Little Comrades

by Laurie Lewis

Little Comrades tells the story of a girl growing up in a dysfunctional left-wing family in the Canadian West during the Depression, then moving, alone with her mother, to New York City during America's fervently anti-Communist postwar years. With wit and honesty, Laurie Lewis describes an unusual childhood and an adventurous adolescence.

216 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Doriana Bisegna · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2011, I attended Kingston's Writersfest and I attended an event where Laurie Lewis talked about her memoir of childhood. The woman came across as fascinating and remarkable for having written this memoir at the age of 80. She was still beautiful, full of life, articulate, intelligent and a role model for the aging woman. Her memoir grabbed me and didn't let me go until the very last paragraph. I couldn't believe how much she remembered, how much she recounted and how painful most of it must have been. A brilliant achievement!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a memoir written by Laurie Lewis, at age 80. I recently read it and was absorbed in the reading -- it's the tale of her childhood in Alberta, as the daughter of an important member of the Communist party (and a poor father). She weaves story fragments together in a manner that feels much like an oral history.

The first section, all about she and her brother as they grow up in this unusual setting, feels as if it is a child relaying the story. The second section, when Laurie's mother finally decides to leave her abusive husband and they all flee to Toronto, starts to feel more like an adult's story.

After reading this book I'm left with the feeling that Laurie Lewis would be a very interesting person to meet, simply to hear her talk! I'm glad she captured some of her life stories in this memoir, which adds to the growing number of stories revealing women's lives in Canada. Definitely an original read.

Full review at The Indextrious Reader

[Jane Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An open and honest account of growing up. One critic noted how innocently the writing evolved - it seemed as if a 16 year old was talking to us and telling us her story. I look forward to reading the next book by Laurie Lewis.