Review of Hemingway's Daughter
Posted: 16 Dec 2021, 11:25
[Following is a volunteer review of "Hemingway's Daughter" by Christine M. Whitehead.]
Author Christine M. Whitehead brings us a beautifully crafted book Hemingway's Daughter This book is a historical fiction, where our author has beautifully entwined fictional character Finely Hemingway, daughter of Ernest Hemingway and Hadley Hemingway, with the facts associated with the life of Ernest Hemingway.
Finley Hemingway (or Flea, as her father called her), is a tall, red haired girl, whom her father admires. But she has her own set of insecurities. She is deeply affected by her father's love life, and observes that " love always ends for us, and usually, it ends badly", and considers it a Hemingway family jinx. She spends a large portion of her life having this belief imbibed in her.
Flea desires to become a trial lawyer, but finds it hard to get her dream profession, all because around the time of World War 2, finding a female employment was difficult. It was only because of the war, and men were all fighting, that women were allowed to work, but now after the war, there is no place for them to work, for the men have all come back.
We also witness a beautifully detailed father-daughter dynamics. Through the eyes of Flea we get to see, the insecurities she has towards the love of her father. On one hand, it's only her father she runs to, to get strength and discuss difficult aspects of life , and again it's the disrespectful arguments with him and his wives that brings in her insecurities towards love. Throughout the book we keep wondering how these two completely different aspects exist in the very same person.
Here is a passage where Ernest Hemingway is giving such a beautiful advice to his daughter (page: 313):
"Papa knelt down, pulled a knife from his back pocket and began to cut up some fish for bait. “No, it just has to have existed to be real. Lasting is a whole other matter. And all I’m saying is that just because I’m a many-time loser in eternal love doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I only regret one marriage, and I don’t regret any of the love. Plus, Flea, you aren’t me.”
And in another passage where we witness a disagreement between them (page:273)
“You were the one I loved the most. You were the one I trusted. Now I find it’s another mask you put on."
With this book you share a part of your life with Ernest Hemingway, seeing him in the raw version , with his good and bad aspects. This is the wonder of this book, you get to live with him. But the best part about this book had been, despite being the daughter of Ernest Hemingway, life of Flea did not just revolve around him and his identity. She is a proud daughter, but she has her life to live, her struggle towards finding a true love, and getting her dream job, is gives her an independent self. This book presents us a sense of self.
I had a very good time reading the book, I learnt a lot about the great author, along with the story. It was very engaging and once I began reading it, I couldn't put it down.
I rate this book "4 out of 4", because of it's beautiful storytelling, the brilliant way of engaging readers into the Ernest Hemingway's life. And providing Flea a sense of identity.
I recommend this book to adult readers, because it has occasional use of abusive comments, especially during the arguments between Ernest Hemingway and his wives during various phases of his life. Also it has a few erotic scenes (very mild). Young adults can read and enjoy this book too. This book has been well edited, I couldn't find any error.
******
Hemingway's Daughter
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Author Christine M. Whitehead brings us a beautifully crafted book Hemingway's Daughter This book is a historical fiction, where our author has beautifully entwined fictional character Finely Hemingway, daughter of Ernest Hemingway and Hadley Hemingway, with the facts associated with the life of Ernest Hemingway.
Finley Hemingway (or Flea, as her father called her), is a tall, red haired girl, whom her father admires. But she has her own set of insecurities. She is deeply affected by her father's love life, and observes that " love always ends for us, and usually, it ends badly", and considers it a Hemingway family jinx. She spends a large portion of her life having this belief imbibed in her.
Flea desires to become a trial lawyer, but finds it hard to get her dream profession, all because around the time of World War 2, finding a female employment was difficult. It was only because of the war, and men were all fighting, that women were allowed to work, but now after the war, there is no place for them to work, for the men have all come back.
We also witness a beautifully detailed father-daughter dynamics. Through the eyes of Flea we get to see, the insecurities she has towards the love of her father. On one hand, it's only her father she runs to, to get strength and discuss difficult aspects of life , and again it's the disrespectful arguments with him and his wives that brings in her insecurities towards love. Throughout the book we keep wondering how these two completely different aspects exist in the very same person.
Here is a passage where Ernest Hemingway is giving such a beautiful advice to his daughter (page: 313):
"Papa knelt down, pulled a knife from his back pocket and began to cut up some fish for bait. “No, it just has to have existed to be real. Lasting is a whole other matter. And all I’m saying is that just because I’m a many-time loser in eternal love doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I only regret one marriage, and I don’t regret any of the love. Plus, Flea, you aren’t me.”
And in another passage where we witness a disagreement between them (page:273)
“You were the one I loved the most. You were the one I trusted. Now I find it’s another mask you put on."
With this book you share a part of your life with Ernest Hemingway, seeing him in the raw version , with his good and bad aspects. This is the wonder of this book, you get to live with him. But the best part about this book had been, despite being the daughter of Ernest Hemingway, life of Flea did not just revolve around him and his identity. She is a proud daughter, but she has her life to live, her struggle towards finding a true love, and getting her dream job, is gives her an independent self. This book presents us a sense of self.
I had a very good time reading the book, I learnt a lot about the great author, along with the story. It was very engaging and once I began reading it, I couldn't put it down.
I rate this book "4 out of 4", because of it's beautiful storytelling, the brilliant way of engaging readers into the Ernest Hemingway's life. And providing Flea a sense of identity.
I recommend this book to adult readers, because it has occasional use of abusive comments, especially during the arguments between Ernest Hemingway and his wives during various phases of his life. Also it has a few erotic scenes (very mild). Young adults can read and enjoy this book too. This book has been well edited, I couldn't find any error.
******
Hemingway's Daughter
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon