A review by satyridae
The Joys of Love by Madeleine L'Engle, Léna Roy

3.0

What really struck me as I was reading this early L'Engle is how her recurring themes were fully formed already. Also, her love of the apt quote is very evident. The story is, in fact, a little clunky and moralistic- but it's also a L'Engle, so it transcends this slight clunkiness and pulls one into the characters. The story is nearly universal as a coming-of-age tale, and the moment when Elizabeth notices her life has begun made me well up. I marvel anew at L'Engle's skill, if this is an example of where she began- head and shoulders above so many seasoned writers. I also loved the forward from the granddaughter I remember from L'Engle's nonfiction. That said, I'll not read it again, I don't like the people well enough. The main character is a moralistic stick, the villain is a right bastard without a redeeming characteristic and the repetition of (admittedly period) gag-inducing "endearments" was nearly enough to make me long for something by Dworkin.

Recommended for any L'Engle fan.