Novel Fathers

This week's objet d'eBay is something of a stone soup. You can bring almost toss almost anything father-related into one's thoughts on this signed, first edition of father of three sons John Irving's breakthrough novel, "The World According to Garp."

Irving's fourth is the one where his fears and loves themes coalesced in the tale &mash; growing no doubt out of his never learning who is father was — of the son who was the physical product of an unusual mum and a man rendered incapable of anything except fathering and the emotional product of almost everything fearful one can face as a boy, man and dad.

The movie featured actor and kid's book author John Lithgow, son of a scholar who presented Shakespeare festivals and father of actor Ian.

** You'd be safe to treat everyone like a son or daughter because, well, you never know ... and, really, wouldn't it be better that way? **