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Hemingway's Daughter
Finn Hemingway, fictional daughter of Ernest and Hadley Hemingway, knows for a fact that she’s been born at the wrong time into the wrong family with the wrong talents, making her three dreams for the future almost impossible to attain.
She burns to be a trial lawyer in an era when RBG is being told to type and when a man who is 500th in his law school class is hired over a woman who is first in hers. She yearns to find true love when the family curse dictates that love always ends for the Hemingways and usually it ends badly. And finally, she’d give up the first two dreams if she were able to snag the third. She longs to have an impact on the only thing that matters to her father: his writing. To accomplish that would require a miracle.
All three dreams are almost impossible, but it’s the “almost” that keeps Finn going.
Hemingway had three sons but ached for a daughter. This is her story.
She burns to be a trial lawyer in an era when RBG is being told to type and when a man who is 500th in his law school class is hired over a woman who is first in hers. She yearns to find true love when the family curse dictates that love always ends for the Hemingways and usually it ends badly. And finally, she’d give up the first two dreams if she were able to snag the third. She longs to have an impact on the only thing that matters to her father: his writing. To accomplish that would require a miracle.
All three dreams are almost impossible, but it’s the “almost” that keeps Finn going.
Hemingway had three sons but ached for a daughter. This is her story.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2021
235 people are currently reading
2553 people want to read
About the author
Christine M. Whitehead
3 books108 followersI’m a New England and Jersey Girl, a graduate of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and a divorce lawyer in Hartford, Connecticut. Tell Me When It Hurts was my first novel and The Rage of Plum Blossoms was my second. My latest is Hemingway's Daughter and I am excited to have readers enjoy and comment on it. Hemingway had 3 sons but always wanted a daughter. The book is about Finn's yearning to be a trial lawyer, and her hope to fall in love despite her belief that the family has a love curse on it,, and her dream to impact her father's writing--all of which feel impossible .
Alll three books can be read literally as good stories but the general theme of all is how we struggle to regain purchase when so much is pressing us every day to slip and when life turns on us and hope seems gone. All of the books are above all about choices and and second chances.
I spend my spare time with my dogs, my horses, and my significant other on a farm in rural CT. Please visit me at my website www.christinewhitehead.com and my blog www.theblogalsorises.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 13, 2021
"Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know."
The best short thing that I can describe the Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead is a beautiful fictional biography during WWII in USA.
Hemingway had three sons but ached for a daughter. This is Finn Hemingway's story, fictional daughter of Ernest and Hadley Hemingway.
This is Flea s story (only her father called), her friends, relationships, career, and horses. When Finn was born, her father was at age 26. They spend vacations together and their relationship was very special even when he had drinking problems and many wives.
"During the war, women had a place, but not anymore."
Flea wanted to be a trial lawyer. But, when men came back from war, this was not an easy goal. This story was about a woman, tried hard in harsh times and fought with Hemingways curse that ends badly in love.
I really enjoyed reading this very emotional story, beautifully written with interesting characters. I always loved Ernest Hemingway's books and this story from this point of view was very compelling. Even though this was a fictional book, I really liked Ernest Hemingway's character and his passion for animals.
"You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
Many thanks to BookBuzz.net and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead, I have given my honest review.
Pub Date 10 Jul 2021
The best short thing that I can describe the Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead is a beautiful fictional biography during WWII in USA.
Hemingway had three sons but ached for a daughter. This is Finn Hemingway's story, fictional daughter of Ernest and Hadley Hemingway.
This is Flea s story (only her father called), her friends, relationships, career, and horses. When Finn was born, her father was at age 26. They spend vacations together and their relationship was very special even when he had drinking problems and many wives.
"During the war, women had a place, but not anymore."
Flea wanted to be a trial lawyer. But, when men came back from war, this was not an easy goal. This story was about a woman, tried hard in harsh times and fought with Hemingways curse that ends badly in love.
I really enjoyed reading this very emotional story, beautifully written with interesting characters. I always loved Ernest Hemingway's books and this story from this point of view was very compelling. Even though this was a fictional book, I really liked Ernest Hemingway's character and his passion for animals.
"You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
Many thanks to BookBuzz.net and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead, I have given my honest review.
Pub Date 10 Jul 2021
November 22, 2021
If I could have given this more stars, I would have. It's that good.
The author, Christine M. Whitehead, has somehow developed a fantastic story around the daughter that Hemingway never had in real life. Finley "Flea to Papa Hemingway" is so realistic I had to keep reminding myself this was a work of fiction. I wanted her to be real. I willed her to be real.
A young woman who has been told she's "never going to have poems written about her" (by a brutal Zelda Fitzgerald) because of her looks, she wants to become a trial lawyer when women were not supposed to want to do such things. She's tall, gangly, and has red hair to boot. Everyone continually asks her if she's going to be a writer like her dad, and his shadow falls over her shoulders a lot, especially while at a boarding school where she faces bullying because of her father's reputation as a womanizer and alcoholic (true).
I started reading and could not put it down. The characters are extremely well developed and you can feel her turmoil as she both loves and doesn't understand Papa. He drinks himself into oblivion. He has so many girlfriends - and wives - it's like a rotating door. Flea grows attached to some of them, only to find them gone when a new one turns his head. Her mother is the stable influence in her life and she loves her, but she deeply desires a Papa who keeps his promises and quits the womanizing and drinking.
Read it. It's fantastic.
The author, Christine M. Whitehead, has somehow developed a fantastic story around the daughter that Hemingway never had in real life. Finley "Flea to Papa Hemingway" is so realistic I had to keep reminding myself this was a work of fiction. I wanted her to be real. I willed her to be real.
