Customer Reviews

My Father's Daughter

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am delighted that this book is back in print. E.L. Konigsburg is most well-known for her book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, assigned to elementary school students nationwide, and generally enjoyed by all, despite being assigned reading. That's a good book, but this one, originally titled Father's Arcane Daughter, is my favorite Konigsburg creation. (You may notice that her publishers have chosen to bland down her weird titles, which is too bad.) If you once enjoyed her books, or have a kid who enjoyed her other books, it's worth reading. The wit, characterization and the keen social observations within are as fun (and relevant) now as they were when I was 12 years old.

The story concerns the members of a wealthy society family, the Carmichaels. The eldest daughter, Caroline, from the father's first marriage, was the victim of a kidnapping many years ago, and then disappeared. The mother died. After a time, the father remarried, and had two children (Winston and Heidi) by his second wife, Grace. Caroline was to have been a wealthy heiress, since her mother came from a rich family as well as her father. Mere months before the deadline to claim her inheritance, a woman shows up on the Carmichaels' front door and claims to be Caroline. Winston, the elder child, immediately decides that he will investigate her and discover the truth. He does, but not in a way that either he or the reader will be able to predict.

The central mystery of the story -- is Caroline an impostor? -- is compelling enough, but what makes this book outstanding is the voice of its narrator, 12-year old Winston. He is similar in character to Sport of Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy series, though Winston is less practical than Sport and more verbally clever.

The book covers serious themes such as social shame, disabilities, and the strength to face life's harsh truths. Yet the book is a funny, light confection of a read, and it is Winston's voice that is central to that effect.

Picked this book up for my kids and I couldn't put it down. Facinating, funny, sad and a good mystery all at once. The writing is clever, the kid characters are well-established, though the adults are a bit fuzzy. Great for 11-12-year-olds and up, though there are some serious topics covered here.

Wealth doesn't always equal privilege - at least, not in the case of Winston Carmichael. His family's mansion feels more like a prison sometimes. He often finds himself having to care for his younger sister Heidi, whose congenital handicaps and erratic behavior are more than any seventh-grade boy should have to handle on his own. Of course, it's only natural that their parents would be overprotective. After all, Winston's father had a daughter by his first marriage, Caroline, who was kidnapped years ago and is now presumed dead.

When a woman shows up at the Carmichaels' door one day claiming to be Caroline, there is some question at first as to whether this really is the long-lost daughter or a fortune-hunting impostor. (Thirty years before the advent of DNA testing, this wasn't such a simple matter to resolve.) It isn't long, however, before the family comes to accept her. Winston is prepared to resent this new half-sister, but he finds in Caroline a warmth that was previously absent in his family life. When Caroline begins to show a special interest in Heidi, Winston finds himself struggling with feelings of jealousy. However, it turns out there is far more to Caroline than meets the eye. . . .

"My Father's Daughter" (original title: Father's Arcane Daughter) is a tangled puzzle of a book, a mystery unfolding at the perfect pace. It's dense and lovely and compelling and strange. Even readers who pick up on the subtle clues Konigsburg generously offers will find themselves surprised by some of the final revelations.

I wouldn't recommend this book for younger children, not because of any particularly mature thematic content but because this book will be appreciated (and perhaps even understood) only by readers who are attuned to nuance and capable of drawing inferences. Advanced middle-school students should enjoy it, as will most young teens.

Date finished first reading: March 12, 2009

I gave this book a score of 100/100. What a remarkable story. Exceptionally fine story telling. As with many of Konigsburg's books, mature readers of all ages will enjoy this book. I personally thought that My Father's Arcane Daughter (the original title) was just as fascinating as the revised title, My Father's Daughter.

Now I will finish Jericho Tel. (saw a passage in My Father's Daughter which reminded me of Jericho

I love this book (although they should never have changed the title from "Father's Arcane Daughter") but I was totally dismayed at how poorly it was proof read. The errors are very distracting and I wish Kindle would correct them. I even called Amazon and suggested this-I hope they do. That is also the reason I rated the book at 3 stars. By rights, it should be 5.

That said, the book is worth owing and reading. Konigsberg is an amazing author!

This story was fantastic, well written, and overall just a wonderful read. BUT the Kindle version was awful. So many typos that it really detracted from the flow of the prose. Five stars for the story, no stars for the Kindle conversion.

I loved Father's Arcane Daughter the first time around. When I heard it was being reprinted (and retitled) I didn't go to Amazon.com. I went to my bookshelf. After all these years I can still see the spine of the copy I bought in the late 70's when I worked at Eeyore's Books for Children. I read everything E. L. Konigsberg wrote, and I re-read most of it.

My Father's Daughter is beautifully written in the voices of the sister and brother who, looking back to their childhood, relate the story of the mystery sister, the young woman who came into their lives and made them whole. It was and it remains a book I love to give to young people who feel under-appreciated or misunderstood; practically everyone at one time or other! The end is so satisfying as to make one want to just keep the secret. So I will.

A word must be said about this author's ability to write in different times, in different 'skins' -- try out A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver and The Second Mrs. Giaconda. HOW ABOUT A REPRINT OF (George)? Please?