The Magical Stranger: A Son's Journey Into His Father's Life - Softcover

Rodrick, Stephen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062004778 ISBN 13: 9780062004772

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2014

Synopsis

The Magical Stranger is a moving story of love and sacrifice, fathers and sons, heroism and duty, soldiers and the families they leave behind.

On November 28, 1979, squadron commander and Navy pilot Peter Rodrick died when his plane crashed in the Indian Ocean, leaving behind a devastated wife, two daughters, and a 13-year-old son.

In this powerful, beautifully written book, journalist Stephen Rodrick explores the life and death of the man who indelibly shaped his life, even as he remained a mystery. Through adolescence and into adulthood, Stephen Rodrick struggled to fully grasp the reality of his father's death and its permanence.

To better understand his father, Rodrick turned to members of his father's former squadron, the "World-Famous Black Ravens." As he learns about his father, he uncovers the layers of these sailors' lives: their loves, friendships, dreams, disappointments--and the consequences of their choices on those they leave behind. The journey doesn't end until November 28, 2013, when Rodrick's first son is born 34 years to the day after his father's mishap.

A penetrating, thoughtful blend of memoir and reportage, The Magical Stranger is a moving reflection on the meaning of military service and the power of a father's legacy.

About this title

Product Description:

On November 28, 1979, squadron commander and Navy pilot Peter Rodrick died when his plane crashed in the Indian Ocean, leaving behind a family that included his thirteen-year-old son, Stephen. In The Magical Stranger, Stephen Rodrick explores the life and death of the man who indelibly shaped his life, even as he remained a mystery: brilliant but unknowable, sacred but absent, a born leader who gave his son little direction.To better understand his father and his own experience growing up without him, Rodrick spends nearly two years with his father's former squadron. His travels take him around the world, from Okinawa and Hawaii to Bahrain and the Persian Gulf. As he learns more about his father, he also uncovers the layers of these sailors' lives: their brides and girlfriends, friendships, dreams, and disappointments. The journey doesn't end until November 28, 2013, when Rodrick's first son is born 34 years to the day after his father's mishap.A penetrating, thoughtful blend of memoir and reportage, The Magical Stranger is a moving reflection on the meaning of service and the power of a father's legacy.

Review:

""The Magical Stranger" is one of the realest and best books I've read in the past several years."--Ben Fountain, author of "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk"

""The Magical Stranger" is the true story of a boy chasing a ghost and stumbling into manhood. It is heartbreaking and funny, broken and hopeful, often on the same page."--Judd Apatow

"Stephen Rodrick's "The Magical Stranger" illuminates the innate ties between fathers and sons in a fresh and fascinating way. . . . Rodrick's firsthand knowledge thoroughly transports the reader into the hearts and minds of U.S. servicemen and their families."--Norman Ollestad, author of "Crazy for the Storm"

"A wrenching, fascinating memoir, "The Magical Stranger" captures the elusive, sometimes crushing unease that haunts the lives of military families. It is written with the pace of a thriller and the emotional density of first-rate fiction."--Blake Bailey, author of "Cheever"

"A powerful debut. . . . Candid and affecting."--"Kirkus"

In this penetrating blend of memoir and reportage, Rodrick spends nearly two years with his father s former squadron, seeking a better understanding of the man he knew all too briefly. --"The New York Times Book Review""

Fascinating . . . . An exemplary piece of modern reportage. --Tom Bissell, "Harper's""

"The Magical Stranger" is one of the realest and best books I ve read in the past several years. --Ben Fountain, author of "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk""

"The Magical Stranger" is the true story of a boy chasing a ghost and stumbling into manhood. It is heartbreaking and funny, broken and hopeful, often on the same page. --Judd Apatow"

Stephen Rodrick s The Magical Stranger illuminates the innate ties between fathers and sons in a fresh and fascinating way. . . . Rodrick s firsthand knowledge thoroughly transports the reader into the hearts and minds of U.S. servicemen and their families. --Norman Ollestad, author of "Crazy for the Storm""

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0062004778
• ISBN 13: 9780062004772
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 416