A young woman who has been told she's "never going to have poems written about her" (by a brutal Zelda Fitzgerald) because of her looks, she wants to become a trial lawyer when women were not supposed to want to do such things. She's tall, gangly, and has red hair to boot. Everyone continually asks her if she's going to be a writer like her dad, and his shadow falls over her shoulders a lot, especially while at a boarding school where she faces bullying because of her father's reputation as a womanizer and alcoholic (true).
I started reading and could not put it down. The characters are extremely well developed and you can feel her turmoil as she both loves and doesn't understand Papa. He drinks himself into oblivion. He has so many girlfriends - and wives - it's like a rotating door. Flea grows attached to some of them, only to find them gone when a new one turns his head. Her mother is the stable influence in her life and she loves her, but she deeply desires a Papa who keeps his promises and quits the womanizing and drinking.
Read it. It's fantastic.
July 31, 2021
Hemingway had three sons but ached for a daughter. This is her story.
Despite being born on her father’s birthday and the only daughter, Finley ‘Finn’ Hemingway could tell you how very difficult it was to garner her father’s attention. Caught up in the trappings of fame and female attention (married four times and countless affairs), Ernest was emotionally unavailable to Finn. As she puts it, “my father was 100% reliable, 60% of the time, and that was when he was sober.” Readers will feel compassion for her as she struggles under the shadow of her brothers and her famous father, all the while being torn between loyalty to divorced parents. When she’s unable to make an impact on her father’s writing nor find true love, she throws her energy into becoming a trial lawyer in a male dominated profession. As if this wasn’t stressful enough, Finn endures growing up through the Depression and World War Two. This intimate look at Hemingway the author through the eyes of his fictional daughter is a worthy read.
The novel is divided into 55 chapters, each given a name of one of his books. Heading each chapter is a quote, giving readers a clue as to the contents of the chapter. Ingenious structure! Whitehead has crafted such an authentic Finn, that I had to remind myself several times that she was fictional. I could feel her angst on every page as she calculated methods of getting her father’s attention. Told in first person, Whitehead has given great insight into the father/daughter relationship and clearly shown what a blessing and a curse it was to be Hemingway’s daughter. Adding to the authentic feel of the prose, the author name drops and readers feel as though they are privy to Hemingway’s inner circle.
Having read and studied Hemingway at university, I was eager to read this book and am happy to report that it succeeded my expectations.
I was gifted this advance copy by Christine Whitehead, Hadley Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Despite being born on her father’s birthday and the only daughter, Finley ‘Finn’ Hemingway could tell you how very difficult it was to garner her father’s attention. Caught up in the trappings of fame and female attention (married four times and countless affairs), Ernest was emotionally unavailable to Finn. As she puts it, “my father was 100% reliable, 60% of the time, and that was when he was sober.” Readers will feel compassion for her as she struggles under the shadow of her brothers and her famous father, all the while being torn between loyalty to divorced parents. When she’s unable to make an impact on her father’s writing nor find true love, she throws her energy into becoming a trial lawyer in a male dominated profession. As if this wasn’t stressful enough, Finn endures growing up through the Depression and World War Two. This intimate look at Hemingway the author through the eyes of his fictional daughter is a worthy read.
The novel is divided into 55 chapters, each given a name of one of his books. Heading each chapter is a quote, giving readers a clue as to the contents of the chapter. Ingenious structure! Whitehead has crafted such an authentic Finn, that I had to remind myself several times that she was fictional. I could feel her angst on every page as she calculated methods of getting her father’s attention. Told in first person, Whitehead has given great insight into the father/daughter relationship and clearly shown what a blessing and a curse it was to be Hemingway’s daughter. Adding to the authentic feel of the prose, the author name drops and readers feel as though they are privy to Hemingway’s inner circle.
Having read and studied Hemingway at university, I was eager to read this book and am happy to report that it succeeded my expectations.
I was gifted this advance copy by Christine Whitehead, Hadley Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 13, 2023
This is so very well written that it rings true!!! I wanted Flea to have been a real person. I wanted this to be an autobiography!!!
I refer you to Shirin’s review which says it better than I can!
I loved this novel!!
I refer you to Shirin’s review which says it better than I can!
I loved this novel!!
January 8, 2022
This account of the relationship between Papa and Flea was so real, there were times I had to remind myself that Hemmingway never had a daughter, but if he had, it would've been someone like Finley. The way her story of overcoming professional barriers, as well as struggles with personal relationships, intertwined with the historical facts we Papa fans know, was smooth, adding to that sense of believability.
I loved all the characters in the story, even Papa, who struggled with his own demons, but the author presented a human side to him that peeked through at times and made him okay. Not perfect. Maybe not even good, except as a writer, but okay. And Finn was happy with okay.
And Finn was perfect as a character.
This was the first book I read penned by this author, but I will definitely look for more.
I loved all the characters in the story, even Papa, who struggled with his own demons, but the author presented a human side to him that peeked through at times and made him okay. Not perfect. Maybe not even good, except as a writer, but okay. And Finn was happy with okay.
And Finn was perfect as a character.
This was the first book I read penned by this author, but I will definitely look for more.
February 12, 2023
Hemingway’s Daughter is Why I Read Books
Books have to have good characters, and those characters have to be involved in the plot, the story. Hemingway ceases to be self-consumed drunk, or whatever is your assumption. He becomes a man, deeply flawed and abusive of those around him. Then he becomes a man enslaved by his flaws, freed briefly by a book written by the slaver himself.
Finn becomes a woman, gradually coming into her own. She does so by degrees, grudgingly from her father, and by her own determination.
A well-told tale, satisfying to the reader!
