aswallace's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
erin_jones's review against another edition
4.0
I could never be a critic. Who am I, I wonder, to fit a book into a rating system of stars, 1-5? Some books, sure. Even plenty of books are able to fit in that system. But sometimes you come across a piece of art that's not five stars or one--stars are just irrelevant.
I gave this four stars because it doesn't completely work as a novel. Instead, it's a fable, and also kind of a play. It's theatrical in a way that isn't totally novel-like. For that reason, I wasn't sure about it at first. Timelines switch rapidly, the sections are divided in ways that weren't very clear, and, without being very familiar with the bible or the story of King David, a lot of the references were lost on me, and didn't come together until later.
But it did knit together, and in the end, it's a book that I'll be thinking about for days. It's given me ways to think about my own art--do I want to be someone who encourages people to choose the wedding?
Thanks, L'Engle. You always got people to choose the wedding.
I gave this four stars because it doesn't completely work as a novel. Instead, it's a fable, and also kind of a play. It's theatrical in a way that isn't totally novel-like. For that reason, I wasn't sure about it at first. Timelines switch rapidly, the sections are divided in ways that weren't very clear, and, without being very familiar with the bible or the story of King David, a lot of the references were lost on me, and didn't come together until later.
But it did knit together, and in the end, it's a book that I'll be thinking about for days. It's given me ways to think about my own art--do I want to be someone who encourages people to choose the wedding?
Thanks, L'Engle. You always got people to choose the wedding.
elenajohansen's review against another edition
1.0
DNF after Chapter 1 - Norma. And why is it named for Norma, anyway? She has a few minutes of conversation and then leaves the boat. She doesn't seem important at all compared to the over-abundance of other characters.
That excess of characters is exactly why I gave up so early. In one 24-page chapter, the reader is given the names of 22 separate characters. Only a handful of them are physically present, but most of the chapter is David monologuing his past, the many wives and yet more children. (Though I still don't know ALL their names, because I only counted seven of the nine wives promised in the blurb, and seven of the eleven kids.)
On top of that, there are 16 mentions of King David--as opposed to Actor David, the main character's monologuing father--plus several mentions of six other Biblical figures related to King David's story.
On top of that, there are ten fictional characters (mostly from Shakespearean plays) mentioned a total of 26 times.
And that's not including all the times the ACTUAL characters who are PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE STORY use EACH OTHER'S NAMES IN CONVERSATION.
By the time I was done with those first 24 pages, I felt like a good 10% of the word count is just NAMES. Oh, because when I was tallying the fictional character mentions? I didn't even include that the name of the boat they're all on is Portia.
So I am quite simply DONE. In order to write this annoyed, spiteful review, I had to take a pen to the first chapter, skimming it several times to circle and number all the names, and even after going through it that often and taking notes, I STILL couldn't tell you accurately who is who beyond the four major characters who do most of the actual talking. Is Myrlo David's third wife or his fourth? Did he actually marry Harriet, does she count? It's not clear from what he said.
I was so confused, it was beyond frustrating, and at the end of it all, I honestly don't understand why I'm supposed to care.
That excess of characters is exactly why I gave up so early. In one 24-page chapter, the reader is given the names of 22 separate characters. Only a handful of them are physically present, but most of the chapter is David monologuing his past, the many wives and yet more children. (Though I still don't know ALL their names, because I only counted seven of the nine wives promised in the blurb, and seven of the eleven kids.)
On top of that, there are 16 mentions of King David--as opposed to Actor David, the main character's monologuing father--plus several mentions of six other Biblical figures related to King David's story.
On top of that, there are ten fictional characters (mostly from Shakespearean plays) mentioned a total of 26 times.
And that's not including all the times the ACTUAL characters who are PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE STORY use EACH OTHER'S NAMES IN CONVERSATION.
By the time I was done with those first 24 pages, I felt like a good 10% of the word count is just NAMES. Oh, because when I was tallying the fictional character mentions? I didn't even include that the name of the boat they're all on is Portia.
So I am quite simply DONE. In order to write this annoyed, spiteful review, I had to take a pen to the first chapter, skimming it several times to circle and number all the names, and even after going through it that often and taking notes, I STILL couldn't tell you accurately who is who beyond the four major characters who do most of the actual talking. Is Myrlo David's third wife or his fourth? Did he actually marry Harriet, does she count? It's not clear from what he said.
I was so confused, it was beyond frustrating, and at the end of it all, I honestly don't understand why I'm supposed to care.
imyerhero's review against another edition
5.0
I simply adore Madeleine L’Engle’s writing – which is precisely why I limit my reading of her books. When I run out of new ones, I will be completely heartbroken. She has the most amazing vocabulary! This book is incredibly powerful and emotionally charged. Emma Wheaton has to be one of the most beautiful characters out in the literary universe – mainly because of her life’s journey. The parallels L’Engle weaves between the Biblical characters and her own aren’t just entertaining, they’re influential. You find yourself asking the same questions as the characters themselves, “Why?” and “when?” and “what the…?” While I wasn’t pleased with all of David Wheaton’s family members, it only serves to show me that I wasn’t pleased with all of King David’s either, and that – Biblical or not – people will always make mistakes and will have to come to terms with the consequences of those mistakes. People will always be falling in love, and hurting each other, and struggling to find ways to forgive and be forgiven.
cgbart's review against another edition
4.0
this book was odd but I'm very glad I stuck with it? L'Engle's narratives are always curiously visceral and this is no exception.
mamasquirrel's review against another edition
5.0
Such insight into the grace of women. And the grittiness of life.
merrinish's review against another edition
4.0
I really love her young adult fiction and I really like her adult fiction as well, but it's a little... strange. She's got a recurring theme of these women's husbands having sexual relationships with other men for weird psychological reasons and you kind of have to wonder why she writes it in every book. But other than that weirdness, they're really excellent books.
anatomydetective's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted to enjoy this novel. I was excited to be reading an "adult" novel by one of my favorite YA authors. Unfortunately this novel got completely bogged down in the plot and backstory, to the detriment of the characters. I generally have no problem keeping track of many different characters, but since so many were merely spoken of or seen in flashback that I found myself regularly referring to the list at the beginning of the book. I found it impossible to connect emotionally to any of the characters and I found myself unable to find any sadness for the ailing patriarch, or his daughter the protagonist. Overall, I just found the novel tedious and wanted it to end. I'm not sure if I will try any more of Ms L'Engle's work for adults.
ralovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Would recommend: Yes
Certain Women is a wonderful novel, loosely tied to the wives of biblical King David, but mostly based on Madeleine L'Engle's experiences working on Broadway before she became a full-time author. It's one of my favorite gift-giving books and it never disappoints upon re-read.
Certain Women is a wonderful novel, loosely tied to the wives of biblical King David, but mostly based on Madeleine L'Engle's experiences working on Broadway before she became a full-time author. It's one of my favorite gift-giving books and it never disappoints upon re-read.