This author is known for his unsentimental, raw, and deeply human narratives that often explore themes of masculinity, rebellion, and the complexities of familial bonds. His writing, frequently marked by a wry perspective and incisive insight, aims to capture the ethereal, effervescent, yearning, and frustrating essence of the human experience. Critics laud his ability to craft stories that are both wrenching and relatable, leaving readers with a profound sense of understanding and empathy. His works are considered a significant contribution to contemporary literary non-fiction.
Exploring the complexities of fatherhood, this narrative delves into the challenges a father faces with his rebellious skateboarder sons. It raises questions about parenting styles and their impact on children's independence versus defiance. As the father navigates his vulnerabilities and fears, he confronts the possibility that his sons may embrace a nontraditional path, ultimately reflecting on what it means to be a supportive parent in the face of uncertainty.
Based on genealogical breakthroughs and previously unreleased records, this is the first book to explore the inspiring story of the poor Irish refugee couple who escaped famine, created a life together in a city hostile to Irish, immigrants, and Catholics, and launched the Kennedy dynasty in America. Their Irish ancestry was a hallmark of the Kennedys' initial political profile, as JFK leveraged his working-class roots to connect with blue-collar voters. Today, we remember this iconic American family as the vanguard of wealth, power, and style rather than as the descendants of poor immigrants. Here at last, we meet the first American Kennedys, Patrick and Bridget, who arrived as many thousands of others did following the Great Famine--penniless and hungry. Less than a decade after their marriage in Boston, Patrick's sudden death left Bridget to raise their children single-handedly. Her rise from housemaid to shop owner in the face of rampant poverty and discrimination kept her family intact, allowing her only son P.J. to become a successful saloon owner and businessman. P.J. went on to become the first American Kennedy elected to public office--the first of many. Written by the grandson of an Irish immigrant couple and based on first-ever access to P.J. Kennedy's private papers, The First Kennedys is a story of sacrifice and survival, resistance and reinvention: an American story.
