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Also by Andrew Potok:

My Father's Keeper, June 2014
Trade Size / e-Book

MY FATHER'S KEEPER
By: Andrew Potok

Self Published
June 2014
On Sale: June 4, 2014
Featuring: Michael Mendelssohn
ISBN: 1937677451
EAN: 9781937677459
Kindle: B00KRRW7Y8
Trade Size / e-Book
Add to Wish List

Fiction

Inspired by his own story of escaping from Poland at the beginning of World War II, Andrew Potok delivers a poignant and compelling tale about transition, hatred and forgiveness in MY FATHER’S KEEPER. In this moving novel, Potok tells the story of the evolving life-long relationship between father and son, both deeply affected by the violent turmoil of terror and betrayal during their escape from Eastern Europe.

Michael Mendelssohn arrives in the United States in 1939 with his parents and uncle, who fled Warsaw before the start of the War. His mother and uncle quickly adapt to life in America and devote all of their time and energy to their family business, Mandeleau Furs, which becomes very famous. Michael’s father, Zyga, on the other hand, has as little to do with the business as possible. Michael grows up believing that his father betrayed the family at the border during their escape, he is poisonous and should be avoided.

Haunted by the early events in his life, Michael pours his anger, rage, anxieties, and mercurial moods into painting and has a successful career as an artist and teacher. Through his teaching he meets the love of his life, Crissie. Crissie adores Michael’s father and develops a special bond with Zyga. She decides to convert to Judaism and changes her name to Ruth. Through her close friendship with Zyga, Ruth learns about his life in Europe and who he is as a person. Ironically it is Ruth who teaches Michael, the artist, that everyone needs to explore new ways of seeing and understanding.

Ruth and Michael decide to travel to Poland so Michael can “explore my origins, look for the places where I was happy, where I was terrorized, where they died, where they were gassed, where they are buried.” This trip proves to be a turning point both in Ruth and Michael’s relationship and in Michael’s relationship with his father. When he returns from Poland, Michael turns to his father for answers, for understanding, for friendship and ultimately for forgiveness.

Just in time for Father’s Day, MY FATHER’S KEEPER is a poignant story about love, hatred, betrayal and forgiveness between a father and a son.