The Small Rain : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written first book
Review: This book just sang - the writing was lyrical, beautiful and subtle. It was stunning. It showed the mind, growth and development of an artist, and how things - feeling like an "oddball" in school, the death of an acquaintance, hurts in love, an unusual childhood - can affect an artist deeply, and at the same time contribute to her art.
I also loved the 1940s flavor of the book - everybody smoked like fiends, wore fur, even the children drank, and her piano teacher had a live in valet. Her books all have such an east coast/European intellectual artist feel - its like entering a different world. You could never imagine a L'Engle character, even one in the 2000s, watching "Outback Jack", going on the Adkins diet, or shopping at WalMart.
Also, L'Engle's minor characters were fascinating - I wanted to know more about Julie Forrester - she seemed just out of reach, and very mysterious. Everyone seemed to admire her, despite her glaring flaws, and she enriched the others' lives in a strange, indescribable way.
L'Engle's talent is unbelievable. I strongly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: I loved Katherine's drive and determination
Review: This book would come off as melodramatic if it were not so well written. While her upbringing was unconventional, it was never without the love and support of her family. The characters were colorful without being unbelievable. The only part that I felt was predictable was Sarah and Pete's relationship. As Katherine grows up and deals with each new setback and challange, I found myself identifying with her struggle. Sections of this novel made me laugh out loud, while others brought me to tears.

Rating:
Summary: Very good; don't condemn a book for its realism
Review: This is an excellent book, even more so because it is L'Engle's first published novel--quite an accomplishment. It is realistic without being tiresome, and also has an element of fantasy in that Katherine's music rises above all her trials, often keeping her sane, and ultimately saving her. I'm disappointed by some of the reviews of A Small Rain. Many of the readers didn't like that Sarah became an unlikable character, but that is something that often happens in life, and Madeleine L'Engle is trying to show that. Besides, the hardships that Katherine endures in her young life are what ultimately build her character and make her so identifiable. It would be wrong to be happy at Sarah's betrayal of Katherine, but it strengthens her. Also, the fact that Katherine's romances don't work out in this book, though initially disturbing, is ultimately the right thing. She is very young, and someone you love when you're sixteen is not likely to be the right person to spend your life with. If you are disappointed with the ending to this book, read its sequel, A Severed Wasp. It resolves everything and shows how Katherine finally finds the true, longlasting love that she was waiting for. Both books are excellent, Madeleine L'Engle at her best.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, My Gosh!!!!
Review: This is seriously one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. I've been a fan of Madeleine L'Engle's writing since 6th grade. I'm in 9th grade now, and I've just started reading her adult novels. Before this one, I read "The Other Side of the Sun", which was okay, but not stunning. So, when I started reading this one, I was 100% NOT expecting it to be this good. This book practically hit me in the stomach. I can't believe that this book was a first novel. Nothing else of hers that I've read comes anywhere near being this good - nothing else I've ever read has been anywhere near this good. If you've read any of her young adult books and are considering starting her adult books - PICK THIS ONE. It is absolutely incredible.

Rating:
Summary: highly recommended for females in their teenage years.
Review: this ranks as one of my favorite books of all time and definitely something i'd recommend to any females out there. basically it's a coming of age book, sans your typical judy bloom-like horror stories. katherine, the main character, is being raised by her composer-father who is neglectful if not anything else, and her step-mother-actress. the book chronicles the different phases she goes through as she reaches her adulthood. i thought it was very well written (as tends to be my opinion about most l'engle books) and i immediately liked the character. the only drawback that i found to this book is that l'engle later wrote a sequel to it (a severed wasp) which excited me greatly when i finished this book as i didn't want the story to end. but instead of finding the same katherine that i had enjoyed in the first book, i found a much older version that liked to solve mysteries and was a little full of herself. at any rate, the small rain is definitely a must-read.....especially for females in their teenage years.

Rating:
Summary: Over-all, a good book
Review: This was L'Engle's first novel, so I have read. It is very enjoyable, but I can't say it is L'Engle at her best. I don't like the fact that Sarah, when they are older, steals her loves or that she goes through that phase where she likes "diry" restruants. I like Sarah and Katherine's little hiding spot

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Wow...I just finished Small Rain tonight, it has been a long time since a book has touched me so deeply (and I am addicted to books). Read it, what else can I say.