Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances

I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Why Fathers Cry at Night by Kwame Alexander
Published by Little Brown and Company on May 23, 2023
Genres: Poetry / Subjects & Themes / Family
Pages: 240
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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This powerful memoir from a #1 New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medalist features poetry, letters, recipes, and other personal artifacts that provide an intimate look into his life and the loved ones he shares it with.

In an intimate and non-traditional (or "new-fashioned") memoir, Kwame Alexander shares snapshots of a man learning how to love. He takes us through stories of his parents: from being awkward newlyweds in the sticky Chicago summer of 1967, to the sometimes-confusing ways they showed their love to each other, and for him. He explores his own relationships—his difficulties as a newly wedded, 22-year-old father, and the precariousness of his early marriage working in a jazz club with his second wife. Alexander attempts to deal with the unravelling of his marriage and the grief of his mother's recent passing while sharing the solace he found in learning how to perfect her famous fried chicken dish. With an open heart, Alexander weaves together memories of his past to try and understand his greatest love: his daughters.

Full of heartfelt reminisces, family recipes, love poems, and personal letters, Why Fathers Cry at Night inspires bravery and vulnerability in every reader who has experienced the reckless passion, heartbreak, failure, and joy that define the whirlwind woes and wonders of love.

This was not the kind of book that I would normally pick up but I am glad that I did. I think that it is good to step outside of your comfort zone from time to time and try something new. It keeps things interesting and allows me to see how my tastes may have changed. If you had told me that I would enjoy a book that contained a fair amount of poetry, I wouldn’t have believed you but that is exactly what happened. I found this to be a rather enjoyable read overall.

This was an interesting collection of letters, poems, recipes, and essays that came together to tell a story of love. I probably haven’t read any poems since I was in school and they forced it upon me (unless you count the occasional greeting card, which I do not). These were so much better than the poems that I remember and I loved the way that they came together to tell a story. We see the author’s childhood, his relationship with his parents, the love he had for his wives even if the marriages ended in divorce, and the love he has for his daughters. I really liked how the author included recipes since we often share our love through food. I am glad that I took a chance and decided to give this one a try.

I received a review copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company.

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