Books have to have good characters, and those characters have to be involved in the plot, the story. Hemingway ceases to be self-consumed drunk, or whatever is your assumption. He becomes a man, deeply flawed and abusive of those around him. Then he becomes a man enslaved by his flaws, freed briefly by a book written by the slaver himself.
Finn becomes a woman, gradually coming into her own. She does so by degrees, grudgingly from her father, and by her own determination.
A well-told tale, satisfying to the reader!
February 26, 2023
This book seemed so real to me I almost believed Ernest Hemingway actually did have a daughter. I also felt I got to really know Hemingway and it felt authentic. A good book, to me, makes one want to search further, and this one made me want to reread Hemingway's books and to get a copy of all his short stories.
July 9, 2023
HEMINGWAY'S DAUGHTER
I loved this book. I was totally involved with Flea and Papa. The fictional relationship became so real. The characters were so well drawn, the conversations so alive, I felt I knew them all personally. I have not read Hemingway, but it's on my list now. Well done, Christine, you did your father proud.
I loved this book. I was totally involved with Flea and Papa. The fictional relationship became so real. The characters were so well drawn, the conversations so alive, I felt I knew them all personally. I have not read Hemingway, but it's on my list now. Well done, Christine, you did your father proud.
May 20, 2023
This helped me to understand Hemingway, the man, much more clearly. According to his daughter he must have been quite extraordinary, but for me, he would've been hard to love. This was a great read, and the author did a great job of placing the reader in the story and feeling what Finley was experiencing.
February 8, 2023
An Imagined Daughter
An interesting read! AlthoughI I’ve watched several documentaries about Ernest Hemingway, I got a real feel for the man through the eyes of his imagined daughter. It makes me want to read more of “ Hem’s” books!
An interesting read! AlthoughI I’ve watched several documentaries about Ernest Hemingway, I got a real feel for the man through the eyes of his imagined daughter. It makes me want to read more of “ Hem’s” books!
February 6, 2023
Great Read
I’m loved this book from page one. The author wrote so convincingly and beautifully that I felt I was reading a memoir . Me I want to reread all of Hemingway.
I’m loved this book from page one. The author wrote so convincingly and beautifully that I felt I was reading a memoir . Me I want to reread all of Hemingway.
January 9, 2022
"Love is the best, the worst, the highest and the lowest of all human experience, but love in any form is the only true antidote against loneliness." -Christine M. Whitehead. There are certain times in everyone's lives, and throughout history, when we are faced with the looming question, "What if?" In this case, what if the famed persona of Ernest Hemingway had fathered the daughter he always longed for? How would a daughter have affected Hemingway's work? What would life have been like for a daughter of arguably one of the world's first international "rock star" style celebrities? In Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead, the author skillfully attempts to answer those questions by introducing the reader to Finley Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's fictitious daughter. Through skillful prose, aided by numerous quotes from Hemingway's notable works, the reader follows the path of the life of a remarkable woman. Hemingway's Daughter is equal parts fictitious biography, love story (albeit, not in the traditional sense), and a story of yearning.
According to the main character, Finley Hemingway, her family is jinxed with a love curse; for Hemingways, love isn't sustainable and always ends horribly. At the deepest roots of this belief, Finley spends most of her young adult life wondering, love aside, if she was ever anything more to her father than his trusty biological sidekick. As the lives of Finley and her friends and family evolve and progress, she rides the hills and valleys that are to be expected in any life, even if hers is lived largely in the shadow of her father's immense celebrity, and realizes that love was there in all aspects of her life all along.
I found the various subtle examples of love, and the yearning that naturally follows it, to be quite stunning. The reader is reminded throughout that, though seemingly insurmountable struggles will present themselves to us all, we can always overcome with love on our side.
Another aspect, particularly relevant due to the time period of the bulk of this novel (late 1930's through early 1960's), was the struggle of women striving for equality. Christine M. Whitehead stresses, largely through dialogue between characters and said characters' subsequent actions, that it is entirely up to an individual to decide who they are, what they will stand for, and who and what they will fight for.
The author did a phenomenal job in constructing a vivid image of Ernest Hemingway and what life with him might have entailed. The depth and scope of all of the characters, even down to the horses, dogs, and cats, leant an aspect of realism that is very difficult to achieve in fictional works. As such, Hemingway's Daughter is believable to the point of coming across as non-fiction, which is the highest praise I can offer.
I give this book 5 stars, and I would give it more if more were available. This is a gripping, intelligent, artfully written book that is one of the better books I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. There is literally nothing I find to criticize. Hemingway's Daughter is a suitable read for anyone middle school-aged and older.
According to the main character, Finley Hemingway, her family is jinxed with a love curse; for Hemingways, love isn't sustainable and always ends horribly. At the deepest roots of this belief, Finley spends most of her young adult life wondering, love aside, if she was ever anything more to her father than his trusty biological sidekick. As the lives of Finley and her friends and family evolve and progress, she rides the hills and valleys that are to be expected in any life, even if hers is lived largely in the shadow of her father's immense celebrity, and realizes that love was there in all aspects of her life all along.
I found the various subtle examples of love, and the yearning that naturally follows it, to be quite stunning. The reader is reminded throughout that, though seemingly insurmountable struggles will present themselves to us all, we can always overcome with love on our side.
Another aspect, particularly relevant due to the time period of the bulk of this novel (late 1930's through early 1960's), was the struggle of women striving for equality. Christine M. Whitehead stresses, largely through dialogue between characters and said characters' subsequent actions, that it is entirely up to an individual to decide who they are, what they will stand for, and who and what they will fight for.
The author did a phenomenal job in constructing a vivid image of Ernest Hemingway and what life with him might have entailed. The depth and scope of all of the characters, even down to the horses, dogs, and cats, leant an aspect of realism that is very difficult to achieve in fictional works. As such, Hemingway's Daughter is believable to the point of coming across as non-fiction, which is the highest praise I can offer.
