Rating: 
Summary: A master storyteller holds us from page one on...
Review:
When I saw "The Small Rain" in the bookstore a while back, I was so excited to see that Madeleine L'Engle has written adult novels. I instantly purchased it and truly enjoyed it. Then I bought this one, and I cannot tell you how MUCH I loved this novel. From start to finish it held my attention. The reader learns of Katherine's past in bits and pieces throughout the book - through her dreams, thoughts, and conversations. L'Engle skillfully takes us from the past to the present in an incredibly smooth way. It's a treat - you never know where you will be next. Will it be a past heartache, a present dilemma, a future concert? Who is after her now, and does the current mystery have something to do with the past that haunts her? So many interesting issues are packed into this novel, and so much suspense too! When I was young, I was filled with wonder when I read L'Engle's "Wrinkle in Time." In a similar way, this book filled me with wonder about the nature of life - it's drastic ups and downs. It teaches just what a person can endure and what a person can accomplish despite tragedy and loss. There is hope in Katherine, and that hope is even more powerful when the reader discovers what has happened to her since she was young in "The Small Rain." And as a young adult, this novel actually made me thing of my older years in a whole new way. They will be a time of rest, reflection, hope, and warm bubble baths. I look forward to getting to the point where I have lived a complete life, yet still have some living left to do. I had never thought this way before. I give this novel my highest recommendation. I couldn't stop reading but didn't want the story to end. The book was a friend at my bedside table, one that I curled up with while sipping herbal tea. It just doesn't get better than this.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST book I've read in a LONG time....
Review:
When I saw "The Small Rain" in the bookstore a while back, I was so excited to see that Madeleine L'Engle has written adult novels. I instantly purchased it and truly enjoyed it. Then I bought this one, and I cannot tell you how MUCH I loved this novel. From start to finish it held my attention. The reader learns of Katherine's past in bits and pieces throughout the book - through her dreams, thoughts, and conversations. L'Engle skillfully takes us from the past to the present in an incredibly smooth way. It's a treat - you never know where you will be next. Will it be a past heartache, a present dilemma, a future concert? Who is after her now, and does the current mystery have something to do with the past that haunts her? So many interesting issues are packed into this novel, and so much suspense too! When I was young, I was filled with wonder when I read L'Engle's "Wrinkle in Time." In a similar way, this book filled me with wonder about the nature of life - it's drastic ups and downs. It teaches just what a person can endure and what a person can accomplish despite tragedy and loss. There is hope in Katherine, and that hope is even more powerful when the reader discovers what has happened to her since she was young in "The Small Rain." And as a young adult, this novel actually made me thing of my older years in a whole new way. They will be a time of rest, reflection, hope, and warm bubble baths. I look forward to getting to the point where I have lived a complete life, yet still have some living left to do. I had never thought this way before. I give this novel my highest recommendation. I couldn't stop reading but didn't want the story to end. The book was a friend at my bedside table, one that I curled up with while sipping herbal tea. It just doesn't get better than this.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely Worth Reading
Review: A Severed Wasp is an example of Madeline L'Engle's fictional writing at it's best. This novel continues the story of Katherine Vigneras (previously Forrester) from the book's prequel A Small Rain as Katherine returns to New York for retirement and to come to terms with her past. Madeline L'Engle does an excellent job of describing the life of a pianist, and in such a way that the reader will feel both appreciation and compassion for the main character. She also does a wonderful job of making the reader understand that all things, no matter how painful they may be at the time, play an important role in one's life and happen for a reason. The amount of love that Ms. L'Engle has for her character is easily noticable and the feeling is easily transferred to the reader. Ms. L'Engle has carefully woven bits of information about characters from some of her previous works and what they have grown up to be. She makes references to Phillipa Hunter (And Both Were Young), Emily Gregory (The Young Unicorns), Suzy Austin (all of the Austin-family books), and Josiah (Dave) Davidson (The Young Unicorns). This book has definitely added to my thought that Madeline L'Engle books are like old friends and can be picked up and read over and over again without getting tired of them.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely Worth Reading
Review: A Severed Wasp is an example of Madeline L'Engle's fictional writing at it's best. This novel continues the story of Katherine Vigneras (previously Forrester) from the book's prequel A Small Rain as Katherine returns to New York for retirement and to come to terms with her past. Madeline L'Engle does an excellent job of describing the life of a pianist, and in such a way that the reader will feel both appreciation and compassion for the main character. She also does a wonderful job of making the reader understand that all things, no matter how painful they may be at the time, play an important role in one's life and happen for a reason. The amount of love that Ms. L'Engle has for her character is easily noticable and the feeling is easily transferred to the reader. Ms. L'Engle has carefully woven bits of information about characters from some of her previous works and what they have grown up to be. She makes references to Phillipa Hunter (And Both Were Young), Emily Gregory (The Young Unicorns), Suzy Austin (all of the Austin-family books), and Josiah (Dave) Davidson (The Young Unicorns). This book has definitely added to my thought that Madeline L'Engle books are like old friends and can be picked up and read over and over again without getting tired of them.
