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Families Are Complicated
“Every Other Weekend” is a captivating memoir that explores the challenges and self-discovery of growing up with two fathers in 1950s L.A., offering a vivid glimpse into the complexities of family. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Forty years ago, Dorris Halsey, a family friend and literary agent representing luminaries like Aldous Huxley, Ring Lardner, Henry Miller, and Upton Sinclair, urged me to write about my biological father and my stepfather. She saw a story there, but I was too busy practicing law. Then I became a judge and was too busy hearing cases. What’s more, I didn’t think my life was exciting enough that people would want to read about it. Dorris passed in 2006, and I dropped all thoughts about the project. But years later, at the Community of Writers (f/k/a Squaw Valley Writers Workshop), an editor urged me to put both men on the page and light up the times in which they lived: the Southern California of the 1950s and early 1960s. The light went on, and I decided to “compare and contrast” my two fathers, Gerald and Stan. The result was Every Other Weekend.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Despite my love and gratitude for both fathers, I had to discuss their faults, of which there were plenty. Writing about my father’s second marriage and his subsequent affair proved difficult. While I don’t blame him for the tryst—his mistress provided him with needed warmth and support—I found it confusing to be dragged into the affair. As for Stan, I felt obligated to show how, in a flash, he could pivot from peace to anger, even violence. To this day these memories hurt, but I felt an obligation to include them.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
To paraphrase Leo Tolstoy, families are complicated for their own reasons. They face their own unique demons, but their troubles don’t necessarily rule out successful child raising. My stepsiblings on both sides turned out well, and I think I did too. I hope a reader will take away the story of two men who tried their best.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Every Other Weekend focuses on my blended families in the Southern California of the 1950s and early 1960s. My next project will turn the lens outward and focus on life in the Southland during the same time period. Many consider those years California’s “golden era.” Maybe they were, but I hope to show the details of what it was really like to be a child of purported privilege during those years. I am hoping to finish the project next year.
Author Links: Twitter | Website
As his stepfather’s career rises and his biological father’s eases downward, Anthony tries to find his place. One weekend he’s sailing on his stepfather’s fifty-eight-foot catamaran; the next, his Swedish stepmother tells him that they’re poor. Coming of age in a time when divorce is rare and viewed as shocking, Anthony lives at the edges of what others regard as a dream world, a place where reality and fantasy blend, maps lead to the homes of the stars, and obstacles abound.
Every Other Weekend
Every Other Weekend by Anthony Mohr is an enthralling narrative that transports readers to the vibrant backdrop of 1950s Los Angeles. However, this is not merely a tale of an ordinary teenager; it delves into the life of Judge Anthony Mohr, the son of Hollywood B-list actor, Gerald Mohr. Mohr’s memoir encapsulates the complexities of navigating life with two fathers – a situation far from commonplace in 1950s LA when divorce was a rarity.
Throughout this captivating book, Mohr vividly portrays the contrasting qualities of his two fathers. His biological father exudes charm and wit, enabling him to maneuver through life. Yet, this lifestyle belies the less-than-ideal quality of life he provides. In stark contrast, Mohr’s stepfather—a prominent figure in today’s American business world—offered a different, more stable life for Mohr and his mother.
As the author humbly admits, he was not always caught at the crossroads of choosing between the two lives before him. Nevertheless, numerous teachable moments arose, ultimately shaping the trajectory of Mohr’s life. Every Other Weekend provides readers with a glimpse into this world, exposing the inner workings of a child who grew up among TV stars and business juggernauts, while also offering insights into the broader societal landscape of 1950s America.
It is nearly impossible to read this book without being in awe of Anthony Mohr’s masterful storytelling. The author’s craft is executed with a stylish finesse that keeps readers fully engrossed throughout. Seamlessly transitioning between past and present, Mohr skillfully interweaves personal anecdotes with meticulous research, ensuring that each paragraph is an essential thread in the rich tapestry of his narrative.
Every Other Weekend is a true page-turner, a literary work that demands your undivided attention. With each turn of the page, the reader is drawn deeper into Mohr’s world, swept away by his descriptive language and vivid imagery. Upon reaching the final sentence of the epilogue, readers are left with only one regret—that the book was not longer. This memoir lingers in the mind, inviting contemplation and reflection long after the last page is turned. It is a testament to the power of self-discovery and family.
Pages: 281 | ASIN: B0BRNXJYXL
LITERARY TITAN 