I give this book 5 stars, and I would give it more if more were available. This is a gripping, intelligent, artfully written book that is one of the better books I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. There is literally nothing I find to criticize. Hemingway's Daughter is a suitable read for anyone middle school-aged and older.
January 12, 2023
I love the way Christine M. Whitehead writes in this book. Every character is well-made. It also flows well as I read it. I can feel every emotion, especially for Finn. Every action has a reason or story behind it, accompanied by proper character development. Every word was chosen with care. There is a message we can take from this book, we can try to see things from a different perspective.
After reading this book, I felt this story was real and wanted to find out how Finley is doing now. This book is well written and beautiful. I found no holes in this story. I am always interested in hearing stories from a different time, traveling to the past, and seeing what they are thinking and doing.
I would recommend this book for people who enjoy stories with backgrounds set in the past and who want to read about living or surviving in life.
After reading this book, I felt this story was real and wanted to find out how Finley is doing now. This book is well written and beautiful. I found no holes in this story. I am always interested in hearing stories from a different time, traveling to the past, and seeing what they are thinking and doing.
I would recommend this book for people who enjoy stories with backgrounds set in the past and who want to read about living or surviving in life.
August 6, 2021
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read from the first page to the last. Please note that a familiarity with Ernest Hemingway’s writings is not necessary, but would enhance the appreciation of the quotes at the beginning of each chapter as well as the references to characters and plot points of his books.
In life, Hemingway had three sons, but no daughter. Whitehead has created this fictional character with such finesse that the story becomes totally believable. Filled with the complexities of Hemingway’s personal life and career, the novel unfolds is simple, yet effective prose. The dialogues are natural and reflect the multidimensional aspects of the relationships between the characters. From reading a brief biography of Hemingway, the author appears to have stayed true to many of the events and people that peppered his life. For all the drama portrayed in the book, it never deteriorated into melodramatic affectation.
Findley (aka Finn, aka “Flea”) is an engaging character. Her relationship with her father is paradoxically one of a deep loving bond, yet fraught with her insecurity in not knowing her place in his life’s priorities. Like many gifted, creative people, Hemingway was self-centered and suffered emotionally and physically for his art form. Finn understood this, but craved to be foremost in his focus. I appreciated her strong character and her desire to challenge the prevailing attitude that women could not compete in a man’s domain – in this case becoming a successful litigation attorney.
In essence this is a love story of a woman who struggled to reconcile her deep need for connection with a belief that the “Hemingway Curse” made it impossible to experience true and lasting love. Her father’s multiple marriages and affairs underscored this belief and challenged her to risk living life on her own terms rather than avoiding the vulnerability inherent in loving someone.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
In life, Hemingway had three sons, but no daughter. Whitehead has created this fictional character with such finesse that the story becomes totally believable. Filled with the complexities of Hemingway’s personal life and career, the novel unfolds is simple, yet effective prose. The dialogues are natural and reflect the multidimensional aspects of the relationships between the characters. From reading a brief biography of Hemingway, the author appears to have stayed true to many of the events and people that peppered his life. For all the drama portrayed in the book, it never deteriorated into melodramatic affectation.
Findley (aka Finn, aka “Flea”) is an engaging character. Her relationship with her father is paradoxically one of a deep loving bond, yet fraught with her insecurity in not knowing her place in his life’s priorities. Like many gifted, creative people, Hemingway was self-centered and suffered emotionally and physically for his art form. Finn understood this, but craved to be foremost in his focus. I appreciated her strong character and her desire to challenge the prevailing attitude that women could not compete in a man’s domain – in this case becoming a successful litigation attorney.
In essence this is a love story of a woman who struggled to reconcile her deep need for connection with a belief that the “Hemingway Curse” made it impossible to experience true and lasting love. Her father’s multiple marriages and affairs underscored this belief and challenged her to risk living life on her own terms rather than avoiding the vulnerability inherent in loving someone.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 19, 2021
In her imaginative and highly enjoyable novel, Christine Whitehead has skillfully brought to life the daughter Ernest Hemingway never had. Finn Hemingway is a believable and fascinating character all on her own. In this story, however, Finn also shines a new light on her famous father. We all seem to know at least a little something about the macho, hard-living Ernest Hemingway, whose male characters lived by their own moral code. But through Finn and her interactions with her father, we're introduced to softer, more nuanced Hemingway. I recall attending a lecture on Hemingway in one of my American Literature classes in college. In that lecture, the professor referred to a famous editorial cartoon of Hemingway, in which the artist drew a single rose growing out of the author's hairy chest. In her novel, Christine Whitehead has expanded on that dualistic theme with admirable skill and poetic language.
Finn's is a coming-of-age story, and as readers we root for her success and happiness the entire way, even though she doubts she'll ever find true happiness or lasting love. She's that likable and sympathetic. Running parallel to Finn's absorbing tale, is the fictionalized yet historically accurate account of her father, a man of great contradictions and even greater passions. To paraphrase the poet, Robert Frost, Hemingway seemed to have a lover's quarrel with the world, and in this novel, he has no greater love than the one he feels for his fictional daughter.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and enthusiastically recommend it to all who love good stories.
Finn's is a coming-of-age story, and as readers we root for her success and happiness the entire way, even though she doubts she'll ever find true happiness or lasting love. She's that likable and sympathetic. Running parallel to Finn's absorbing tale, is the fictionalized yet historically accurate account of her father, a man of great contradictions and even greater passions. To paraphrase the poet, Robert Frost, Hemingway seemed to have a lover's quarrel with the world, and in this novel, he has no greater love than the one he feels for his fictional daughter.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and enthusiastically recommend it to all who love good stories.
