Certain Women by Madeleine L'Engle
Paperback, 368 pages
October 22nd 1993 by HarperSanFrancisco
Borrowed-Library
Fiction Round Table Read
My ThoughtsA deftly woven drama that brings together elements of the theater, biblical narrative and the goings-on in unconventional families.
Emma Wheaton has interrupted her successful stage career to attend her dying father, David Wheaton. The legendary actor is obsessed with an unfinished play about the Old Testament King David written by Emma's estranged husband. As his family—itself of biblical proportions, because David Wheaton has had nine wives and eleven children—gathers, the stories of both Davids and their women are simultaneously woven together and unraveled. For Emma, being with her extended family brings back memories both painful and healing, and confronting her own tumultuous past helps her understand the effect her father's life has had on them all. As David Wheaton faces his approaching death, Emma grapples with her future. Steeped in the modern world of the theater and the ancient world of prophets and kings, Madeleine L'Engle's latest novel examines the lot of mothers and wives and daughters. Certain Women shows her intimate knowledge of theatrical life, resolves a long-held fascination with King David, and continues her exploration of biblical matters.
Certain Women was a hard book to get through, not so much the writing or even the subjects L'Engle based her story on (King David's legacy) but the overall presentation of the story itself. While the author did a unique job drawing parallels between King David, his wife and children in comparison to our modern-day David and his daughter Emma (the biblical Tamar- which I recognized in the story but needed the savvy insight of Amy to remind me of the name...thanks Amy.....) I found the book tedious to read through. I think perhaps it was the sluggish pace of the novel. One thing I did take away from this story was how special David and Emma's relationship was portrayed, I think father/daughter relationships are so crucial to a girls upbringing and I found the relationship enduring. I also loved the discussion it provoked out of Fiction Table- leading to subjects about parent-child relationships, rape in fiction/biblical story's and religious fiction.
In the end, while reading Certain Women felt like "homework" for me and I wouldn't recommend it for entertainment value, I would recommend this for a book club as I found it to provoke great discussion topics in a group setting.
Check out all the groups thoughts:
Book Addiction Book Hooked Blog, Books and Movies,
Crazy for Books, Ignorant Historian, Linus's Blanket, My Friend Amy
My Random Thoughts, One Person's Journey Through a World of Books,
Roving Reads, Semicolon, The 3R's Blog,Victorious Cafe, Word Lily
Isn't it interesting to see how reading a book for discussion makes you read differently, and see things you wouldn't ordinarily see in a book? I really enjoyed the discussion. Hope you like the next book better!
ReplyDeleteI agree - the father/daughter relationship in the novel was not perfect, but was particularly well-rendered. I'm sorry that overall the book didn't work for you, though.
ReplyDeleteO that doesn't sound fun. Thanks for your honesty :)
ReplyDeleteI have to completely agree with you on the importance of father/daughter relationships. Sounds like it lead to a very interesting discussion.
ReplyDeleteI hate the homework feeling I get with certain books, especially the ones I've been reading for school. LOL
I agree that the book did a great job of highlighting the significance of father-daughter relationships, without portraying this particular relationship as being perfect.
ReplyDelete