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Recovering Charles

by Jason F. Wright (Goodreads Author)

3.46 of 5 stars 3.46 · rating details · 1,733 ratings · 525 reviews

Luke Millward is a man who does not know he is lost. His girlfriend loves him, his career is going well, and every night he falls asleep knowing that his life is good and meaningful. Only when the past reveals its twisted smile in a phone call and a disconnected voice asks him to come find his father in post-Katrina New Orleans is Luke compelled to find out what kind of ma...more

Hardcover, 284 pages

Published September 16th 2008 by Shadow Mountain (first published 2008)

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Oct 16, 2010 M. M. Sana rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who wouldn't mind reading fiction about Hurricane Katrina!

Recommended to M. M. Sana by: "Jo"

This book is written appropriately in short sentences that provide the reader with vivid images, considering that the main character in the book is a photographer. The author does a beautiful job organizing two timelines of his character's present grown-up life in Manhattan, NY as a photographer and his childhood in Texas.

Luke Millward sits in his studio appartment and obssessively watches the news as they show New Orleans under water... images that perhaps we all have seen in the news when Hur...more This book is written appropriately in short sentences that provide the reader with vivid images, considering that the main character in the book is a photographer. The author does a beautiful job organizing two timelines of his character's present grown-up life in Manhattan, NY as a photographer and his childhood in Texas.

Luke Millward sits in his studio appartment and obssessively watches the news as they show New Orleans under water... images that perhaps we all have seen in the news when Hurricane Katrina hit. It reads like nonfiction and many times I had to remind myself that while the images were things I had seen on TV and in person in Biloxi, MS, that the story itself was not real. The research on the hurricane had been done very well.

The father-son relationship has been captured very well. The estranged son that has dealt with his drunk father for many years after his mother's death. The emotional denial about his father... and the incredible twist as the book nears the end. All wonderfully written...

However, the weakness of the book I must say is Luke's relationship with his best friend Jordan. I understood the friendship completely. I understood that Jordan wanted more from the relationship and they had never been romantically involved and he was sure he wanted her in his life, but not as a romantic partner. He was supposed to fall in love at first sight. That was set up when Charles Millward tells his son how love at first sight feels.

So, he meets Bela. Love at first sight. I am not a believer of that, but it worked alright for the story... when the scene with Jordan, the best friend, and Luke take place after his return from New Orleans... when she tells him to "go find her" was so weak. First, when was Bela lost? Then, Jordan says her "not a good bye" then there they are everyone minus Jordan. Jordan should be there with him as the story ends because they don't stop being best friends. I was completely okay with the entire story and very satisfied as a reader until I got this feeling that Luke could always have either Bela or Jordan in his life, but not both at the same time (one as a best friend and the other as a romantic partner). I really thought the book would be much stronger if there was a scene where both Jordan and Bela have an interaction with eachother. That would've given a much better resolution to the book.

Overall, It was an okay book. I liked it because of the imagery and photographs shown (without a real prose) of Hurricane Katrina... BUT some of the relationships needed some work. The dialogue was well done. I felt like the author got sick of writing it and rushed to the end of the story.

I would not recommend this book to anyone who is still sensitive to the events of Hurricane Katrina, specially in New Orleans. (less)

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Nov 22, 2008 Asia Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Asia by: Bookclub

A stirring relationship between a son and his father about love, forgiveness and the emotional connections with the past. Can Luke survive all these emotional burdens? What will he do with the knowledge he gains? Can he heal? Will he move forward?
The setting is New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I grew to love the city (I’ve never visited) from the descriptions in the book.
Written by an LDS author but without any clues to his religion therein other than good values, etc....more A stirring relationship between a son and his father about love, forgiveness and the emotional connections with the past. Can Luke survive all these emotional burdens? What will he do with the knowledge he gains? Can he heal? Will he move forward?
The setting is New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I grew to love the city (I’ve never visited) from the descriptions in the book.
Written by an LDS author but without any clues to his religion therein other than good values, etc. It’s all about second chances and healing from the past—very integral theme’s in the LDS beliefs.

