John Wayne, My Father

I am close to the same age as Aissa and from the time I was 10, while other pre-teen girls were obsessing over Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy, I was crazy about John Wayne -50 years my senior. This adoration carried over throughout high school and was so well known that one boy, trying to secure a date, only succeeded by impersonating John Wayne's familiar drawl and naming his jeep "The Duke." In Tucson, the whole town loved John Wayne and affectionately dubbed a Saturday Night midnight viewing of his earliest 1930's westerns - "The Worst of John Wayne." All my dates knew that I had to be home by 11:45 PM because this weekly event couldn't be missed. When he passed away, my friends sent sympathy cards to me and I truly mourned him. For years, I avoided this book because I thought it would read like "Daddy Dearest." After reading it, I am only sorry that it took me so long to order it. Aissa presents a candid and honest view of her famous father - through a daughter's eyes. She speaks with love and pride of her father and yet also addresses the downside of being a child of such a famous icon as well. Some of the ways that her father showed his love toward her were so incredibly sweet that I actually envied her childhood. And some of his strictness - especially towards his sons, was so indicative of how men in that era believed that "real men don't cry" and that it was their duty to instruct their sons to be "strong and silent." In reading the book, it is so clear that John Wayne deeply loved his children - but Aissa was probably his favorite. I believe that her father showed his love the most by not always being the "nice guy," but by often being pretty strict. Parents can't always be friends with their kids during the teenage years because authority is questioned and undermined so much during those years, but it is obvious that John Wayne was strong and responsible and wanted to prepare Aissa with qualities that would carry her over to adulthood. The fact that Aissa became an attorney speaks volumes in that her father would be so immensely proud of her as this was an ambition of his as well. In many ways, I identified with Aissa because my father was also "larger than life" as a commanding officer of the Green Berets. Ironically, he passed away from lung cancer 5 years before John Wayne. Although not famous, as children of an officer, we were required to present a façade and behave in a manner that would enhance my father's career so I understood to some degree the resentment that Aissa felt growing up. Likewise, I think that we all were somewhat mortified to be around our parents in the 70's. I also know what it is like to have such a vibrant force depart and how angry I felt because he had died and how lost our whole family felt for so many years afterwards. So this book was like reading part of my life. Aissa states that for so many years she was attracted to men like her father and I can see now why I idolized John Wayne

In response to Sgt. Pepper, I really have a hard time with your comments about Aissa Wayne. I don't think she tap dances anymore, and she surely has no interest in rapping -- that's ridiculous! Aissa is a well-known California attorney and former prosecutor. She has been in several of her father's films, as a youngster, and spends evenings at home with her family (sort of a soccer mom), according to her bio. She is an accomplished writer and career woman, and I think this book is a great look at her famous father, the Duke. If she ever did rap, I assure you she would do it well. In the meantime, I suspect she will stick to her law career.

After reading this book, I got the impression that John Wayne was a very typical father, considering the era he was born in, and was like many dads of the 1950s, '60s and 70s. He was loyal, tender, caring, proud, and sometimes even angry, insensitive or crude. But, none of his children questioned his extreme love for them. He was a strong-willed man with an incredible personal drive; and it seems like the rest of the family often had to play catch-up. Aissa, a stunningly beautiful woman today, describes her teenage years with clarity as she goes through the "I'm embrassed by my parents" stage. I get the feeling that she wishes that she could step back in time and spend more time with "Daddy" during the last few years of his life. In this book, her love for Duke is clear, and her self-analysis seems to be an ongoing adventure. She tends to whine at certain moments in the text, but I can live with that. I recommend this book to anyone who loves John Wayne. We certainly miss him and how he portrayed an American"

I just ordered and read this book, and I found Aissa to be very forthcoming about her years with her father, the Duke. I get the impression that John Wayne tried very hard to be a good parent. Like all parents and human beings, he had some short-comings, but he seemed to adore his children and wanted the best for them. What can be better than that? Every once in a while she tends to whine about her circumstances, but then she recovers and shares some wonderful memories about life at home with her father. John Wayne was tough and gutsy, but he allowed himself to be vulnerable around his family. I think more of him now than I did before. Aissa still seems lost without her father, which makes perfect sense to me. What a loss.

Having gone to school with Aissa, I always found her to be sensitive, kind and consistently honest to the point of self-deprecation. This book only confirms to me, what I had long suspected, that these qualities were a beautiful reflection of her father. Although Steve Delsohn's writing reads more like a 3rd draft and he doesn't seem to find his rhythm until half way through the book, I think Aissa's voice still effectively comes through quite well. This is not a book for those who "lived near back lots" and only want sun-baked warrior/actor stories about the 'image' they know from the screen. This book is an amazingly honest and intimate narrative seen through Aissa's eyes and feelings. She takes great care not to denigrate or hurt anyone except herself. I suppose after reading this book and all the intimate emotions she shares, I would now have to add one more accolade to Aissa's character, and that would be "Courageous".