August 11, 2021
I was not sure what to expect reading this book. I had visited Hemingway’s house in Key West so had a bit of background to this story. The author has done a wonderful job of creating the daughter of Hemingway playing into his timeline, places, and personality.
I felt a bit sad for this daughter as she battled for a place in Hemingway’s life amidst various stepmothers, women, and dysfunctional family members. The deep longing for a father-daughter relationship feeds into the vignettes out of Hemingway’s life which made me feel the author was examining her own lost relationships. The story resonated with me for how life can throw you curved balls when you are looking for love. It challenged me to wonder if true love can ever be found or maintained. The characters were well-formed as I entered Finley Hemingway’s world, she became real as I walked through the many parts of her life, relationships with school friends, colleagues, and lovers.
You will not want to put this book down once you start reading it, the character of Finley draws you deep into factual history, but fictional story. I was given an ARC copy to review
I felt a bit sad for this daughter as she battled for a place in Hemingway’s life amidst various stepmothers, women, and dysfunctional family members. The deep longing for a father-daughter relationship feeds into the vignettes out of Hemingway’s life which made me feel the author was examining her own lost relationships. The story resonated with me for how life can throw you curved balls when you are looking for love. It challenged me to wonder if true love can ever be found or maintained. The characters were well-formed as I entered Finley Hemingway’s world, she became real as I walked through the many parts of her life, relationships with school friends, colleagues, and lovers.
You will not want to put this book down once you start reading it, the character of Finley draws you deep into factual history, but fictional story. I was given an ARC copy to review
October 11, 2021
Although the book starts off slowly and obscurely with a plethora of characters it soon becomes fascinating as we journey through time with Hemingway’s fictionalized daughter. If you have read much Hemingway you will love this book. It’s rich with Hemingway’s most powerful quotes from his best novels. The “Hemingway” themes passed on from one generation to the next become salient in these characters’ lives. Once I was halfway through the book I couldn’t put it down. It’s beautifully narrated and sensitively presented. I was surprised that I loved this book, but I was familiar with Hemingway’s writing and story. Christine Whitehead, the author, skillfully integrates history and fiction that culminate in this persuasive and fictionalized narrative about Hemingway’s daughter, his marriages, his depression, and writing. It’s a fascinating read.
September 4, 2021
The author has given Earnest Hemmingway a daughter, Finn. This book is about her fictional relationship with him and how he defines her life. Finn had few friends and when she gets to college there is only one girl she can connect with. They remain friends throughout Finn’s life. Finn wants so badly to be foremost in Hemmingway’s life but his drinking, relationships with other women, many wives, and the striving for perfection leaves Finn an afterthought. She worships him and all she does is to please him. I did find the culture of the times, where she becomes a lawyer and no one would hire a woman, interesting and well done. Finn is a strong person and is bound and determined to have the life she wants. I liked Finn’s perseverance, dedication, and loyalty and enjoyed the book.
August 13, 2021
I love how writers will reflect in their stories that they have done their research on a historical era or person and Christine Whitehead has achieved that in this book by injecting a daughter into the fictional life of Ernest Hemingway. There were many ways the storyline could have gone but the author stays true to the subject of the story: Hemingway. I love how the chapters begin with references to quotes of his books and then get caught up in in historical places or people. Thanks to NetGalley and Hadley Press for providing an ARC copy. This is my honest review.
August 14, 2022
Did not care for at all. Wanted to love this book as The Paris Wife is one of my my fav books of all time. Felt writing was basic as could be. Characters not deep at all. Read to about page 50. Discarded. Sorry
August 12, 2021
This book seems very interesting. I can't wait to read this.
July 7, 2025
"There is nothing else than now. There is neither yesterday, certainly, nor is there any tomorrow. How old must you be before you know that?" -Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls (chapter 27)
Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead was beautifully written and well executed. Finn's story was inspiring, heartfelt, and moving. I love Hemingway and became aware that he always wanted a daughter after reading a separate novel about his third marriage. He had three sons and they are also accurately depicted in the novel. I have studied much of Hemingway's personal life and was impressed with the author's ability to weave together the relationship between father and daughter while staying true to Hemingway's personality, character, writing, and significant events in his life. Their relationship was almost dream-like to read, but it also felt incredibly real. The book evoked strong emotions for me, and I felt as if I had been given a window to secretly watch and take in the life of Hemingway-the good and the bad, his writing, and all those he loved through the decades including his beloved pets.
Finn's story was intriguing and captivating. The author depicts Finn's struggles, joys, heartaches, growth, and most importantly her relationship with her father eloquently. Their conversations were thought-provoking and insightful. I especially loved their discussions and debates about love and their own relationships. Finn was an avid equestrian, and I loved the significant role that the horses were given in the story. Her struggle to become an attorney during the 1950's when this was quite a feat for a woman was historically accurate and a reminder of how even Hemingway's daughter could not easily break down walls and glass ceilings. I came to love Finn and her endearing character. She was written authentically, and I could easily relate to her feelings, thoughts, and actions throughout the novel.
I enjoyed the quotes from several of Hemingway's novels at the beginning of each chapter, and the engaging dialogue throughout Hemingway’s Daughter. I found it hard to put this book down. You do not need to love Hemingway to enjoy this story. If you do love Hemingway, I can guarantee you will not be disappointed! I easily give this novel 5 stars and highly recommend it. Don't miss this powerful and remarkable read!
Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead was beautifully written and well executed. Finn's story was inspiring, heartfelt, and moving. I love Hemingway and became aware that he always wanted a daughter after reading a separate novel about his third marriage. He had three sons and they are also accurately depicted in the novel. I have studied much of Hemingway's personal life and was impressed with the author's ability to weave together the relationship between father and daughter while staying true to Hemingway's personality, character, writing, and significant events in his life. Their relationship was almost dream-like to read, but it also felt incredibly real. The book evoked strong emotions for me, and I felt as if I had been given a window to secretly watch and take in the life of Hemingway-the good and the bad, his writing, and all those he loved through the decades including his beloved pets.
Finn's story was intriguing and captivating. The author depicts Finn's struggles, joys, heartaches, growth, and most importantly her relationship with her father eloquently. Their conversations were thought-provoking and insightful. I especially loved their discussions and debates about love and their own relationships. Finn was an avid equestrian, and I loved the significant role that the horses were given in the story. Her struggle to become an attorney during the 1950's when this was quite a feat for a woman was historically accurate and a reminder of how even Hemingway's daughter could not easily break down walls and glass ceilings. I came to love Finn and her endearing character. She was written authentically, and I could easily relate to her feelings, thoughts, and actions throughout the novel.
I enjoyed the quotes from several of Hemingway's novels at the beginning of each chapter, and the engaging dialogue throughout Hemingway’s Daughter. I found it hard to put this book down. You do not need to love Hemingway to enjoy this story. If you do love Hemingway, I can guarantee you will not be disappointed! I easily give this novel 5 stars and highly recommend it. Don't miss this powerful and remarkable read!
September 7, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. The question which kept nagging at me as I was reading this book: why write an account of a fictional relative of Hemingway's when all the real people in his life are so interesting? I enjoyed reading this story, but mostly because Hemingway's biography is so fascinating. (I highly recommend the Ken Burns documentary on Hemingway.) This novel did make me want to read A Moveable Feast and also a biography of Mary Hemingway called Hemingway's Widow about Mary Hemingway. Additionally, Mary Hemingway has written her own memoirs. I think it is a compliment to the author when her book makes me want to read more!
As for the story itself, I found Finley's infatuation with her father to be a little over the top. (Then again, there is no Ken Burns documentary about my father's life - so what do I know?) One thing I have learned about Hemingway: his love for his children was far from unconditional. An actual written will was found. He left 1/2 of his estate to Jack, 1/4 to Patrick, and $1000 to Gregory/Gloria. Mary had basically ignored or never discovered (?) the will, and didn't let the kids have much. Her main concern was protecting her husband's legacy.
A contradiction of this novel is while Finley wants to be a "modern" woman, so much of this story, especially the end, is her reflecting on her relationships with the men in her life. She seems to have only one good woman friend, and her mother just seems to be a footnote. (I don't blame her mother for being offended when she told her father how she never wants to spend another Christmas without him - while she was spending Christmas with her mother!). One of my favorite pages in the book was when she decided what true love was (great definition), agreeing with her father, but leaving out the women in her life! Spoiler alert: she had a baby who died of SIDS which we only learned about through one sentence. I'm a dog-lover, but she talked about her dogs and horses more than a child? I can't even imagine that baby not being one of the loves of her life.
I recommend this book to anyone who finds Hemingway fascinating, but you might also enjoy reading about some real-life Hemingways more.
As for the story itself, I found Finley's infatuation with her father to be a little over the top. (Then again, there is no Ken Burns documentary about my father's life - so what do I know?) One thing I have learned about Hemingway: his love for his children was far from unconditional. An actual written will was found. He left 1/2 of his estate to Jack, 1/4 to Patrick, and $1000 to Gregory/Gloria. Mary had basically ignored or never discovered (?) the will, and didn't let the kids have much. Her main concern was protecting her husband's legacy.
A contradiction of this novel is while Finley wants to be a "modern" woman, so much of this story, especially the end, is her reflecting on her relationships with the men in her life. She seems to have only one good woman friend, and her mother just seems to be a footnote. (I don't blame her mother for being offended when she told her father how she never wants to spend another Christmas without him - while she was spending Christmas with her mother!). One of my favorite pages in the book was when she decided what true love was (great definition), agreeing with her father, but leaving out the women in her life! Spoiler alert: she had a baby who died of SIDS which we only learned about through one sentence. I'm a dog-lover, but she talked about her dogs and horses more than a child? I can't even imagine that baby not being one of the loves of her life.
I recommend this book to anyone who finds Hemingway fascinating, but you might also enjoy reading about some real-life Hemingways more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2022
The book, Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead, explores the struggle of being deemed an outcast and mustering the fortitude to prove oneself. The adored daughter of her famous father, Ernest Hemingway, from his first marriage, Finley Richardson Hemingway, Flea, battles within herself to escape her father's influence. The strong-willed Finley overcame all that was impossible despite being born during a time when her beauty was regarded as ugly, her intelligence was undervalued in a male-dominated culture and falling in love with the Hemingway’s was a self-proclaimed curse.
Regardless of the period, the book transcends many of the typical emotions that people of all ages and all strata currently experience. Following the plot was simple and engaging since Christine M. Whitehead skilfully developed and maintained the four Hemingway family rules that she lived by. The strong attachment a father has with his daughter is clear throughout the narrative. Finley, the daughter Earnest Hemingway longed for, was the anchor in his life despite the fact that he had three sons from his first marriage. The work also accurately depicted the challenges of writing, with renowned novelist Earnest Hemingway displaying his emotions.
The text was made even more engaging by the use of straightforward Spanish and French words. The magnificent work of art “Hemingway’s Daughter” shows female self-actualization.
There is a suggestion of domestic abuse and alcoholism, which highlights topics that some readers may find upsetting. Sensitive readers should be warned that there contains a small amount of light sexual content and borderline swearing.