***WARNING*****The following has plot give-aways****
The second to last chapter, particularly page 275 filled me with to much pain and regret for Luke’s past pride and the love he missed out on that my throat tightened and water pained behind my eyes. After rebuking myself for getting emotionally caught up in a fictitious story, I considered the lessons to be learned.

As I was bugged that he didn’t show more love and forgiveness for his father throughout the story particularly when his father tried so hard to reach out to him by sending him packages, I had to remind myself of the pain Luke must feel. When I wanted to rebuke him for not staying and letting the people in New Orleans explain, I realized that he was at an emotional flood having just learned that his father was dead and that these people deceived him.

I wasn’t too thrilled about the love at first sight theme. I think that’s the stuff of silly fairy tales. I wanted him to end up with his best friend not the hot new thing. But it makes sense that he had to have a companion that he loved in return.

I visited the book’s website and the author’s blog. I listened to one of my favorite musicians there who wrote the song for the book. Although I liked the song, I don’t think it was very fitting since it had no jazzy feel. It didn’t possess the feel of the book.

All I know is that I’VE GOT TO HAVE A JAZZ PARADE AT MY FUNERAL! How fantastic!(less)

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Jul 14, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, own, relationships, 2011-books-read

This is the first book I've read by Jason Wright and I plan to read his others soon. Luke Millward is a son who's decided to find his father in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He heads to New Orleans with mixed feelings regarding his alcoholic father and their past relationship.

I loved the book and felt a personal connection because of issues I've had with persons in my life who have been addicted to alcohol. The myriad of feelings you are faced with as you each struggle with the relationsh...more

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Jan 04, 2010 Heather the Hillbilly Banjo Queen rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 17, 2008 Lucy rated it 2 of 5 stars

If ever a book was to get a "meh" rating, this would be it. Not bad but not necessarily good, Recovering Charles tells the story of a son who finds a way to forgive his alcoholic father by searching for him throughout the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation. Like most "meh" books, it has some highs and lows.

The highs would be the description of New Orleans. For the first time, I felt a deep sense of horror and urgency about saving that great city. Blame it on the over-saturation we get from...more

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Oct 14, 2008 Lyn rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those curious about what really happened after Katrina

Shelves: adult

I truly appreciated a first-hand look at post-Katrina, New Orleans, without the biased, self-serving spin of the media or political figures. The story was charming and carried me along beautifully until the last chapter.

Wright spends the whole book weaving us into a very conflicted dysfunctional family. His main character has spent years trying to come to grips with his emotional baggage. Then, at the very height of all the drama, in a "pulled the rug out from under you" kind of move, he wraps...more

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Mar 13, 2009 Mommywest rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is Jason Wright's best-written book yet! He employs excellent interweaving of the present and past to create a story that engages you and teaches you something as well. The New Orleans portion of Hurricane Katrina is something I've struggled to understand better, and this book takes you THERE. I was walking the deserted, grimy streets; I was floating in a longboat among household items, family pictures, and corpses. It is not a gruesome or horrifying story, but you become very sympthetic to...more This is Jason Wright's best-written book yet! He employs excellent interweaving of the present and past to create a story that engages you and teaches you something as well. The New Orleans portion of Hurricane Katrina is something I've struggled to understand better, and this book takes you THERE. I was walking the deserted, grimy streets; I was floating in a longboat among household items, family pictures, and corpses. It is not a gruesome or horrifying story, but you become very sympthetic to the well-conceived characters and their trials and heartaches, and awestruck by their resilience and compassion. I feel that Jason took the time to understand the people involved in the Katrina tragedy, and I feel like I've learned so much because of his careful research.

As a story, Recovering Charles is excellent. Luke Millward, a professional photographer, grew up in a loving home that was later torn apart by drug abuse and alcoholism. Luke, estranged from his father, must finally come to terms with his father's choices and efforts to change as he travels from Manhattan to post-Katrina New Orleans after he learns that his father is one of the many missing. Along the way, we get glimpses of what the storm was like for so many people, and a taste of the character of those who stayed and made the best of things. I love the messages the book conveys: determination, compassion, and the truth that we can all change and have "second verses" in our lives. As with previous Jason Wright novels, I wish the ending was a little less abrupt. I also found myself going back to the beginning (which starts in the present day) to tie up some loose ends. All in all, an excellent story, though.

