order to gain the attention he craves?

This reviewer felt terribly sad how the family had suffered for decades from the after effects of Fred’s actions and creating a nuisance of himself. Whenever the Landry family went out or was invited to an event, the family had to act as if they weren’t even with Fred. Can you imagine having to act as if you didn't know a particular family member because he was making a fool of himself in front of a crowded room? Or how embarrassed you might feel when eating out at a restaurant and that family member starts making a scene? Mr. Landry took the opportunity to explain how he felt throughout the years and just how much the negative behaviors of his father impacted him throughout his life.

From a humorous perspective, Fred was obsessed with quite a few things, but one thing that made this reviewer laugh out loud was that he always had to have mayonnaise on hand for every meal. It didn’t matter the meal either. From Asian food to American food, Fred had to have his beloved mayonnaise jar right next to his plate to complement his meal. If they were eating out, Fred made sure he had those individual packets of mayonnaise in his pocket or he wouldn’t eat. Although this sounds funny and you can laugh out loud over the eccentric behavior the father displayed, it is no wonder the family hated going out anywhere with Fred.

Another instance that was laugh worthy was when Mr. Landry’s grandmother’s best friend passed away and the family went to pay their respects because she was like another grandmother to the kids. During the funeral, Fred couldn’t stay seated and remain quiet. Instead, he cooked up another show stopper of a performance which drew everyone’s attention away from the funeral. No matter what the circumstances were, my heart went out to Landry because anyone could imagine the embarrassment Fred was causing the family as a whole.

It’s hard not to sympathize with Landry while reading his accounts throughout the years. Any reader would have felt the same way he did while all of this was happening to him and his family. To think of the negative impact it played on him while growing up had to be a heavy burden for anyone to carry.

Quill says: Songs of My Father and Other Essays by Gardner Landry is one novel that will make you laugh, cry, and even shake your head a time or two over Fred’s eccentric behaviors. Readers will walk away from this book being grateful that Fred wasn’t their relative.

For more information about Songs of My Father and Other Essays, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/songs-of-my-father-and-other-essays-by-gardner-landry.