The language used was clear, and the events were sequenced in a way that was easy to understand.
I recommend this book to those who are trying to identify their specialty, especially those who have had trouble finding true love and blazing a career path.
Regardless of the period, the book transcends many of the typical emotions that people of all ages and all strata currently experience. Following the plot was simple and engaging since Christine M. Whitehead skilfully developed and maintained the four Hemingway family rules that she lived by. The strong attachment a father has with his daughter is clear throughout the narrative. Finley, the daughter Earnest Hemingway longed for, was the anchor in his life despite the fact that he had three sons from his first marriage. The work also accurately depicted the challenges of writing, with renowned novelist Earnest Hemingway displaying his emotions.
The text was made even more engaging by the use of straightforward Spanish and French words. The magnificent work of art “Hemingway’s Daughter” shows female self-actualization.
There is a suggestion of domestic abuse and alcoholism, which highlights topics that some readers may find upsetting. Sensitive readers should be warned that there contains a small amount of light sexual content and borderline swearing.
The language used was clear, and the events were sequenced in a way that was easy to understand.
I recommend this book to those who are trying to identify their specialty, especially those who have had trouble finding true love and blazing a career path.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2025
Hemingway’s Daughter
Christina M. Whitehead
Summary (no spoilers)
This novel is a fictional account of the relationship of Ernest Hemingway and his fictional daughter, Finn Hemingway. Finn lives with the constant reminder of who her father is and craves his attention and perfect father/daughter relationship. Finn yearns for a relationship that she feels is more important than his women, stories, and books. She questions if she can overcome the ‘Hemingway realities’ or just accept that she will fall victim to it, as she struggles in her life with relationships and women’s rights in the workplace.
The novel takes you through Finn’s journey during school to the end of her life. She deals with the drama surrounding her father and his banned books and views. She stays focused on her mission to attend law school, even though it is difficult for women. Finn and her friends go through the life struggles that World War II brings.
In the beginning chapters, Finn presents her Reality Rules. This tended to become wordy, but was necessary to realize Finn’s struggles along the way. The story starts to develop near Chapter 2 and Finn’s story takes off. I was fully immersed by mid-way in the story.
She is always questioning her choices in school, finding her way in a man’s world of attorney’s, and even her love life. Does she go after the joy that she could have or accept the fate of the Hemingway legacy?
The story does include Hemingway and his friends, and even mentions The Fitzgerald’s. It does give a glimpse into what that lifestyle might have looked like from the family members point of view. Even with that setting and the popular personalities, Finn stands on her own as a strong main character.
Christina M. Whitehead does a wonderful job telling this character’s story. I chose this book based on my love of the Hemingway time period, but Finn’s character stood on her own.
I would definitely recommend this book!
Christina M. Whitehead
Summary (no spoilers)
This novel is a fictional account of the relationship of Ernest Hemingway and his fictional daughter, Finn Hemingway. Finn lives with the constant reminder of who her father is and craves his attention and perfect father/daughter relationship. Finn yearns for a relationship that she feels is more important than his women, stories, and books. She questions if she can overcome the ‘Hemingway realities’ or just accept that she will fall victim to it, as she struggles in her life with relationships and women’s rights in the workplace.
The novel takes you through Finn’s journey during school to the end of her life. She deals with the drama surrounding her father and his banned books and views. She stays focused on her mission to attend law school, even though it is difficult for women. Finn and her friends go through the life struggles that World War II brings.
In the beginning chapters, Finn presents her Reality Rules. This tended to become wordy, but was necessary to realize Finn’s struggles along the way. The story starts to develop near Chapter 2 and Finn’s story takes off. I was fully immersed by mid-way in the story.
She is always questioning her choices in school, finding her way in a man’s world of attorney’s, and even her love life. Does she go after the joy that she could have or accept the fate of the Hemingway legacy?
The story does include Hemingway and his friends, and even mentions The Fitzgerald’s. It does give a glimpse into what that lifestyle might have looked like from the family members point of view. Even with that setting and the popular personalities, Finn stands on her own as a strong main character.
Christina M. Whitehead does a wonderful job telling this character’s story. I chose this book based on my love of the Hemingway time period, but Finn’s character stood on her own.
I would definitely recommend this book!
April 17, 2023
This is the memoir of the fictional daughter of Ernest Hemingway with his first wife. As such, the tale spends a lot of time in Cuba, where the writer lived, and more time around Boston and New York. Hemingway gave his children nicknames which diminished their stature, and so the nickname for this girl Finley is Flea. But she finds him reliable only 60% of the time, between his writing, travels, drinking, and self-centred behaviour which led him to chase one woman after another, wrecking each marriage so he could start a new one.
This is a horsey story, a boarding school story, and a wartime story, then Finley gets to study law. But she finds that the wartime advantages for women were no longer in the post-war workplace, and she is only going to be hired to do filing and maybe research. Nobody wants to see a woman in the courtroom, despite her qualifications.
The father-daughter relationship is shown as stronger than the father-son one, in which young men often butt heads and leave. Finley comes across as needy for her dad's attention, but then, he was an award-winning notorious author, a big personality, and he kept telling her how important she was to him. And if the daughter had existed, as well as sons, this might have changed the man's life; we are told he has written a late book based on her early life, which seems gentler than his usual macho novels.
The author of this novel has placed copious quotes from Hemingway's letters and books, some as direct speech. We also get portraits of the ladies in his life.
I can recommend following this book with 'Love and Ruin' by Paula McLain, the fictionalised memoir of Martha Gellhorn, journalist at D-Day, author, and an ex-wife of Hemingway's, who features in Hemingway's Daughter.
I found this tale absorbing and well crafted. This is an unbiased review.
