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cimorene1558's review against another edition
3.0
It's a good book, but not a great one. I've read some of L'Engle's adult fic before, but definitely not this one. I might have liked it better when I was a star-struck teen who was going to be a stage actor.
amyinthewind's review against another edition
5.0
I knew shortly after picking up this book that the reviews would be very mixed. I have to admit I really enjoy this kind of book, though it's less of a novel and more of a philosophical narrative. I appreciate L'Engle's insight into the David story, but, even more, I admire her ability to move to an from present to past and back again. There were some very beautiful transitions from one to the other. L'Engle always brings something new to the table with regard to faith and God. I appreciate the easy-going nature of the spirituality she portrays in her books. Her characters are, indeed, gracious and insightful. Another reviewer sites them as not believable for this reason. I have to say that real people *do* exist with this kind of grace, patience, joy, and insight. It's refreshing to see a book with characters who have decent communication skills and self awareness.
situationnormal's review against another edition
5.0
By far my favorite of L'Engle's adult books, Certain Women skillfully combines L'Engle's usual biblical themes with the complexities of an artistic and complicated family. While her heroine is, as usual, passive, I found her love for her family with her career more in the background of her life, to be much more moving than the opposite, which I've read many times in L'Engle's books.
I loved the relaxed writing style that slowly lets the backgrounds of each character unfold, and how the integration of Nik's play and the stories of King David contrast with and foreshadow events in the lives of Emma's family. The many different personalities of Emma's father's wives add a surprising depth to the story--the older women in Emma's life definitely shine in this novel.
The only thing I found lacking was the relationship between Emma and her father. It's apparent in the present-day sections of the book, and on occasion in the background, but I would have liked to have seen more scenes between just the two of them. It seems like her father's wives were the main influences in her relationship with her father growing up, and it makes their connection a little less comprehensible.
Definitely well written, and highly recommended. Especially if you're familiar with the Bible story and/or are already familiar with L'Engle's adult books.
I loved the relaxed writing style that slowly lets the backgrounds of each character unfold, and how the integration of Nik's play and the stories of King David contrast with and foreshadow events in the lives of Emma's family. The many different personalities of Emma's father's wives add a surprising depth to the story--the older women in Emma's life definitely shine in this novel.
The only thing I found lacking was the relationship between Emma and her father. It's apparent in the present-day sections of the book, and on occasion in the background, but I would have liked to have seen more scenes between just the two of them. It seems like her father's wives were the main influences in her relationship with her father growing up, and it makes their connection a little less comprehensible.
Definitely well written, and highly recommended. Especially if you're familiar with the Bible story and/or are already familiar with L'Engle's adult books.
kerrysg's review against another edition
2.0
A 300-page extended meditation on King David poorly disguised as a novel about a legendary theater actor David Wheaton, his many wives and children. One of those children, fellow actor Emma, is the central consciousness of the novel. She is visiting her ailing father and together they look back on his life and her childhood and youth—but mostly they talk about the play that Emma’s husband was at one time writing for David to start in—a play about King David—a The Ten Commandments-style extravaganza for the stage. They discuss King David and his wives. Over and over again. And again. And again. For the whole book. L’Engle should have just written an exegesis of the scriptural account of King David. She could have written a pretty interesting novel about the complexities of marriages and blended families—there are hints of that novel here that I’m interested in. L’Engle seems to want to say something about fidelity, about women, about God, and about the times a-changin’—but whatever she had in mind is buried under hundreds of pages of detail about King David’s court. In one glorious moment of self-awareness for L’Engle, Emma critiques her husband’s work: “It won’t play well. You usually show what’s happening, but here you’re telling. …what I think you’re doing here is telling yourself the scene you’re going to write.” Triply true of this novel: no parallel can go unremarked upon, no allusion unexplained. In the end: a boring, didactic, repetitive mess.
anniefox's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this novel for adults at a garage sale based solely on my enduring affection for A Wrinkle in Time. I was disappointed. The whole plot centers on the story of King David in the Bible and the parallels to the life of the lead character, a fictional legendary stage actor, David Wheaton. Suffice it to say I'm not a student of the Bible and wasn't interested in all those references. Tell the truth, what was going on with the Wheaton family didn't hold my attention either.
aswallace's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
erin_jones's review against another edition
4.0
I could never be a critic. Who am I, I wonder, to fit a book into a rating system of stars, 1-5? Some books, sure. Even plenty of books are able to fit in that system. But sometimes you come across a piece of art that's not five stars or one--stars are just irrelevant.
I gave this four stars because it doesn't completely work as a novel. Instead, it's a fable, and also kind of a play. It's theatrical in a way that isn't totally novel-like. For that reason, I wasn't sure about it at first. Timelines switch rapidly, the sections are divided in ways that weren't very clear, and, without being very familiar with the bible or the story of King David, a lot of the references were lost on me, and didn't come together until later.
