Title: Every Other Weekend: Coming of Age of with Two Different Dads
Author: Anthony J. Mohr
Publisher: Koehler Books
ISBN: 978-1646639007
Pages: 282
Genre: Non-Fiction / Parenting / Memoirs
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

A hard truth so many people learn throughout their lives is that family is not so easily defined. Societal standards were set long ago to tell people that a family typically included a mother, father, and child or two, all of blood relation. Yet as most of society has evolved, so too has the definition of what a family consists of, thanks in large part to the advancement of understanding various sexualities, as well as the found family aspect of life which often brings people together by circumstance rather than blood. Another reason for found families is due to the rate of divorce among parents and the new families they begin on their own paths, leaving the children moving back and forth to different households as a result.

It is in this spirit author Anthony J. Mohr brings to life the book, Every Other Weekend. The book is a personal journey into the post WWII, early Cold War era, when a young man faces life divided between two houses and essentially two fathers. On one hand is his father, a former radio acting star whose television career is struggling, and on the other hand is his stepfather, a credit card mogul with wealth and success. Exploring these family dynamics, as well as how this impacted the author and their relationships going forward and so much more, become the driving force which propels readers into this comprehensive study of families.

The level of depth and detail the author was able to bring to this memoir was incredible. The book achieved a great balance of detailed non-fiction storytelling with emotional and thought-provoking insights on family and how the people in our lives shape who we become. The author expertly brought the differences between his father and stepfather to vivid life on the pages, with the use of imagery in the author’s writing style allowing readers to not only visualize the author’s father at work during the height of his radio career or the painful path towards a television career, but the stepfather’s life of wealth and luxury in contrast with his father’s life. More so than their wealth disparity, however, was their differing approaches to life as a whole, from politics to enjoying life versus taking life too seriously and so much more, a point of contention in the author’s life which benefited him in his career as a judge.

For readers who enjoy non-fiction books, especially books which specifically speak to memoirs, family-driven non-fiction books, and personal finances, this book is the perfect read. Aside from the impact his fathers had on his life, the author managed to capture the atmosphere and culture of Los Angeles during the 40s and 50s, as well as the rise of the age of Television. The details which went into the world of radio stardom and television drama, as well as how being exposed to both his father’s world and his stepfather’s more conservative yet lavish lifestyle had on his point of view were astounding. More than anything however, what struck me was the exploration of what a life well-led truly means, both from his father and stepfather’s point of view, and ultimately from the author’s view based on the many lessons he learned along the way.   Anthony J. Mohr’s memoir is both a love letter to unconventional families and a celebration of the resilience it takes to grow up between two worlds.