Monsieur Linh and His Child

Monsieur Linh arrives as a refugee in a land where he does not speak the language and where the culture and people are strange and unreadable to him. Everyone he knew is dead, his village bombed out of existence, and his beloved son and daughter-in-law were killed in the fields as they worked. The only things that remain are an old photograph of him and his wife, a small bag of soil from his home village and, constantly in his arms, his three month old granddaughter.Monsieur Linh's home was in Vietnam and he arrives as a refugee in France. Neither country is named in the novel. This odd anonymity is a signature affectation in Philippe Claudel's writing, but details in the story quickly make the locations evident.At first Monsieur Linh is housed in a refugee dormitory with two Vietnamese families who treat him with respect, but over time the families ignore him and become dismissive of him as a crazy old man. He does not care as long as he can feed and tend his granddaughter, and he is quick to take action when he feels she is threatened.The only French words he learns are a greeting. When he eventually plucks up the courage to make forays into the surrounding streets, he meets Monsieur Bark, a man recently widowed. As the weeks go by they meet regularly on a bench opposite the park where Monsieur Bark's wife used to work. The two men have no language in common, and the few words they attempt end up confusing things further. Yet despite this a genuine friendship begins to grow and Monsieur Linh finds an anchor in his new country.When he first arrived, Monsieur Linh noticed that the country had no smells, no aromas that he could link to place and time. He also notices that people do not speak to each other and are seemingly in a mad rush to get somewhere - somewhere he never comprehends. His friendship with Monsieur Bark begins to give life to this strange world in which he has landed: smells become evident and there is conversation after all, even if Monsieur Linh can follow none of it.Just as Monsieur Linh is beginning to find his feet in his new life, he is abruptly torn away and removed to an old people's home by officials from the Refugee Bureau. Cast adrift in a unfamiliar and vaguely threatening new place his only tie to the past is his granddaughter, mercifully allowed to remain with him. Her, and his dreams of the village that was once his world.From his room Monsieur Linh can see the city spread out below and decides that he needs to search for Monsieur Bark and to re-establish their friendship. His attempt, and the resulting climax, bring both tragedy and hope.Monsieur Linh and Monsieur Bark are older men who have lost the things most meaningful and dear to them. Only his granddaughter keeps Monsieur Linh focused and gives him hope, and we sense that for Monsieur Bark it is the growing friendship with Monsieur Linh that begins to kindle a new warmth in his life.This is a short novel but beautifully written. It is a meditation on the cruelties of age and loss, and the importance and possibilities of hope. It is also a story about acceptance, of taking people as they are when we extend the hand of friendship. There is a sad twist at the end of this tale, but also hope for the power of friendship and the value of our common humanity.The novel has been translated by Euan Cameron. Claudel's other works have had a variety of translators, but always the exquisite writing shines through, so I assume that Claudel's style has been captured well in this edition.Monsieur Linh and his Child is a sad, affectionate story with likeable characters and genuine emotions. I found myself holding onto it as tightly as Monsieur Linh holds the little girl in his arms.

I liked the surprise at the end as I had been wondering for quite some time during reading about his "child". a heartbreaking story but so much good in the lines.

I cannot urge you to read this book enough. From the first word this story gathered me up and carried me away never to return. I don't have the right adjectives to describe how I feel - it is like studying the words of a Schubert song interwoven with its melodies and harmonies - this story has brilliant words and melodies and harmonies that cannot be heard, only felt. Thank you Phillippe Claudel for writing this story and Euan Cameron for your translation - it has transformed me.

A beautifully written and touching story, with a very surprising yet plausible plot twist that makes this story unforgettable.

Un libro bueno pero me costo terminarlo.En la mitad el libro se aletarga un poco, y más al final te toma de nuevo.

A beautifully written story about 2 emotionally scarred strangers who meet and form an close and mutually beneficial relationship despite speaking different languages. Great ending.

I had to read this for class and it was such a good read that I felt many emotions related to this story

Read that book in french and wanted to share the joy with my close ones.When it was published tin english, could not help to send it over seas.Although it is quite a sad story, there is a beautiful human and positive side to this book.Philippe Claudel is definately a great author

This is a beautifully written, bitttersweet story about a refugee from Vietnam. It's also about fortitude in adversity,courage and hope. The elderly Monsieur Linh arrives in France with Sang diu, his granddaughter. His son and daughter-in-law were killed in a bomb blast but he rescued the baby, Sang diu, who was lying next to them, with her doll, whose head had been blown off. He takes Sang diu with him and refuses to be parted from her.Monsieur Linh doesn't speak or understand a word of French and he is miserable and confused in the refugee centre. Sitting on a bench in the local park, he makes a friend, Monsieur Bark, who is also unhappy and mourning the death of his wife. He admires the silent Sang diu.Mr Linh is moved to a new residence, away from the park and his friend. Once again, he is lost and miserable. He resolves to escape with Sang diu and look for his friend. Now read on...

This is such a small book, only 130 pages, but it packs a powerful punch and it left me completely overwhelmed. Told in simple but beautiful langauge it tells the story of Monsieur Linh and his granddaughter. M.Linh is a refugee from his homeland - a country ravaged by war. He escapes this war-torn country with his baby grandchild to arrive in a new country which is infinitely strange to him, where he knows no-one and doesn't speak the language (we never find out where M.Linh is from or the country he has moved to).M. Linh meets Monsieur Bark on a bench and although they do not speak the same language they become friends and M. Barks' friendship gives M. Linh new life. The bewilderment of M.Linh is palpaple and although the book is filled with sorrow there is also some lovely small moments of humour and redemption.It is a simple story told with such devastating effect that it left me speechless. Brilliant, beautiful and the best book I've read for a while!

I was given this unusual little book to read by a friend with a view to her suggesting it for her bookclub. I read it straight thru in a few hours, a quick and easy read which was a definite plus for me and absolutely loved it, sad though it is. I loved the style and the story but her book club hated it, so, find out for yourself. Everyone I have given it to has loved it so I definitly recommend it.

Gorgeous read. Ideal for airport / plane journey as less than 200 pages. Draws you in and holds your interest to the brilliant ending.

beautifully written. short but better for it. it is now added to my all-time best books list. don't hesitate, just buy it. KG