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Nine Lessons
August Witte is firmly against having children. But after seven years of marriage, his wife is delighted when she realizes she is unexpectedly pregnant. August is terrified, recognizing he never learned the first thing about being a good parent from his father London. A widower since August was a toddler, London has always valued the game of golf--a sport August has never had any talent for--more than his son. In spite of how he hates the game, when August confronts his father, he finds himself agreeing to meet each month of the pregnancy for a round of golf. In exchange, London will give him the only thing that could make August agree to pick up a club again--memories of his mother, which he has written on golf scorecards since the day he met her. But August quickly realizes that his father's motive is not to teach him about golf, but to teach him about life--and he may discover that the old man just might know something about it worth sharing.
Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 6, 2018
I looked at this and thought it was a novel about golf ... ater reading this it definitely is not about golf. A young married man I learns a few lessons not about golf, but about life. This story is a gem that touched my heart. His father tried to teach him that golf if life, and life is golf and the son hated the father for it. But he is about to become a father himself and he turns to his father and finds out what he really was trying to teach him.
March 11, 2018
Read for a book club. The story was very simple: A man who's about to become a father has a broken relationship with his father, but they start spending more time together in hopes to change that. One of my biggest problems with it (aside from the writing) was that every character was a stereotype.
1. Whiny, mean pregnant woman obsessed with babies.
2. Man who complains about the wife he "loves" and doesn't want to have a baby.
3. Grumpy old grandfather who has trouble expressing his emotions.
It's obviously meant to be inspirational, but the nine lessons were predictable and sappy.
1. Whiny, mean pregnant woman obsessed with babies.
2. Man who complains about the wife he "loves" and doesn't want to have a baby.
3. Grumpy old grandfather who has trouble expressing his emotions.
It's obviously meant to be inspirational, but the nine lessons were predictable and sappy.
December 14, 2017
Fabulous story about father son realtionships. Beautiful read filled with turmoil and so much joy.
April 21, 2014
I got this book from my boss, who got it from our boss. It was a loaner and I wanted to read it and return it as quickly as possible. That was easy to do, the book is just over 200 pages and I read it in about 3 hours, give or take with a nap in the middle.
The adage "Golf is life" is explored in this book about a young man who just learned he's about to become a father. This prospect terrifies him, he's avoided this issue over the course of his marriage. His long-suffering wife always hoped he change his mind. Little did she know he meant what he said.
Augusta "August" Nicklaus Witte had a difficult childhood, his mother died when he was barely five years old and his father was either aloof or just a bad parent. I attribute London Witte's poor parenting to the shocking loss of his beloved Jessalyn and the pain he endured after losing her. London wanted to be a pro golfer before his son was born, but put those dreams aside when he met Jessalyn.
On the night he learns he's going to be a father August makes a deal with London, I'll learn this stupid golf you've been trying to teach me since I was a toddler if you'll tell me about my mother.
Without going too much into detail, suffice it to say, August gets more comfortable with the idea of being a father and learns that golf is life.
The prose is concise, there are a few heavy-handed moments in this book, but nothing that will make you regret picking this one up. At some point, you kind of look forward to how the lessons on life will coincide with the lessons on golf.
It's not a bad way to pass 2 or 3 hours, especially if you get a nap in the middle.
The adage "Golf is life" is explored in this book about a young man who just learned he's about to become a father. This prospect terrifies him, he's avoided this issue over the course of his marriage. His long-suffering wife always hoped he change his mind. Little did she know he meant what he said.
Augusta "August" Nicklaus Witte had a difficult childhood, his mother died when he was barely five years old and his father was either aloof or just a bad parent. I attribute London Witte's poor parenting to the shocking loss of his beloved Jessalyn and the pain he endured after losing her. London wanted to be a pro golfer before his son was born, but put those dreams aside when he met Jessalyn.
On the night he learns he's going to be a father August makes a deal with London, I'll learn this stupid golf you've been trying to teach me since I was a toddler if you'll tell me about my mother.
Without going too much into detail, suffice it to say, August gets more comfortable with the idea of being a father and learns that golf is life.
The prose is concise, there are a few heavy-handed moments in this book, but nothing that will make you regret picking this one up. At some point, you kind of look forward to how the lessons on life will coincide with the lessons on golf.
It's not a bad way to pass 2 or 3 hours, especially if you get a nap in the middle.
November 14, 2014
I enjoyed parts of this book but....(spoiler alert)....one of my biggest pet peeves in books, movies and life is when one simple conversation would have avoided years of pain, frustration and anger. And this is exactly what happens in this story. Why did London never explain his epiphany on the golf course? Why would he simply cut his son from the team and not offer an explanation until years later? And why don't we ever get to hear August's reaction to the beautiful journal entries of his father? His father gave up his dream of a golf career for him! Wouldn't reading that soften his feelings towards his father? I wanted to read about it!
Because I am a fan of "happily ever after," I did like the ending of the story. It was a bit predictable but I liked it. I like "feel good" stories with a message and this fits the bill.
Because I am a fan of "happily ever after," I did like the ending of the story. It was a bit predictable but I liked it. I like "feel good" stories with a message and this fits the bill.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews