10/10
One of the most difficult jobs of a parent is to share what they have learned with their children. To teach them valuable life lessons that (fingers crossed!) positively shape who they become as adults. Bob Guest is a father who went about this task in a way that few parents do. Inspired by a suggestion from his young son’s teacher, Bob decided to begin handwriting and illustrating notes for both of his children. Little did he know where this would lead. Starting in 1995 and continuing for the next 14 years, he woke up early to complete a note for Joanna Guest and her brother, Theo, every single school morning. Yes, you read that right! Every. Single. School. Morning.
Based on an accumulation of over 3,500 notes saved through the years by their mother, Folded Wisdom: Notes from Dad on Life, Love, and Growing Up is the heartwarming story of a father’s love for his children and the impact that his notes had on them all. Joanna Guest has beautifully curated a collection of the most impactful notes to create this visually stunning gift book, which includes images of the notes themselves. These notes are then framed with the stories of her childhood, covering a substantial range of themes. From relationships with friends and family to the broad topic of love, from tips on finding success to the struggles of processing difficult emotions and circumstances, these notes encompass issues that are central to the lives of every family.
Bob Guest’s notes not only shaped and informed the lives of his children – they also ended up serving a greater purpose for him. Guest explains that her father, a business owner but an artist by training, used these notes as a creative outlet when the various demands of being a working parent allowed little time for artistic endeavours. The notes also served as a vehicle to connect and communicate with his children in a meaningful way about difficult subjects. When conversations were hard to navigate, writing out his thoughts and feelings was a way for Bob to approach life lessons around daily occurrences in the family or significant world events, while also having the opportunity to reflect on these matters himself.
Although the notes were certainly special to the children when they were growing up, as Guest revisited these notes in her adult years she realised the true depth of wisdom they contained all along. As an outsider looking in, the dialogue that Guest’s father was able to have with his children through this medium is inspiring. The depiction of the love inherent in this father-child relationship is deeply moving. And the incredible sentimental value of these notes is striking. Such items are priceless, irreplaceable, and Guest is fortunate to have both this experience with her father and such a unique collection of tangible memories to carry through her life.
Folded Wisdom: Notes from Dad on Life, Love, and Growing Up is sure to resonate with parents and their adult children alike. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advance electronic copy and finished hard copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are mine.
Joanna Guest is the author of Folded Wisdom, her first book. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University. Guest decided to leave a career in politics to pursue the development of this project.
Folded Wisdom: Notes from Dad on Life, Love, and Growing Up is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
For her entire childhood, Joanna’s father, an artist by training, had a morning ritual: wake up early, walk the dog, and sit down at the kitchen table with two blank sheets of paper and plenty of colored markers. On those pages, every morning, he would craft a note to young Joanna and her brother Theo. Over the years, these beautifully illustrated and heartwarming notes morphed from word games and puzzles for five-year-olds to thoughtful guidance, advice, and reflections for teens approaching adulthood. Each morning, without fail, her father would have a note waiting for his two children.
Now, with more than 3,500 of her father’s colorful, vibrant, touching notes in hand, Joanna has chosen the most poignant and collected them into this beautiful book. With the illustrated notes throughout, the book is organized by themes such as forgiveness, love, friendship, teamwork, and more. These notes are full of messages we all need to hear. Heartfelt and full of possibility for the future, the notes are timeless and relevant reminders of our common humanity. They hold lessons that are easily applicable to each of our lives.
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