But it did knit together, and in the end, it's a book that I'll be thinking about for days. It's given me ways to think about my own art--do I want to be someone who encourages people to choose the wedding?
Thanks, L'Engle. You always got people to choose the wedding.
I gave this four stars because it doesn't completely work as a novel. Instead, it's a fable, and also kind of a play. It's theatrical in a way that isn't totally novel-like. For that reason, I wasn't sure about it at first. Timelines switch rapidly, the sections are divided in ways that weren't very clear, and, without being very familiar with the bible or the story of King David, a lot of the references were lost on me, and didn't come together until later.
But it did knit together, and in the end, it's a book that I'll be thinking about for days. It's given me ways to think about my own art--do I want to be someone who encourages people to choose the wedding?
Thanks, L'Engle. You always got people to choose the wedding.
elenajohansen's review against another edition
1.0
DNF after Chapter 1 - Norma. And why is it named for Norma, anyway? She has a few minutes of conversation and then leaves the boat. She doesn't seem important at all compared to the over-abundance of other characters.
That excess of characters is exactly why I gave up so early. In one 24-page chapter, the reader is given the names of 22 separate characters. Only a handful of them are physically present, but most of the chapter is David monologuing his past, the many wives and yet more children. (Though I still don't know ALL their names, because I only counted seven of the nine wives promised in the blurb, and seven of the eleven kids.)
On top of that, there are 16 mentions of King David--as opposed to Actor David, the main character's monologuing father--plus several mentions of six other Biblical figures related to King David's story.
On top of that, there are ten fictional characters (mostly from Shakespearean plays) mentioned a total of 26 times.
And that's not including all the times the ACTUAL characters who are PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE STORY use EACH OTHER'S NAMES IN CONVERSATION.
By the time I was done with those first 24 pages, I felt like a good 10% of the word count is just NAMES. Oh, because when I was tallying the fictional character mentions? I didn't even include that the name of the boat they're all on is Portia.
So I am quite simply DONE. In order to write this annoyed, spiteful review, I had to take a pen to the first chapter, skimming it several times to circle and number all the names, and even after going through it that often and taking notes, I STILL couldn't tell you accurately who is who beyond the four major characters who do most of the actual talking. Is Myrlo David's third wife or his fourth? Did he actually marry Harriet, does she count? It's not clear from what he said.
I was so confused, it was beyond frustrating, and at the end of it all, I honestly don't understand why I'm supposed to care.
That excess of characters is exactly why I gave up so early. In one 24-page chapter, the reader is given the names of 22 separate characters. Only a handful of them are physically present, but most of the chapter is David monologuing his past, the many wives and yet more children. (Though I still don't know ALL their names, because I only counted seven of the nine wives promised in the blurb, and seven of the eleven kids.)
On top of that, there are 16 mentions of King David--as opposed to Actor David, the main character's monologuing father--plus several mentions of six other Biblical figures related to King David's story.
On top of that, there are ten fictional characters (mostly from Shakespearean plays) mentioned a total of 26 times.
And that's not including all the times the ACTUAL characters who are PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE STORY use EACH OTHER'S NAMES IN CONVERSATION.
By the time I was done with those first 24 pages, I felt like a good 10% of the word count is just NAMES. Oh, because when I was tallying the fictional character mentions? I didn't even include that the name of the boat they're all on is Portia.
So I am quite simply DONE. In order to write this annoyed, spiteful review, I had to take a pen to the first chapter, skimming it several times to circle and number all the names, and even after going through it that often and taking notes, I STILL couldn't tell you accurately who is who beyond the four major characters who do most of the actual talking. Is Myrlo David's third wife or his fourth? Did he actually marry Harriet, does she count? It's not clear from what he said.
I was so confused, it was beyond frustrating, and at the end of it all, I honestly don't understand why I'm supposed to care.
imyerhero's review against another edition
5.0
I simply adore Madeleine L’Engle’s writing – which is precisely why I limit my reading of her books. When I run out of new ones, I will be completely heartbroken. She has the most amazing vocabulary! This book is incredibly powerful and emotionally charged. Emma Wheaton has to be one of the most beautiful characters out in the literary universe – mainly because of her life’s journey. The parallels L’Engle weaves between the Biblical characters and her own aren’t just entertaining, they’re influential. You find yourself asking the same questions as the characters themselves, “Why?” and “when?” and “what the…?” While I wasn’t pleased with all of David Wheaton’s family members, it only serves to show me that I wasn’t pleased with all of King David’s either, and that – Biblical or not – people will always make mistakes and will have to come to terms with the consequences of those mistakes. People will always be falling in love, and hurting each other, and struggling to find ways to forgive and be forgiven.
cgbart's review against another edition
4.0
this book was odd but I'm very glad I stuck with it? L'Engle's narratives are always curiously visceral and this is no exception.