Rating:
Summary: A master storyteller holds us from page one on...
Review: Great literature, in my opinion, teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. The best literature, though, teaches without us ever knowing we are being taught -- we are so captivated, caught up in the unfolding of events before us, that we fail to realize how deeply we empathize with and truly "know" the characters presented, and therefore we understand/know ourselves just a little better. "A Severed Wasp" draws you into a seemingly large cast of characters that all require the reader's attention and empathy. Kudos to an outstanding author for keeping characters, plotlines, and flashbacks so well wrought that this reader couldn't put the book down the first time I read it! Each character has its proper place in the story, and the reader is led to empathize and understand each point of view in its proper place. Completely enjoyable storytelling can be found in these pages. The reading of "A Small Rain" is not necessary to enjoy this book. Reading more of L'Engle's marvelous stories, though, is required -- quite a few of her books are on my shelf of "best literature".
Rating:
Summary: Great resolution
Review: Hooray! We finally get to find out what happened to Katherine ("A Small Rain", I believe Madeleine L'Engle's first book). She is a real person, complete with problems and triumphs. This book focuses on dealing with the past and coming to terms with memories. Fans of Ms. L'Engle will love references to other characters (Phillipa Hunter from "And Both Were Young", one of my personal favorites) and familiar places (the Cathedral of St. John the Divine). Better after "The Small Rain."
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not terrific.
Review: I like Katherine more in her old age. And I do like how you find out that Flip becomes a professional artist, but I wish it went more into that. I also wish in "And Both Were Young" it mentions Katherine just once or twice. But may be Katherine and Flip are too alike to go to the same bording school and it would change both of their life stories drastically. I love Katherine's relationship with Vicky's neice (Suzy and Josaih's daughter), Emily. Of course she is named after Emily Gregory, their great friend. When I first read this book I was surprised to learn Suzy and Dave marry. Drastically surprised
Rating:
Summary: Amazing and uplifting
Review: I really enjoyed A Severed Wasp, it was as if you looked at Katherine and saw how you wanted yourself to be in fifty-years. When you're young you wish for an ideal life and a perfect existance. You see this in Katherine's flashbacks, her wish is for something simple and ideal. She doesn't find anything like it, her life is invaded by war and the simple progression of age and time. But L'Engle manages to get the point across that although Katherine's life was nothing like she had wished it to be she would never have traded it for anything. You finish with a deep sense of hope, that although the life you've lived wasn't what you wanted, it may end up being what you loved.
Rating:
Summary: Another great book by L'Engle
Review: It's nice to see that Katherine has grown and changed since her adolescence as written in A Small Rain. I like the description of her husband, Justin, and of her young protegee, Emily Gregory.
Rating:
Summary: a thoughtful, entertaining book
Review: L'Engle uses the mix of people and their problems in this book to explore 2 themes: (1) the discipline needed to come to terms with your memories no matter how young or old you are and (2) the importance of forgiving yourself. She kept me both thoughtful about the issues she's exploring and turning pages at the same time.
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