The Distant Land of My Father

from morieel

I really liked this book. I thought the description of the period was spot on (cashmere bouquet soap, Dewar's scotch etc.) The luxury experienced by the characters in Shanghai before the war was yummy. Anna as a child encountered much with her 5 senses..like any young child, and then later as an ...

from basilcat

thoroughly engrossing story of a city and a young girls experience. I now plan to add Shanghai to my list of places to visit one day - it was not on the list until I read this novel.

from brsquilt

Fiction that reads like fact. Relationship between daughter and her father - realistic and satisfying. War parts and prison parts hard to read. The ending was good and I was happy I read the book. Well written.

from dwrf

Elegant story about the meaning of place, memory, and home. The memoir style lends the story a striking realism and Caldwell's clean prose brings pre-war Shanghai vibrantly to life. The story begins in Shanghai and is that of an expatriate American couple and their young daughter. The approaching...

from tina1969

Have read this book before and have read it again for this months book group. Didn't get anything more out of this book a second time around. Did find the war and prison parts in the book very hard going. Felt the dad was very selfish at times and I got annoyed with the character.