I delivered our fourth child the day Katrina hit the gulf, and was laying in my hospital bed the next day to find that New Orleans, supposedly spared, had been flooded when the storm surge broke the levees surrounding the city. I cried as heard stories of mothers giving birth in those squalid circumstances, and there I was, laying in a comfortable hospital bed. I didn't watch every single minute of coverage, but I got enough of a sense of what was going on to have it affect me to this day. This book really brought it all back to me, and it made me remember the compassion I felt for the people involved, and the gratitude I feel for all the blessings I have and don't deserve. I also hope that I can deal with tragedy with the courage many of those involved have. Overall, inspirational!(less)

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Mar 09, 2013 Alysia rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 27, 2011 Cydnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up on a clearance table because I liked the author. I really enjoyed it. Luke Millward is a New York photographer who receives a phone call regarding his long estranged father, Charles, following Hurricane Katrina. The story follows his journey to New Orleans in his somewhat feeble attempt to "recover" his father, and Luke's relationship with him.

Things I liked:
1- Well defined characters. Each one was unique and likeable. Jerome and his booming voice, Jez and her ever-present...more

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Jan 14, 2011 Mimi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

I thought the author did a good job of moving the story in two directions: through the main character's memories of his past (specifically scenes with his parents) and through the events currently unfolding in the main character's life. I felt the transitions between the two were seamless, and that the episodes from the past were well placed, given at a time where you could digest them without them immediately being relevant in the current time. Does that make sense? :)

It was a hard read in som...more I thought the author did a good job of moving the story in two directions: through the main character's memories of his past (specifically scenes with his parents) and through the events currently unfolding in the main character's life. I felt the transitions between the two were seamless, and that the episodes from the past were well placed, given at a time where you could digest them without them immediately being relevant in the current time. Does that make sense? :)

It was a hard read in some ways. I did not know anyone in New Orleans nor did I have television, so when Katrina happened, I was not really plugged in to everything going on. I knew it was tragic, that many lives were lost, that the city was ripped apart, and that our current administration was receiving a lot of criticism for how they were handling the expensive clean up. I knew that many heroes emerged and that many volunteers sacrificed time, money, and some even lives to help the Katrina victims, but that's all pretty much surface stuff. It didn't really affect my life.

I can't say that reading a book made it affect my life, but it definitely deepened my understanding of how truly tragic the aftermath of Katrina was. I had no idea how bad things had gotten and how people had reacted. I am glad that I read this book to understand at least one account of how people pieced themselves back together.

Other issues in the book were equally sad, contributing to making it a harder read for me. The main character has a wonderful life growing up with two parents who are devoted to him and each other. They were high school sweethearts who were truly still in love. However, by high school, the main character's life had taken a drastic turn where he essentially became an orphan.

The main theme of the book, to me, seemed to be about allowing second chances. I don't think it should be used as a guidebook for how to deal with things in your life, because every case is so individual, but in this story the impetus the father needed to clean up his life was to have his son finally cut him out of his life. It was beautiful and inspiring to read of how the husband never gave up hoping his wife would come back to reality and freedom from addiction. Ultimately sad that she did not, but wonderful that he never gave up even though she did.

So this book may make you cry as it did me, but I think it is worth the read to gain a greater understanding of Katrina if you are like me and did not live through it or know anyone who did. And it is also a beautiful story of allowing people to change and forgiving them for the past.(less)

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Dec 29, 2010 Cindi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

My new friend gave me a copy of Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright for Christmas last week. So sweet. It was perfect to read during the small moments of free time during the holiday.

