Certain Women: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Am I missing something?
Review: Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of L'Engle's adult fiction, but I was bored to tears by this book. The plot was interesting on a purely intellecual level, and I give her credit for coming up with something orginal, but to me it read more like a study of the many wives of King David than a novel that I could relate to in any way. I felt nothing for any of the characters, and ended up having to put the book down due to extreme apathy. Perhaps there was some kind of epiphany the was waiting for me in the last half of the book, but I wouldn't bet on it. Her two novels about the life of the young woman whose mother was a famous musician were excellent, if you haven't read any of L'Engle's older ficiton I would start there.

Rating:
Summary: not her best work...
Review: if i had to choose my least favorite madeleine l'engle book, certain women would merit that title. neither the plot nor the characters connect with the reader the same way in which most of ms. l'engle's books have the power to do. nor does the book move the reader to any deeper questionings as her other books often do. if you're like me and want to read any madeleine l'engle you can get your hands on, this book, of course, will not be a waste of your time. however, i suggest that others become more familiar with some of ms l'engle's other and, in my opinion, better work before reading certain women.

Rating:
Summary: A rich read
Review: L'Engle's story will draw you into warm, rich but complicated family relationships, as Emma, the main character tells the stories in a lyrical way. Emma tells of her father, a well-known actor, David Wheaton, whose life is oftentimes compared to the other famous David ~~ King David of the Biblical times. David Wheaton has as many if not less wives and 11 children. Emma narrates the stories as the one child who has always remained close to her father. It is also a wonderful and encompassing story about love and forgiveness as David nears the end of his life.

Emma's husband struggles with writing a play for David Wheaton ~~ he would have played the great Hebrew king ~~ and interspersed throughout the narration are the stories of David's wives. Despite what some critics have said about this book, it is a rich read. I don't mind reading about Biblical times ~~ in fact, I love it. I find it fascinating. And L'Engle does a wonderful job giving King David's wives a voice throughout the ages and in a way the reader can understand. And reading about David Wheaton's wives, Emma's grandparents who have provided her with a heritage of rich spiritual lives, and the acceptance of life and death at the end.

It is a book I highly recommend for daughters who enjoy a close relationship with their fathers ~~ as it does explore a man's regrets that he didn't live a better life for his children or make the time for them ~~ but Emma forgives him anyways because that is who he is.

If you have a few days to spare, pick this book up. Go off into a quiet place and read it. You will fall in love with the lyrical writing style if not with the characters. It is definitely one of my top 100 favorite books to read. It's well worth the time reading.