This is a horsey story, a boarding school story, and a wartime story, then Finley gets to study law. But she finds that the wartime advantages for women were no longer in the post-war workplace, and she is only going to be hired to do filing and maybe research. Nobody wants to see a woman in the courtroom, despite her qualifications.
The father-daughter relationship is shown as stronger than the father-son one, in which young men often butt heads and leave. Finley comes across as needy for her dad's attention, but then, he was an award-winning notorious author, a big personality, and he kept telling her how important she was to him. And if the daughter had existed, as well as sons, this might have changed the man's life; we are told he has written a late book based on her early life, which seems gentler than his usual macho novels.
The author of this novel has placed copious quotes from Hemingway's letters and books, some as direct speech. We also get portraits of the ladies in his life.
I can recommend following this book with 'Love and Ruin' by Paula McLain, the fictionalised memoir of Martha Gellhorn, journalist at D-Day, author, and an ex-wife of Hemingway's, who features in Hemingway's Daughter.
I found this tale absorbing and well crafted. This is an unbiased review.
July 25, 2024
A book so real the reader will be looking up Tess Hemingway. Writing is wonderful and interwoven with the real life Hemingway and characters of that time, but reflects the lives of women during this time. A young woman who has been told she's "never going to have poems written about her" (by a brutal Zelda Fitzgerald) because of her looks, she wants to become a trial lawyer when women were not supposed to want to do such things. She's tall, gangly, and has red hair to boot. Everyone continually asks her if she's going to be a writer like her dad, and his shadow falls over her shoulders a lot, especially while at a boarding school where she faces bullying because of her father's reputation as a womanizer and alcoholic. The characters are extremely well developed and you can feel her turmoil as she both loves and doesn't understand Papa. He drinks himself into oblivion. He has so many girlfriends - and wives - it's like a rotating door. Flea grows attached to some of them, only to find them gone when a new one turns his head. Her mother is the stable influence in her life and she loves her, but she deeply desires a Papa who keeps his promises and quits the womanizing and drinking. Really enjoyed this one with its quotes from Hemingway's writings as well as learning more about his life as well as the times prior, during and post WWII. Many thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publisher.
June 28, 2025
This was a good book. How she wove a non historical character into the story seamlessly was amazing. While reading I had to remind myself that Finn was not real. O feel like this book was really about 2 main characters, Finn (Flea) and Hemingway. Their story and how they interacted with each other was interesting. You can see a lot of people relating to Finn in how much she cheroshes her father and how much she believes that because life was a certain way for him it would be fornher also. Finn looked at her fathers relationships and believed she was cursed to follow the same path, but she didnt look at the other relationships in her life. The love story between Finn and Nicky was great and really pulled at the heart. I dod not like how some themes were hit on over and over and not subtly. The relationships are doomed, the up and down relationship with father, the i will never love another. I felt like these themes were brought up far too many times through out the book. I also felt like the author could have ended some story lines sooner, instead of dragging them out. Like Finns relationships and which ones lasted or failed? They became redundant to me. Another draw back was how some chapters would jump years and it would take a bit for me to catch up on where we were. Overall, I think the author did a great job creating a fictional character into a historical narrative.
August 11, 2021
I was not sure what to expect reading this book. I had visited Hemingway’s house in Key West so had a bit of background to this story. The author has done a wonderful job of creating the daughter of Hemingway playing into his timeline, places, and personality.
I felt a bit sad for this daughter as she battled for a place in Hemingway’s life amidst various stepmothers, women, and dysfunctional family members. The deep longing for a father-daughter relationship feeds into the vignettes out of Hemingway’s life which made me feel the author was examining her own lost relationships. The story resonated with me for how life can throw you curved balls when you are looking for love. It challenged me to wonder if true love can ever be found or maintained. The characters were well-formed as I entered Finley Hemingway’s world, she became real as I walked through the many parts of her life, relationships with school friends, colleagues, and lovers.
You will not want to put this book down once you start reading it, the character of Finley draws you deep into factual history, but fictional story.
I felt a bit sad for this daughter as she battled for a place in Hemingway’s life amidst various stepmothers, women, and dysfunctional family members. The deep longing for a father-daughter relationship feeds into the vignettes out of Hemingway’s life which made me feel the author was examining her own lost relationships. The story resonated with me for how life can throw you curved balls when you are looking for love. It challenged me to wonder if true love can ever be found or maintained. The characters were well-formed as I entered Finley Hemingway’s world, she became real as I walked through the many parts of her life, relationships with school friends, colleagues, and lovers.
You will not want to put this book down once you start reading it, the character of Finley draws you deep into factual history, but fictional story.
August 5, 2021
If Hemingway had a daughter that would have been Finnley "Finn" Hemingway, (or Flea as she was called by Hemingway in the book), the beloved fictional character created by Christine Whitehead.
Hemingway always wanted a daughter but had only sons, this is her story, and what a story it is. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it in two days, I needed to how the story was going to end.
Finn, and her life, is as complicated as her father and his life and there is an unbreakable connection among this two individuals to the point that she is the one that grounds and centers him.
Beautifully written, this book will make you want to read Hemingways' books, if you haven't already, or reread it over again. Don't look for "A Single Drop of Red Wine", that one should be Mrs. Whitehead new novel.
Hemingway always wanted a daughter but had only sons, this is her story, and what a story it is. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it in two days, I needed to how the story was going to end.
Finn, and her life, is as complicated as her father and his life and there is an unbreakable connection among this two individuals to the point that she is the one that grounds and centers him.
Beautifully written, this book will make you want to read Hemingways' books, if you haven't already, or reread it over again. Don't look for "A Single Drop of Red Wine", that one should be Mrs. Whitehead new novel.
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