From the publisher:
Adam just wants a conventional father. But his father hates convention, he would rather rebel. Adam wants a father who will sit by his bed and softly sing him lullabies. But his father is too busy snarling on stage alongside Joy Division and other angry young men. Adam, a budding goalkeeper, wants a father who will shoot balls at him in the park. But his father prefers to shoot heroin in dark rooms. Adam wants a father who is predictable, who is a provider, who is present. His father can never be any of those things. Because Daddy is a punk rocker.
My thoughts:
It didn't take much for me to be pulled right into this story, feeling so strongly for Adam as he struggled to be accepted by his family, classmates, and the people he encounters throughout life. While I certainly did not have the same life experiences, I definitely understand trying to be accepted, and struggling with self-identity and self-confidence at such transitional moments in life. A refreshingly honest and insightful memoir, I was riveted by the story and couldn't stop cheering Adam on as I turned the (digital) pages of his memoir. All Adam wanted was a conventional father with whom to practice soccer, listen to music, and have a traditional father-son relationship. What he had, however, was a somewhat dysfunctional relationship with his punk rocker father who struggled with heroin use and whom Adam at times tried to be close with, or tried to get as far away from as possible. I found this book to be filled with melancholy and dark humor, but regardless of what Adam describes in his book, he does so without bitterness or resentment, a remarkable personality trait that truly lends itself to the readability and satisfaction I found with Daddy was a Punk Rocker. I was very pleased with this memoir, and look forward to seeing what else comes from the mind (and pen) of Adam Sharp.