Luke Millward has discovered success as a free-lance photographer in New York City when he gets a call from a friend of his estranged father. He discovers that his father has been living and working as a musician in New Orleans and is missing following the Katrina disaster. Halfheartedly, Luke heads to Louisiana t...more

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May 04, 2010 Apzmarshl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Apzmarshl by: Karen Snook

Wright is the author of 'Christmas Jars' and 'Wednesday Letters'. In 'Recovering Charles' Wright's main character, Luke Millward is a lost soul. He is a successful photographer that has little personal connection to anyone except his friend Jordan. Jordan and Luke met in college and have remained close, though Luke cannot bring himself to make Jordan his wife.
Hurricane Katrina hits the lower South. Luke discovers that his estranged, alcoholic father was lost in the fray. Luke has never come to t...more

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Jul 18, 2009 Taffy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lds-authors

"Every life has a second verse" and Luke Millward's dad wanted him to see his as well as write a new one.
Hurricane Katrina brings changes to Luke's life he can't imagine. The images from the devastating hurricane alone make an impact on Luke. But to hear that his father is missing brings emotions he is not sure he can or wants to face. He loves his father because he is his father. But he doesn't respect him because he turns to alcohol and gambling to ease pain/guilt from his wife's death.
Luke go...more

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Apr 13, 2009 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ok, we read this for our book club and while I appreciated a lot of what went on in this book there were a couple of things that bothered me. First the way they do things (I can't say a lot more or I'll start to spoil the book) is really upsetting! I also felt like his dad's friends were especially harsh to him. Yes I know he needed to work through forgiving his dad BUT it's not unreasonable the hesitation he feels towards their insistence that his dad has changed. Since his teenage years he's b...more

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Oct 30, 2008 Rebecca rated it 1 of 5 stars

I was asked to preview this book for our book club...otherwise I probably would have never picked it up. I wish I hadn't anyway. I would have actually given it two stars up until the "surprise twist" ending. Nobody in their right minds would have acted the way the characters in this story did. Also, I wonder if I were a victim/survivor of Katrina, or at least searching for a loved one who was, if this book would have offended me.

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Apr 22, 2010 Emily Beeson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, deliciously-clean-read, lds-mormon

Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright Book Review by Emily

When Luke Millward discovers that his estranged father was living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit, he is hesitant to do anything about it. A stranger calls, saying that his father is missing, but Luke has little desire to help with the search.

His girlfriend and mentor convince him that it's the right thing to do, but, unconvinced, he takes his time to get down there.

While in New Orleans, Luke, being a photographer, takes picture...more

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Feb 12, 2009 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read this book because the idea of second chances and forgiveness have been in the forefront of my mind of late. I enjoyed the commentary on forgiveness and how our own pride separates us from the joy and healing that forgiveness brings. The other side to forgiveness is when do we open our hearts back up to someone who has injured us over and over? No one pat answer for that. It is a hard call. Only God can help us with the timing, if our hearts are truly open to him and his will for us.

I also...more

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May 28, 2012 Abbie Jorgensen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Luke Millward has had problems with his dad in the past, he is always asking for money, calling Luke from different parts of the world. Luke one day gets a call from a man saying that his father is missing so Luke goes to Katrina New Orleans to find him... After the long journey that he had to go through and the truth that he finds out about his father, he finds out that his dad died a while ago, and that his final request was that Luke know the truth about him.

NO MOVIE... YET. :)

I would recomm...more

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Mar 10, 2009 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Written by a local author and of particular interest since it takes place in post-Katrina New Orleans, and we lived there for several years. The protagonist, Luke Millward, is a successful photographer who has seen some of the world's most awful places through the lens of a camera, but he can't sustain relationships and he has not spoken to his alcoholic father in over two years -- a man who had been a brilliant musician but who had spiraled downward into alcoholism when Luke was in college. Whe...more

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Jun 23, 2009 Lucinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recovering Charles gave me much need emotional imagery for what occured in New Orleans. I was so bombarded by news footage of the political figures pointing fingers that I shut down where I should have been over come with emotion. The only attitudes the news covered were of those with hands out to get something not hands out to help others. This story, for me, helped me feel what a horrific aftermath the people of Katrina lived and in a sense are still living.

The story was well crafted. The abil...more

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Jun 03, 2009 Jodi rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 07, 2009 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story... the end surprised but made sense, I learned things about the Katrina aftermath that I didn't learn from the news coverage... I thought it was a beautifully written story with plenty of humor as well as insightful portrayals of human nature. I learned a little something about myself!

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Jul 13, 2010 Julianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

For me, this one seemed to unravel slowly. Our hero is living an uncomplicated life in New York City, but when Katrina hits New Orleans, he feels compelled to sit in front of the TV for hours on end watching all the coverage. Then a phone call calls his bluff. He is invited to go down to New Orleans and see the devastation for himself. Suddenly he is not so anxious to see it for real, up close and personal.

Through a series of flashbacks we learn of Luke's early life, his home, his mother and his...more

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Jun 05, 2009 Blair rated it 3 of 5 stars

By the same author that brought "The Wednesday Letters", comes another tale of forgiveness, this time regarding a son for his parents. Luke finds out that his estranged, alcoholic father was in New Orleans during Katrina and now his friends ask Luke to come look for him. Together they discover how Charles' life had changed in the last few months as they search for news of Charles' whereabouts.

I didn't think this was nearly as good as the Wednesday letters, but as I was laid up following post-op,...more

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Apr 20, 2010 Keri rated it 4 of 5 stars

I couldn't decide whether to rate this book three stars or four, but after writing the review I had to make it four because I kept thinking about the great parts in it. Of course then I hit the wrong button and lost the review so I am starting all over. Here is a synopsis. You will have to read the book to get the rest of what I was going to say: I really enjoyed this quick read. Whether it was because of the relationship between a child and an estranged father that was recovered or because of t...more

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Apr 21, 2009 Demere rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this story! I have a much better understanding of Hurricane Katrina after reading this book. It was heartbreaking to read about the devastation, but it was also very touching to read about the many volunteers who went through so much in the recovery to help their fellowmen. We had a friend (a builder) who was suffering (and truly suffering)from terminal cancer when he went and volunteered during the recovery and clean-up. It was the only time I ever heard him speak in church, and it is a...more

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Mar 23, 2010 Nielson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-realistic-fiction, historical-fiction

So I read this for book group this month. It was hard for me to get into it at the beginning, but as I read more I really got into it more. I liked that the author jumped between the present and the past so that we could understand Luke's life more. I thought his family situation was so sad....his mom being depressed and then his dad turning to alcohol after his death. The end was a tear-jearker for me. I was pretty mad that his friends lied to him about his dad being dead, but I guess I could u...more

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May 20, 2009 LeeAnn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I was given this book as an incentive for joining a book club, and I settled in to read it today. The author also wrote The Wednesday Letters and Christmas Jars, which I have not read yet but have been intrigued by.

This book drew me in although I felt it dragged in places. At one point, I wondered where the author was going in some of the flashbacks but reminded myself that it probably pertained to the larger story. It did, but not smoothly. However, it left a much-larger imprint on me than I wo...more

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Jan 25, 2010 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Heartbreaking and heart warming. Keep the kleenex nearby.

Luke Millward is a man who does not know he is lost. His girlfriend loves him; his career is going well; and every night he falls asleep knowing that his life is good and meaningful. Only when the past reveals its twisted smile in a phone call and the disconnected voice asks him to come find his father in post-Katrina New Orleans is Luke compelled to find out what kind of man he truly is. Recovering Charles is for every family who's had it...more

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Feb 21, 2009 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jason Wright is not a great literary writer and I think that at times he tries too hard to touch his readers. However, for the first time I really appreciated a first-hand look at post-Katrina New Orleans. I actually felt the horror of that disaster. Until now, I couldn't relate perhaps due to the over-saturation of the media. But personalizing the disaster did allow me to feel how much the individual citizens actually did lose in Katrina, even though those people were fictional.

Overall, this is...more

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About Jason F. Wright

Jason Wright was raised in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is a regular contributor on Fox News, offering political commentary on the presidential race and serves as founder and managing director of the widely read political destination, PoliticalDerby.com. Jason enjoys volunteering and has created a literary program dedicated to creative writing for middle school students in the central Virginia ar...more

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