Submitted by Gerti
Dad
is not only fat, he is FUNNY, which is no surprise given that the
author is Chesterton native Jim Gaffigan. In this comic look at
parenthood, the LaLumiere graduate writes with wit and humor about
how a child from northern Indiana ends up living in a two-bedroom New
York apartment with a wife and five children.
I
requested the book after seeing Gaffigan during his latest appearance
at the Radisson theater in Merrillville. During his lengthy show, I
could barely catch my breath for laughing, especially as some of his
humor deals with what it’s like to live here in the region. While
not as funny as seeing him in person (tone of voice, and let’s face
it, his unique look, add a lot to the jokes), I thoroughly enjoyed
his riffs on what it’s like taking care of pale children, going to
restaurants with kids, and trying to get the kids to sleep. My kids
are already teenagers, so those crazy sleep-deprived days of infants
and cribs are far behind me, but his writing was evocative enough to
remind me of what I wasn’t really missing. He has some sharp
commentary on family gatherings, and on how the enthusiasm among his
friends for his growing family has dimmed with each addition. The
drawings and photographs that accompany the text are also
exceptionally funny.
While
I can’t relate to living in NY, anyone with kids will be able to
sympathize with Gaffigan as he tries to survive the hurdles of having
kids in different schools, different parenting styles, and trying to
get through family vacations and holiday gatherings. I love his self-deprecating humor, and while not as funny as seeing him live,
“Dad is Fat” was a welcome, well-paced diversion while I was
waiting for my own kids to finish their sporting practice and music
lessons.
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