debbiecuddy's review against another edition
3.0
This book was slow going at first and I had trouble believing how, even a precocious 6 year old, could have such clear memories for details of things and such a level of comprehension of the world around her. This is a character driven novel and it wasn't until about halfway through that the characters really seemed to come alive. In the end, I liked it well enough that I have begun reading the sequel, Evensong.
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
Father Melancholy is Father Walter Gower, an Episcopal priest in Virginia in the 1970s, who is a victim of acute depression. The plot revolves around "Father Melancholy's" daughter, Margaret, who is growing up in a family claimed by tragedy. Margaret's mother went on a short vacation with a friend when Margaret was a young girl and the days turned into weeks, and then months without her mother's return. Finally, a year after she left, Margaret's mother is killed in a car accident and Margaret is left alone with her father, under, of course, the watchful eyes of his church congregation. Much of the book is devoted to Margaret's coming to terms with her mother's betrayal, absence, and death, but it is also concerned with Margaret's coming of age, her relationship to her father, and her fierce protectiveness of him. And, to my delight, there is extensive discussion of theology, church history, and philosophy to round out a thoughtful read.
my3sonsandmaya's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn't decide if I liked this book until I was 3/4 of the way through it. The plot line moves very slowly. But the characters grow on you and by the end I was sad it was over.
The themes of loss and abandonment and our parents' roles in what we become or don't become make this book one I will probably reread at some point to explore those things again.
The themes of loss and abandonment and our parents' roles in what we become or don't become make this book one I will probably reread at some point to explore those things again.
snowmaiden's review against another edition
5.0
This book was either going to be a masterpiece or a disaster. There are several dramatic moments that happen during the course of this novel, but Godwin doesn’t actually let us see any of them. Instead, she does that thing that [a: Kazuo Ishiguro|4280|Kazuo Ishiguro|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424906625p2/4280.jpg] does so well, letting us figure out what has happened through the stream of consciousness of a narrator who can never actually let her mind settle on the emotionally-charged moments of her life. For instance, we are told on the first page that the story begins on the last day Margaret will ever see her mother. This sequence goes on for 50 pages, every single moment of the day being rendered in exquisite detail. But do we ever see the moment when she actually learns her mother is gone? No, instead the camera switches to a different scene from a different moment in Margaret’s life. This might sound tiresome, and it could easily be if Godwin was a less capable writer, but somehow she makes it work. I enjoyed watching her perform this magic and waiting to see if she could keep all the plates spinning in the air. I think she did.
carolynf's review against another edition
3.0
It was a pleasant enough book, but in order to enjoy it you have to be interested in Episcopalian practices and drama I think.
msmandrake's review against another edition
This was okay for the first 100 pages, (despite the six year old who sounded 37, a pet peeve of mine) but then it started to bog down and at that point I read the entire blurb and read upcoming parts at random and realized I was not going to manage to plug through the rest. (I've read two other of her books, and they were okay, b not anything I loved, but she's a good writer, so I had hope for others.)
tnociti's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
katybarlowe's review against another edition
4.0
If this book hadn’t been so hard to finish, it would have easily been a 5 Star for me. The writing is so rich and beautiful - heavy with symbolism and religious reflections. The story of this girl coming into herself as an adult, free from but also enriched by the circumstances of her past, is really lovely to watch. There really wasn’t a lot of plot - it’s mostly character development. That’s not usually my cup of tea but I feel edified by reading this - not only as a lover of literature but also as a thoughtful religious person.
book_beat's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book 13 (nearly 14) years ago for my under grad. The feeling of this book has lingered with me since then, even when many of the details were lost. However odd this may sound, it “feels” like the fading, golden light of a November sunset. I may not agree with all the theology or some of the characters behaviors, but I always sink into this book and lose myself to the story and the questions the characters raise. Questions like being “amazed at the mysteries that are other people. Does anyone ever really know anyone else?” And the questions regarding making art, living for oneself or for others… I’m eager to read Evensong next.
mermisty's review against another edition
1.0
technically shouldn't be filed under "read" as i had to shelve it unfinished. i just couldn't make myself read a book i was only mildly curious how it finished and which was tortuous to read. i have far too many on my to-read list to waste any more of my reading time. the title sucked me in; the prose spewed me out.