Dad was a Carpenter by Kenny Kemp

I. Title of the book and Author

Dad was a Carpenter by Kenny Kemp

II. Summary

In the cold month of December, Kenny Kemp celebrated winter alongside with the winter he is feeling inside his heart because of the tragic loss of his father. This Christmas Season, he drove off to his hometown where he helped her mother clean the remaining things and possessions of his dead father. While doing these things, he commemorated some of the special moments he shared with his father. He remembered the time when his sister, Bonnie, painted father’s garage which made a negative impact with their neighbors. When he was eight, his father made him an improvised go-cart which he shared with his playmates. He also reminisced the time he became a boy scout in which he, together with his father, climbed a mountain. Some time, their house also burnt down. He also commemorated the event when he fixed his automobile because of his own mistake. Things started to change when his father was forced to retire in his work as a pharmacist. Alongside with this burden was the doctor’s diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on his father. Although he had that bleak fortune, he still didn’t lose faith and instead able himself to find something good in his surroundings. After four months of his death, Kenny Kemp cleaned the house and found the things associated with his father.

III. Character Sketch

The character in the story, O.C. Kemp (Kenny Kemp’s father), was very impressive because of his faith and bravery during the time when he faced those trials that entered his life. He became braver when that trial was given by him. He smiled instead of crying; he kept quiet instead of complaining.

IV. Conflict

O.C. Kemp was diagnosed with ALS just after his retirement as a pharmacist. During his check-up, his doctor admitted that he has only 18 short months to live. In those days, he ignored his illness and still lived a normal life despite the cries and tears of his loved ones.

V. Special Feature of the setting

When he got ALS, he got stronger than before. He got more faith in God.

VI. Reason of Recommendation

I recommend that you read this book because of the moral lessons and virtues in stored inside it. I find it with interest Chapters 10 – 18 where the conflict was revealed.