My father and myself cover

My father and myself

by J. R. Ackerley

Ackerly, a British author and editor, recounts his investigation of his father' secret life and his own homosexuality. Ackerley's father was a successful importer and a bluff, hearty fellow-- qualities that, in his lifetime, were little appreciated by his gay and literary son. On his death, however, he left a letter revealing that his life of respectable prosperity was a fac̜ade. Thus began what for Ackerley was an ongoing quest to comprehend a father who remained always just beyond his reach.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?