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103rd out of 207 books
—
74 voters
The Communist's Daughter
by
Dennis Bock
The Communist's Daughter is a sweeping novel of love and betrayal spanning the trenches of the Great War to the horrors of Spain and China.
Norman Bethune was a visionary whose dedication touched millions. Rebelling in childhood against his father's religion, he finds a calling himself, saving lives on the battlefield. In Republican Spain he fulfills his idealism, yet befo...more
Norman Bethune was a visionary whose dedication touched millions. Rebelling in childhood against his father's religion, he finds a calling himself, saving lives on the battlefield. In Republican Spain he fulfills his idealism, yet befo...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
February 13th 2007
by Knopf
(first published 2006)
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Aug 11, 2011
Rachael
added it
It was fine. I liked the bits about the main character and his daughter's mother the best. Overall, it wasn't an extremely enjoyable or memorable book, but fine.
Thanks Dave. An interesting read although some of the description of China got a bit boring.
Fictionalized memoir....1930's war in Madrid, China....wartime surgeon's memoirs directed to his daughter whom he's never met.
Now I need to look into the real life of Dr. Bethune...
Now I need to look into the real life of Dr. Bethune...
An incite into the life of Dr. Bethune, without the
ponderousness of a biography.
ponderousness of a biography.
Sep 25, 2007
Christine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of James Bond and Communist intrigue
Really gorgeous writing. It's the kind of book that you end up taking phrases away, wanting to immediately internalize the beautifully worked out prose. It was satisfying and filling- not in a way that is immediately forgotten. Most of the book, you feel as if you're just ambling along watching the scenery from the train window and the events don't seem to move along, but at the end, all the strings are pulled together. Very moving.
I reviewed this book for Harper Collins Canada. Here's what I wrote:
The Communist's Daughter by Dennis Bock is brilliant. The legendary Canadian doctor Norman Bethune is brought to life with his letter’s to his daughter, a child, whom he has never met. These letters slowly unfold the darkness of war, heroism, love, and past secrets.
Dennis Bock has written another winning story!
The Communist's Daughter by Dennis Bock is brilliant. The legendary Canadian doctor Norman Bethune is brought to life with his letter’s to his daughter, a child, whom he has never met. These letters slowly unfold the darkness of war, heroism, love, and past secrets.
Dennis Bock has written another winning story!
Read this for my book club and did not enjoy it (about half the book club liked it, the other half didn't!). It was so slow moving and I didn't feel engaged or invested in any of the characters. The main character, Bethune, is not very likeable. Too bad, because the topic was interesting.
A decent read but I thought Ash Garden was a much better novel. I found it a difficult novel to get into but it definitely got better. Perhaps I struggled with the novel because I found Bethune such an unlikeable character. Dennis Bock is fine writer and I will definitely read his next book.
Strong descriptions of Chinese countryside during the war and a subtle understanding of the main character. I was left wanting to know more facts about Norman Bethune so perhaps I should have read something factual rather than fictional.
Achingly beautiful and complicated portrayal of non-romantic idealism and political commitment, and the demands they make on one's humanity, with the extremes of war as a backdrop. It hurt to read this.
Great book. The period between the world wars has always fasinated me and this is an excellent story from that era.
Apr 24, 2013
Thomas
marked it as to-read
Feb 19, 2013
Sandra
marked it as to-read
Feb 05, 2013
Alex Plishka
marked it as to-read
Jan 01, 2013
Patrick
marked it as to-read
Nov 11, 2012
David Barry
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Oct 12, 2012
Voltaire
marked it as to-read
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“That's something like the sensation of losing someone. You are never in your life so alive, and so aware of being alive, yet so isolated and abandoned, as when a loved one is taken from you. The planet will move right through you like wind through stalks of grass.”
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