Kirkus Reviews Calling Out the Shadows
Reviewed by Kirkus Reviews.
Kirkus Reviews, a long established American book review publication, has reviewed Calling Out the Shadows: A Father’s Stand Against the Current by Neal Winsomer. A Kirkus review is an independent editorial assessment, written by a professional critic who reads the full book. This page shares the parts of that Kirkus review of Calling Out the Shadows that speak to the book, in Kirkus’s own words, with a link to the complete review.
About the book Kirkus read
Calling Out the Shadows is a memoir and a practical guide. It follows a father through the end of a long marriage and a high conflict divorce, and it doubles as a working manual for other parents facing the same road. The book began as a letter to the author’s daughter and grew into a record of how poor communication, missing accountability, and building resentment can pull a family apart, and of what it takes to move through that with clarity instead of anger. That mix of personal story and hands-on guidance is the ground the Kirkus review walks across.
What Kirkus Reviews wrote
On the author’s handling of children inside a divorce, the review states:
“…particularly adept at identifying the ways in which children complicate divorce proceedings…”
On the shape of the storytelling, it notes:
“…the deliberately scattered narrative effectively evokes the many conflicting emotions that can arise at the end of a long-term relationship.”
A resource for fathers
A large part of the book is built for readers who are living through a hard separation right now. Kirkus describes that side of it:
“As a primer for fathers going through divorce, the book offers pragmatic advice on handling lawyers and legal proceedings, deescalating high-stress situations, and documenting grievances without letting emotions take over.”
Ten appendices sit behind the narrative with tools a reader can put to work: a reference for naming evasive and deflective communication, a framework for building court ready documentation, and prompts for keeping a clear record when feelings run high. Readers who want a sense of the writing before they buy can look through the pull quotes from the book.
Read the review and the book
The complete Kirkus review is on the Kirkus site. Read it in full, then decide for yourself.
Read the book Read the full review
Frequently asked questions
What is Kirkus Reviews?
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review publication whose reviews are written by independent critics and are used by readers, libraries, and the book trade.
Is this a starred Kirkus review?
No. This is a standard Kirkus review. It does not carry a Kirkus star, and it carries no numeric score.
Where can I read the full Kirkus review of Calling Out the Shadows?
The complete review is on KirkusReviews.com. The link is in the buttons above.
What formats is the book available in?
Calling Out the Shadows is available in paperback, hardcover, ebook, audiobook, large print, and a Skimmer’s Edition. See all formats and retailers on the store page.
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