Edward Streeter (1891–1976)

Poor Mr. Banks! His jacket is too tight, he can’t get a cocktail, and he’s footing the bill...He’s the father of the bride.
Stanley Banks is just your ordinary suburban dad. He’s the kind of guy who believes that weddings are simple affairs in which two people get married. But when daddy’s little girl announces her engagement to Buckley, Mr. Banks feels like his life has been turned upside down.
The dress that will be worn for one day is how much? Why would anyone spend that much for flowers? And however befuddled Mr. Banks becomes, no one pays the least amount of attention to him. He must host cocktail parties with the in-laws to be, initiate financial planning talks with Buckley, and moderate family conferences on who will be invited to the reception. But poor Mr. Banks! All he sees are the bills, and no one talks to him about losing his little girl!
Father of the Bride is a timeless, heartwarming, and hysterically funny tale that appeals directly to the lighter side of life, and any man with a child about to get married can appreciate Mr. Banks’s situation and the troubles that befall him.… (altro)

Mr. Hobbs' Vacation is a dated book, but it thoroughly enjoyed it, probably because I identified with poor Mr. Hobbs in so many ways.
The Hobbs family is off to Rock Harbor, an island where they will enjoy a months vacation, with their teen daughter as well as their two married adult daughters and their families. Mr. Hobbs is excited about the visiting with his children and grandchildren, the opportunities to fish, walk on the beach and relax, read a few good books, and thoroughly refresh himself with the vacation. But nothing seems to go Mr. Hobbs' way. Many of the pickles he finds himself in are of his own making, and others are just the types of inevitable misfortunes that we all experience from time to time. About half the time, I was seeing eye to eye with Mr. Hobbs, feeling his sorrows with him. The other half of the time I wanted to give him a good talking to and tell him to stop feeling so put upon and sorry for himself, and make the best of things.
The book was often funny, and Streeter has a way of turning a phrase occasonally that would make me laugh out loud just from the way it was worded. It also touched on the bittersweet nostalgia of parents when their children are growing up, and don't need them anymore.
One peculiar note: I thought the book would be better if you just tossed out the first and last chapter. The book is about Mr. Hobbs and his family, but Chapter 1 is about Rock Harbor before the tourists come for the summer, and Chapter 23 is about Rock Harbor after the tourists leave... neither has any relevance that I see to the story or the purpose of the book. So I recommend the book... but start with Chapter 2 and stop with Chapter 22. (You won't follow my advice. You'll read them all, and then afterwards you'll say, "Well, he was right about that.")… (altro)