Home before Dark

By Susan Cheever,

Book cover of Home before Dark

Book description

The late writer's eldest child draws on her father's journals and letters and on her own memories to construct a sympathetic, insightful account of Cheever's life, career, literary relationships, problems, and family life

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Home before Dark as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

When Susan Cheever was a young journalist, her father, the novelist and short-story writer, John Cheever, would often say to her that she ought to put her experiences down on paper. “I write to make sense of my life,” the father said to his daughter to explain why he kept a journal.

This book is Susan Cheever’s attempt to make sense of her father’s life: his decline and dissolution, especially owing to his alcoholism, and his struggle as a writer to nevertheless find coherence and control in life through the exercise of his art. 

From Amitava's list on fathers.

Want books like Home before Dark?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Home before Dark.

Browse books like Home before Dark

Book cover of A Man's Place
Book cover of When Did You Last See Your Father?: A Son's Memoir of Love and Loss
Book cover of Experience

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,188

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in alcoholism, journalists, and JFK?

Alcoholism 108 books
Journalists 208 books
JFK 71 books