See the Child

by David Bergen

Book Overview

What is more devastating than the death of a child? When Harry, the local cop, knocks on Paul Unger's door early one morning to give him the grim news -- that his son, Stephen, has been found drowned... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743229258
• ISBN13: 9780743229258
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A Father's grief.....

There are not many novels that deal with a father's grief and guilt, David Bergen brings the feelings and emotions to surface in this novel. Three years after the lose of his 17 year old son, a father continues to live with the guilt of shutting out a rebelious son; a 3 year old grandson returns to his life with what was his son's girlfriend at the time of his death. Taking to a life of seclusion from his wife and daughter, the father lives the life of a beekeeper and comes to terms with the past.

A deeply moving novel written in luminous prose

I was not far into this novel, which opens with a father's loss of his son and his feeling of guilt about that loss, when I began to feel that this was one of the saddest stories I'd ever read. Before long, however, that feeling changed: the book becomes a delicate, deeply nuanced, and brilliantly written meditation on grief and the human condition. (I know that sounds corny, but this really is the genuine article!) I'm a wide reader of contemporary Canadian fiction, and this is one of the very best and most moving books I've read in years. (For readers of contemporary American fiction, think of writing in the tradition of the later Jim Harrison -- _Dalva_ or _The Road Home_ -- but even better!) This book makes me aware once more of just how good Canadian writers can be on the question of responsibility and the complexities of the family dynamic (think: _Fall on Your Knees_; _Crow Lake_; _Fifth Business_; _St. Urbain's Horseman_; Alice Munro; David Adams Richards). On the evidence of this one book, Bergen is the best undiscovered novelist in Canada. I can't wait to catch up with the rest of his work.

See the Child

It is hard to find a novel that captures and stimulates my heart to the same extent as it challenges my intellect, however I strongly believe that I have succeeded in this task. I would describe "See The Child" as a diamond in the rough, a chilling-yet brilliant storyline that plays with the innocence on a child, and the morbid thoughts of an adult. David Bergen, the mastermind behind the novel, enable me to in vision the characters and become so attached to them that I sincerely felt that I knew them, and wanted them to prosper and be happy within their lives. At many times, as I vigorously turned the pages to satisfy my eagerness to read on, I had to remind myself that it was only a book; the plot was fictionist, regardless of how I had already put faces to each character. The vocabulary used, sparked an interest of mine. Bergen never attempted to utilize fancy terminology to impress his audience, yet at the same time was so descriptive and emplaced every last action, thought, and emotion in which the characters underwent. As I said in the latter statements, this tool enabled me to grow a strong sense of appreciation for the characters, especially the main character Paul Unger, which in turn allowed me to feel connected to him, almost as if I was his friend. The ideas and dialect behind the novel are quite simplistic, yet miraculously "See The Child" carries such beauty and exquisiteness that makes it truly one-of-a-kind. Doors open in every page that allow for the reader to grow a deeper understanding of the innocent actions of a child, and shows us how gentle the world can seem in his eyes. On the contrary, takes us into the mind, body and soul of true human nature, and mocks our behaviours. To say that this novel kept my interest would be an understatement, and I strongly urge the open-minded souls to open their hearts and mind to "See The Child", and experience a ravishing tale first hand.

A FATHER'S GRIEF

Many people have expressed the opinion over the centuries - but I believe I remember Sri Ramakrishna, a Hindu saint of the 19th century, saying that `...there is no greater pain than that of a parent who outlives a child'. SEE THE CHILD deals with that sort of pain and grief, and does so in a deeply moving (but never maudlin) manner - with intelligence, insight, and fine writing.The central character of David Bergen's wonderful novel is Paul Unger. He lives in a small town in Manitoba, near Winnipeg, with his wife Lise, daughter Sue, and his son Stephen. As is often the case in families (I almost added `modern', but I'm sure these tensions have been present in one form another since the dawn of civilization), there is strife between father and son. Stephen is eighteen, and is pushing the envelope of parental control, trying to find his own way in life. He takes up with a young French-Canadian girl, Nicole Forêt - she is beautiful, and a little too `wild' to suit Paul. He can easily sense that she will bring pain and suffering into his son's life. He also knows that simply telling his son what he sees in store for him will do no good whatsoever, so he feels that he has no choice but to allow the relationship to run its course.One morning Paul is awakened from sleep by a knocking at the door. It comes from the knuckles of his friend Harry, the town constable - Harry is the bearer of sad tidings indeed. Stephen has been found dead, lying facedown in a pool in a muddy field. He had gone to a party, gotten drunk, stumbled and fell into the shallow pool and drowned. Paul's grief at the death of his only son is compounded by the burden of guilt that comes to rest on his shoulders, on his very soul. Just a few days before Stephen's death, the boy had been caught breaking into the family business, in an apparent burglary attempt - and the confrontation over this incident, as well as the pattern seen by Paul emerging in Stephen's life, had resulted in an ugly argument between father and son. Paul had sent Stephen away from the house, and when the boy returned after a short while, unable to find friends with whom he could spend the night, Paul had not opened the door to him. This scene will come back to haunt the grieving father again and again - consciously and subconsciously - throughout the story.After Stephen's funeral, Nicole reveals that she is pregnant. Lise, Stephen's mother, is doubtful that the child is Stephen's - but Paul accepts it as the truth. When Sky, Nicole's son, is born, Paul sees in the child a chance at redemption for himself - and a connection to the son he has lost. Paul's journey through this stark emotional landscape and his attempts to cement a relationship between himself and his grandson, as well as with Nicole, form the bulk of the novel. Paul's marriage suffers greatly under the weight of his grief for Stephen and the guilt that he bears - and that's an awful weight to place upon a marriage. He soon recogniz