A review by erinknocke
The Joys of Love by Madeleine L'Engle
5.0
Madeleine L'Engle was one of my favorite authors growing up. I saw this book in a discount book store, never having heard of it.
It is a fast, simple read. It rang true with real, authentic life. I feel that I get the most out of books like this. This, to me, means that parts dragged, there was a good mix of positive and negative things happening to the characters as such is life, and the characters had actual conversations. Love starts off sweet, but doesn't always last.
This wasn't an action-packed, dramatic mess. It actually only covers four days of Liz's summer adventure at the theatre. L'Engle invites you into the characters lives. The book isn't the entirety of their lives.
You can always spot one of L'Engle's "villains" from a mile away. Kurt is no exception. But in this book, the characters question why people are the way they are. There is a beautiful conversation between Liz and Ditta. The whole conversation is genius. But they talk about Kurt and Liz. They talk about why Kurt is the way he is. And even though it doesn't excuse the way he acts, you understand him. He is brought to a human level, for the reader and Liz. A lesson we should all take to heart. No one is a jerk for no reason.
Ben is also one those characters that I would want to meet in real life, fall in love with, and live out a life with. He's unique, full of personality, talent, awkwardness, self-awareness, etc. The list could go on. If L'Engle was alive today, I would beg her to write out Ben and Liz's story. Any girl would love to be loved with such assuredness and humor.
It is a fast, simple read. It rang true with real, authentic life. I feel that I get the most out of books like this. This, to me, means that parts dragged, there was a good mix of positive and negative things happening to the characters as such is life, and the characters had actual conversations. Love starts off sweet, but doesn't always last.
This wasn't an action-packed, dramatic mess. It actually only covers four days of Liz's summer adventure at the theatre. L'Engle invites you into the characters lives. The book isn't the entirety of their lives.
You can always spot one of L'Engle's "villains" from a mile away. Kurt is no exception. But in this book, the characters question why people are the way they are. There is a beautiful conversation between Liz and Ditta. The whole conversation is genius. But they talk about Kurt and Liz. They talk about why Kurt is the way he is. And even though it doesn't excuse the way he acts, you understand him. He is brought to a human level, for the reader and Liz. A lesson we should all take to heart. No one is a jerk for no reason.
Ben is also one those characters that I would want to meet in real life, fall in love with, and live out a life with. He's unique, full of personality, talent, awkwardness, self-awareness, etc. The list could go on. If L'Engle was alive today, I would beg her to write out Ben and Liz's story. Any girl would love to be loved with such assuredness and humor.