Book Review: Homing

Reviewed by Kristine Eckart

A tender novel of a father-son relationship

Marc L. Carrier’s literary novel tells the story of a complicated father-son relationship and how our connection with our parents can affect our lives far after childhood. 

Worrying about his father Rory was the last thing Bob needed. He’s dealing with a divorce, working out money for child support payments, moving into an empty apartment, and trying to keep up his performance at work. Bob has been relying on his dad’s girlfriend Gerda to completely care for his dad whose dementia has escalated over the years. Now Bob has to travel from Canada to Florida to pick him up and move him to a care facility back in Canada. And after an incident at the airport, Bob must undertake an epic road trip to get his dad back home. 

But Bob can only begin to comprehend the intricacies and minutiae of taking care of an ailing adult. Plus, the non-stop time with his Dad will bring up memories of Bob’s childhood, how complicated his relationship with his Dad has only gotten worse, the death of his mother, and Bob’s initiation into the world of dating and sex. Will Bob be able to move his Dad to Canada and pick up the pieces of his life?

The details of caring for a parent with dementia are heartbreaking, from changing diapers to arranging the bed so they don’t escape in the night to the pressure and anxiety of always being on duty. It creates such a comprehensive picture for the reader to understand and identify with, even if they haven’t experienced this situation before. The author thrives in their depiction of the ups and downs of a difficult relationship with a parent. 

I also appreciated the insights provided by the flashbacks from Bob’s childhood. Scenes detailing Bob working at his dad’s car lot to family trips to Florida, each scenario reveals not only how Bob’s relationship with his father has changed but also why Bob is having trouble connecting in his other relationships, with Anne and his kids. These critical pieces of information help the reader see what made Bob the person he was when the novel began and imagine who he could possibly be when the novel ends. There’s a real opportunity for growth here.

For anyone caring for elderly parents or healing from traumas in childhood, this book would be a comfort in showing you are not alone.

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