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A review by jenniferaimee
The Love Letters by Madeleine L'Engle
emotional
reflective
slow-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
In this book, a young woman flees problems in her marriage by visiting her mother-in-law in Portugal, where she finds a published collection of love letters written by a Portuguese nun to her lover some 300 years before. The book alternates between the story of Charlotte, the “modern” (for the time the book was written) woman seeking refuge, and Mariana, the young nun whose romance upends her convent.
I picked this up because Madeleine L’Engle wrote several of my favorite young adult books growing up. I hadn’t realized she’d written adult fiction until I saw this book on the shelf at my library. It’s a little experimental, very introspective, and unfortunately, its final message about marriage is old-fashioned and harmful. That being said, I did like the writing, and I might try another adult book by L’Engle—only after checking the reviews, though. I can’t say I’d recommend this one. Aside from the overall message, elements of the story (particularly the nun’s romance) did not feel believable.
I picked this up because Madeleine L’Engle wrote several of my favorite young adult books growing up. I hadn’t realized she’d written adult fiction until I saw this book on the shelf at my library. It’s a little experimental, very introspective, and unfortunately, its final message about marriage is old-fashioned and harmful. That being said, I did like the writing, and I might try another adult book by L’Engle—only after checking the reviews, though. I can’t say I’d recommend this one. Aside from the overall message, elements of the story (particularly the nun’s romance) did not feel believable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Rape